GMRS vs ham radio: which one do you need?

You need an FCC license to transmit on GMRS. It requires no exam, lasts ten years and covers family members. You must be at least 18 years old to get one. You apply online through the FCC's license system and pay a fee.

Amateur (ham) radio needs an FCC amateur license. You get one by passing an exam. The entry-level Technician license includes the 2 meter band (144 to 148 MHz) and the 70 centimeter band (420 to 450 MHz).

A ham radio may not be used to transmit on GMRS channels unless it is certified for GMRS under Part 95. The radios on our shortlist are sold as GMRS handhelds. The Radioddity GM-30 PRO adds FM and airband receive and the Wouxun KG-935G Plus has dual receive on UHF and VHF.

GMRS has 22 channels that share their numbers with FRS, plus 8 repeater input channels on 467 MHz. GMRS repeaters receive on 467 MHz and retransmit on 462 MHz. That extends the range between radios. Walkie talkies send their signal directly from one radio to another and do not need a cell network.

• BTECH GMRS-PRO: 5 W with repeater support and IP67. It also offers Bluetooth app programming and GPS location sharing as two separate functions
• Radioddity GM-30 PRO: 5 W with 30 GMRS channels and 1000 programmable channels
• Wouxun KG-935G Plus: 5.5 W on all 8 repeater channels with IP66 protection

Some walkie talkies receive NOAA weather channels and can sound an alert for a warning. All three GMRS handhelds here come with NOAA alerts from the specs. The ham route asks for exam study first. GMRS covers family members under one license without that step.