Types of Two-Way Radios

Differences between types of walkie-talkies

There are two main types of two-way radios. In 1996, the FCC created the Family Radio Service (FRS), a private, two-way, short-distance voice communications service that operates on special radio bands (the FCC regulates all radio frequencies). Marketed to families, FRS radios have a frequency bandwidth that allows families to keep in touch within a two-mile area. The two-mile range is only available if all parties are within line of sight of each other, and the reception is best on flat land or over water. FRS radios are not particularly powerful, and sometimes their performance can be affected by hills or buildings. These radios have channels with about half a watt of power, and so they aren't robust enough to be used on a daily basis or for business use or longer ranges.

FRS-only two-way radios, however, are disappearing from the scene, replaced by more powerful General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios with much longer ranges. Some manufacturers claim 20 miles or more, although your actual range will almost certainly be less (perhaps much less). Like FRS, GMRS uses line-of-sight frequencies, and range is greatly affected by obstacles such as hills and buildings. Because of that, a lower-powered radio at the top of a hill will usually have greater range than a higher-powered radio at the bottom of that same hill.

While GMRS shares a lot in common with FRS, and even with citizens' band walkie-talkies of yesteryear, there are also some important differences. GMRS radios are more powerful. The allowable maximum is 50 watts, but most handheld radios, which use batteries, are limited to 5 watts or less. Because of their power and range, the FCC restricts the use of GMRS radios to an adult license holder and his or her immediate family -- spouse, children, parents, etc. Getting an FCC GMRS license (*est. $85) is typically a trivial matter. Most GMRS radios are packaged with the required form and/or information, or you can get it online from the FCC. The license is valid for five years and is renewable. More information can be found at the FCC website.

The majority of two-way radios sold today are labeled as FRS and GMRS. That's because the two services share some frequencies, and radios using one service can be used to contact radios using the other service. If an FRS/GMRS radio has been approved under FRS rules (1/2 watt maximum power, non-detachable antenna), you might not need a license to use it, as long as you stick to the FRS channels (8-14). Several FRS/GMRS two-way radios lock the output to the maximum 1/2 watt for license-free operation on the FRS channels.

There are other options as well. TriSquare, an company that previously manufactured these devices for other companies, now offers consumers eXtreme Radio Service (eXRS) two-way radios. Rather than operating on GMRS or FRS frequencies that require an FCC license, TriSquare radios utilize the same 900 MHz band used by many cordless phones. No license is required, and the advanced digital technology provides up to 10 billion channels, which limits the risk of eavesdropping or interference by other radio users. TriSquare doesn't make any specific distance claims other than saying that their radios' range will meet or exceed the performance range of FRS/GMRS two-way radios under identical conditions.

Two-way radios designed specifically for business use are available. These two-way radios operate on FCC frequencies (UHF or VHF) that are reserved exclusively for business use. UHF signals can penetrate through materials such as wood, steel and concrete, making it easier to communicate in business environments such as office buildings or construction sites. VHF signals travel farther than UHF signals and provide better performance outdoors if there are no obstructions. Businesses are required to purchase an FCC license to operate on these frequencies. Business-oriented two-way radios are typically more durable, have longer battery life and a better selection of accessories than personal use models. They are also typically more expensive.

Using any two-way radio is easy. Most personal-use models have 22 channels and work in basically the same manner. You choose a channel, push a button to talk and then release that button to listen. These two-way radios let you talk with everyone who has a radio tuned to your channel. More expensive two-way radios have privacy codes that create subchannels that make it less likely for others to listen in. Some two-way radios also have a voice-scrambling feature that renders transmissions unintelligible to potential eavesdroppers. All these two-way radios use alkaline batteries, rechargeable batteries or both. They are handheld devices, although some come equipped with hands-free capability and/or headsets.

Users warn that not all two-way radios are compatible with one another, meaning that some features of your radio may not work if you're communicating with friends or family members who own different brands or even a different model than you do. You should consult your radio's documentation for information on manufacturer/model compatibility.