FRS, GMRS and 900 MHz Handie - Talkies

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the new 900 MHz Handiest all designed and built for the same purpose: short-range communication for personal or commercial use. However, there are significant differences between the three!

FRS Handiest is limited to 500 maws (half a watt), have fixed antennas, 14 channels and not licensed. These are good, cheap Handiest for the children if they are within a block or two at the most. Of course, in wide open terrain, the better choice is possible.

GMRS radios have a major production to reach further distances. GMRS has 15 channels, but seven of these are shared with FRS, and only use 500 maw outputs. The remaining channels on the go is legal to use the full power of your disability.

The 900 MHz Handiest available now is one watt output, and requires no license. They use a technology similar to mobile phones is called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum. But they do not use cell phone repeaters! They are strictly line-of-site, same as FRS and GMRS.

In the U.S. you must have a license from the FCC to use a GMRS radio. You can get these online from the FCC website fcc.gov. In Canada, you do not need a license, but production is limited to 2 watts instead of 5 watts.

If you think 5 watts is not much output, then think again! The vast majority of Amateur (ham) radio Handiest also have a maximum output of 5 watts. Something more than this, and the batteries will drain very quickly send!

The FRS and GMRS radios all work in the UHF band. Specifically, leased channels in 462 MHz to 467 MHz. They all use narrow Frequency Modulation (NBFM).

GMRS was launched in 1960 by the FCC, who called it the Class A public radio service. At that time radios were very expensive for the average consumer, and the band was used mostly by business and industry.

FRS was created in 1996 by the FCC as an inexpensive, energy saving, no license needed alternative to expensive GMRS radios.