Buying a Two-Way Radio in the US: What to Check Before You Choose

The best two-way radio depends on who is using it and where. Before comparing features, check a handful of practical points. This guide is written for buyers in the United States, where the licensing rules affect which radios make sense.

1. Decide which service you will use

Everything else follows from this. The main consumer options are:

• FRS: no individual license, 22 channels, low power limits (2 watts on some channels, half a watt on others). Good for families, campgrounds and short distances.
• GMRS: an FCC license is required ($35 fee, ten years, covers your immediate family, no exam). Allows more power and use of repeaters.
• MURS: no individual license, five VHF channels, 2-watt limit, certified equipment required.
• CB: no license, 40 channels near 27 MHz, mainly used in vehicles.
• Business and amateur radio: licensed services, each with its own FCC requirements.

Our FRS vs GMRS guide covers the first two in detail.

2. Treat range claims with caution

Numbers such as 25 or 36 miles describe ideal, line-of-sight conditions, such as two people on mountaintops. In a neighborhood, campground or wooded area, a half mile to a couple of miles is more typical for a handheld. Midland, for example, says its GXT radios average about half a mile to two miles in normal conditions despite a larger figure on the box.

3. Check that radios can talk to each other

Radios must be on the same band and set to the same channel. A UHF radio cannot talk to a VHF radio. FRS and GMRS handhelds can talk to each other on the channels they share, as long as the channel number and privacy code match.

4. Privacy codes help, but they are not secure

Privacy codes keep unwanted traffic out of your speaker. They do not encrypt anything, and anyone on the channel can still listen. Do not send anything over the air you would not say in public.

5. Think about batteries and charging

Rechargeable battery packs with a drop-in charger are convenient for regular use. Radios that also run on AA batteries give you a backup when you cannot recharge. Check whether the charger and batteries come with the radios.

6. Match weather resistance to the use

Look for a stated rating rather than the word “waterproof.” JIS4 means protection from splashes. IP67 means protection against dust and temporary immersion in water. Using an accessory in the audio jack can reduce a radio’s water rating, so check the manual.

7. Keep it simple

Extra functions like weather alerts, call tones and hands-free transmit are useful, but a radio that is hard to operate is a poor choice in an emergency. Pick the features you will actually use.

8. Think about accessories and the long run

Headsets and speaker microphones are useful for hands-free use, but they must match your radio’s jack. A spare battery or an extra charging base is worth considering if you will use the radios for long days. Also check the warranty, since consumer radios are used hard.

9. Buy for the group, not just for you

If you are buying for a family or crew, buy radios from the same family so settings and accessories match. Mixed brands can still talk to each other on shared FRS and GMRS channels, but features such as privacy codes and channel numbers can be set up differently, so test them together before you rely on them.

One last point: write down what you decided. A short note of the service, the channels, the privacy code and who holds the license (if any) saves arguments later and makes it easy to buy matching radios if the group grows.

10. How to read a water and dust rating

Ratings such as IP54 or IPX7 follow the IEC 60529 standard. The first digit rates protection from dust, and the second digit rates protection from water. An X means that part was not rated, so IPX7 has a water rating but no stated dust rating. For radios, the common water ratings are:

• IPX4: protected against splashing water from any direction. This is not a rating for submersion.
• IPX7: protected against temporary immersion in fresh water, tested at up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.
• IP67: dust-tight, plus the same IPX7 immersion rating.

A rating applies to a new radio with its battery door and port covers closed, and the tests use fresh water, not salt water. Check the manual for what the maker’s rating covers.

11. A checklist for extras

• Text messaging: some FRS and GMRS radios send short text messages. FCC rules limit FRS data bursts to one second, no more than once every 30 seconds. Check that your radios support the same feature.
• GPS: some radios share your location with other radios. Others on your channel may be able to see yours, so find out whether sharing is on by default.
• Bluetooth: usually connects a wireless headset or a phone. Confirm which one the radio supports.
• App support: some radios use a phone app for messaging, location or settings, and then need a paired phone for those features.
• Battery life: extras use power, and maker battery-life figures are often measured with them switched off.

If a GMRS radio fits your plan, the Midland GXT1000 two-pack is available in our store.

Top image: “Motorola FV150” by Hustvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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