- Quick Comparison
- CB Radio (Citizens Band)
- FRS vs GMRS
- MURS
- Amateur (Ham) Radio
- Mesh Networks (LoRa, Meshtastic, MeshCore)
- Which Should You Choose?
- FAQ
- Glossary
Quick Comparison
This high-level table shows typical costs, licensing, power, and use cases for each service:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
| Service | Typical Cost | License | Max Power | Typical Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | $50–$200 | None | 4 W AM/FM, 12 W SSB | 1–5 miles (AM/FM), 20+ (SSB) | Truckers, RVers, off-roaders |
| FRS | $15–$50 | No license (by rule) | 2 W | 0.5–2 miles | Families, casual hikers |
| GMRS | $35–$400 (+$35 license) | 10-yr FCC license, no test (family covered) | Handheld 5 W; Mobile/Base 50 W | 1–5 miles simplex; 25–50+ with repeaters | Outdoor prosumers, preppers, overlanders |
| MURS | $50–$150 | No license (by rule) | 2 W | 2–8 miles (VHF + ext. antennas) | Hunters, farms, rural VHF users |
| Ham | $30–$2000+ | Exam + $35/10-yr | Up to 1500 W | Local to worldwide | Hobbyists, experimenters, emergency comms |
| Mesh (LoRa/Meshtastic/MeshCore) | $25–$110/node | None | <1 W (ultra-low power) | Mesh-dependent (hops extend reach) | Encrypted off-grid texting & GPS |
Ranges are terrain and line-of-sight dependent; repeaters and external antennas can dramatically change outcomes:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
CB Radio (Citizens Band): The Comeback Kid
Why CB still matters: CB remains a staple for professional trucking, RV caravans, and off-grid travel where phones fail. The FCC’s 2021 approval of FM mode brought clearer audio than AM and spurred new dual-mode radios, keeping the service relevant for its core users:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
- Typical setup: 4 W mobile with full-size whip; SSB models (12 W PEP) for longer reaches.
- Strengths: Huge installed base; interoperable; zero licensing; highway/trail coordination.
- Limits: No repeaters; AM noise; antenna length/placement matters; crowded channels near cities.
- Best fit: Truckers, off-road trail leaders, RVers caravanning across weak-cell corridors:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
FRS vs GMRS: The Consumer Power Couple
FRS (Family Radio Service)
FRS is ultra-simple: buy handhelds and start talking. Power is capped at 2 W, antennas are fixed, and repeaters aren’t allowed — all by design to keep things short-range and low-congestion:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
- Best for: Families at parks/theme parks, small events, casual hikes.
- Range: Often 0.5–2 miles depending on terrain and line-of-sight.
- Pros: Cheapest, most accessible, sold everywhere.
- Cons: No external antennas; limited power; no repeaters.
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service)
GMRS is the natural upgrade: a $35/10-year family license (no exam) unlocks higher power and — critically — access to repeaters for 25–50+ mile coverage:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
- Power: Up to 5 W handheld; up to 50 W mobile/base; detachable & roof-mounted antennas permitted.
- Why it’s booming: Captures the “prosumer” niche between FRS and Ham; thousands of new licenses issued regularly:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
- Community repeaters: Grassroots infrastructure maintained by individuals and clubs, resilient during outages:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.
- Best for: Overlanding, preparedness, ranches/large properties, multi-vehicle trips.
MURS: VHF That Never Went Mainstream
MURS uses VHF (great through foliage and over flat terrain) and allows external antennas. Despite the technical perks, it never gained retail traction and remains a niche for hunters, farms, and some legacy retail operations:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.
- Channels: Five VHF channels; 2 W limit; no repeaters.
- Upside: VHF propagation; license-free; external antennas allowed.
- Downside: Limited hardware variety; small user base; only 5 channels.
- Best for: Rural properties, wooded terrain, simple point-to-point with decent antennas.
Amateur (Ham) Radio: The Experimenter’s Playground
Ham radio offers unmatched freedom: many bands (HF to microwave), digital modes, satellites, and even moonbounce — with power up to 1500 W where allowed. Nearly 750k U.S. licensees keep innovating with hybrid RF/IP systems like EchoLink and IRLP:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
- Why get licensed: Global communication without infrastructure, technical learning, emergency support.
- Digital today: Weak-signal modes (e.g., FT8) enable long-distance contacts with very low power:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
- Flexibility: Build/modify equipment; experiment legally; join active clubs and nets.
Mesh Networks (LoRa, Meshtastic, MeshCore)
Mesh is data-first. Instead of live voice, nodes relay short text, GPS, and sensor packets — encrypted end-to-end — over ultra-low-power links. As more nodes join, the network’s reach grows:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}:contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.
LoRa vs Meshtastic vs MeshCore (What’s the difference?)
- LoRa: The radio modulation (long-range, low-power) used in license-free ISM bands.
- Meshtastic: Open-source firmware that turns LoRa devices into a decentralized, encrypted mesh for off-grid texting/location sharing:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.
- MeshCore: A commercial evolution that packages LoRa-mesh ideas with refined hardware, management, and integrations aimed at reliable community/organizational deployments (more turnkey than DIY):contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.
Ideal for: Hikers, off-road groups, events, and privacy-minded communities building “billionaire-proof” infrastructure with solar relay nodes:contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.
Limitations: Not for real-time voice; typically pairs with a phone app; throughput is intentionally low to maximize range and battery life.
Which Should You Choose?
Quick picks:
- Highway caravans & trails: CB or GMRS (GMRS if you want repeaters and cleaner FM):contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}:contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}.
- Family outings & theme parks: FRS.
- Large properties & preparedness: GMRS.
- Forests & rural VHF: MURS.
- Global comms & experimentation: Ham.
- Encrypted off-grid texting/GPS: Meshtastic/MeshCore.
FAQ
Do I need a license for GMRS?
Yes — a simple $35/10-year FCC license that covers your immediate family. No exam required:contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}.
How far will my radio reach?
It depends on power, terrain, antenna height, and whether you use repeaters. GMRS with a mobile radio + repeater can cover 25–50+ miles; FRS is typically 0.5–2 miles; CB SSB can stretch farther in favorable conditions:contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}.
Can mesh networks replace voice radios?
They serve a different purpose. Mesh excels at low-bandwidth, encrypted text/location sharing without infrastructure; traditional radios are better for real-time voice:contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}:contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}.
Glossary
- Repeater
- A station that receives and re-transmits your signal from a better location (e.g., mountaintop) to massively extend range — common in GMRS and Ham:contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}.
- ISM Bands
- License-free spectrum used by devices like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LoRa; enables consumer mesh devices without individual licenses:contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}.
- SSB (Single Sideband)
- A CB mode (up to 12 W PEP) that can extend range compared to AM/FM:contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}.