Mobile Radio Communication Legal Question

[Datsun Man]

So as we all know different countries have their own rules and regulations for operating different types of radios(fees for license included). I know for a fact that the US will allow CB(27 mhz), GMRS and HAM radio(I believe there are others as well). I am also aware that not all other countries will allow all of these radios to be used in a Mobile Application attached to a vehicle.

With all that said I am curious what Radios are legal to use in Canada? This includes the necessary steps for receiving the appropriate license for said radio. Better yet what Radios are allowed to be used in both the US and Canada(again this includes the appropriate license)

Any information on this subject will be appreciated!

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Can I use my radios outside of the USA?

Using Rocky Talkie Radios Internationally: Regulations and Recommendations. Rocky Talkie radios (and most handheld radios on the market) do not rely on local infrastructure like cell networks and can technically function around the globe. However, th

rockytalkie.gorgias.help

 

[DaveInDenver]

CB, GMRS and FRS are essentially only in the United States. There are similar services and even sometimes on similar frequencies in other counties but the rules differ and the radios are not the same.

If you want to be legal you have to follow the rules of that country. Maybe this only requires knowing frequency, power and bandwidth, sometimes it'll require buying radios locally, maybe rent them.

Your best bet for a singular global two-way is ham radio. Your license in the U.S. in many cases gives you privileges in other countries. The FCC is the legal authority in the U.S and the ARRL is the user association, between them they advocate and represent U.S. hams globally at the ITU, CEPT and IARP and coordinate other amateur radio groups.

In Canada they have the RAC, Radio Amateurs of Canada, and IC, Industry Canada, that do the same function as ARRL and FCC.

What the U.S. and Canada have is a very long standing reciprocal agreement that is very forgiving. Basically all you have to do as a U.S. ham is follow their very slightly different rules and add a couple of letters to your call sign.

https://www.rac.ca/operating/canada-united-states-reciprocal-operating-agreement/

So for any country you can find what agreement are in place, follow those steps, perhaps file paperwork, pay a fee, get any authorization they might require and Bob's your uncle.

But you have to get your FCC amateur license first.

https://www.arrl.org/us-amateurs-operating-overseas

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau...dio-service/reciprocal-operating-arrangements

 

[Datsun Man]

CB, GMRS and FRS are essentially only in the United States. There are similar services and even sometimes on similar frequencies in other counties but the rules differ and the radios are not the same.

If you want to be legal you have to follow the rules of that country. Maybe this only requires knowing frequency, power and bandwidth, sometimes it'll require buying radios locally, maybe rent them.

Your best bet for a singular global two-way is ham radio. Your license in the U.S. in many cases gives you privileges in other countries. The FCC is the legal authority in the U.S and the ARRL is the user association, between them they advocate and represent U.S. hams globally at the ITU, CEPT and IARP and coordinate other amateur radio groups.

In Canada they have the RAC, Radio Amateurs of Canada, and IC, Industry Canada, that do the same function as ARRL and FCC.

What the U.S. and Canada have is a very long standing reciprocal agreement that is very forgiving. Basically all you have to do as a U.S. ham is follow their very slightly different rules and add a couple of letters to your call sign.

https://www.rac.ca/operating/canada-united-states-reciprocal-operating-agreement/

So for any country you can find what agreement are in place, follow those steps, perhaps file paperwork, pay a fee, get any authorization they might require and Bob's your uncle.

But you have to get your FCC amateur license first.

https://www.arrl.org/us-amateurs-operating-overseas

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau...dio-service/reciprocal-operating-arrangements

That is a bit more helpful. Though it covers Amateur instead of GMRS, it is still helpful. At the same time I'm also curious about CB. I know for a fact that truckers in Canada do use CB along with the US, but I suspect there are some rules involved that are similar to what you posted.

 

[DaveInDenver]

That is a bit more helpful. Though it covers Amateur instead of GMRS, it is still helpful. At the same time I'm also curious about CB. I know for a fact that truckers in Canada do use CB along with the US, but I suspect there are some rules involved that are similar to what you posted.

Canada has the General Radio Service, which is the same channels as the U.S. 27 MHz CB. As I understand them the rules up there are as loosely enforced as they are down in the States.

You used to have to get a temporary operating license even for CB. You can talk to Canadian CB'ers across the border. I don't know if you're strictly legal as a U.S. citizen actually in Canada with a CB.

GMRS is not legal in Canada. In fact there's a zone along the Lower 48 northern border, what the FCC refers to as Line A in the GMRS rules, where you have to observe special operating rules 20 miles inside the border.

The Part 95 (that govern CB, FRS and GMRS) are there for you to read.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95

BTW, Line A has impact to amateur radio, too. We are not allowed to use 420-430 when close to the Canadian border.

Then when you say CB to an Australian they will assume you're using a UHF service that is roughly a mash-up of FRS and GMRS to us.

 

[Datsun Man]

Canada has the General Radio Service, which is the same channels as the U.S. 27 MHz CB. As I understand them the rules up there are as loosely enforced as they are down in the States.

You used to have to get a temporary operating license even for CB. You can talk to Canadian CB'ers across the border. I don't know if you're strictly legal as a U.S. citizen actually in Canada with a CB.

GMRS is not legal in Canada. In fact there's a zone along the Lower 48 northern border, what the FCC refers to as Line A in the GMRS rules, where you have to observe special operating rules 20 miles inside the border.

The Part 95 (that govern CB, FRS and GMRS) are there for you to read.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-95

BTW, Line A has impact to amateur radio, too. We are not allowed to use 420-430 when close to the Canadian border.

Good to know on the GMRS. It is a pain, but it is what it is.

As for the CB/GRS, I just found an article going through the rules and it is certainly loose, but has good information. I'm still going through it, but it looks like I may switch to CB or possibly look into amateur radio. That said a choice has yet to be made.

RIC-18 — General Radio Service (GRS)

This circular describes, in general terms, procedures, policies and general information concerning the General Radio Service (GRS). Issue 5, June 2024

ised-isde.canada.ca

 

[DaveInDenver]

I need to be clear, Canada has a FRS/GMRS, just that a U.S. GMRS license (all Part 95 radios, CB, FRS, GMRS) doesn't grant any authority and the radios aren't the same. On the air the differences aren't that great so it's a letter of the regulations situation.

The radios need to carry an approval from the country of use. So an FRS/GMRS will have an FCC sticker here, an IC sticker up there. If you want to be 100% above board you will have radios you use here, radios you use in Canada.

With ham radios you can use the same hardware, the granting authority (e.g. the license) is with the user, not carried on the radio. So you can physically take and use your same radio as long as you adhere to the operating rules and do the steps necessary under the reciprocal agreements.

The assumption is you know how to technically get your radios to work in a way consistent with the amateur rules. That's the channelization, frequencies, band edges, bandwidths, modes and power limits. I don't want to gloss over that even the most basic Technician ticket in the U.S. comes with a significant leeway in what you're allowed to do here and globally.

 

[pagero]

Given your tagline ("I don't know where I am going...") this is probably moot... but one of the interesting options in Canada is the Resource Road Radio system in British Columbia. As far as I know, this is specific to BC. The main purpose is to announce travel on these resource roads at every kilometer as you head up or down a road. The channel used will be posted when you enter the road, and using this should lessen the risk of being flattened by a logging truck barreling down the same narrow dirt road.

To use it legally you need to purchase a pre-programmed VHF radio which gives you channels to use while on Resource Roads (usually logging roads). You'll also find that off roaders tend to use these to communicate within a group, using a channel other than the one assigned to the road or area where they're traveling.

Just like some like to use ham radios to use GMRS, I'm sure some will program their non-approved VHF radios to the Resource Road frequencies as well.

More at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/natural-resource-use/resource-roads/radio-communications

 

[Datsun Man]

Given your tagline ("I don't know where I am going...") this is probably moot... but one of the interesting options in Canada is the Resource Road Radio system in British Columbia. As far as I know, this is specific to BC. The main purpose is to announce travel on these resource roads at every kilometer as you head up or down a road. The channel used will be posted when you enter the road, and using this should lessen the risk of being flattened by a logging truck barreling down the same narrow dirt road.

To use it legally you need to purchase a pre-programmed VHF radio which gives you channels to use while on Resource Roads (usually logging roads). You'll also find that off roaders tend to use these to communicate within a group, using a channel other than the one assigned to the road or area where they're traveling.

Just like some like to use ham radios to use GMRS, I'm sure some will program their non-approved VHF radios to the Resource Road frequencies as well.

More at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/natural-resource-use/resource-roads/radio-communications

That is still good information regardless. The only question being is where does one get one of the preprogrammed radios? If would give me an idea of what is being used and what is allowed in the area at least.

 

[pagero]

That is still good information regardless. The only question being is where does one get one of the preprogrammed radios? If would give me an idea of what is being used and what is allowed in the area at least.

They don't seem to be all that hard to find - here's a couple that came back from my google search, one mobile and one handheld:

Weekend/Explorer - Back Country - Forestry Roads - Radio & A

www.kccommunications.ca

RT85 BC RR LADD Land Mobile Logging Road Overlanding Radio

Retevis RT85 BC RR LADD Land Mobile Radio: Robust dual-band FM handheld radio with LCD, enhanced audio, durable case, and 5W output. Ideal for backcountry use!

www.fleetwooddp.com

 

[Red90]

CB (27 MHz) legal without a license as per USA.

FRS and GMRS legal but only handhelds up to 2 W and no repeaters.

VHF commercial channels are becoming the most popular these days. To be legal, you need a licensed commercial radio. Up to 50 W. License is $40 a year per radio.

Ham is same as US.

 

[Datsun Man]

CB (27 MHz) legal without a license as per USA.

FRS and GMRS legal but only handhelds up to 2 W and no repeaters.

VHF commercial channels are becoming the most popular these days. To be legal, you need a licensed commercial radio. Up to 50 W. License is $40 a year per radio.

Ham is same as US.

It's interesting how the license is per radio. Per year makes sense at the least, but one would think that if you only have one operator that might use a couple different radios per vehicle depending that one license would be able to cover the few radios. Then again I'm not the one who makes the rules

 

[Red90]

It's interesting how the license is per radio. Per year makes sense at the least, but one would think that if you only have one operator that might use a couple different radios per vehicle depending that one license would be able to cover the few radios. Then again I'm not the one who makes the rules

Commerical radio licenses are tied to the radio and not the operator.