indiboi.com

Well, ultimately it turns out that my computers were just too “modern” to work with the FCC’s Universal Filing System, hah! The browser requirements are something like Netscape 4 only or IE in windows between 4 and 5.5 or something silly. Not a single browser that I had would work as you need to have the very first version of java… and of course once I finally get in I see how ridiculous and archaic the whole online form is: meaning, there is absolutely no reason that they should have been using java in the first place… hell, a regular ol’ php or even god forbid an asp or perl form would have worked beautifully and also allow any browser to use it. Just another example of the feds being duped into something ridiculously idiotic and most likely overtly too expensive for the purpose. I’d point it out so that everybody could go look and laugh, but you need a FCC Registration Number to get into it, so… anyway.

The reason I’ve been fooling with this is so that I can get a license for gmrs which was issued to me yesterday morning. General Mobile Radio Service is kind of like FRS (Family Radio Service) on steriods. While a vast majority of the GMRS radios operate on the same output level of FRS (500mW), GMRS allows upwards of 4W of output power. This translates into the capability to communicate over quite a distance as compared to the 1 mile operative and 2 mile theoretical range of FRS. I have two sets of radios, one set has 1.8 watts of output power and my other “cute” set of radios is the normal 500mW type. GMRS also allows for quite a few more channels to be used, which helps eliminate interference in more congested areas.

It is a little funny how you can buy gmrs radios right next to frs radios at walmart, target, etc… but to use them legally you need a license. So one would think that it isn’t a big deal, and the likelihood of getting caught is probably pretty low; however, if for some reason you are caught, the fine is in the $10,000.00 range… so I figured it was just best to be legal about it all, plus it wasn’t terribly expensive and I get an FCC Callsign for my “mobile station” lol. So it’s a little like grown up secret agent time, hahah. Of course though, technically speaking, anyone using my gmrs radios would need to be licensed on their own if they’re not already covered in my license, so in a way that’s kind of annoying… but they could always get their own radio that is certified for FRS only (which is pretty inexpensive really) and all would be kosher.