Tom, as always, a great video! I still remember the pain of having to go through the ULS, etc to get my ham radio license. I had to figure it out all by myself . I will likely pick up a set of GMRS since they'll be the best choice for the neighborhood & local communities to use when SHTF. I know that you've saved at least a few people the grief and aggravation that comes from dealing with Govt systems. Can't wait until April 19th.
As with the previous comments THANK YOU for an excellent "walk-through" of the GMRS license application process. I literally used (and paused) your video to do my application at every step. Just wanted to say Thank You, You Rock!
This was the best video on how to navigate through all the "Rabbit Holes" of the FCC and register for your GMRC License quickly and efficiently. I played around all day trying to figure where and what to do but to no avail. Then I came across your video, what a blessing. "Eureka", I finally did it in less than 10 minutes. Thank's Tom for making life a lot more simple!
The best description of this I’ve ever seen. It’s weird you need a license for GMRS or HAM but you can buy a radio without it .. Thanks for the best videos.
I already had an amateur license, so I already had an FRN number. But I had created it before they required an email address to associate it with, so I had to jump back and forth between the FRN and the application websites several times to fix the email address association, and make the payment. Thanks for the helpful and concise video.
great walk through for the application. It truly is hard to maneuver around from registration to the applying for the license. I had already registered early this year and was waiting for the fee to drop. thanks for the walk through and providing the link to to page to apply. Talk about feeling lost on their site! Thanks again!
Thank you so much for your video! We too watched & paused it as we navigated through the fcc websites. Bad news: the gov is updating its website so finding Where to Pay was particularly convoluted! Good news: the fee finally dropped from $70 to the lower $35 fee so that was a “win”! Thanks again for such a helpful video!
Thanks so much for sharing this in detail. I tried to figure it out and I have to say the FCC website is a Charlie Foxtrot beyond compare. Want to know why there are so many unlicensed users? After wasting hours trying to go through the process people will just say screw it and go rogue.
Yeah, the site and whole license experience is a disaster insofar as navigation and user experience. Hopefully more people will share how-to's like this to help save folks some frustration :)
Do you try to report them to the FCC? Do you try to track down their signals and all that? Because if the FCC doesn't know who and where they are, the problem(s) you're talking about here are NEVER going to get solved. That's why I explained in my post that we're better off not getting a license for those bands.
A friend of mine with a felony conviction got his ham license not too long ago. It took a few weeks for his callsign to show up, not a day or two like normal. I don’t know what their criteria are, but it seems there’s some kind of manual review, and a felony in itself does NOT prevent you from getting a license.
Great video Tom. No kidding…can the sites be any more confusing and why can’t they just link you from one site to the other? This was almost as bad as the FAA Part 107 registration. Got all the way through and then realized it was still $70. I’ll wait until the end of April and then get the cheaper rate. Thanks again.
I applied for my license 1/20/24. I got my call sign/license 1/23/24. It took me almost an hour to navigate fcc site. I got an error 3 or 4 times going to next screen. I had to sign back in .MAKE SURE TO WRITE DOWN YOUR FRN. Once you get your FRN you can sign back in. Give yourself an hour of free time. It doesnt take an hour but it is time consuming.
at 2:00 when you talk about selecting FRN registration type, is there an advantage to registering as personal or business FRN registration to get gmrs license ? and are you allowed to use it for both if you are registered and licensed ?
Bro, I am willing to pay for this license if they made it possible to do so. Two hours now with passwords and names and all sorts of website navigation. This is typical government idiocy
Yeah, navigating this process is a nightmare. After I figured it out for myself and helped a friend is when I was motivated to make this video in the hopes it could help others out and spare them my frustration.
Can anyone please verify this question. I viewed another video that once you are licensed for ten years, everyone in your household is able to transmit as well for free. Is this true?
I applied for the GMRS license this morning. I don't understand why we can't just use our Ham call sign, if we have one. So, how long does it take to get the GMRS call sign?
Being a licensed ham myself, I agree it would be nice to just have the one license and call for all licensed services. I don’t dare try to guess what does and doesn’t go thru the minds of bureaucrats. As to your question, in the two experiences I’ve had applying for a GMRS license, it was issued within 3-5 business days.
negative. to my knowledge a fax number is not required. I don't have a fax and never provided that kind of number when I applied and didn't have any issues. hope that helps and thanks for watching!
By chance does it matter what day you submit you application? I did mine on a Sunday because that's when I had time, will that mess with me getting it on time or no?
Honestly I'm not sure. I think I might have done this video on the weekend since that's usually the only time I have for this kind of thing. I would like to think it shouldn't. Best of luck and I hope you get it soon!
negative. you'll retrieve your license from their universal license system (ULS) once it's processed. I never received a physical copy of my license (GMRS or Amateur Radio) and I don't believe they send one out. Hope that helps and thanks for watching.
A GMRS antenna will work for FRS since it's really about ensuring the antenna is resonant on the right frequencies...and GMRS / FRS currently share the same frequencies. As for an FRS base station, I'm not aware of any. By FCC rules, an FRS type-certified radio would not have a removable antenna. One way to mimic an FRS base station might be to use a GMRS mobile unit and simply ensure you transmit within FRS power limits (i.e., 2 watts max channels 1 thru 7 and 15 thru 22; 0.5 watts on channels 8 thru 14). Hope that helps.
"..way too much shit to talk about." LoL Great, informative video! -But, with my experience coming from the hardcore CB Radio rebels that were all convicted felons and the like, which inspired me to get my Amateur Radio license, KD8EFQ/Gen. Class, you're better off NOT getting your FRS/GMRS/MURS license! Because when it comes to "frequency nazis" reporting them to the FCC for various regulations violations is going to prove it all a waste of time and money. On a side note, you still have that Public Service Announcer's voice that used to be a Navy Seal twirling a sniper rifle around like a baton in marching band!
Yes, the US going to license our free airwaves. We cant have people just talking on these free airwaves. Save us from ourselves. I paid the higher fee. That was 6 months ago, couldnt wait for the new lower price.
Consider: 26-27 MHz started out as a licensed band, with a fee, and an assigned callsign. That band became fee-free, and the legal requirement for a callsign ID dropped. Today, how useful and popular is that band?
Tom, as always, a great video! I still remember the pain of having to go through the ULS, etc to get my ham radio license. I had to figure it out all by myself . I will likely pick up a set of GMRS since they'll be the best choice for the neighborhood & local communities to use when SHTF. I know that you've saved at least a few people the grief and aggravation that comes from dealing with Govt systems. Can't wait until April 19th.
As with the previous comments THANK YOU for an excellent "walk-through" of the GMRS license application process. I literally used (and paused) your video to do my application at every step. Just wanted to say Thank You, You Rock!
This was the best video on how to navigate through all the "Rabbit Holes" of the FCC and register for your GMRC License quickly and efficiently. I played around all day trying to figure where and what to do but to no avail. Then I came across your video, what a blessing. "Eureka", I finally did it in less than 10 minutes. Thank's Tom for making life a lot more simple!
The best description of this I’ve ever seen.
It’s weird you need a license for GMRS or HAM but you can buy a radio without it ..
Thanks for the best videos.
you only need the license to transmit on a radio
Tom, thank you for the awesome material you provide. Funny, informative, and no BS. And that outtake at the end was gold😂
Found it ridiculously easy thanks to you! Thank you.
I already had an amateur license, so I already had an FRN number. But I had created it before they required an email address to associate it with, so I had to jump back and forth between the FRN and the application websites several times to fix the email address association, and make the payment. Thanks for the helpful and concise video.
the payment part just got more confusing; not the same as the video. Thank you!!!
Thank you for this video. I followed this step by step and now have my frn and call sign.
great walk through for the application. It truly is hard to maneuver around from registration to the applying for the license. I had already registered early this year and was waiting for the fee to drop. thanks for the walk through and providing the link to to page to apply. Talk about feeling lost on their site! Thanks again!
Thanks for the video. This made my life a ton l easier. What a pain to navigate the FCC license site.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you so much for your video! We too watched & paused it as we navigated through the fcc websites.
Bad news: the gov is updating its website so finding Where to Pay was particularly convoluted!
Good news: the fee finally dropped from $70 to the lower $35 fee so that was a “win”!
Thanks again for such a helpful video!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks so much for sharing this in detail. I tried to figure it out and I have to say the FCC website is a Charlie Foxtrot beyond compare. Want to know why there are so many unlicensed users? After wasting hours trying to go through the process people will just say screw it and go rogue.
Yeah, the site and whole license experience is a disaster insofar as navigation and user experience. Hopefully more people will share how-to's like this to help save folks some frustration :)
Great job Tom!! No excuse for all those non-licensed users on the trail to get it!! Bugs me so many users of GMRS aren't licensed!! Cheers man!!
Do you try to report them to the FCC? Do you try to track down their signals and all that? Because if the FCC doesn't know who and where they are, the problem(s) you're talking about here are NEVER going to get solved. That's why I explained in my post that we're better off not getting a license for those bands.
@@charleswoods2996 no, I just try to educate.
Thank you again. Love your straight forward content.
Thanks for your help. You made it much easier than I was making it.
This video helped me submit my application tremendously, thank you.
I never understood how an amateur license was free but the GMRS was $70. Needless to say not a buyer but will reconsider April 19th.
A friend of mine with a felony conviction got his ham license not too long ago. It took a few weeks for his callsign to show up, not a day or two like normal. I don’t know what their criteria are, but it seems there’s some kind of manual review, and a felony in itself does NOT prevent you from getting a license.
About 3 decades ago if you were a felon you couldn't get a ham ticket...Glad to hear they changed that policy.
Great video Tom. No kidding…can the sites be any more confusing and why can’t they just link you from one site to the other? This was almost as bad as the FAA Part 107 registration.
Got all the way through and then realized it was still $70. I’ll wait until the end of April and then get the cheaper rate. Thanks again.
Straight forward tutorial. Thank you.
I applied for my license 1/20/24. I got my call sign/license 1/23/24. It took me almost an hour to navigate fcc site. I got an error 3 or 4 times going to next screen. I had to sign back in .MAKE SURE TO WRITE DOWN YOUR FRN. Once you get your FRN you can sign back in. Give yourself an hour of free time. It doesnt take an hour but it is time consuming.
Thanks Tom. I'm going to share this with my Facebook GMRS group.
Finally did this and put away my CB.
Thnx for this. The website is horrendous.
Very helpful! Thank you!
Nice job Tom!
Video was a great help!!!
how long does it take to get your FRN number?
at 2:00 when you talk about selecting FRN registration type, is there an advantage to registering as personal or business FRN registration to get gmrs license ?
and are you allowed to use it for both if you are registered and licensed ?
Thanks for the vid.
My pleasure
good luck on Registration. 20 min later wouldn't take information. Now it has all my info. I bet I get attacked by bad emails.
Awesome!!!! Thank you
Bro, I am willing to pay for this license if they made it possible to do so. Two hours now with passwords and names and all sorts of website navigation. This is typical government idiocy
Yeah, navigating this process is a nightmare. After I figured it out for myself and helped a friend is when I was motivated to make this video in the hopes it could help others out and spare them my frustration.
thanks a lot
Great video thank you.
Thank you! 🙂
Very Helpful
Does anyone have a problem not being able to click any payment form after application ?
Is this how I can get my license to be able to transmit on ham radios or gmrs frequencys and what is the fees how much I pay?
Can anyone please verify this question.
I viewed another video that once you are licensed for ten years, everyone in your household is able to transmit as well for free. Is this true?
America weirds me out. Even in Australia (a real nanny state) you don't need a license for UHF.
It’s just so Uncle Sam can take more money from us to spend it on wars
I applied for the GMRS license this morning. I don't understand why we can't just use our Ham call sign, if we have one. So, how long does it take to get the GMRS call sign?
Being a licensed ham myself, I agree it would be nice to just have the one license and call for all licensed services. I don’t dare try to guess what does and doesn’t go thru the minds of bureaucrats. As to your question, in the two experiences I’ve had applying for a GMRS license, it was issued within 3-5 business days.
Do you have to have your license before you get your radio
You can buy a radio and listen prior to getting a license. A license is only needed to transmit. Hope that helps.
it shows it has dropped to 35 dollars now. I noticed that they want a fax number; is that something that is required? I hope not.
negative. to my knowledge a fax number is not required. I don't have a fax and never provided that kind of number when I applied and didn't have any issues. hope that helps and thanks for watching!
@@TomtheDilettante thanks
By chance does it matter what day you submit you application? I did mine on a Sunday because that's when I had time, will that mess with me getting it on time or no?
Honestly I'm not sure. I think I might have done this video on the weekend since that's usually the only time I have for this kind of thing. I would like to think it shouldn't. Best of luck and I hope you get it soon!
@@TomtheDilettante thank you, on the website it does say that did receive it but it’s hasn’t been processed so we will see
@@TomtheDilettante also it seems that they are having technical difficulties right now
Tom,
Don't forget to fix your Postal Code
😂
I just completed my gmrs application and payment, does the fcc mail the license?
negative. you'll retrieve your license from their universal license system (ULS) once it's processed. I never received a physical copy of my license (GMRS or Amateur Radio) and I don't believe they send one out. Hope that helps and thanks for watching.
how long does it take to get your call sing ?
I did this twice...once for me and once for a friend. Both came within 3-5 business days. Remarkably fast for a government entity IMHO :P
Excuse my ignorance but, what is GMRS, what is a GMRS license, and why do I need it?
NVM, you’re video covering the basics of GMRS was in the side bar.
@@Whiachy Node Version Manager?
DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THEY HAVE F'R'S' BASE STATIONS AND ANTENNAS?
A GMRS antenna will work for FRS since it's really about ensuring the antenna is resonant on the right frequencies...and GMRS / FRS currently share the same frequencies. As for an FRS base station, I'm not aware of any. By FCC rules, an FRS type-certified radio would not have a removable antenna. One way to mimic an FRS base station might be to use a GMRS mobile unit and simply ensure you transmit within FRS power limits (i.e., 2 watts max channels 1 thru 7 and 15 thru 22; 0.5 watts on channels 8 thru 14). Hope that helps.
*So, no exam?*
For GMRS, no. For amateur radio am exam is still required. Hope that helps
"..way too much shit to talk about." LoL
Great, informative video! -But, with my experience coming from the hardcore CB Radio rebels that were all convicted felons and the like, which inspired me to get my Amateur Radio license, KD8EFQ/Gen. Class, you're better off NOT getting your FRS/GMRS/MURS license! Because when it comes to "frequency nazis" reporting them to the FCC for various regulations violations is going to prove it all a waste of time and money. On a side note, you still have that Public Service Announcer's voice that used to be a Navy Seal twirling a sniper rifle around like a baton in marching band!
12 days and still no license. That's the government for you.
These are outdated instructions and do not work.
Yes, the US going to license our free airwaves. We cant have people just talking on these free airwaves. Save us from ourselves. I paid the higher fee. That was 6 months ago, couldnt wait for the new lower price.
The lower price will go into effect April 19th
Consider: 26-27 MHz started out as a licensed band, with a fee, and an assigned callsign. That band became fee-free, and the legal requirement for a callsign ID dropped. Today, how useful and popular is that band?
PЯӨMӨƧM 🎶