FRS/GMRS Radio - General

Family Radio Service (FRS) or General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios are the recommended means for team support communications. These radios are usually rugged, lightweight, and compact.

In the past, FRS radios had 7 FRS/GMRS shared frequencies (channels 1 to 7) and 7 dedicated FRS frequencies (channels 8 to 14). FRS radios now support 22 channels but are limited 2 watts or 1/2 watts depending on the channel. They cannot be lawfully modified, and require no FCC license to operate.

Conversely, GMRS radios supported first seven frequencies (channels 1 to 7) or on the GMRS dedicated channels (15 - 22). A GMRS radio user must have an FCC license to operate on the GMRS channels. GMRS radios had more power (generally 1 to 5 watts).

Today, both FRS and GMRS radio provide access to all 22 channels, but GMRS transmit at higher power on most channels and can only be used with an FCC license - currently a cost of $35 every ten years. A GMRS license covers all immediate members of a licensee’s family, but a licensee can also designate anyone to operate a GMRS radio in a life safety emergency. There is no test to obtain a GMRS license and the license expires after ten years but can be renewed. For more information about the rules governing GMRS, please review this part of the FCC’s regulations.