

It cannot be removed, and it is illegal to replace or modify it. In Canada, the antenna must be fixed on the radio. In the US, licensed users can us GMRS repeaters and GRMS radios with repeater capability. There is no provision for legal usage of GMRS repeaters in Canada. Above 2 watts is now called GMRS, requires a license, and has a limit of 5 watts. In the US, since 2017 updates to the rules, the GMRS and FRS channels are all referred to as FRS, with an unlicensed limit 2 watts. In Canada, you’re limited to 2 watts power on the GMRS and combined GMRS/FRS channels, and 0.5 watts on the FRS channels.
GMRS REPEATER FREQUENCIES LICENSE
In the US, FRS is now the term for radios under 2 watts, and GMRS requires a license and is for radios between 2 watts 5 watts. In Canada, GMRS users do not require a license. But there are significant differences between Canada and US regulations. GMRS is an evolution of FRS that is compatible with older FRS radios on the FRS channels. GMRS – FRS with more channels, and *maybe* more power Many FRS radios still have a power limit of 0.5 watts due to pre-2017 US limits on FRS power. It’s a big improvement over the consumer walkie-talkies of old that barely had enough range to reach from your basement to the second floor.įRS rules are pretty much compatible between Canada and US, and since 2017 both countries limit transmit power to 2 watts. The origins: the FRS radioįRS – or family radio system – has a set of frequencies ( channels on the radio) allocated for license-free communication. Industry Canada has a lot of information here. If the radio does not have an FCC number, it’s not approved for use in the US. If the radio does not have an IC number, it’s not approved for use in Canada. Radios must be approved in the country of usageĮvery GMRS radio has to be approved by the authorities of the country where you will be using the radio – Industry Canada (IC) and the FCC in the US. And you’ll understand why you could get in trouble for using some US radios that are not approved for use in Canada – and vice versa.

If you understand the rules, you’ll understand what you need to look for when purchasing GMRS radios, and you’ll understand what channels to use to get better range. There are big differences in GMRS rules between the US and Canada. GMRS radios are flexible walkie-talkies – or two way radios – that you can use in Canada without a license – but only if you use Industry Canada approved radios.
