subject: FRS, GMRS and 900 MHz Handie - Talkies: What's The Difference? by:Michael Davis [print this page] General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Family Radio Service (FRS) and the new 900 MHz Handies are all designed and built for the same purpose: short range communications for personal or business use. However, there are notable differences between the three!
FRS Handies are limited to 500 mW (half a watt), have fixed antennas, 14 channels, and are not licensed. These are good, inexpensive Handies for the kids if they are within a block or two at the most. Naturally, in wide open terrain, better range is possible.
GMRS radios do have a higher output to reach further distances. GMRS has 15 channels; however 7 of these are shared with FRS, and only use 500 mW output. The remaining channels on GRMS are legal to use with the full power of your handie.
The 900 MHz Handies being made available now are 1 watt output, and require no licensing. They use a technology similar to cell phones 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 need a license from the FCC in order to use a GMRS radio. You can get these online from the FCC website, fcc.gov. In Canada you do not need a license, however, output is limited to 2 watts instead of 5 watts.
In case you think 5 watts isn't much output, think again! The vast majority of Amateur (ham) radio Handies also have a maximum output of 5 watts. Anything more than this, and the batteries will drain very rapidly during transmit!
The FRS and GMRS radios all work in the UHF band. Specifically, from fixed channels in the 462 MHz to 467 MHz range. They all use Narrow Band Frequency Modulation (NBFM).
GMRS was started up in the 1960s by the FCC who called it the class A citizens radio service. At this time radios were very expensive for the average consumer and the band was used mostly by businesses and industry.
FRS was created in 1996 by the FCC as a low-cost, low-power, no licensing required alternative to the pricier GMRS radios.
It's interesting to note that no one seems to manufacture an FRS only radio any longer. Only FRS/GMRS Handies are being offered new. FRS only handies are available used on ebay, however.
Read much more information on GMRS Handies including the new 900 MHz Handies, including details on current manufacturers, at http://frsgmrsradio.com
About the author
I've been a licensed Amateur Radio Operator since 1978. Read more about the new FRS and GMRS radios at http://frsgmrsradio.com
