However, it’s not the location of the radio that is important. It’s usually not practical to climb a mountain to extend the range of your radio. If you were on top of a mountain, then you would be able to communicate many miles, as long as the person at the other end was able to see the mountain off in the distance. And an FRS radio would work the same way. On the other hand, if you climbed a mountain with the flashlight, then it could be seen for many miles, because you would be up clear of the obstructions. And an FRS radio works under the same principle: Your signal won’t get out very far because it will hit obstructions. If you have a flashlight in your hand, then you can’t be seen very far away, because the light beam will hit obstructions. (Again, the radio waves can penetrate some obstructions, but this ability is very limited.) If you can’t see the other radio, then you probably won’t be able to communicate with it. Therefore, an FRS radio really has about the same range as a flashlight. Radio waves have some ability to penetrate obstructions, but this is very limited. This is because UHF radio waves behave almost the same as light waves: they travel in a line of sight. This is a very significant limitation because on the UHF frequencies used by these radios, the main factor in determining distance is the height of the antenna. The most important limitation, however, was that the antenna had to be permanently mounted to the radio, with no method of connecting an external antenna. In most cases, this low power is not a significant limitation. First of all, the maximum power allowed was 500 milliwatts (1/2 watt). The FCC imposed a number of technical requirements for these radios. millions of such radios were sold, and even the most inexpensive versions (often under ten dollars) provide quite reliable communications over short distances (less than a mile). In 1996, the FCC created the Family Radio Service (FRS), which allowed unlicensed use of UHF radios on 14 channels. To see how it’s important, we need to look at the history of GMRS radio, and the related FRS radio service.
The change allows hams and others to potentially provide an important service to their neighbors, at a very low cost. This change has a significant implication for those looking for an inexpensive method of family communication, especially for emergency preparedness. On May 20, 2015, the FCC announced that it reduced the license fee for GMRS radio licenses.
For more information, the full instructions can be found on page 9 of this FCC document. To apply by mail, you will actually need to send three separate forms from the FCC website:ĭownload form 605 first, since it contains most of the general instructions. All of the questions on the application should be self-explanatory. You will sign up at this page on the FCC website.Īfter you have the ULS Account set up, you will go to this page on the FCC website to start the application. If you have future business with the FCC, you’ll use this same account.
When you do, you will receive an “FRN” (FCC Registration Number) and password. First, you will need to set up an account on the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS).
You can read the full instructions at this page on the FCC website. The fee for the ten year license is currently $70. As with many bureaucratic activities, it’s somewhat more complicated than necessary, but not particularly difficult. You can obtain a GMRS license by mail or online. GMRS remains a good option for many emergency communications applications. 2018 Update: This page was written in 2015, after the FCC reduced the fee for the GMRS license.