The difference between FRS, CB, GMRS and amateur radio

There are several kinds of radio. Usually when we hear the word "radio" we think of AM and FM radio that you would use to listen to music or the news in your car. That type of radio is known as broadcasting radio. But radio can be used for many other things. Another type of broadcasting radio are TV stations. Those send TV signals via radio. There are also two-way radios, such as so-called "walkie-talkies" (FRS radio). Cellphones are also radios, and so are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

 

In this article we're going to mention some of the differences and pros and cons of common two-way radio services in the USA.

 

The most common of these is FRS which stands for "Family Radio Service." You don't need a license to operate an FRS "walkie-talkie" or "handheld transceiver." These are limited to no more than 2 watts on most channels (1-7 and 15-22), but only a half a watt on other channels (8-14). The fact that the frequencies are set to these channels makes using an FRS radio very easy to do. They also lack any way of modifying them. Even the antenna is permanently attached.

 

Another type of radio service is CB (Citizen Band), which is similar to FRS in that you don't need a license. The main differences are that with CB you can install the antenna on a vehicle and you get a limit of 4 watts instead of only 2 making it a great choice for highway caravans and convoys that drive close to each other.

 

Did you know?: "Transceiver" means the device is both a "transmitter" as well as a "receiver."

 

But being limited to only the ability to change channels also limits what you can do on an FRS or CB radio. That's where GMRS and amateur radio come into play.

 

Amateur radio opens the door to endless possibilities that you can do on a radio. You can build your own antennas and even your own transceivers if you want, up to 1,500 watts in the USA! The greater the power, the farther your signal can travel without losing too much signal strength. You are also no longer limited to a fixed number of channels but have a whole array of frequencies and bands that you can tune in to allowing you to choose frequencies that can reach distant parts of the Earth. Not only that, but there are many modes of operation, such as FM, AM, single side band (SSB), continuous wave (CW), as well as digital signals. You can even transmit pictures or video over amateur radio.

 

Like I say, the possibilities are endless in Amateur radio. But while all those possibilities can give you more opportunities to communicate with others however far away they are, those possibilities can also run you into a lot more work and also potential risks and problems. A high power radio and antenna could do a lot of harm if used incorrectly. This is why you have to study and take an exam (or two or three) in order to get an amateur radio operator's license.

 

Wouldn't it be nice to have some sort of middle ground between FRS, CB and amateur radio? That's where GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) comes in. GMRS does require a license, but unlike amateur radio it does not require you to take an exam. GMRS uses the same 22 channels that FRS uses, but also has 8 additional special repeater channels.

 

GMRS also has higher power limits than FRS. While it's still limited to a half a watt of power on channels 8 through 14, on channels 1 through 7 you can output up to 5 watts. And on channels 15 and up you can output at up to a whopping 50 watts! Sure, 50 watts may not seem to be as much as amateur radio's 1,500 watts, but it is plenty for the purpose of GMRS radio, and it's a huge advantage compared to FRS radio's measly 2 watts. And while you could potentially do some damage to yourself or others with an improperly used 50 watt GMRS radio, it's a lot less likely than with a 1,500 watt amateur radio.

 

GMRS also allows you to change your antenna for something else. A lot of the power can be lost in a small "compromised" antenna like on an FRS antenna while bigger "full sized" antennas do better at not losing so much power. Not only that, but you can also use special "beam" antennas that focus your signal in one direction. You can also use GMRS radios with a repeater, a device that repeats your signal and sends it out even farther from its own location. Using all of these methods can increase your transmitting and receiving range up to dozens and dozens of miles via GMRS. In some circumstances you may be able to talk at distances of over 100 miles!