Did MURS ever catch on?
Is it better than FRS?

Not like I thought it would. It's better than FRS in some respects. You
can run up to 2-watts on MURS, where FRS is limited to 1/2-watt. You can
use various antennas, including outside, roof mounted, where you're not
allowed to alter the tiny rubber ducky on FRS. You won't find too many
kids, and their moms on MURS. MURS also allows for a lot of different uses,
where FRS has some restrictions.

Bill Crocker


"Cubit" wrote in message
. ..
Did MURS ever catch on?
Is it better than FRS?

Cubit wrote:

Did MURS ever catch on?
Is it better than FRS?
-----------------------------------
"Kind of".
My wife, and some friends, all use MURs when we are out and about.
It is about like any 2M ham HT running 2W. We have only heard one
other user and that was in Columbus OH.

Conversly, FRS are a lot smaller, lighter and much cheaper!!!
so they are much more convinient in a mall.

The Radio Shack FRS units that had all the guts in a plastic
blob with the antenna that magneticaly mounted on the roof out
performs the MURs on the highwya. If one of our friends didn't
own a 2 way shop and sell us the MURs "at cost" beause they
didn't move, it wouldn't have really made sense. I do know of some
guys in westeren KUY using Radius HT reprogramed to MURs
freqs. Not real legal, but I doubt if they will get caught. Makes much
more sense then some fools I know using marine VHF gear.

Terrry

"Cubit" wrote in message
. ..
Did MURS ever catch on?

It hasn't so far (at least around my area).

I would still hope that MURS catches on, since you can use higher power on
those freqs than you can on FRS, and you can also use different antennas
than the "stock" ones.

I would imagine that a big part of the paucity of MURS use is due to a
relative lack of available radios and dealers who sell them. I recall doing
a search for MURS radios about 6 months ago, and I think I fould like two
online dealers who actually carry these radios. I see no advertising for
them, either. They are also much more expensive than FRS "bubble pack"
radios. Seems like only radio/scanner/amateur radio aficionados have a clue
as to what MURS is.

Jackie

There are a lot of radios on eBay that can be used legally for MURS. Some
of the Motorola are higher wattage, but if you keep the switch on 2-watts,
or less, they're legal.

Bill Crocker


"Buzzygirl" wrote in message
...

"Cubit" wrote in message
. ..
Did MURS ever catch on?

It hasn't so far (at least around my area).

I would still hope that MURS catches on, since you can use higher power on
those freqs than you can on FRS, and you can also use different antennas
than the "stock" ones.

I would imagine that a big part of the paucity of MURS use is due to a
relative lack of available radios and dealers who sell them. I recall
doing
a search for MURS radios about 6 months ago, and I think I fould like two
online dealers who actually carry these radios. I see no advertising for
them, either. They are also much more expensive than FRS "bubble pack"
radios. Seems like only radio/scanner/amateur radio aficionados have a
clue
as to what MURS is.

Jackie

MURS has an odd deviation limit on three channels.
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/mursrule.htm#95.631
---------------
"5.632 MURS transmitter frequencies.

(a) The MURS transmitter channel frequencies are
151.820 MHz,
151.880 MHz
151.940 MHz
154.570 MHz
154.600 MHz.

(b) The authorized bandwidth is 11.25 kHz on frequencies 151.820
MHz,
151.880 MHz and 151.940 MHz. The authorized bandwidth is 20.0 kHz on
frequencies 154.570 and 154.600 MHz.

(c) MURS transmitters must maintain a frequency stability of 5.0
ppm,
or 2.0 ppm if designed to operate with a 6.25 kHz bandwidth.
---------------------------------------------------------------
PRSG Comment: The use of conventional NBFM ("narrowband FM")
transmitters, those having a maximum deviation of +/- 5 KHz, is again
permissible on the two MURS 154 MHz frequencies. On the three MURS 151
MHz frequencies, only the narrower deviation (+/- 2.5 KHz) is now
permitted.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Out units are five channels and have +/-2.5KHz deviaiton on
all 5 channels.

Other then type acceptance, I guess you could clip the magic diode in
an Icom IC28/A/H and turn down the power and use it on two MURS freqs.


Terry

Any ham transceiver with a 2W or lower power setting and a half deviation
capability would satisfy the "spirit" of the regulations, however the type
acceptance issue sometimes gives rise to a heated debate. But since a large
number of potential MURS users are not hams, the general unavailability of
low cost, type accepted HTs alongside the FRS/GMRS bubble-pack radios is one
of the big reasons why MURS didn't catch on. I briefly used my Yaesu VX-150
for MURS, but I don't really have any reason to use MURS any more. The only
activity I hear in my area is on the upper two channels, and is always
business-related--probably hold-overs from when the channels were licensed.
It's a shame it didn't catch on because it's a great service.


wrote in message
oups.com...
MURS has an odd deviation limit on three channels.
Other then type acceptance, I guess you could clip the magic diode in
an Icom IC28/A/H and turn down the power and use it on two MURS freqs.

Terry

In article ,
"Bill Crocker" wrote:

There are a lot of radios on eBay that can be used legally for MURS. Some
of the Motorola are higher wattage, but if you keep the switch on 2-watts,
or less, they're legal.

Bill Crocker

Bzzzzt, Wrong, Would you like to try again for what is behind Door #3?

MURS requires Specific Type Acceptance for that Radio Service, and no
Higher Powered Radios with user switchable Power levels would pass Type
Acceptance for MURS Radio Service........


Me

My bad! I guess I was misled somewhere and will have to live with this
mistake the rest of my life!

Bill Crocker



"Me" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Bill Crocker" wrote:

There are a lot of radios on eBay that can be used legally for MURS.
Some
of the Motorola are higher wattage, but if you keep the switch on
2-watts,
or less, they're legal.

Bill Crocker

Bzzzzt, Wrong, Would you like to try again for what is behind Door #3?

MURS requires Specific Type Acceptance for that Radio Service, and no
Higher Powered Radios with user switchable Power levels would pass Type
Acceptance for MURS Radio Service........


Me

MURS is such a free for all now anyway who would bother checking if no
one complains? For all this talk I have never seen anyone write up a
list of acceptable radios. If there is one please forward.

Me wrote:
In article ,
"Bill Crocker" wrote:


There are a lot of radios on eBay that can be used legally for MURS. Some
of the Motorola are higher wattage, but if you keep the switch on 2-watts,
or less, they're legal.

Bill Crocker


Bzzzzt, Wrong, Would you like to try again for what is behind Door #3?

MURS requires Specific Type Acceptance for that Radio Service, and no
Higher Powered Radios with user switchable Power levels would pass Type
Acceptance for MURS Radio Service........


Me