Why is FRS/GMRS “suddenly” more interesting, especially in emergency preparedness?
Writing this on 1/13/23 while the Russian River is in moderate flood stage; this week has well demonstrated the value of GMRS. The lower Russian River communities from Guerneville to Cazadero are exceptionally well prepared to utilize GMRS despite (and because of) their topographical challenges. A number of us working as SCRA’s Neighborhood Communications Committee have been in frequent contact with GMRS radio operators in places like Cazadero which had no power, cell or landlines. We were repeatedly thanked for listening out for them.
The Neighborhood Communications Committee works with the non-ham community by developing and testing interfaces between ACS ham radio operators and community groups that use General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). Hams engaged in GMRS communication links will need GMRS radios as well as an FCC license, which requires no exam, but does cost $35 for 10 years for the whole family.
Comparing FRS and GMRS
Family Radio Service (FRS) is essentially a restricted version of GMRS. It is a low-power, unlicensed, channelized service. It is less expensive and less powerful than both amateur radio and GMRS, but is sufficient in some applications. FRS and GMRS are completely interoperative on simplex channels. FRS has no duplex repeater capability.
GMRS covers the same channels of 1 to 22, but offers high power options and repeater options on channels 15 to 22. While there is a license fee, there is no test—a limitation that keeps many people out of amateur radio. In addition, a licensee can share his or her license with specified family members at no extra cost.
The overlapping channels allow an FRS operator to use a GMRS operators’ simplex repeater with permission. That can provide reliable service over a 2-mile-diameter zone using a $10, ½-watt, unlicensed radio. That can be effective “last mile” communications. There is one such FRS simplex “parrot” in West Santa Rosa.
The full-duplex GMRS repeaters allow reliable, many-mile communications for those willing to invest $40 to $200 for a 5-watt radio and $35 for a GMRS license. The setup for these radios is a bit more difficult.
Also, the eight channels (15 to 22) for GMRS repeaters are largely available. There is no formal coordinating agency (as there is for amateur radio), so users may “claim” a channel on mygmrs.com.
Amateur radio will likely out-perform FRS/GMRS technically in just about all circumstances, but the ease of access and low cost is making FRS/GMRS very attractive to many people today.