Service Types

CB (Citizens Band) – The oldest personal radio service, made famous by Hollywood. The frequencies allocated for CB are the lowest available, making it one of the better candidates for use in terrain. Unfortunately transmit wattage is strictly limited to 4 watts, or 12 watts in what is called SSB (single side band) mode, which puts CB radio somewhere between GMRS and MURS in terms of range.

FRS (Family Radio Service) – The most common service in use today for handheld mobile. Inexpensive FRS radios are widely available. FRS has lower transmit wattages, and is good for short range communication, especially within line-of-sight. Users of FRS can cross-connect with GMRS users, which makes FRS a potentially reasonable solution for building a community radio network.

MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) – This is a little known radio service often used for consumer devices like tracking collars. The frequencies used by MURS are the second lowest next to CB, but power is strictly limited to 2 watts, and only specifically licensed radios are permitted to be used, both of which strongly limit the utility of this band. There are however certain situations where MURS may be a good option, but keep in mind that you can not cross-connect with GMRS or FRS users without a second radio.

GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) – Licensed radio service using the shared GMRS / FRS channels with the highest permitted transmit wattages, and allowance for repeater use. GMRS is excellent for short to medium range communications, allowing the greatest flexibility. GMRS radios can cross-connect with FRS radios to some extent.