Recommendation Handheld for Family

[WSKP515]

Hi, 

I am brand new to GMRS. I am looking for handheld recommendations for my family. We live in rural west Kentucky—lots of hills and trees. FRS radios did not give great reception when we were hiking around the farm and woods.

I am looking for any recommendations for handhelds, or even a home base station, to better communicate in the area. 

Thanks a bunch!

[GreggInFL]

Others more knowledgeable will offer many recommendations. I suggest you start with something inexpensive and see if it meets your needs. You can always scale up with features, antennas, base stations and even repeaters if needed.

I suggest starting cheap because those electrons that pop out of the radio are all the same.

You're in the right place. There are some very skilled and helpful people on this forum.

[amaff]

1 minute ago, GreggInFL said:

those electrons that pop out of the radio are all the same.

*photons

 

[GreggInFL]

Just now, amaff said:

*photons

 

Showoff. 

[GreggInFL]

There are also some people on this forum with a well-developed sense of humor.

[OffRoaderX]

4 minutes ago, GreggInFL said:

There are also some people on this forum with a well-developed sense of humor.

Not many.. But you will see them occasionally... Many here have a congenital case of dyshumor and the inability to grasp sarcasm or humor at all.

[SteveShannon]

30 minutes ago, OffRoaderX said:

Not many.. But you will see them occasionally... Many here have a congenital case of dyshumor and the inability to grasp sarcasm or humor at all.

No I don’t!!!

[GreggInFL]

1 hour ago, WSKP515 said:

Hi, 

I am brand new to GMRS. I am looking for handheld recommendations for my family. We live in rural west Kentucky—lots of hills and trees. FRS radios did not give great reception when we were hiking around the farm and woods.

I am looking for any recommendations for handhelds, or even a home base station, to better communicate in the area. 

Thanks a bunch!

Here is a good place to start: https://www.amazon.com/BAOFENG-Handheld-Rechargeable-Receiver-Programming/dp/B0CLD3M1MV/ref=asc_df_B0CLD3M1MV?hvadid=80264466333844&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=72660&hvtargid=pla-4583864004760282

[WRZK526]

On 12/3/2025 at 10:24 AM, WSKP515 said:

Hi, 

I am brand new to GMRS. I am looking for handheld recommendations for my family. We live in rural west Kentucky—lots of hills and trees. FRS radios did not give great reception when we were hiking around the farm and woods.

I am looking for any recommendations for handhelds, or even a home base station, to better communicate in the area. 

Thanks a bunch!

I have been asked by several people which handhelds I would recommend. I told them I am no expert and only have experience with one brand of radio. A brand I am very comfortable with. Not the cheapest and maybe not the best but they work very well for me. Some have come back and told me all about the negative things they read about that brand. I say good, you have done your research which radio did you chose? Most had not bought one yet and are still looking. Many many options out there and of course your price range is important. But like when I buy any tool I found buying a cheap tool isn't always cheapest. I would suggest buying a good mobile unit and handhelds for each. How about a mobile hooked up to an inhouse power supply with an antennae mounted on top of your roof or a pole? If it is high enough you should get well above the trees and you can map out any dead area's behind trees. Might be a great family project. As for a recommendation on a particular brand I will not do that. Seems to be a trigger in here to some people. 

[WRHS218]

1 hour ago, WRZK526 said:

I say good, you have done your research which radio did you chose?

Excellent reply!

[WSHT233]

Here's the updated version of that Baofeng 2-pack, and a comparable set from Tidradio:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Compatible-BAOFENG-Handheld-Rechargeable-Receiving/dp/B0CLD3RQKP?crid=2NEVG5SZS060O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AB7px__IW3KMT69gYIq1UnGkhhCjiBeMCrhGIiwl05vwdwnd68hX1E71ppGyExVY2qcWw22cFteyy92_f2U2P89KqSAMu8e3i2PMLQTH4kVV5UiC_AWekC9ZLPbhnXUBABjyGKoM74vwyM3Dn1AvMS_4wB11RLh_4xFyG8Uh73Op-Bu79vZDb4eSDc8xEBvteFTYk3O5OBwu_0vdzI9POn5injHjeoa_R_tR_EA1d7E.NXAqkFGNpaK6pFkax3-5-tSfBZhGQbnoNx8nuf8SnuQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=uv5g%2Bplus&qid=1767714024&sprefix=uv5g%2Bplu%2Caps%2C256&sr=8-3&th=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/TIDRADIO-TD-H3-Plus-Programming-Rechargeable/dp/B0F246HT8Z?crid=2AEIUBF0WN63V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.9UwZBRT7ssrh-2lmBAGDwYZ2Q-eKQxU0sBgqjwoaHPigBjXO7X-SDnk26NanqRnPyyngzXkfV1R_le-7QP59JL6YZDgP66tCRhBrIz1_bDSeohNRRRjFHoblk-SbOAd4vy8tGkm6NUCLMVRabjIBVJ0qb_67ozKljG3MhNyyMjdvgYSQreC0CNlHNDbIuOnJSezlSyePx6U5AF5ostTPR0vv0KW3QZFDdwc6u6-gOiQ.dLffh5oK7ZVL2SLq5dPQF4p9VdWYsvZlVmkzcAMvgzk&dib_tag=se&keywords=tidradio%2Btd-h3%2Bplus&qid=1767714344&sprefix=tidrad%2Caps%2C276&sr=8-3&th=1

 

I think these are what most folks would consider cheap/entry level kit worth considering.

Having CHIRP programming support and larger batteries like these is pretty nice.

 

[HHD1]

On 12/3/2025 at 11:24 AM, WSKP515 said:

—lots of hills and trees.

This will be an issue for GMRS as well.  If you don't know already, FRS and GMRS are the same frequencies.  GMRS radios are allowed to transmit at higher power, among other things.  If it's your land that you're most concerned about, consider learning about repeaters.  A simple private repeater won't cost a fortune, relatively speaking.

The rule of thumb in the band of UHF is, "Height is Might".  So, a repeater antenna on a tall building, or silo, or tree or pole, ect. that all your radios can reach will help overcome the physical obstacles that prevent the "line of sight" that GMRS depends on.

Any GMRS radio that is repeater capable will communicate with it just fine.  It's just a matter of what other features trip your trigger.  

There is a ton of info on this forum that you can search from.  I encourage you to give the search bar a try.  Many topics are covered multiple times.  I am confident you will find answers to all your questions.

Welcome aboard.

 

And now for some silly sense of humor stuff....

Fart noises!!!! 

[WRZK526]

"I am looking for any recommendations for handhelds, or even a home base station, to better communicate in the area."

How about a good mobile unit attached to an antennae in your house with a power source for 12 volt (actually they use 13.8 volts like your vehicle) then a separate antennae in your vehicle. I do this with my 50 watt and I can go from home base to mobile in seconds. Disconnect power then coax from the antennae then reconnect to coax  then power in your vehicle. Paired with some decent, I would suggest same brand) mobiles. Make sure you don't try transmitting not attached to an antennae! 

Edited January 6 by WRZK526
Not well written