Why do most manufactures produce FRS units as combination FRS/GMRS in hand held units only for the most part?
From a consumers standpoint this makes little sense.
If the consumer needs only the range of the FRS service and the convince of not needing a license then why pay the extra for the GMRS part that they are restricted from using. What percentage of those non radio knowledgable folks would NEVER employ the GMRS power and channels?
If the consumer needs the additional range that the GMRS offers and does apply with the FCC why then must that user be forced to pay extra for the FRS part of the unit that will never be employed and be limited to the stock antenna along with some meaningless power rating and range limitations?
FRS power is rated as Effective Radiated Power do to the fact that the antenna must not be removable and hence it has no connection in order to connect a R.F. power watt meter in order to make a true transmitter output reading.
On the other hand GMRS does not have this restriction and therefore all hand held units could be manufactured with a removable antenna and a connection that would not only allow for a more conventional method of specifying and measuring R.F. output power but would also in addition allow for external antenna system changes in order to increase the overall range of the unit.
If the antenna height is tripled then you have the potential to double your range at no additional cost. Employing a FRS/GMRS combination unit this way could result in falling off of a roof do to a lack of a simple external antenna connection.
If any manufacture offers a low cost GMRS hand held radio in the same price ranges as the FRS combination featured units, please inform me.