hot, hot, hot!! bb-b&m uniden gmrs - 15.99 no rebates!!

[chefmws]

just got back from best buy and picked up 2 pair of uniden 22 channel frs/gmrs vox w/ 7 channel weather radio 2 packs. the model number is GMRS540-2.

on the shelf they are showing at 39.99, at the register they ring up at 15.99.

these radios are really nice. you can use either 3 regular AA batteries or NiMH re-chargeable battery packs. they are voice activated, have 7 frs (2 mile rage channels) and 15 GMRS (5 mile range channels and requires an fcc license that costs 75.00 for 5 years before you have to renew) you can tune in to seven different weather radio frequencies, they have 5 different call alerts and they use the 38 sub-codes as well.

i bought mine at the best buy in duluth ga. on pleasant hill road.

your mileage may very on this deal.

later
mark

 

[Marauder-]

Would someone get in trouble if they used the GMRS frequencies w/o that $75 FCC license? These seem nice and cheap enough to justify buying for Tahoe trips next winter.

 

[tadpole]

most definitely a YMMV !!!! one of the best buy stores by me had them marked down to 17.99.....however, another one DID have them marked down to 15.99.....so i took my receipt for my 24.99 set back to them and got a $9.xx price adjustment.......and how ironic was it for the rebates for $30 to come in just DAYS before this price drop!!!!!

 

[chefmws]

according to several websites i have visited about that very issue the fine from the fcc can be a maximum of $10,000 and some jail time and/or confiscation of property.

the 75.00 fee is a 50.00 application fee and 25.00 lic. fee for a 5 year period. heck i spend more than that a year on a cell phone i hardly use. that is only 15.00 a year. cheap compared to a possible 10 grand fine.

the lic fee covers your immediate family, ie, mom/dad/sister/brother/kids. basically anyone who is a blood relative. i bought a set for my dad who lives in NC. he will be covered under my lic.

later
mark

 

[bunker]

i bought mine at the best buy in duluth ga. on pleasant hill road.

I'll be heading there in about 1/2 an hour!

thanks!

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: bunker

i bought mine at the best buy in duluth ga. on pleasant hill road.

I'll be heading there in about 1/2 an hour!

thanks!

Rang up at $39.99 for me Might of been a fluke for you.

 

[Cuke]

Mira Mesa (San Diego) BB had several
priced (on the rack) at $15.99 Clearance.

I got 1 set & left the rest for you.

They've got a new set at $39 that looks pretty much the same,
but includes a charging base. The radios themselves look
identical, except for different color plastic. Both have the same
channels.

 

[bunker]

Originally posted by: Cuke
Mira Mesa (San Diego) BB had several
priced (on the rack) at $15.99 Clearance.

I got 1 set & left the rest for you.

They've got a new set at $39 that looks pretty much the same,
but includes a charging base. The radios themselves look
identical, except for different color plastic. Both have the same
channels.

Yeah, I even wrote down his model number and no go for me

I originally saw the ones with the charging base and was hoping that was them.

 

[Marauder-]

Originally posted by: chefmws
according to several websites i have visited about that very issue the fine from the fcc can be a maximum of $10,000 and some jail time and/or confiscation of property.

the 75.00 fee is a 50.00 application fee and 25.00 lic. fee for a 5 year period. heck i spend more than that a year on a cell phone i hardly use. that is only 15.00 a year. cheap compared to a possible 10 grand fine.

the lic fee covers your immediate family, ie, mom/dad/sister/brother/kids. basically anyone who is a blood relative. i bought a set for my dad who lives in NC. he will be covered under my lic.

later
mark

Wouldn't this be like a ticket for J walking? How could they catch you?

 

[chefmws]

read up about REACT teams.

these guys are wireless/shortwave emergency response teams who monitor these channels and others for emergency requests. if you are not using the proper call signs they can triangulte your position and nab you.

i have read about several people who have gotten busted for using the radios illegally.

as to the YMMV on the radios... the ones i have are yellow and black in color.... i bought a total of 3 sets on 2 different days. all rang up for 15.99. these were rung up on friday the 25th and saturday the 26th.


hope others can get in on the deal.

later
mark

 

[freebee]

The prospect of getting triangulated while driving down the highway is slim to none, especially in dense urban areas. Also, i doubt any fine will be served when one is deep within the woods hiking.

BUT, since the radios are transmitting on FRS freq at 2 watts anyways, as opposed to traditional .5watts, it doesn't really matter to use the "licensed" gmrs frequencies.Interference within the subchannels are mimimal anyways.

 

[-Omen-]

FYI if you cant get them at BB, Amazon has them for $24 shipped

 

[DanFungus]

Originally posted by: -Omen-
FYI if you cant get them at BB, Amazon has them for $24 shipped

for the single radio. for the pair, it's $44

 

[thinlizzie]

Arlington Hgts, IL (Rand and Palatine) had like 5 left after I got my pair.

Marked @ $15.99 clearance.

Only drawback to these is they are only 7 channel FRS (I have some Motorolas that are 14 channel with the 38 subcodes).

How many of you are really going to pay the US Gov't. the $75 for a 5 year lisence to use these??? ;^ P

 

[Marauder-]

Yeah - see, that was my reservation about it. 7 FRS channels vs the 15 licensed ones. I stopped using these once one of my friends lost my other radio / not that these seemed to be working all that great. But $75 does seem to sour the deal for me even though it's 5 yrs. AND if I were to use the licensed ones, I wouldn't use stupid call signs or whatever.

But on the other hand, you really can't beat $15.99 for 2 radios. The funny part about this is that I get my season passes at Kirkwood - which monitors channel 9/11 on the FRS system. I wonder if this radio cut out everything past 8 - that would be funny.

"I couldn't radio for help b/c my radio was missing those 2 channels..." LOL

 

[ConnCarl]

Originally posted by: chefmws
read up about REACT teams.

these guys are wireless/shortwave emergency response teams who monitor these channels and others for emergency requests. if you are not using the proper call signs they can triangulte your position and nab you.

Give me a break. This is one of those "driving without shoes on your feet is a federal offense" posts.

REACT's purpose hasn't changed much in the twenty-something years since I was a member. If you do read up on them you will find that they are a non-profit volunteer organization that monitors emergency frequencies, largely to help put travellers in touch with police or other emergency agencies. They are civilians with no arrest powers and no law enforcement responsibilities. They do not have access to the FCC's licence database and would have no way of knowing if you were "using the proper call signs".

They don't triangulate the positions of suspected unlicensed users of GMRS frequencies and they certainly don't "nab" anyone. In fact, if you aren't using the emergency GMRS frequency (462.675 mhz) there is very little chance of a REACT monitor even hearing you at all.

Nice deal on the radios though!

 

[Xterraguy]

I scored a pair last week for $16 on clearance, but was quite disappointed to find they are NOT VOX unless you buy the special headset. The only reason I bought them is because my 4-year-old likes to talk to my friend's 4-year-old when we're out 4-wheeling our trucks together and he hasn't figured out how to use the PTT button correctly. The other kid has a VOX model that works without a headset. Oh well, maybe I can recoup the cost on Ebay.

As for the FRS/GMRS, they are NOT 7 FRS only, they are 8 GMRS/14 FRS, 7 Weather. I'm looking at my instruction sheet specs right now. I actually just got off the phone with the FCC and verified that the frequencies used for channels 1-14 on these units are FRS, only channels 15-22 are GMRS.

Now, what's this about a $30 rebate?

Brent

 

[tadpole]

Originally posted by: Xterraguy
I scored a pair last week for $16 on clearance, but was quite disappointed to find they are NOT VOX unless you buy the special headset. The only reason I bought them is because my 4-year-old likes to talk to my friend's 4-year-old when we're out 4-wheeling our trucks together and he hasn't figured out how to use the PTT button correctly. The other kid has a VOX model that works without a headset. Oh well, maybe I can recoup the cost on Ebay.

As for the FRS/GMRS, they are NOT 7 FRS only, they are 8 GMRS/14 FRS, 7 Weather. I'm looking at my instruction sheet specs right now. I actually just got off the phone with the FCC and verified that the frequencies used for channels 1-14 on these units are FRS, only channels 15-22 are GMRS.

Now, what's this about a $30 rebate?

Brent

the rebate expireed 4-05-03 and IS on best buys website.
however, the terms of the rebate were VERY forgiving, as they didn't require the original UPCs......so i kept them, just in case another rebate pops out of the wood work. as i stated before the deal i got sssssmokin'! Best Buy paid me $30 to take 2 pair of these radios home with me! ain't i lucky!!!!

 

[LizReed]

The prospect of getting triangulated while driving down the highway is slim to none, especially in dense urban areas. Also, i doubt any fine will be served when one is deep within the woods hiking.

BUT, since the radios are transmitting on FRS freq at 2 watts anyways, as opposed to traditional .5watts, it doesn't really matter to use the "licensed" gmrs frequencies.Interference within the subchannels are mimimal anyways.

Actually, looking at the specs, these are only 0.5 watts on FRS or GMRS channels, not 2watts on GMRS. And nowhere do I see they 5 mile claim.

Scan speed is also very slow.

A "Call" button, now popular on these type radios, is very stupid. Why not just get on the air and say, "Hey BOB!" instead of usnig an annoying call button?

 

[LizReed]

A couple other errors I see...

1. Anyone with internet access can look up the callsign database on the FCC website., so yes, REACT members can look it up.

2. HEre's the scoop on FRS/GMRS frequencies. There are 7 channels that are strictly FRS. There are 8 channels that are strictly GMRS (not counting the repeater input freqs). There are 7 channels that are shared by FRS & GMRS, so you have 22 channels total. So, even if you do believe the stories of REACT members hunting you down, you only have to avoid the 8 strictly GMRS channels. On the shared channels, they'd never know what your transmit power was, 0.5 or 2 watts. Of course, with this radio your limited to 0.5 watts anyway.

In all the time I've used my GMRS radios (about a year) or have monitored the frequencies on my scanner, there has only been ONCE that I've heard someone use the proper call signs.

 

[imported_Mike]

Originally posted by: Cuke
Mira Mesa (San Diego) BB had several
priced (on the rack) at $15.99 Clearance.

I got 1 set & left the rest for you.

They've got a new set at $39 that looks pretty much the same,
but includes a charging base. The radios themselves look
identical, except for different color plastic. Both have the same
channels.

woot woot, going there later today, might have to check these out.

 

[gbuskirk]

Originally posted by: ConnCarl

Originally posted by: chefmws
read up about REACT teams.

They do not have access to the FCC's licence database and would have no way of knowing if you were "using the proper call signs".

You too have access to the FCC's license database.

 

[dAv]

Picked up 3 for $15.99 in Gainesville today. 3 more left on rack.
Great for Christmas presents.

 

[mrorange6]

About 5 sets left at the Sharonville, OH store, they are correctly marked down.