Would GMRS be better without FRS?

[WSAQ296]

On 2/2/2026 at 9:50 AM, Northcutt114 said:

This is accurate. I have a 5w handheld that - on low - can TX @ 1.5w. I'm able to hit a repeater 60 miles away on that setting.

 

Well, you're hitting it. How well is the difference between 2watts or 5. I listen every day to people who blather on, after being told they aren't solid in to the repeater.  But they hear a voice and a courtesy tone and it's off to the races!  at 60 miles, short of a hilltop repeater, you are likely not making any friends getting in to the repeater at 1.5 watts. 

[WRZK526]

1 hour ago, amaff said:

Is it because those people don't realize that there is no such thing as simplex "GMRS channels" and "FRS channels" because all 22 are shared? 
(ok, there are ERP and bandwidth difference, but the frequencies are all the same)

FRS radio's are short range and low power using simplex only. Most of the time I just ignore them. If they become a problem, I just put a privacy code on the channel's they use so I don't have to hear them. And of course there is the "little girl" transmission ploy. 

I never respond to anyone without a call sign unless it is an emergency request. I then call 911 and tell them what I heard. That has happened twice and once it was a true emergency. I am glad we share FRS with GMRS and am willing to put up with some minor inconvenience. 

[Northcutt114]

30 minutes ago, WSAQ296 said:

Well, you're hitting it. How well is the difference between 2watts or 5. I listen every day to people who blather on, after being told they aren't solid in to the repeater.  But they hear a voice and a courtesy tone and it's off to the races!  at 60 miles, short of a hilltop repeater, you are likely not making any friends getting in to the repeater at 1.5 watts. 

I'm definitely getting into it just fine. 55 signal report @ 1.5w. As you said, "short of a hilltop repeater," though. There's a 3000' delta in elevation between me and the repeater with an unobstructed line of sight.

[WRZK526]

3 hours ago, Northcutt114 said:

I'm definitely getting into it just fine. 55 signal report @ 1.5w. As you said, "short of a hilltop repeater," though. There's a 3000' delta in elevation between me and the repeater with an unobstructed line of sight.

I am hitting a repeater 50+ miles away with my Midland GXT 3000 and they say I sound great but I am using  the high setting. Haven't tried medium or low. That repeater is at 9000' and I am at 4800' with straight line of sight. 

[PACNWComms]

I am alright with FRS and GMRS in the same radio......but do wish MURS was integrated into many "blister pack" radios as well. My first Cheap Chinese Radio was an Anytone 878 variant, and the VHF/UHF bands as well as Promiscuous Mode has helped a lot.

After 2017, when the rules changed, I saw GMRS as being the best bang for the buck for many users......no test, just pay the fee and you are legal for ten years. Need to talk to others on FRS that lack a license, you can do it. Cost of hardware is cheap and abundant....I see allof this as a good thing. Many people think radio is "dying" with encryption, cost of fire and law enforcement radios, and yet getting more people to use them is taking place before our eyes with the proliferation of FRS and GMRS. I know people that buy FRS, then want more range, so they pay the fee for a GMRS license and then get into GMRS,often from watching certain personalities on YouTube (NotaRubicon comes to mind - I know he reads these [good info to the newbies]).

[Lscott]

On 2/8/2026 at 3:16 PM, PACNWComms said:

I am alright with FRS and GMRS in the same radio......but do wish MURS was integrated into many "blister pack" radios as well.

What sort of screws that all up is the difference in the antenna regulation requirements. FRS uses a fixed antenna while MURS allows one that's detachable. To combine both services the antenna would need to be fixed for both. I don't think that would be a big deal. Many Hams use dual band HT's and never take the rubber duck antenna off either. So, building a combo FRS/MURS radio with a fixed antenna wouldn't be a problem since most users wouldn't bother trying to use an external antenna on such a cheap radio anyway.