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GMRS

  • Radio 101 - How to Reset the Midland GXT1000 Series Radios

    Most consumer grade FRS and GMRS radios sold in two packs, commonly referred to as "bubble pack" radios, do not include an option to allow the user to reset the radio if needed. However, the Midland GXT1000 apparently does have a reset feature, although it isn't in the manual.

    In this episode of Radio 101, Tommy shows you how to reset the Midland GXT1000 and GXT1050 GMRS radios back to factory defaults.

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  • Radio 101 - What are the power limits of GMRS radios?

    Most rules for the GMRS are the same for all channels, but there are a few differences, particularly concerning output power. So, what are they?

    In this episode of Radio 101, Tommy explains explains what the maximum transmit power limits of GMRS radios are according to the FCC rules.

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  • Radio 101 - What is a Grandfathered GMRS License?

    A license is required to operate a GMRS radio, and the FCC rules limit eligibility of the license to individuals. Yet according to the FCC, any non-individual person that holds a grandfathered GMRS license may allow individuals to operate its grandfathered GMRS station(s), and only under the following conditions. But what does this mean? What exactly is a grandfathered license?

    In this episode of Radio 101, Tommy explains what a "grandfathered" GMRS license is and when it is relevant.

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    Related Resources
    Radio 101 - Who is covered by a GMRS License?
    How to get a GMRS License in only four steps

  • Radio 101 - Who is covered by a GMRS License?

    GMRS two way radios continue to grow in popularity, and more people than ever are new getting an FCC license to use them. But there are a few misconceptions about who is covered by it. Some people assume that a GMRS license covers only the individual named by the license. Others think it's limited to who is in your household. Which is correct?

    In this episode of Radio 101, Tommy gives you the facts about who can apply for a GMRS license and exactly who is and isn't covered by it.

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  • How to get a GMRS License in only four steps

    Getting your GMRS license has never been easier. Really, it hasn't. This is because it's never been easy at all. Unlike the main FCC web site, the portion of the site where you get a license, known as the Universal License System, or ULS, seems to be it's own little ecosystem. Unfortunately, the ULS isn't exactly a modern, intuitive web experience.

    Before 2017, the FCC site as a whole was an archaic design, a throwback to the mid 1990's that was excruciatingly cumbersome to navigate and use. At some point the Commission decided to modernize it, but for some reason neglected to update the front facing side of the COmmission REgistration System (CORES) site as well, which included the Universal License System, or ULS. The result was a mashup of relatively modern web design butted up against crude, pre-millennial blast from the past. Imagine driving down a four lane freeway and suddenly turning onto an old dirt road. The ULS was something like that. It also was not mobile friendly, so if you wanted to do this on a tablet or cell phone, good luck.

    In the fall of 2022 the FCC apparently updated the site again. It is now known as the New CORES. Before you get too excited though, it looks about the same as the old CORES, with a few minor upgrades, which at least brings it up to the year 1999. It is still not very mobile friendly. It's like steam punk without the steam or the punk. We recommend you use a desktop computer to navigate the site. At least it's functional.

    Aside from navigating decades old web site technology, getting a GMRS license isn't really that hard at all. It just takes some patience and a little perseverence. You could say it's even kind of amazing, in the sense that you're going through a maze. You have to know where to go and what information to provide. Oh, and if you really like to fill out forms, you'll love this. If you don't, maybe not. Just try not to think about it.

    Here's where and how to apply for a GMRS license in only four steps.

    Step 1. Register for a Username
    Note: If you already registered in CORES, you can skip this step.

    To register for an FCC Username, go to the FCC Universal License System (ULS) page, and under the Filing sub-heading, click New User Registration. This will take you to the FCC Registration Login page. Select the option Register under the column header Need a Username?. This will take you to the online FRN registration form.

    Before you fill out the form, you will need to perform a search to verify that the you are not already registered. Enter your email address in the field and click the button marked Check Availability. This will be your username. If your email address is unavailable, follow the instructions in the latter part of this video to retrieve your existing password.

    If your email address/username is not already listed, proceed to the form. Fill out the form with your name and address, and choose a password. The FCC requires the password have a minimum of 12 characters and a maximum of 15 characters, and must meet all of the following criteria: at least 1 lower case letter, 1 upper case letter, 1 number, and 1 punctuation mark/special character.

    Next, select a personal security question, enter an answer and click Submit. After the form is submitted, there will be a process by which your email address/username needs to be verified. Once verified and accepted, click on the button GoToCores to continue with step 2, where you will need to register for an FRN number.

    Step 2. Register for an FRN number
    Note: If you already have an FRN number, you can skip this step.

    Before you apply for any FCC license, you will need an FCC Registration Number, commonly referred to by the Commission as an FRN. Your FRN is a 10 digit number that identifies you when conducting financial transactions with the FCC. As a social security number identifies you as a taxpayer with the IRS, an FRN identifies you as a fee payer with the FCC. Ironically, the form will require your SSN as well, so be ready for that.

    The important thing to remember is that your FRN will be used for all license applications, changes, renewals and upgrades. Once you have an FRN, it's your number for life.

    To apply for an FRN, click on the button mentioned at the end of step 1 or go to the FCC Universal License System (ULS) page, go to the Filing sub-heading and under the Username Login section, login with your Username and password. Either method will take you to the User Home page.

    Now, here's where it gets interesting. On this page you will find the following six options:

    • Associate Username to FRN - Link your registered username to an existing FRN.
    • Manage Existing FRNs | FRN Financial | Bills and Fees - View & Pay Regulatory Fees, Application Fees, and Bills | View Red & Green light status.
    • Register New FRN - Register and receive a new FRN (including Restricted Use Frn).
    • Reset FRN Password - Reset/update your FRN password.
    • Search for FRN - Search for public FRN information.
    • Update your username profile.

    If you already have an FRN, skip to step 3. For the rest of us, the one to click on is the third item, Register New FRN. This will take you to a box with radio buttons for registration options.

    FRN Registration

    There are two registration types, business and individual. A business cannot apply for a GMRS license, so you would choose An Individual. Your contact address should be within the United States or its territories, so this is the option to choose. Click Continue.

    FRN Registration 2This takes you to a second box with another set of radio buttons. Choose CORES FRN Registration and click Continue.

    FRN Registration 3This will take you to the actual online FRN registration form. yeah, another form. Fill out the form with your name and address.

    After the form is submitted and accepted, you should be taken to a page with your FRN registration information, along with your assigned FRN number, which should appear at the top of the information box. It is important to write this number down and keep it in a safe place for reference later, as this is the number for which you laboriously applied.

    As an important side note, if you already have existing FRNs, you must associate them with your username before you can manage them. To do so, go back to the User Home page, click on Associate Username to FRN and fill out that little form.

    Step 3. Apply for the license
    Once you have your FRN number, you can begin the actual license application process. Go to the FCC Universal License System (ULS) page and under the Filing sub-heading Click File Online. This should take you to the License Manager login page. Enter your new FRN number and password to log in.

    You should now be on the My Licenses page. Click the link on the left sidebar labeled Apply for a New License. This will take you to another page with a drop-down to select the service license for which you want to apply. You will want to choose the option ZA - General Mobile Radio (GMRS). Click the continue button, Choose No for all three drop-downs on the next page, click continue again and will be taken to - you guessed it - another form. Fill out that one, submit it, and it should take you to the page Manage Existing FRN(s).

    This page has a lot of intimidating looking red type, and four options from which to choose:

    • Manage FRNs
    • FRN Financial
    • Regulatory Fee Manager
    • ULS Pay Fees

    Thought you were done? Not quite. Now you have to pay the fee. On a normal web site, this would actually be a simple and intuitive step at the end of the application process. fill out the application, click pay, and you're done. But this isn't a normal web site. It's the domain of the FCC. This means that for some convoluted reason it has to be unnecessarily complicated. We've already filled out two forms with what was basically the same information. Now we're off to yet another area of the FCC website.

    Step 4. Pay the license application fee
    On the Manage Existing FRN(s) page, click on FRN Financial. This will take you to the page where you begin the fee payment process. It should list your FRN number on the left and the link View/Make Payments to the right. Click the link to go to yet another page with the FRN listed under the tab Awaiting Payment Confirmation and a Make Payment link to the right. Click that link, fill out the payment form, and submit. Now you're done.

    The FCC should issue your GMRS callsign within a few days. To check the status of your license and callsign, simply log into the ULS License Manager.

    And there you have it. That's how to apply for a GMRS license from the FCC in only four steps.

    Hey, I said there were only four steps. I didn't say they were easy.

  • National GMRS Radio Day Sale 2023 - 35 Hours Only!

    NOTE: This promotion expired April 21, 2023 and is no longer available.
    On April 19th 2022, the FCC officially lowered the GMRS license application fee from an exorbitant $70 to the current and much more reasonable $35. This was certainly a cause for celebration, and on that day, thousands of radio enthusiasts rushed to the FCC website to become newly licensed GMRS operators.

    As one of the leading two way radio dealers in the United States, Buy Two Way Radios was the first to introduce and celebrate the new, lower GMRS license fee by declaring April 19 National GMRS Radio Day! We established this as an annual event to celebrate the new accessibility of the GMRS to the American public.

    To celebrate GMRS Radio Day, Buy Two Way Radios is bringing back its original 35 hour sale on select GMRS radios and radio accessories with Promo Code: GMRS35!

    Why 35 hours? It represents the $35 cost of the license fee, which was catalyst that caused the sudden surge in GMRS license applications. This surge in popularity literally happened overnight. It is estimated that during the first 35 hours after the introduction of the new fee in April 2022, the number of GMRS licenses granted by the FCC more than quadrupled over the same two day period in the previous year. For the entire week of April 19, 2021 there were 900 license grants. There were 3,875 in that same period in 2022. That's quite a surge.

    The GMRS Day Sale begins at 1 PM EDT Wednesday, April 19, 2023 and ends at midnight EDT Friday April 21, 2023.

    Again, this offer is valid for 35 hours only.
    Celebrate GMRS Radio Day 2023 with Promo Code GMRS35 at Buy Two Way Radios!

  • Video introduction to the Wouxun KG-XS20G Plus

    It's been a big year for upgraded Wouxun radios, and it's all been a big Plus. First came the Wouxun KG-1000G Plus. Now, another Wouxun mobile GMRS transceiver gets an upgrade. Introducing the the KG-XS20G Plus! But what exactly does it bring to the table?

    This video clip from Episode 174 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast spills the beans! Danny and Rick go through each new feature enhancement for an in-depth overview of this exciting new GMRS mobile radio. The Wouxun KG-XS20G Plus is available now, and only from Buy Two Way Radios.

    Want more videos about 2-way radios? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

  • The new and improved Wouxun KG-1000G PLUS is here!

    The Wouxun KG-1000G GMRS mobile radio has received a hefty upgrade. Introducing the new KG-1000G Plus!

    In this video segment from Episode 173 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast Podcast, Danny, Anthony and Rick go top to bottom on the Wouxun KG-1000G Plus to analyze what makes this new iteration of the most popular and powerful mobile GMRS radio so different from the original. The KG-1000G Plus is available now, and only from Buy Two Way Radios.

    Want more videos about 2-way radios? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

  • TWRS-173 - The New Wouxun KG-1000G Plus Mobile GMRS Radio

    Two Way Radio Show
    We introduce a new model in the Wouxun KG-1000G Series with some new feature upgrades and enhanced functionality. We’ll also take some of your comments and questions from our blog and our forum.
    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:06

    The New Wouxun KG-1000G Plus 1:25
    When we first introduced the Wouxun KG-1000G back in December of 2020, we had a vague idea that it would get a lot of attention from the GMRS community. Little did we realize just how popular it would become. Now, we are excited to unveil the next generation of this series, the KG-1000G Plus!

    Questions and Answers 32:30
    Comments and questions from our blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum. Check out and join the forum! It's free!

    Wrap up and Close 37:01
    Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show[at]buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. If we read your comment about this episode on a future episode, we may send you a free t-shirt or some swag! Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

    © 2022 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

  • Melowave GMRS Mobile Antenna Mounts

    In our previous video clips from Episode 172 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast, Danny and Rick introduced new the Melowave brand along with the Melowave Shadow and Melowave Overlander mobile GMRS antennas.

    In this video clip from the same episode, we talk about the Melowave mounts and mounting accessories designed specifically for these antennas.

    Questions? comments? Feel free to leave them below! Listen to The Two Way Radio Show Podcast on any app or visit The Two Way Radio Show Podcast Archives.

    Want more videos about 2-way radios? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

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