Family Radio Service (FRS)
Created Monday 26 December 2022
The Family Radio Service was introduced at the end of the 1990's, and is a short-range radio service with the vast majority of radios produced being handheld. It originally had 14 channels and a maximum power of 500 mW, however, it since gained eight new channels that it shares with GMRS and a power level of 2 W is permitted on 15 of the 22 channels.
Advantages:
Radios are inexpensive and compact
Radios can often run on AA or even AAA batteries
Mode is FM
Generally supports CTCSS and sometimes DCS to keep radios quiet when other groups may be using the channel
Can interoperate with GMRS.
Radios can often run on AA or even AAA batteries
Mode is FM
Generally supports CTCSS and sometimes DCS to keep radios quiet when other groups may be using the channel
Can interoperate with GMRS.
Disadvantages:
Very limited range
No culture of interaction between groups
Marketing hype and often outright lies about channels and range
Range may be especially limited in wooded areas due to UHF not passing through foliage easily
Hand-held radios only
No culture of interaction between groups
Marketing hype and often outright lies about channels and range
Range may be especially limited in wooded areas due to UHF not passing through foliage easily
Hand-held radios only
Mode: FM
Antenna dimensions:
Wavelength: 65cm
Quarter wave: 6"
Five eighths wave: 16"
Quarter wave: 6"
Five eighths wave: 16"
Power:
Channels 8-14: 500 mW ERP
All other channels: 2 W ERP
All other channels: 2 W ERP
RF Bandwidth: 12.5 kHz
Available channels: 22
Frequency listing (MHz):
Channel Frquency Channel Frequency Channel Frequency
1 462.5625 8 467.5625 15 462.5500
2 462.5875 9 467.5875 16 462.5750
3 462.6125 10 467.6125 17 462.6000
4 462.6375 11 467.6375 18 462.6250
5 462.6625 12 467.6625 19 462.6500
6 462.6875 13 467.6875 20 462.6750
7 462.7125 14 467.7125 21 462.7000
22 462.7250
Backlinks: Communications:Two-Way Radio:Personal Radio Services