FRS – Family Radio Service
FRS is a non-licensed non-commercial radio service that anyone can use. All you need is a good FRS handheld radio, and someone to talk to that is nearby. Generally it can be expected that you will need line of sight to communicate with someone. That doesn’t always mean you can see the person you are communicating, but there can’t be anything too much in the way of the signal.
You can talk to anyone with a GMRS radio, but you will be limited in range and not able to talk via a repeater. You may however be able to hear repeater traffic, so that could be very useful during an emergency situation.
This can be a good option for anyone who can’t afford a GMRS radio license and radio, but does have someone nearby they can talk to, or who can listen to repeater traffic and learn what they need to know that way.
On the technical side, FRS radios are limited to 2 watts ERP (effective radiated power), and are prohibited from changing the antenna on the radio. Very few FRS radios actually output the maximum 2 watts ERP.
FRS Radios
Pretty much any FRS radio is going to work well enough for short-range line of sight communications. It’s best to select a radio that does have the full 22 channel range, and can output at around the maximum 2 watts allowed for FRS.
IMPORTANT: No FRS or GMRS radio has more than 22 channels (frequencies). Any channels advertised above the 22 are not real channels, but combinations of frequencies and a CTCSS or DCS tone (also called PL tones). Those tones simply prevent your radio from opening squelch when someone is talking on the same frequency but not using a matching PL tone. There is nothing wrong with using PL tones, and it can be advantageous, but you need to be aware of how it works, and why you are doing it.
Keep in mind that real GMRS radios require a license to legally use. Some manufacturers like Midland muddy the water between GMRS and FRS. If you want to transmit legally as an unlicensed FRS user, just make sure your radio does not have a replaceable antenna, and can’t transmit higher than 2 watts.
Motorola provides a complete range of radios starting at about $40 for a pair and running up to about $100 for a pair. It’s best to stick with the T260 model or better so you have closer to the full 2 watt limit.
Midland has two lines of radios which include both FRS and ultra-basic GMRS handhelds starting at around $25 for a pair and running up to about $100 for a pair. It is really hard to tell what the wattage is for Midland handheld radios since they are not direct about it. Choose one that is not labeled GMRS, but has two power output settings.