Handheld radio
About 5 watts and fits a pocket. Good for around town, events and trails. A better antenna adds the most reach.
- Power: 2 to 5 watts
- Typical range: 1 to 3 miles
- Best for: walking, events, backup
Radio equipment guide
What each kind of GMRS gear does, what range to expect, and how to pick a setup for Cuyahoga Falls and the repeater at 462.675 MHz.
Mobile radio
Mounts in a truck or car with a roof antenna and 25 to 50 watts. The best way to reach a repeater from the road.
- Power: 15 to 50 watts
- Typical range: 5 to 25 miles
- Best for: vehicles, convoys
Base station
A mobile radio at home on a power supply with an outdoor antenna. The strongest signal from a fixed spot.
- Power: 25 to 50 watts
- Typical range: 10 to 40 miles to a repeater
- Best for: home, nets, node hosting
Hotspot node
A small radio and computer in one box that links to AllStar over your internet. The easy way to run a simplex node.
- Power: low, neighborhood coverage
- Needs: home internet and a license
- Best for: local simplex, linking
Antennas
The antenna matters more than the radio. A taller, clear antenna out-performs extra watts every time.
- Mag mount: quick vehicle setup
- Roof or mast: best home reach
- Coax: short, low loss, well sealed
Line-of-sight range estimator
Radio waves at GMRS frequencies travel in a straight line. Enter the height of each antenna to see the best-case distance between them. Hills, buildings and trees cut it down.
16 miles
Best-case line of sight. Real range is usually less.
Before you buy
A short list to run through so your first setup works the day it arrives.
- A valid GMRS license before you transmit.
- A radio that is certified for GMRS, not an unlisted import.
- Programming cable or software if you want repeater tones saved.
- Spare battery or a power supply that can handle the radio's draw.
- An antenna with the right connector, and low-loss coax for long runs.
- A lightning plan: ground the mast and disconnect in storms.