Chatterbox GMRS-X1 Bluetooth CB question

[Lone Eagle]

A friend of mine this morning asked me if the CHATTERBOX GMRS-X1 Bluetooth Bike-to-Bike Communication System would work and communicate with a Venture CB (and/or I might think the J & M set up as well, etc). I spent some time looking through Chatterbox's website, varopis magazine articles, WebBike World's site, etc., and can't find that specific answer. My belief is that Chatterbox is only peer to peer - and though they state that they have 22 channels to communicate with/from, is that with regular CB radios - or only peer to peer?

 

Thanks in advance for any guidance regarding this.

[Freebird]

Hopefully somebody else will jump in here to verify but as far as I know, the GMRS radios will communicate ONLY with others who are using the GMRS radios. I don't think they will communicate with a CB on any channel.

[Condor]

They probably use FRS frequencies, not CB.

(edited)

Edited August 12, 2011 by Condor

[Owen]

The short answer is no. CB frequencies are different. Here is a longer answer...

The GMRS-only channels are defined in pairs, with one frequency in the 462 MHz range for simplex and repeater outputs, and another frequency 5 MHz higher for repeater inputs. There are eight channels exclusively for GMRS and seven "interstitial" channels shared with Family Radio Service. GMRS use requires an FCC license, and licensees are permitted to transmit at up to 50 watts on GMRS frequencies (although 1 to 5 watts is more common), as well as have detachable or external antennas.

GMRS licensees are also able to use the first 7 FRS frequencies (the "interstitial" GMRS frequencies), but at the lower 500 milliwatt (one half watt) maximum power output, for a total of 15 channels. FRS channels 8 through 14 are not available for GMRS use; use of these frequencies requires an FRS transceiver, or a hybrid transceiver operating under FRS rules.[5][6]

Recently, hybrid FRS/GMRS consumer radios have been introduced with 22 channels, instead of the 14 channels associated with FRS. On this type of radio, channels 8-14 are strictly license-free FRS channels. Transmitting on all channels above channel 14 requires a license. Transmitting on the shared FRS/GMRS channels 1-7 requires a license, if using more than one half watt. It is the responsibility of the radio user to read and understand all applicable rules and regulations regarding GMRS. These hybrid radios are often referred to as "bubble pack" radios, since they are often packed in a plastic shell, for hanging on a display shelf. The massive sales of these radios have led to a term known as "bubble-pack pirates", persons who use GMRS without a license.[7]

The FCC rules for use of hybrid radios on channels 1-7 require licensing only when operating under the rules that apply to the GMRS.[8] Many hybrid radios have an ERP that is lower than one half watt on channels 1-7, or can be set by the user to operate at low power on these channels. This allows hybrid radios to be used under the license free FRS rules if the ERP is less than one half watt and the unit is certified for FRS operation. Only two makers of hybrid FRS/GMRS radios (Garmin and Motorola) presently sell radios that will operate on the GMRS repeater channels; the common "22 channel" radios cannot be used with GMRS repeaters. The Icom IC-F21GM is a solely-GMRS radio which will also work repeaters.

Hybrid packaging still contains the notice of the FCC licensing requirement. Estimates of the number of hybrid FRS/GMRS radios sold to date range from 20 to 50 million units or more. This is compared with approximately 80,000 active GMRS licensees (per the FCC database). Enforcement against individuals is rarely, if ever, attempted.

 

[Condor]

The short answer is no. CB frequencies are different. Here is a longer answer...

The GMRS-only channels are defined in pairs, with one frequency in the 462 MHz range

 

Spoken like a true HAM.... now I have a headache.....

[Lone Eagle]

Great answers, thanks everyone for assisting me with this.