Family radio service
The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a since 1996 in the United States (because of the popularity later in Canada and Mexico shared) citizens' band radio application . In Europe basically comparable with Freenet , PMR radio (PMR446) or SRD radio (formerly LPD).
Technical information
Frequencies in the UHF band are used to avoid the disadvantages of the interference situation in the 27 MHz band of the CB radio . FRS works with frequency modulation (FM) instead of amplitude modulation (AM). The permissible transmission power is 500 milliwatts. A total of 14 channels are available. The frequencies from channels 1 to 7 are shared with the GMRS General Mobile Radio Service , which in the USA can only be operated with a license. In this way, the owners of the other device category can still be reached.
FRS two-way radios support CTCSS to make unwanted radio traffic from other users inaudible. Although manufacturers like to sell this as a “private channel function”, it does not protect against unwanted eavesdropping, but only reduces interference from other co-users on well-frequented channels.
Only devices with a permanently attached antenna are approved. The range is approx. 500 m to 1 km, strongly dependent on the environment. The operation of these devices is not legal anywhere in Europe.
Used channels
FRS shares channels 1-7 with GMRS.
channel | frequency |
---|---|
1 | 462.5625 MHz |
2 | 462.5875 MHz |
3 | 462.6125 MHz |
4th | 462.6375 MHz |
5 | 462.6625 MHz |
6th | 462.6875 MHz |
7th | 462.7125 MHz |
8th | 467.5625 MHz |
9 | 467.5875 MHz |
10 | 467.6125 MHz |
11 | 467.6375 MHz |
12 | 467.6625 MHz |
13 | 467.6875 MHz |
14th | 467.7125 MHz |