Thoughts On Family Radio Service
by Thomas Icom/IIRG <ticom@iirg.org>

Until 1996, there wasn't much available for reliable, short-range, license-free, inexpensive communications. You had two choices: CBs, and 49 Mhz. Part 15 radios. CBs weren't that bad except for the fact that they were AM, down on a frequency that was often vulnerable to atmospheric conditions, and for portable operations operted with inefficient antennas. The 49 Mhz. Part 15 radios were a step up in that they used FM for clearer communications, but shared the same frequencies with cordless phones and baby monitors. They were also limited in range to about 1/4 mile; 1/2 mile under optimum conditions. To get decent communications, you had to purchase a dual-band ham HT for about $300-$350+, and modify it for out-of-band capability. While these units work great, the cost is prohibitive to some.

In 1996, the FCC, at the request of Tandy Corporation and a few others, created the Family Radio Service (FRS). The FRS handheld radios operate FM with a power limit of 1/2 watt (500 milliwatts) ERP with a fixed antenna on the following frequencies:

Channel No. (MHz)

1................... 462.5625
2................... 462.5875
3................... 462.6125
4................... 462.6375
5................... 462.6625
6................... 462.6875
7................... 462.7125
8................... 467.5625
9................... 467.5875
10.................. 467.6125
11.................. 467.6375
12.................. 467.6625
13.................. 467.6875
14.................. 467.7125

Range is generally about a mile or two under ordinary conditions. This is comparable to CB handhelds on a good day, but with some differences.

• You're running FM instead of AM. This means the audio will sound better and will be less subject to interference thanks to FMs capture effect.
• A 5 watt handheld CB usually requires 8-10 batteries that only last a few hours with regular use.FRS radios take 3 or 4 AA or AAA batteries and last 30-40+ hours.
• Handheld CBs are generally large and bulky. FRS radios will fit in your pocket.
• Two brands of FRS radios, Cobra and Kenwood, are equipped with a speech inversion scrambler. While this is not top-of-the line COMSEC by any stretch of the imagination, it still stops the average scanner listener and FRS user.
• FRS radios can be equipped with CTCSS to further cut down on interference.
• FRS radios have neater accessories such as VOX and headset mics that you won't see for CBs.
• The effective range on FRS radios will ve more consistent.

Price-wise, FRS radios are comparable with CBs. Radio Shack handheld CBs start at $80 a piece. FRS radios are in the $100-$150 range depending on features. The local Bradlees department store has the Cobra units with inversion scrambling for $119 each.

There is nothing you can do to an FRS radio to extend its range or number of channels. If you want to go to the next level in portable tactical communications, get a dual-band ham HT and mod it for extended TX/RX or go get some commercial gear.

While there is no regulation specifically prohibiting repeaters, there is no repeater equipment approved by the FCC for FRS. Aside from doing a little hardware hacking, Radio Shack has something that might help. They now sell a simplex repeater; catalog# 19-345 for $99.99. For $149.99 you can get one via RSU that also features an autopatch system. FCC regs prohibit telephone interconnects to FRS radios; so it's in the same catagory as running your 5 watt extended TX dual-band HT on FRS frequencies.

FRS Information Page

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