19.4 FRS radios: no license

These are the store-bought “walkie-talkies.” The Family Radio Service (FRS) does not require an individual license: anyone, of any age, can use them as long as the equipment is FCC-certified and not modified.

• 22 channels in the 462 and 467 MHz bands, all shared with GMRS. No channel is yours: listen before you talk.
• Maximum power: 2 W on channels 1–7 and 15–22; 0.5 W on channels 8–14.
• Channels 8–14: according to the FCC, their range is usually less than half a mile (800 m). Use them only for short distances (inside the complex).
• The antenna is fixed; repeaters cannot be used.
• Advantages: inexpensive, no paperwork, easy for any family member to use.