Family Radio Radios that Have a very limited range; Common, but Inexpensive Hard to find Service (FRS) transmit and useful only for intra-team becoming Widely used Handheld only receive on certain communications increasingly difficult frequencies to purchase new No license required Cannot radio (no antennas) = Range up to 1 mile Two-way limited range Radios 14 channels Shared communication with GMRS radios Best used for intra-team communications General Mobile Radios that Have a greater than New GMRS only Inexpensive Requires a license Radio Service transmit and FRS radios radios are not widely (one per family) Range of 2-5 miles (GMRS) receive on certain available for Signals can be improved Intended for frequencies purchase with antennas and Best used for intra-team family use repeaters communications Some business Base station or mobile licenses are Boost signal with grandfathered external antennas or Limited availability repeaters Radios designed Have a greater range than Commonly Same advantages as FRS Same limitations as FRS/GMRS to be operated on FRS or GMRS radios with available; users and GMRS, depending on FRS and GMRS, Hybrid FRS or GMRS 22 channels available must have a license which mode is used depending on which frequencies to operate on the mode is used Have all of the GMRS channels advantages/disadvantages of FRS and GMRS radios because both FRS and GMRS have been combined into one radio Multiple-Use Radios that can Only 5 channels available Hard to find at Handhelds or base Limited to 5 Radio Service be used with for use general commercial units available channels (MURS) retail stores; more
Two-way Radios Family Radio Service (FRS) Radios that transmit and receive on certain frequencies Have a very limited range; useful only for intra-team communications Common, but becoming increasingly difficult to purchase new Inexpensive Widely used No license required Range up to 1 mile 14 channels Shared communication with GMRS radios Best used for intra-team communications Hard to find Handheld only Cannot radio (no antennas) = limited range General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) Radios that transmit and receive on certain frequencies Have a greater than FRS radios Signals can be improved with antennas and repeaters New GMRS only radios are not widely available for purchase Inexpensive Range of 2-5 miles Best used for intra-team communications Base station or mobile Boost signal with external antennas or repeaters Requires a license (one per family) Intended for family use Some business licenses are grandfathered Limited availability FRS/GMRS Hybrid Radios designed to be operated on FRS or GMRS frequencies Have a greater range than FRS or GMRS radios with 22 channels available Have all of the advantages/disadvantages of FRS and GMRS radios because both FRS and GMRS have been combined into one radio Commonly available; users must have a license to operate on the GMRS channels Same advantages as FRS and GMRS, depending on which mode is used Same limitations as FRS and GMRS, depending on which mode is used Multiple-Use Radio Service (MURS) Radios that can be used with Only 5 channels available for use Hard to find at general commercial retail stores; more Handhelds or base units available Limited to 5 channels