MURS

[KC9IUX]

Opinions? Looks like where CB should have been.

[kf4lne]

First of all, this should be in T&O. I travel a lot, and I pull network cable. MURS is great for car to car communications and its great to use on the job site. I use it to cover large areas when working and to keep in touch when travelling with several cars. Its much more usable than FRS and offers a better range. Its great to send someone to get parts and be able to radio them and change the order. I also use it to keep in touch with the family throughout town. I have a pair of WHS150s and a pair of SP10s and a Radio Shack mobile i use in the house. MURS works in situations where FRS is just too sissy to work and both FRS and CB are filled with irresponsable users that make both services useless for what I need. I hope that MURS gear stays expensive and hard to find like it is now, it helps to keep the few channels we have usable and quiet.


EDIT:

Who else on this board is using MURS and what do you use it for and what gear? (50w modded ham gear excluded)

[N1XHF]

I have a radio shack mobile i use for MURS as a base and my wife and daughter have a couple of cheap MURS handhelds that I got of ebay some time ago (columbia 1 watt). I use them in place of FRS. They have a much better range and there is little to no activity where I live unlike FRS.
That is pretty much all it is really good for unless you have business.

[KB9YCO]

MURS is a great addition for a citizen's license free service. I think they could probably use some more frequencies, especially if it gains more popularity, but 2 watts with 50 feet between antenna and feedline can get you pretty far.
I have a pair of Kenwood TK-2100's (I think that's the model number, don't have it on me right now) that I use with my girlfriend or other friends that aren't licensed, when necessary, and it works out quite well.
Of course I have recently heard some local amateurs (ones that I don't personally care for) using the band, presumably on amateur equipment since they sound the same when I hear them in the ham bands, talking and more recently playing music. I'm usually not much of a frequency cop but I did report the few whose callsigns I knew just because I think it's ashame to see a new band get mucked up, and by amateur operators (new for this type of usage anyway since there are plenty of grandfathered users still on these frequencies.) Unfortunately there will always be someone to mess things up, but for the most part I've used these radios traveling and it's been great, not to mention much less popular than the often times messy FRS bands.

[KD8COO]

I'm just continually surprised to hear about FRS and CB being so full. #Around here, there's usual truckers on CB 19, but other than that, very little use. #I scan CB while on long drives just for the sheer amusement of it all, but there's little if no activity unless you're on the Interstate http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif #I think only once or twice have I run across others on FRS. #Range is definitely the biggest issue with FRS. #I've used it when caravaning with others, and it's fine as long as you're real close, but start to get a little distance and it goes away fast.

I've just started to learn about GMRS and MURS. #Interesting to hear about, please continue http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[VE7NOT]

What is MURS?

CB is obvious. - 27MHz 4 wats (12 ssb) and 40 channels. Also base, mobile, handheld with external antennas. Tone squelch would be handy there however few use them. HOWEVER I AM LOOKING FOR SOME IF ANYONE KNOWS WHERE YOU CAN BUY THEM?

FRS and GMRS are both licence free here and 2 watts is about the limit. The big disadvantage is of course is the antennas are not removable and are either mostly handheld unit with the odd mobile unit permainatly attatched to the antenna as well. Combined together in one hanheld they have 22 channels and many tones for the squelch.

49 MHz was well used about 10 years ago however it seems to be in disuse. The units had at most 5 channels and all were handheld or headsets mostly. However I remember changing the headset into a base station. I think the power output was only 50mW or something. I never head of tone squelchs there.

Now the back to the original question. What is MURS?

[KD5VHZ]

Multi Use Radio Service http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=multi_use

[KC0SEY]

[QUOTE] KB9YCO
Of course I have recently heard some local amateurs (ones that I don't personally care for) using the band, presumably on amateur equipment since they sound the same when I hear them in the ham bands, talking and more recently playing music. I'm usually not much of a frequency cop but I did report the few whose callsigns I knew just because I think it's ashame to see a new band get mucked up, and by amateur operators (new for this type of usage anyway since there are plenty of grandfathered users still on these frequencies.)

I'm not trying to sound nieve, but isn't the use of HAM gear illegal on the MURS, GMRS/FRS & CB bands ? I was always under the impression that it was!?? Food for Thought http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Brian
KC0SEY
SFSD

[KI4ITI]

One of the unique things about MURS is that it may be used for remote-control or telemetry applications. Theoretically, you could do point-to-point APRS (no digipeaters) or something similar, using MURS stations. That's kind of a special case, true, but none of the other unlicensed services allow it. Data transmission over FRS (as in the Garmin Rinos) must be initiated by a direct act of the user - no automatic beacons. I don't believe CB allows data at all.

Josh KI4ITI

[KG6YTZ]

MURS frequencies and emission modes/widths (http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations_1&id=multi_use)

[wa9cwx]

Around here, Murs is used by some Ham wannabes, and I think one licensed ham. But what is neat is a packet setup that someone has on MURS, don't know who or what, but suprised me!

FRS here is 10 year old pottymouths; nice dads and kids; #car to car comms of families on vacation traveling on I 90; and a few construction/work crews. In that order.

CB is local folk, and a few badboys.

The only really pathetic thing around here, with idiot talk and snide comments, is the 2 meter repeater.

[kf4lne]

MURS is good for the whackers, it gives them a legitimate use for motorola gear in their worn out crown vic. There are actually some Whackers here who go out and "patrol" using MURS 4 (154.57) in the evenings and during bad weather. They are already gearing up for this weekends predicted now event.