recommendation on FRS only radio

FRS / GMRS Radios
1

I’m not interested in paying $85 for the GMRS service and am looking for a good FRS only radio. Can you recommend one? Thanks.

2

Most GMRS radios are “dual service” radios and can be used unlicensed as FRS radios as long as you stay on channels 1-14 and put the radio in low power mode. If you use channels 8-14, you don’t even have to worry about the power as these channels are FRS only and the radio will automaticaly switch to low power mode.

For an FRS only radio, I would recommend the Motorola SX900R or the Midland LXT460VP3. Both are very good radios, are small, and have a good feature set that includes privacy codes (not found on some lower end models).

3

Some radios, such as the new Motorolas will NOT go into low power mode on channels 1-7. As such they are GMRS-only, and need a license.

I’d only recommend 8-14 for FRS only use.