In 1995 the FCC (another worthless Big Brother agency) amended Part 95 of its
Rules to establish a new personal radio service. This service is known as the
Family Radio Service (FRS). This service was created to provide the public with
an "affordable" and convenient means of communications over a short distance. And
best of all, no licensing or fees will be required. And no monthly CELL phone
fees!
The FRS radios are limited to 1/2 watt output and have an average range of between
1 and 2 miles depending on manufacture. There are 14 channels, however, most FRS radios
have CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System) which means your FRS radios squelch
will remain silent until it receives the correct digital code (38 different codes per
channel) Some manufactures offer the ability to scan all 14 channels allowing you to
easily listen in on other's conversations. I'm glad for this as then most people
will get the idea these are RADIOS and not private TELEPHONES! I just hope there
isn't a large FRS lobby group lining the pockets of congress in an effort to ban scanners
which can receive FRS frequencies. I don't think this will happen, but in todays
day an age who knows....
What I see happening is the FRS will become the CB radio of the 90's. This could be
good in that it will get radio "newbies" into the hobby and get them wanting more. Just
then they might get into Shortwave, Scanners, and Ham Radio (ok I'm dreaming). The more the public
knows about the radio hobby the less fearful they'll be of it.
If you want something different to listen to, put the FRS frequencies in your scanner
and see what sounds come from your speaker.....
