Welcome to my FRS (Family Radio Service) web site.  Check our recent update(s) to the web site.  You may be asking what the Family Radio Service is.  Here is what the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) says about FRS.  "The Family Radio Service ("FRS") is one of the Citizens Band Radio Services. It is for your family, friends and associates to communicate among yourselves within your neighborhood and while on group outings. You cannot make a telephone call with a FRS unit. You may use your FRS unit for business-related communications. Expect a communication range of less than one mile."  Citizens Band Radio was mentioned, but FRS radios are nothing like what is commonly called CB radio.  The two radios are not compatible at all.

The Family Radio Service was created to give families and groups an inexpensive, reliable and license-free way of communications.  If you are at a theme park and want to maintain contact with other members of your family, FRS radios are great for that.  Maybe you are taking two or more cars to a destination.  FRS radios will let you keep contact with all in your party.  FRS radios are great for camping and other outdoor activities.

The FRS radios themselves are amazing.  These aren't like your daddy's walkie-talkies!  They are small.  Most FRS radios can fit in your shirt pocket.  They are easy to use.  They are extremely reliable.  And above all, they are inexpensive!  The price range for FRS radios are typically $15 - $50 with some radios being more expensive and even a few that are under $15.

The range of FRS radios vary with your surroundings.  Generally speaking, FRS radios do extremely well for just under one mile.  This isn't to say that greater distances can be achieved.  My experiences with FRS radios have been this:  In open areas with light vegetation (trees and shrubs), you can expect about one and a quarter mile.  Car-to-car, expect three-quarters of a mile.  In wooded areas you might get around one-half mile.  In city areas with many buildings, expect your range to be under one-half mile.  Extreme distances have been achieved.  There was a range test in North Carolina between two mountains and communications at over 100 miles was achieved.  This is very unusual range and don't expect to get beyond the two-mile range most radio manufacturers claim.

The rules for using FRS radio is pretty simple.  Your FRS radio must be "type-accepted" by the FCC.  All commercially sold FRS radios are.  You can't make any modifications to the radio.  You must share the channels with others.  You can't use FRS radios for illegal activities.  Other than that the uses for FRS radios are limited only by your own imagination.

I use mine mainly to keep in contact with my son at the mall and around the neighborhood.  We also use them in caravans.  I have several models of FRS radios.  There are three basic types of FRS radios.  Hand-held radios are the most common.  They are also the most versatile.  There is also a mobile version of FRS radios made by Radio Shack.  This version gives you greater range when using them in cars because the antenna is outside of the car.  The last type is the base station.  This is a radio that is designed to be stationary in your home or camper.  If you are going to get only one type, the hand-held radios are the best choice.

FRS radios can be used in the United States, Canada and Brazil.  Do not use them in other countries.  The frequency allocation for other nations may conflict with your FRS radio.  You don't want to be caught talking on the police frequencies of another country.