FRS, GMRS, and "PL" codes
Jason and I had a discussion going on the program file 'dawg and I sent him...
I thought I'd answer some of the questions here (without getting too technical)
First, the Wouxun is not in any way "FRS Legal". For one, FRS is limited to 1/2 watt output. For two, an FRS transmitter is required to have a fixed, non-removable antenna. Antenna upgrades are not allowed on FRS.
The good news is that only channels 8 through 14 are designated "FRS only". The other channels are either shared with GMRS or GMRS only. What this means is that transmitting on 8 through 14 should not be done with the Wouxun.
Then most Wally World radios have something many may be familiar with... the "PL" codes or "Private line" codes. Different manufacturers use different names... For example, you can be on channel 17 with a choice of up to 40 "PL" codes!
The thing is, the use of these codes provides anything but privacy! Without getting too technical, what these codes actually are is a "receiver filter".
How they work is that each code has a different sub-audible tone that is transmitted along with whatever you say. If the receiving radio does not detect the sub-audible tone within the transmission, it remains silent.
BUT, and here's the key... The "PL" codes do not alter the frequency at all!
If someone has their radio set on channel 17 code 3, they will only hear transmissions sent using channel 17 code 3. But anyone with the code feature turned off will still be able to hear everything transmitted over channel 17 code 3 or any other code!
Again, the tone transmitted when a code is selected simply tells the RECEIVER not to listen if the correct tone is not present in a transmission.
Confused yet?
Example: John and Sally have their radios tuned to GMRS channel 17 code 0 (or PL off).
Bill and Sam have their radios tuned to GMRS channel 17 code 1.
John and Sally can talk to each other and since they are not sending the correct tone with the transmission, Bill and Sam won't hear them. (Bill and Sam's receiver ignores the transmissions made by John and Sally because the correct tone is not being transmitted)
Bill and Sam can talk to each other. And since John and Sally have their PL code set to off, they can hear every word Bill and Sam are saying. (John and Sally can hear Bill and Sam because John and Sally have turned off the "PL" filter so their receivers will let them listen to all transmissions on channel 17.)
The problem with all of this is that everyone can be on the same frequency with different PL codes and could be talking over each other. Bill and Sam would never know it.
Bottom line.. use of the "codes" do not provide any sort of privacy. Anyone with the code feature turned off can hear all transmissions on the frequency no matter if a code is used or not.
The "official" procedure is to listen to a frequency with the codes off to determine if it is in use. Then if the frequency is clear, you can switch to one of the PL codes. Otherwise, even though you can't hear others on the frequency, you could be trying to transmit at the same time... that's not a good thing.
My advice? Always leave the codes set to off. That way you know without a doubt if someone else is trying to use the frequency. (While they do have a useful purpose in some applications, IMHO PL codes are just a gimmick when used with GMRS/FRS.)
P.S. If you want to use the PL codes, the Wouxun can be programmed to use them.
If you are using PL and somone else is not, but they are near by or within strong signal range, 
So, we are all clear on this 
Right??
Maybe this was a ---> 
