CB or GMRS
We have reprinted excerpts from the Communications chapter from our Beginners Guide to Offroading, for the benefit of readers who only seeking information about portable radios.
Overview of radio categories
Portable and mobile radios fall into four categories:
HAM
CB (citizens band)
Race radio (specially licensed business frequencies)
GMRS (general mobile radio service)
FRS (family radio service)
HAM Radio
HAM radio, also referred to as “Amateur Radio”, has potential for long range communication if you have a powerful enough transmitter and large antenna. Great for basement or garage dwelling geeks who want to chat globally, but most mobile units are still limited in reach and not an effective solution for reaching out from the boonies to civilization unless you are very tech’d out. HAM requires passing a (technical) written exam to receive an FCC license to transmit.
Since the majority of offroaders are not very technical, it would not be practical for our offroad community to require everyone to become licensed HAM users on our trail runs.
Race Radio
Officially, there is no such thing as Race Radio. The expression came from a major racing promoter purchasing a special FCC license to use a few business frequencies for their event. It is legal for anyone to purchase radios on those frequencies to LISTEN to the drivers, but not for unlicensed users to TRANSMIT on those frequencies. However, there are some offroading clubs that have worked deals with the primary license holder to use these frequencies on a limited basis for their own events, or have obtained FCC commercial class licenses on specific frequencies.
CB Radio
Uniden CB radio
Most CB radios are designed to be mobile units, rather than handhelds. The few handhelds that I have borrowed tend to have very poor transmitting range along with poor reception due to their short antennas. The base or mobile mounted units rely on large four-foot antennas such as “firesticks” mounted behind the vehicle body above the spare tire.
Up until just a few years ago (2020-2021), CB was the default for offroad jeeping. The large “jamborees” (Jeep & offroad gatherings) used them on account of there being 40 channels – enough for that many simultaneous trail runs.
However, CB in real life is nothing like the CB depicted in all those old Burt Reynolds trucker movies!*
*That crystal clear radio chatter you heard in the movie was cleanly recorded in an audio studio and just edited in, with just a hint of imitation static added for flavor.
Unless you are using illegal wattage boosters, the range is poor. Reception is loaded with static. Finding a clear channel is nearly impossible, on account of a few jerks who hijack the airwaves (on their illegal high powered units) with singing, noisemakers, stupid rambling, and anything else they can transmit just to bully the rest of the community.
The last few events that we attended who tried to utilize CB found them useless. Fortunately, their Event Trail Leaders were able to simulcast on GMRS.
The offroad community has migrated over to GMRS, and you can find used, but excellent condition, CB’s with antennas at give-away prices on the internet market places.
GMRS and FRS
Compared to CB, GMRS offers very clear channels with a minimum of static. For the same wattage, the GMRS units have much greater range than CB. Due to the different operating frequencies, GMRS radios function very well with short, stubbie antennas. Inexpensive 5 watt handheld GMRS units work very well, even inside vehicles, and are suitable for offroading applications where you only need to receive/transmit the length of the caravan.
GMRS is like CB in that it is for the general public, but GMRS uses totally different frequencies and modulation than CB. From a technical perspective, these radio services are completely different and incompatible with each other. There is no such thing as a combination GMRS/CB radio!
Baofeng UV-5GPLUS handheld GMRS radios
However, GMRS and FRS are related and very compatible.
GMRS operates on 22 distinct channels. Channels 1-7 can transmit up to 5 watts. Channels 8-14 are shared with FRS and are limited to 0.5 watts for both services. Channels 15-22 can transmit up to 50 watts. In addition, there are a few frequencies reserved for repeaters that can achieve hundreds of miles (but special permission codes are required to join these privately operated repeaters).
Handheld GMRS radios are usually 5 watt on channels 1-7 and 15-22 but limited to 0.5 watts on channels 8-14. There are some newer handhelds that are rated 8 watts on 15-22.
The FCC does require a license to transmit on GMRS frequencies. Getting a license is relatively easy; there is no exam. Just go online, fill out the questionnaires, and submit $35. One license will last 10 years and is shareable with all immediate family members.
If you just borrow a radio and haven’t gotten your FCC license yet – it is very unlikely that men in black will drop down from helicopters and haul you away. 5 watt handhelds don’t transmit very far, especially out in the boonies – so you are not going to be a source of interference. The FCC is busily concerned with high powered (illegal) transmitters who are abusing the radio spectrum and disrupting legal commerce.
FRS radios are those very inexpensive “family” radios intended to keep track of the clan while exploring theme parks and such. They operate on channels 8-14 within the GMRS bandwidth and are limited to 0.5 watts. Many of the cheaper radios sold in sporting goods stores and department stores do not achieve 0.5 watts, but could be 0.1 watt. Read the operating specs on the box carefully!
To not blow the FRS people off the air, GMRS radios are limited to 0.5 watts when transmitting on those channels (8-14).
FRS radios are now allowed to listen in and transmit up to 2 watts on GMRS channels 1-7 and 15-22. FRS radios, if they are full powered and not the cheapies, may not have enough range to transmit the length of an offroad caravan – but work fine to reach a spotter, standing close to the car, who is guiding you through an obstacle.
Bottom line: I would not recommend FRS radios for offroading. GMRS handhelds, such as the Baofeng UV-5G/X are available on Amazon for around $25 dollars or so. Midland radios are a bit more expensive, but very popular. When shopping for a handheld, make sure that it is certified GMRS and not “dual band”. The so called “dual band” may only hear GMRS but not be able to transmit on those frequencies. The inexpensive Baofengs use G or X designates for GMRS; the UV-9R (dual band) is not GMRS. Read carefully before purchasing online!
Rugged Radios GMR25 25 watt GMRS
Some of us (especially Trail Leaders) have installed GMRS mobile base stations in our offroad vehicles. These can be ordered as 15, 25, 40, or 50 watts – depending on how much you want to spend. Compared to the handhelds, these mobile units have much more range and better squelch (to eliminate static).
