2 way emergency communications

[Z00]

Does anyone have experience with any of the available non licensed 2 way radios.
My only experience has been with CB radio and I do not think that is satisfactory.

I am trying to make some decisions on GMRS/FRS and MURS.

Any input from experienced users of these services will be appreciated.

[dirty fingers]

The only 'legal' unlicensed 2-way is FRS (I am unfamiliar with MURS). GMRS actually requires a fed license. Very few abide by that, but they ARE licensed, AND the FCC DOES actually look into them when there are problems (I know that from FIRST hand experience talking with FCC years ago). All GMRS radios I am aware of, also have all the FRS channels also. GMRS is just some of the channels, and allows a higher power transmission.

FRS is pretty low power. It does work fine to link 2 cars driving together (or a group). If you are within half mile and visible, they are ok.

Some of the bigger things to look for with FRS/GMRS is to make sure you get them where they have some sub-channel scrambling. That allows you to somewhat keep a private conversation. They are not really private, but it keeps others off your party line, and works well, as long as each handset is tuned to the same. There really is not all the much 2 way radio traffic around me. The only time it 'does' get a little active, is during hunting season. Note, if you are going to use them hunting, be sure to check out rules about it. Here in NE, it is NOT legal to use them hunting deer (probably other things also), if used to give location of animals, etc. CO's DO listen in on these radios also (I am tied in with many CO's, or was prior to Barb passing), and they DO arrest a couple dozen or more people each year simply by using cheap radios in scan mode while they are driving around. When they hear the chatter, they can almost walk right up to where the people are transmitting.

They are pretty cheap, and usually you can pick them up at garage sales in spring/summer for almost nothing.

[fansubs_ca]

I've found most FRS and GMRS radios made in the last decade or so put out
way less power than the manufacturers claim. (Or they have really crummy
unchangable antennas, either way they don't carry as far as a radio of that
power level should.)

When they first came out they were made a lot closer to spec.

If you can find one with an antenna connector and removable antenna have
somone with an RF power meter check if it's actually putting out anywhere
near the rated power. The other advantage of this is that it comes with a
crummy antenna you can change it out for annother one. I'd be really
reluctant to buy any unit with a built in non-changable antenna.

You might be able to find a commercial two-way radio place that can set
up a commercial grade two-way radio set to the GMRS frequencies. You
are more likely to get full power this way.

Really the best case is to get your ham license and use ham gear but I
know it can be difficult to get everyone in your group to go along with
that. (There are a lot of people that will throw a fit if you use ham gear
without being licensed so it's not worth it.)

Because it's newer I don't know so much about MURS gear.

Thinking a bit outside the law it's not unprecendented for VHF marine
radios to be used on land, and not usually very noticable if you are
nowhere near major bodies of water and stay off the emergency
channel. One warning about this, some of the channels may be
shared with licensed Land-Mobile use. So you'll want to montor
for a while and check local scanner radio directories to avoid any
such shared channels. 5 watt handheld units are available, last
time I looked at them they had standard BNC antenna connectors,
of course that was a long time ago. This last paragraph is just
hypothetically speaking of course. ^_-

[68Camaro]

For the starter set I went with Motorola MR350R (from Amazon). FRS/GMRS. Don't believe the 35 mile range in practical use - that's a uniform issue for all manufacturers. Radio is all about antenna more than power, and with the limited power of a handheld and limited antennas, unless you've got a repeater in the loop you're typically limited to a mile or two.

Considering getting the basic ham license just as a teaching moment, but that'll have to wait a bit.