Family Radio Service

The Family Radio Service is an improved walkie talkie system authorized in the United States since 1996. This personal radio service uses frequencies in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, and so does not suffer the interference effects found on citizens' band (CB) at 27 MHz, or the 49 MHz band also used by cordless phones, toys, and baby monitors. FRS uses frequency modulation (FM) instead of amplitude modulation (AM), and has a greater reliable range than license-free radios operating in the CB or 49 MHz bands.

Initially proposed by Radio Shack in 1994 for use by families, FRS has also seen significant adoption by business interests, as an unlicensed, low-cost alternative to the business band.
 

Contents Technical information Similar services in other countries List of channels List of license-free personal radio services worldwide

Technical information

FRS radios are limited to 500 milliwatts in the U.S., according to FCC regulations. Channels 1 to 7 are shared with GMRS, the General Mobile Radio Service. A license is required for those channels only if the power output is over FRS limits, up to GMRS limits. Unlike Citizens' Band (CB) radios, FRS radios frequently have provisions for using sub-audible tone squelch (CTCSS) codes, filtering out unwanted chatter from other users on the same frequency. Though these codes are sometimes called "privacy codes", they offer no protection from eavesdropping and are only intended to help share busy channels.

The use of repeaters and interconnects to the telephone network are prohibited, unlike in GMRS. FRS radios must use only permanently-attached antennas, which restricts the range of communication but also limits interference to other users.

FRS manufacturers generally claim an effective range of 3 km (2 miles), but actual performance varies widely. The presence of large metal buildings can reduce range, but hobbyists have found that under exceptional conditions, like hill-top to hill-top, communication is possible over 50 km (30 miles) or more. Under normal conditions, FRS generally has an effective range of approximately 1.5 km (1 mile).

Recently, the personal electronics industry has begun producing 22-channel FRS/GMRS hybrid radios. Use of the GMRS channels on such radios requires a license from the FCC.

 

Similar services in other countries

Services similar to the American FRS exist in other countries, although since technical standards and frequency bands may differ, usually FCC-approved FRS equipment may not be used in other jurisdictions.

American-standard FRS radios have been approved for use in Canada since April 2000. The revised technical standard RSS 210 has essentially the same technical requirements as in the United States. Since September 2004 low-power GMRS radios and dual-standard GMRS/FRS radios have also been approved for use in Canada, giving additional channels.

Since tourists often bring their FRS radios with them, and since trade between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is of great value to all three countries, the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Commission has authorized use of the FRS frequencies and equipment similar to that in the US. However, dual-mode GMRS/FRS equipment is not approved in Mexico, so caution should be exercised in operating FRS devices purchased elsewhere.

In Europe, a personal radio service with the same sort of licensing restriction is PMR446 having eight channels in the 446MHz range. One cannot legally use the FRS radio in Europe or PMR446 in the U.S. The 446 MHZ band is allocated to amateur radio in the United States, so in principle a licensed amateur operator could use non-FCC-type-accepted PMR446 radios in the U.S. in compliance with the rules for amateur radio operation. In Great Britain FRS frequencies are used for fire brigade communications and this sometimes causes problems when FRS equipment is imported from the U.S. and used without awareness of the consequences by members of the public.

Dual-mode GMRS/FRS equipment is approved in Brazil and most South American countries. Portable radios are heavily used in private communications, especially by security staff in nightclubs and shopping centers, but also in private parking, maintenance and delivery services.

A service similar to the American-style FRS in Hong Kong, Macau and China is also approved by respective organizations for legal license-free operation. However, different UHF frequencies with 20 allocated channels near 409 MHz are used. 462 MHz and 446 MHz band are not opened to FRS service, so European, U.S. and Canada residents are advised not to use FRS or PMR446 radios for communication when traveling to the mentioned areas.

List of channels

Channel	Frequency (MHz)
1	462.5625
2	462.5875
3	462.6125
4	462.6375
5	462.6625
6	462.6875
7	462.7125
8	467.5625
9	467.5875
10	467.6125
11	467.6375
12	467.6625
13	467.6875
14	467.7125