Ham Vs GMRS Vs CB Vs MURS Vs FRS

I was asked an important question, that I was surprised I never made a stand alone video to answer. What is the difference between Ham Radio, GMRS, FRS, MURS, and CB? Can learning their differences help you determine which service is for you? Spoiler, it's always best to use them ALL!

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00:00 - Intro
01:04 - Why Do We A Need Radio License?
03:19 - GMRS
06:34 - FRS
08:26 - MURS
09:52 - Radio Service Use In Businesses
10:49 - CB Radio
11:49 - Most Services Are SImilar!
12:18 - Fines for Modified Radios?
13:27 - How is Amateur Radio Different?

[TheNotaRubicon]

As an unlicensed H.A.M. radio operator for over 40 years I approve this message. You have to listen to what I say because I started my comment with how many years i've been unlicensed.

[vh]

To all my Hams. Please tell me you studied so freaking hard, took your drivers license test, driving test, twice, passed, got your license bought a cheap Pontiac fiero drove that thing the exact speed limit and abided absolutely all traffic signs and signals.... anyone?

[coldandaloof]

Happy Ham here. I enjoy all radio services equally. Each have thier place. GMRS for around the farm and outdoors with the family. Murs for the jobsite, CB for the highways. Amateur HF for round the world contacts. VHF/UHF repeaters for emergency comms when no cell service in the wildlife areas while hunting.

[Sonicgott]

I’ve become a radio hobbyist over the last couple of years, thanks in part to a colleague of mine at work (we’re computer parts salespersons), and this is a nice concise definition between the radio services.

I’ve been using my own radio to listen and learn about this stuff (absolutely NO transmission, I remain silent), and it’s neat how these things work.

I’m studying more about HAM radios and find this all to be really interesting and helpful. Thank you for this!

Edit: Update, I’m an Amateur Extra, now!

[robertwood]

I have my GMRS license and I have my Ham license. I also have a CB radio. Each service has its own place and application. I use what is appropriate for what I am doing.

[ericmoore]

I chose to not get a ham license because the sad ones at the front door that unfortunately represent their community.. I am a licensed GMRS user instead because of the community.. they are more like family and brothers than the hams I listened to.. and have been monitoring for years on both. Recently I have decided to study for my ham license.. your video just told me why I need my ham license also.. I have other hobbies that involve rf that brought me to radio in the first place. The end of this video was my light bulb moment, and your not a sad ham.. I enjoy your videos, thank you. 73s

[MaryBrownForFreedom]

TV shop I worked for got into the Directv dish install business when they first came out. Nobody made a signal strength meter so we had to rely on the on screen meter... shouting out a window got old so we got licensed and got a pair of the red dot radios... since we traveled over a wide region(100 mile radius!) we ran into other users, some who thought they owned the frequency(gee that sounds familiar...) and would try jamming us. Wouldn't work since we were 100 feet apart at most and using 5 watt radios. More than once we had to explain that the color dot frequencies are open to ALL licensed businesses to use for handhelds...

[ricksshop]

Nice explanation Josh. One point I would like to mention is the FCC eliminated the 250 kilometer rule in 2017 (the same document that restructured GMRS/FRS, FCC 17-57 I believe) and skywave is now permitted on CB. I think of sideband CB as the gateway to a tech license and 10 meters (was for me), and GMRS the gateway to 2 meters and 70 CM.

[JBinSC]

Josh, nice explanation of the various services. One of the reasons I’ve been fascinated with amateur radio all these years is the multiple modes available to us that aren’t available to other services. AM, FM, SSB, CW, APRS, Packet, plus the many and yet to be digital modes. I’ve spent many years in the hobby and still haven’t tried them all. We have satellites, EME, meteor scatter, all sorts of VHF, UHF, SHF specialties.There’s literally something for anyone willing to take the time to learn.

[WKYY]

Hi, from Malaysia here. Recently I took amature radio exam here and I passed. Even so, I couldnt explain the different between GMRS/FRS/CB and amature frequency. Thanks for your vids

[davidsradioroom]

A thorough and well organized introduction to all these services. Great job!

[stevecooper]

About the best explanation of the different 'services' AND frequency allocation/licensing I have ever encountered. AND... no snarkiness ! Well done.

[TheresaRebagliati]

I’m on a mission to learn about this. You have explained this quite well.
Thank you.

[rogerpackham]

CB radio was so fun in the 90's!!!! Started to get my ham license back then but life happened. Started studying for my Technician license a few days ago. I'd love to have the General license.

[auto]

I'm the worst kind of operator: No Code, Appliance Operator Extra. I can hear the blood pressure monitors going off at the Sad Ham shacks.😂

[angelscomputers]

Excellent video Josh! Cant explain it any better. I just learned that I don’t have to apply for another GMRS license for my wife in case she needs to use a radio to talk to me one day. Thanks!

[NickFrom]

With MURS, I've heard someone say they take a radio to their local walmart and listen for what channel they use. Then at random days/times when they are in the area they get on and say something like "Adam, someone took a dump in aisle 6" and will often get a response like "Again?!" Wow.

[Danileith]

Thanks for doing this. I’m a licensed ham, and I’m sure the training material went over this, but it was a cursory view at best. I’ve wondered about these licenses/radios but never really dug deep into it. You made a nice, short video that really laid it out.

[Jeeptalkshow]

GMRS is very much like 2 meter or 70 cm in as much as the antennas are short, modulation is FM so it is quieter, and it is not as widely used as CB. GMRS has repeaters which, to me, was the amazing thing about 2 meters. Having a very small footprint in power and antenna and be able to talk 10 to 30 miles to someone else running the same small footprint of equipment. As a HAM if you have ever tried to get a family member to learn and take a test to get their HAM license, you have learned that getting them on GMRS is much more likely to happen. :D We, the show, tell our listeners to get GMRS for going off road in their Jeeps. It's just too simple, small, and inexpensive. Talking on the trail, is handy, fun, and could be lifesaving.

[mikel]

I just got my first GMRS radios and as of this writing I'm waiting on my license to be approved. I was playing around with the radios and wow I have to admit I'm impressed. I've been studying off and on for years to get my Ham (just haven't taken the test yet) and use radios in my work. So I consider myself at least having a basic understanding of how they work and the physics behind them. While I was playing with the radios I was picking up people 30 miles away and listening to their conversations. I don't know about transmit ability since I haven't received my license yet but I think a big advantage of GMRS is its an excellent and simple way for people to get into Ham.