Recently someone in our forum introduced a discussion comparing the amateur radio service to the GMRS, and provided a short but interesting take as to why he thought ham radio was the better option. The reasoning put forth was based simply on the concept that while both were governed by rules set forth by the FCC, ham radio had more spectrum allocated to it than GMRS. While it is true that GMRS is limited to only 22 simplex and 8 repeater channels, to say that ham radio is better then GMRS isn't an accurate or fair comparison at all, and here's why.
Both services are governed and regulated by the FCC
One observation that was brought up in the conversation was that fact that both services were established by the Federal Communications Commission and are governed according to the rules set forth in Title 47 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The GMRS is regulated under Part 95(E) and Amateur (ham) radio under Part 97 Subchapter D of the rules, respectively. Both of these services have rules of operation, so no difference there.
Both services require a license to transmit
Another similarity between ham and GMRS is the requirement to purchase a license to operate on each service. Each license is issued a call sign, which the operator must use for identification when transmitting on the air. As of April 19, 2022 a license for either service costs $35 and is valid for ten years. There are no differences there, either. That's where the similarities end.
The licenses are different
Although both ham and GMRS operators require a license, there are important differences in the way each license is acquired, and with good reason. The GMRS is a fairly simple service to use, requiring little to no actual technical knowledge for basic operation. Most of the GMRS radios available are pre-programmed out of the box or "plug-n-play", meaning that you don't really have to configure the radio on your own to get it to work.
Sure, it can get technical if you are treating it as a hobby and really want to get into the nuts and bolts of antennas, feed lines and such. But the GMRS was actually intended as a utility radio service that pretty much anyone could access and use for general purposes, and it still is. Because of this, getting a GMRS license requires nothing more than filling out a form, plunking down the fee, buying an FCC approved GMRS radio, and that's about it.
Ham radio, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. Unlike GMRS, which operates only on the UHF band and a very limited number of frequencies that are, like CB radio, hard set by the FCC to pre-assigned channels, ham radio covers multiple bands across a wide area of the radio spectrum, including HF, VHF and UHF. The FCC gives Amateur radio operators a lot of latitude for operation. For instance, hams can build their own of equipment and experiment over the amateur airwaves to develop methods and technologies intended to further enhance the quality of life. The FCC recognizes ham radio as a bona fide hobby service, and it is one.
The whole experimentation part is a lot of power to place in the hands of anyone, and can make it a highly technical and potentially dangerous hobby to pursue. For this reason, someone can't just plunk down $35 and get an Amateur license. It requires one to study the technical stuff and take a test to prove an acceptable level of competency in this area.
Also, unlike GMRS, ham radio has not one, but three license levels. These are the Technician, General and Amateur Extra. Each license level requires a higher degree of study, training and expertise than the last. Each license level also grants different levels of access to the amateur radio bands. The Technician license grants you the UHF, VHF and a couple of HF bands, the General grants some additional HF bands, and the Amateur Extra grants access to all of the amateur bands available.
There is one other important difference between an amateur license and GMRS license that's definitely worth noting. A ham license is issued to an individual, and is not transferrable. The exception is a Club license, which can be issued to a ham radio club, but it is still assigned to an individual designated as the trustee of the club, and not the club as a whole.
On the other hand, a GMRS license, while issued to an individual, is also valid for that individual's entire immediate family. This includes the license holder's spouse, children, grandchildren and various other relatives. Watch our video Radio 101 - Who is Covered by a GMRS License? for details.
The services have different freedoms and limitations
As already mentioned, ham radio operators can operate on multiple bands and frequencies, and those frequencies are not assigned to any specific, FCC mandated channel numbers. The GMRS is limited to a total of 22 assigned channels, plus 8 pre-assigned repeater channels. This limitation alone gives ham radio an edge. Ham operators can also bounce those signals around to increase coverage across hundreds or thousands of miles, giving it even greater freedom of range than GMRS.
Also, there are fewer limitations for ham as far as equipment is concerned. Because hams can build their own radios, those transceivers don't need to be Part 97 type accepted for use on the ham bands. What this means is that a ham can program and use, say, a business or other radio that is capable of transmitting on ham frequencies and use it without prior authorization from the FCC to do so. In contrast, a GMRS operator is required to use a GMRS radio that is Part 95 type accepted and approved by the FCC for legal use on the service.
But GMRS also has an advantage. GMRS shares the same 22 simplex channels and frequencies assigned to the Family Radio Service, or FRS. This means that a licensed GMRS operator can communicate with a license-free FRS operator, and vice-versa. This provides some flexibility and freedom for families, groups and even businesses who are using these services for short range comms that are not available to hams, as they generally only communicate with other licensed hams.
The rules for repeaters are different
Amateur and GMRS operators have another commonality. Both can extend their range through the use of repeaters. Yet the rules for using them are a bit different for each service.
Obviously ham repeaters have an advantage when it comes to the number of bands and frequencies on which a repeater can operate, as well as the options for linking these repeaters together to extend that range even further.
On the other hand, GMRS repeaters have an advantage of their own. Although limited to one band, a GMRS repeater has a bit more latitude as to who can use it and how they must identify the repeater station.
Ham repeaters are limited to individually licensed ham radio operators with valid amateur radio call signs. GMRS repeaters can be used by a licensed GMRS operator and any family member of that operator who is covered by that GMRS call sign, as allowed by the repeater owner. In addition, if a GMRS repeater is only intended for private use by that license holder and the family, it does not need to transmit an ID, since the repeater station ID is the owner's own call sign and everyone on that repeater will be giving their family call sign during normal communications.
Each service has different power limits
It's no secret that ham radio has an edge when it comes to transmit power. The FCC granted the amateurs a fair amount of latitude when it comes to wattage allowances, although with a few limitations as well. It also depends somewhat on the license class. Technicians can transmit on up to 1,500 watts PEP on most VHF and UHF bands, but are limited to 200 watts PEP on HF bands. General and Extra Class operators can transmit up to 1,500 watts PEP on most bands with a few restrictions on additional bands they can access.
Conversly, GMRS operators are limited to 5 watts on channels 1-7, a half watt on channels 8-14, and up to 50 watts on channels 15-22 and the repeater channels. This doesn't seem like much compared to the limits for ham radio operators, but it doesn't need to be for this service. Considering the great responsibility that comes with great power in the hands of the average GMRS family, that's a good thing.
Each service has different restrictions on permissible speech
There is one big difference between ham and GMRS that needs to be discussed, and it is an important one, because it has to do with what you can and can't say on the air.
First, let's look at the similarities. Both GMRS and ham radio have rules about keeping the speech civil, clean, and above board, so to speak, and that really should go without saying. Both services have rules against advertising and "broadcasting" transmissions or messages. Scrambled messages or those coded with hidden meanings are also against the rules, unless they are standard "10" codes (or "Q" codes in ham radio).
Now here's the difference. There was a time when GMRS licenses were also granted to businesses, and as long as the license is still maintained, it is considered a grandfathered GMRS license. Technically, a GMRS radio can still be used for commercial operations if each individual working in the company or organization has their own GMRS license. Also, license-free FRS radios can be used by businesses as well as individuals. Since GMRS and FRS share the same channels, and operators on both can communicate with one another, business related activity is allowed.
This is quite the reverse with ham radio. The FCC explicitly states that ham radio cannot be used for pecuniary interest, meaning business or commercial communications are generally not allowed. This gives GMRS a huge advantage over ham radio.
Conclusion
So, is ham radio better than GMRS? Or is it the other way around?
That depends on who you talk to - literally. It also depends on what you want to do with each service. For instance, there are certainly advantages to ham radio for people who want to make contacts all over the world, but not everyone wants to do this. The GMRS allows an operator to interact with license-free users on FRS, but not everyone wants to do that either. Each service has its strengths and limitations, and everyone who uses them doesn’t need them to do the same things. Each will fit one user better than another, and everyone is different.
You wouldn’t say airband is better than marine band, or FRS is better than CB, would you? These are all different services intended for different purposes, so one isn’t really better than the other. They’re just different, as intended. Such is the same with ham radio and the GMRS.
I'm kind of taken aback at the folks who do do through the trouble of acquiring a GMRS or ham license and then they're all, "What do I do now?" Why go through the trouble of getting a license if you don't have a purpose? A year ago I didn't know a GMRS from a GPS. But then, I became a leader in my city's Community Emergency Response Team, CERT. I knew that two-way radio would be essential in a disaster so understanding Emergency Communications and how I would fit in the scheme was important. I got my GMRS and technician's license because those two radio types are needed in our city's EMCOMM scheme. Our city EMCOMM scheme also includes MURS for neighborhood-level communication and each of our districts have a VARA FM station for backup comms with the city's Emergency Operations Center. I'm learning not just to fit in the scheme but to teach it as well. My requirements drove me to get licensed and the radios and not the other way around. Have a reason to use a two-way should be the motivation to get licensed. I suggest that those looking for a purpose check with your local CERT group or RACES or ARES. In all of those groups, you'll up your radio knowledge and experience and be providing a valuable service to your community.
As a ham/GMRS/Marine VHF guy who's been playing radio for about 25 years, here's my two cents: if you want to buy off-the-shelf handheld radios to go four wheeling / camping with friends this weekend and not have to spend any time learning about "radio" then GMRS is for you. You will vastly expand your competency if you take an hour on the internet to understand that certain channels on your radio (15 to 22 for example) transmit with more power and why that's useful. Also understanding what the PL/Privacy Codes are and how they work will help you out when you're in the field with other users on the same channel. At some point, you'll start to wonder, "gee...how far can I *really* talk on these things? And why do all these ham guys I see on the trail have all those antennas, gear & smug looks?" That's when you're ready to learn why ham radio gives you a scalable way to communicate world-wide and take the red pill ;) Simply put: your first car in high school is GMRS. The car you REALLY want after years of gaining driving experience is ham radio.
Some interesting contributions to the discussion have been posted. It is appropriate to broach the topic, but expecting a full and final resolution will likely only lead to high stomach-acid levels. :-) There are so many variables. As is typical with this kind of conversation an "either/Or" approach is of limited value. Combining the best of both Part 95 & Part 97 (Part 90 too in a limited way) works well for our needs and active service to the communities we cover.
Neither is better, both offer different services though.
For me, emergency local communication capability, I’ll go with GMRS.
My area has a really great Repeater frequency operating from a very nice tower and position in the area. We are getting about 50 mile coverage. This range gets me out over the entire city and surrounding communities. In emergency conditions, knowing what’s going on three hundred miles away is not relevant to me in most cases. When it is, I’d be monitoring 2M ham bands.
Another reason I’m going with GMRS, there is simply more consistent radio traffic in the frequency range, than I can find on the ham bands. For my needs, GMRS wins this one. When you need to know what’s up locally, GMRS, CB, FRS, MURS is the way to go in my opinion.
Of course, nothing is in stone. Your area may be entirely different and Ham may be a better option for you.
Having mixed capability is the solid answer here. A minimum technician class Ham ticket is all you really need for regional and national communications needs. This in addition to licensed GMRS, and the free to use services the others offer, should be enough to meet any emergency communications needs anyone may have.
As a retired Broadcast Engineer, I’ve known “Ham” radio operators for decades. In fact many are B.E’s. Most live for another day just to talk “shop”. That’s alright I guess, but there IS another world out there. GMRS, on the other hand, was intended to be a replacement for Citizens Band in my opinion. It allows for higher xmit power that CBers craved, and who mostly broke the law by transmitting more than the 5 watts allowed.
Because GMRS is limited in range due to it’s frequency assignment, many CB operators still prefer 27 MHz AND illegal power to be able to get the range they’re use to.
GMRS has become a very useful tool for the business community. It also serves the traveling public quite well on Interstate and public highways.
“Ham” radio has been on the decline for years, because teenage males are for more interested in video gaming than actually learning something useful that might propel them into an engineering field and a great career. The B.E. field is already hurting for “new blood” as the old folks retire.
go the url above and depending on what state you live in, look for amateur clubs in your area and check their websites for information about studying and taking the tests
Al Cobb - do a google for "Ham Clubs near me" and you should get websites for several Ham Radio clubs in your area. Many of them have classes and testing, and all will know where to hook you up with a means of getting ready for the test. I went in the other direction, Ham first and GMRS just a couple of years ago to get my wife on the radio. Best of luck and let us know how it works out for you!
Gerry N0DOZ and WRMY339
Both are great for what they provide the users. GMRS is great, in my case, due to the ability to easily communicate with my family members who really don't want to deal with ham radio stuff. This makes local comms a breeze and accessible. Ham radio also has its place to overlap the localized comms and expand out regionally/interstate/internationally. Both have pros and cons but when used together it can be a great asset. Thumbs up to both.
If the SHTF, I’d rather have my Ham radio. GMRS is restricted to UHF, which does not get very far nor does it work off atmospherics. My low band Ham radio can run on a battery and can use atmospherics otherwise known as open bands, and I could talk basically to the other side of the world if necessary.
About the dumbest comparison I have ever seen. It misses every important point. I would only point put that while GMRZ radios do enable limited person to person communication, ham radio is a hobby where the hobbiest has a vast array of sophisticated communication tools that enable a limitless variety forms of communication across vast distances. Why GMRS requires a license fee is a mystery given its limited capability. It certainly fails to position GMRS as a serious alternative to ham radio. It would be east to pick apart every argument the author makes. Sorry....point, game, match goes to Ham Radio.
Amateur radio offers everything that GMRS does, only much, much more. and, you can't talk across the state, across the country or around the world with GMRS (excluding interconnected repeater networks). GMRS has gotten so bad in Phoenix that it's like CB only you have to pay for a license to use it. Very few GMRS operators understand how their equipment works enough to be able to troubleshoot it when there's a problem. So, is amateur radio better? Hands-down, by far, yes!
Amateur Radio Services offers everything that GMRS does, only much, much, much more. GMRS in PHX has gotten to the point where it's little more than a CB that you have to pay for a license to use. So, is ARS better? Hands down, yes, by far!
If you would like to email me I would be happy to direct you to some good resources that can get you to pass the test. IT's not hard!
I am both a ham radio operator and a GMRS radio operator. Both are great in their own environment. GMRS can certainly be used during emergency communication needs. Ham radio excels in that aspect. GMRS excels in being more family oriented and easier to work with. That however, comes at a cost.
I work with groups who use GMRS as a means to communicate during a disaster in a community-wide event. With the right know-how, this can be extended to other uses... for me, that know-how came after I learned about ham radio. As we all know, ham radio is used extensively for EMCOMMS, not only because of the frequency availability, but because of the PROPERTIES of the frequencies that ham radio uses. GMRS can NOT compare to ham radio when it comes to radio wave propagation... but that's OK! GMRS is easier to get, and most people already know how to work an FRS radio... not much different than a GMRS radio (as far as pure use goes). GMRS is of course WAY SUPERIOUR TO FRS because of its inherent capabilities.
So, comparing GMRS with Ham is comparing apples to oranges. I love both! They both taste great! Both are easily had. And both excel in the environment for which it was made for.
I have a presentation on "GMRS Communications In A Ham World" that I presented to the Salt Lake County ARES group as well as 100's of others in the Salt Lake valley that you might be interested in seeing. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eardgrWKGs
((I hope I'm allowed to share the link as it describes what GMRS is and how it is a viable emergency communications option.))
Which is better? Neither. They serve two very different purposes.
Both radio services are being equally abused, and misused by those who just want to play GI Joe, Roger Walkie-Talkie.
I am interested in becoming a Ham Radio Operator. I already am a licensed GMRS Radio Operator and own the old CB radio as well. How does someone go about getting a license and the information to take the tests to get a license.
Ham also includes multiple data capabilities, GMRS only allows very short data transmissions such as GPS location. With Ham one can send locations, telemetry data, messages, filled out forms, images, etc using packet modes and apps such as APRS, Fldigi, Winlink, etc, and even create a digital WiFi mesh network. Oh yeah, Ham has CW too.
Ham radio of course is better.
But, the comparison...is like comparing apples to oranges.
However, from experience I will definitely say MURS is better out in the open, the woods, and hills than gmrs (frs). GMRS (frs) might be great in the city.