The Ultimate GMRS Two-Way Radio Buyers Guide

GMRS walkie-talkies are invaluable under any circumstances. You do not need to be a ham or prepper to use gmrs radio, as long as you are over 18 years old and are not a representative of a foreign government, you can apply for a GMRS license. If you get permission, any family member, regardless of age, can operate GMRS stations and devices in the permission system. Just apply for a license as required and pay $35, and you can use the 10-year limit. From camping, hiking, and orienteering to family days spent in theme parks, gmrs radio allows you to maintain continuous and reliable communication with other members of the party. Compared to FRS radio, GMRS radio can bring you further calls. distance. And gmrs radio is very useful in emergency situations. In the United States, there are many shared GMRS relays. You can use your gmrs radio to connect to these relays for free to get long-distance calls. This allows you to ask for help, and when you communicate with When the other members of the team are separated, make sure you can keep in touch and keep up to date with changes to the plan.

Things to consider when buying gmrs two way radios

*Certification

*Power

*Weatherproofing

*Weather Alerts

*Weight and Size

*Channels and Privacy Codes

*Emergency features

*Range

*VOX Support

In order to make full use of GMRS radio, you must always choose the correct model or kit based on your needs, so you need to consider many factors before buying. We have put together this comprehensive Retevis gmrs radio comparison guide and our recommendations for specific scenarios to help you make an informed purchase.

1. New GMRS user first choice gmrs radio
2. Ham GMRS user first choice gmrs radio
3. Our first choice for farm workers gmrs radio
4. Our first choice for hiking and camping gmrs radio
5. Our first choice for car travel gmrs radio
6. First choice for emergency preparedness gmrs radio
7. A selection of our most Budget-friendly gmrs radio
8. Our first choice for skiing gmrs radio
9. The first choice for kayaking gmrs radio
10. Our first choice for paintball gmrs radio
11. Our top waterproof gmrs radio selection
12. Our best gmrs radio for children
13. A selection of our top remote two-way gmrs radio
14. First choice for gmrs radio with headphones
15. First choice gmrs radio for Hiking and Mountaineering
16. First choice gmrs radio for Biking

Table of Contents:

1. Certification
2. Power
3. Weatherproofing
4. Weather Alerts
5. Weight and Size
6. Channels and Privacy Codes
7. Emergency Alarm features
8. Range
9. VOX Support
10. New GMRS user first choice gmrs radio
11. Ham GMRS user first choice gmrs radio
12. Our first choice for farm workers gmrs radio
13. Our first choice for hiking and camping gmrs radio
14. Our first choice for car travel gmrs radio
15. First choice for emergency preparedness gmrs radio
16. A selection of our most Budget-friendly gmrs radio
17. Our first choice for skiing gmrs radio
18. The first choice for kayaking gmrs radio
19. Our first choice for paintball gmrs radio
20. Our top waterproof gmrs radio selection
21. Our best gmrs radio for children
22. A selection of our top remote two-way gmrs radio
23. First choice for gmrs radio with headphones
24. First choice gmrs radio for Hiking and Mountaineering
25. First choice gmrs radio for Biking

1. Certification

For everyone who has applied for a GMRS license on the FCC website, the first thing is to choose a compliant GMRS walkie-talkie in accordance with FCC regulations. Now the market is flooded with a large number of walkie-talkies claiming GMRS Radio, and there is actually no FCC certification, this is big trouble for people who want to choose a compliant GMRS walkie-talkie because a radio without FCC certification is not compliant and will bring you a lot of trouble. Here, in Retevis Solutions, we guarantee that all Retevis GMRS radios are FCC certified. Welcome to contact us to obtain the FCC ID of the model you are interested in.

2. Power

Power is also known as battery capacity. You must know how long you need your gmrs radio to last, so as to avoid the embarrassment of running out of power in an emergency. Generally speaking, GMRS radios have nickel-metal hydride batteries or lithium batteries, both of which are rechargeable batteries. Lithium batteries are preferable to nickel-metal hydride batteries because they work in a wider temperature range and will not be affected by the "memory effect". , And usually, last long after being fully charged. Compared to nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium batteries are generally more durable.

In addition, lithium batteries have the longest shelf life, the longest service life after being fully charged, and the widest operating temperature range. If you plan to be outdoors for a long time, please make sure to choose a gmrs radio that can be used for a long time or has a replacement rechargeable battery to avoid running out of power, and then make sure that your backpack has sufficient spare batteries.

If you don't want the huge charging base to become a burden to activities, you can choose gmrs radio that can be charged via USB and connect it to a solar charger. Or in car travel, use car charging.

3. Weatherproofing

Whether you put the gmrs radio in an emergency backup bag or use it regularly, according to the nature of the day, at some point, your gmrs radio is likely to be exposed to the mild and pleasant early summer atmosphere, then the sky is blue, the sun is shining, and the breeze is blowing to keep you cool. Even if the beginning of the day starts like this, Mother Nature can reverse the situation in an instant, with thunderstorms in an instant. Therefore, the waterproof level of gmrs radio is an important consideration. Some models are completely non-waterproof, some are slightly splash-proof and can withstand light rain, and some are IPX7 waterproof. You can immerse it in a water depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes and take it out and still be able to use it normally.
   If you just use GMRS radio to keep daily communication, or sunny outdoors, then an ordinary GMRS radio can meet your needs. If you need to deal with the complex and changeable weather outdoors, such as a busy farm and work normally on rainy days, then you can choose the GMRS radio with IPX7 waterproof level.

4. Weather alert

Nature will never let you touch her temper. Choose a gmrs radio, which can play a dual role as a weather alarm radio and keep up to date with the latest alarms. The weather alert function is especially important for outdoor activities and preppers. There is a gmrs radio that continuously scans the NOAA channel and automatically sends an alarm when an alarm occurs. Some gmrs radios allow you to tune to the weather channel instead of just receiving alerts.

5. Weight and Size

When you carry everything you need, weight and size are the main factors. And you also have to consider these two factors for the children and the elderly in the family. The small and lightweight gmrs radio can be easily put in a bag, tied to a belt or put in a pocket without making you feel heavy. And the smaller gmrs radio is usually more economical than the larger gmrs radio, but the petite weight and bragging are usually the limitations of their functions, and their functions may be less or not so sturdy. The gmrs radios with compressive and impact-resistant structures tend to have larger dimensions, and are heavier and stronger. This also makes the rugged gmrs radio an ideal choice for those who have requirements for outdoor equipment.

6. Channels and Privacy Codes

All 22 Family Radio Service (FRS) frequencies are shared with GMRS, and users of the two services may communicate with each other. This situation in busy areas such as theme parks means that you will hear other people’s transmissions on the same channel, and you may inadvertently miss messages from your group members. Now, despite widespread misunderstandings, partly due to the term "privacy code", this feature does not actually guarantee private communications. Instead, it will help you filter out all transmissions that do not share your channel and code combination.

The privacy code essentially adds another layer of identification to your transmission and filters out all transmissions that do not have this identifier. However, anyone who uses the "monitor" function on your channel can hear your transmission. Some radios have more than 120 privacy codes, while Retevis GMRS radio has 282 privacy codes. When combined with the number of channels, your radio may have more than 84,600 possible combinations. The greater the number of channels, the greater the number of combinations. For those who may need to use both methods in busy places, or those with busy business, it is a wise choice to choose a radio with a large number of channel combinations.

7. Emergency features

Whether you are preparing for family theme park day activities, camping, hiking, hunting or any other outdoor activities, the alarm function is very important. When you need help, your gmrs radio can play a vital role. The gmrs radio with emergency alarm function will send alarm signals to other gmrs radios in your group. The type of alert varies by brand and model. Some combine alarms with beacons that flash SOS using the international Morse code, while others send loud alarms to other members of your team to stop any other activity on said radio and keep getting bigger, Until someone responds to your request.

You can find radios with "Local+remote Alarm" function. This is useful if you are out alone and find that you need help but cannot get a cell phone signal. He can send a warning signal to your teammates colleagues, and also remind others of your location by voice.

The flashlight is a very convenient emergency function. For preppers, it can give you one more lighting option or one less tool. For camping or expeditions, it is very useful at night, cave exploration or usually in low light conditions. However, you must know that using the flashlight for a long time will speed up the drain on the battery.

8. Range

The range determines the maximum distance that the gmrs radio can send and receive communications. Ideally, the maximum range of FRS radio is about 6 miles, while the maximum communication range of GMRS radio is up to 50 miles. However, when you believe this number, you are naive. Please note that this is an ideal test. This means that the site lines are clear, there is no interference, and there are no obstacles between the radios. In the real world, the actual reachable distance depends on a series of factors such as terrain, weather conditions, obstacles and interference. Generally speaking, the distance between two handheld gmrs radios is about one to two miles (about 1.5-3 kilometers), but when you connect to the gmrs repeater, you will receive unexpected results.

So, if you are in a remote place, at the top of a big mountain, and there are only a few trees between you and the other members of your team, you can run a long distance, but if you are in a residential or industrial area, you Will be lucky to reach 1 to 3 miles. The distance on the open water area will also be less than the ideal range, but greater than the built-up area. Therefore, if you really need to communicate over long distances, choose a radio that can achieve a greater range than you need, and remember that your environment will determine the distance you can communicate effectively.

If you own or have a GMRS repeater near you, congratulations to you, this lucky guy, you can get several times the distance you are now, depending on the power of the repeater you are connected to, the height of the antenna and other factors, welcome to click gmrs The repeater map gets information about GMRS repeaters near you(https://mygmrs.com/map/#/).

9. VOX Support

The gmrs radio with VOX or voice activated transmission function allows you to operate the walkie-talkie hands-free. This is a very useful function in mountaineering,skiing, driving gmrs radio, because after activating the VOX function, this function will transmit your communication as soon as you start talking. This will help you free your hands and ensure that your hands are not affected in any way.

10. New GMRS user first choice gmrs radio

For newcomers who want to explore GMRS, a simple and compliant GMRS radio with suitable power and not too complicated functions is a good choice.

Our top pick for new gmrs user is Retevis RT76P gmrs walkie talkie, the FCC ID of Retevis RT76P gmrs radio is 2ASNSRT76, you can check the legality of his certification on the FCC official website. For the novice GMRS, Retevis RT76P has relatively comprehensive functions. The side keys can be defined, and it supports the connection of gmrs repeaters. It is compatible with all other Retevis GMRS radios.

Retevis RT76P gmrs radio order link:

Retevis RT76p gmrs radio

11. Ham GMRS user first choice gmrs radio

For ham, some are bought for their own use, and some are sold to family members. However, no matter who you buy it, for ham, function has always been the pursuit of ham.

Our ham first choice gmrs radio is retevis RA85 GMRS Radio. Retevis RA85 GMRS Radio with 60 GMRS channels,  repeater capability with multiple channels to accommodate repeaters all using different CTCSS/DCS codes. It can satisfy ham's enthusiasm for connection repeaters.

Retevis RA85 GMRS radio full functions, high quanlity., Frequency measurement function, Menu item keyboard number direct selection function, receive frequency can be manually input. Retevis RA85 GMRS Radio is a functional gmrs Radio specially launched by Retevis for ham.

Retevis RA85 GMRS Radio order link:

Retevis RA85 GMRS Radio

12. Our first choice forfarm workers gmrs radio

For agricultural workers, they need to choose a gmrs radio with long talk distance, simple operation, and portable. RetevisRT76 is the best answer. Retevis RT76 GMRS Radio is the first GMRS radio launched by Retevis. It has a simple design and no Button, support to connect to gmrs relay. It is a handheld gmrs radio specially designed for agricultural scenes by Retevis.

Retevis RT76 order link:

Retevis RT76 GMRS Radio

13. Our first choice for car travel gmrs radio

For car travel, it is necessary to connect to the gmrs relay that passes through during the journey. Therefore, the gmrs radio needs to support the connection of the GMRS relay. In addition, the onboard power supply also brings great opportunities for walkie-talkies. The Retevis RT76P gmrs radio with Battery Eliminator set is specially designed for gmrs users of car travel, allowing you not only to connect to the relays you pass on the journey, but also to use Battery Eliminator. Charge the RT76P gmrs radio directly, which is undoubtedly the best choice for you who are short of resources on the road.

Retevis RT76P GMRS Radio with Battery Eliminator order link:

Retevis RT76P GMRS Radio with Battery Eliminator

14. First choice for emergency preparedness gmrs radio

Survivalism may be limited to preparing for personal emergencies, such as being unemployed or trapped in the wild or in severe weather conditions. The focus is on self-reliance, storing supplies, and acquiring survival knowledge and skills. Getting rescued after a natural disaster is also one of the situations that preppers need to consider. Retevis RB75 gmrs Radio is a GMRS radio specially designed for preppers. Its 4500mAh super-capacity battery and IP67 waterproof function can ensure that gmrs radio has a long standby and use time, and it will not Affect. It supports connecting to gmrs relay. You can also put it in an Emergency backup package. Once you need help, you can directly connect to a nearby relay to get help. The high power of 5W can usually ensure that you can be found by people farther away.

Retevis RB75 GMRS radio order link:

Retevis RB75 GMRS radio

15. A selection of our most Budget-friendly gmrs radio

For most of us, budget is always a consideration. Under the premise of gmrs compliance, we hope to provide you with cost-effective gmrs radio, so here are our 2 most economical gmrs radios:

Retevis RB26 gmrs radio, durable and reliable, and excellent value for money. This gmrs radios with Torch Light, simple in structure design and easy to operate. They don't even have buttons, but they are absolutely economical, with a channel lock function, hands-free operation via VOX, and provide you with a maximum range of 2.8km.

Retevis RB26 GMRS Radio order link:

Retevis RB26 GMRS Radio

Retevis RB19P provides you with a 1.7-inch screen display, Long standby time, simple shape, high-end appearance and craftsmanship. The most important thing is that it also has NOAA function. It is definitely a cost-effective gmrs radio.

Reetevis RB19P GMRS Radio order link:

Retevis RB19P GMRS radio

16. Our first choice for skiing gmrs radio

You will often be separated from the ski team when skiing, so communication is very important in a huge ski resort. And communication can also bring more fun to skiing. However, in ski resorts, the coverage of mobile phone signals is often very limited. Instead of spending a whole day skiing alone, it is better to prepare a set of high-quality gmrs walkie-talkies for yourself, which can also allow you to enjoy hands-free communication when climbing steep slopes. 

Our first choice for skiing is the most popular and reliable Retevis RB17P gmrs radio set. For less than $60, you can get a powerful radio and a walkie-talkie accessory-a speaker microphone for skiing. All in all, it is difficult to find a better Midland gmrs radio at this price. In fact, it may be difficult to find another ski-suitable two-way radio from any manufacturer with such a multi-function and reasonable cost.

Retevis RB17P GMRS Radio set with 5W high power, 128 GMRS channel, 282 Privacy code, bring you a longer and safer communication. 2200mAh large rechargeable battery makes you no worry about the battery problem all day long. VOX function and hands-free speaker microphone give you hands-free communication.

NOAA weather alert function keeps you stay abreast of the latest alerts.

Retevis RB17P GMRS Radio set order link:

Retevis RB17P GMRS Radio set for Skiing

18. The first choice for kayaking gmrs radio

One of the main things to consider when choosing a gmrs radio for kayaking is to confirm that it is waterproof. The IP67 waterproof rating is necessary for the gmrs radio for kayaking. It is also the lowest level.

Our first choice for the best waterproof gmrs radio is Retevis RB23 gmrs radio, a 5-mile range two-way radio. In addition to its ultra-long communication capabilities, it also has 8 GMRS channels for long-distance communication and 22 FRS channels for shorter distances. 8 channels support connect  gmrs repeaters, allowing you to connect to the gmrs relay near you. Retevis RB23 GMRS radio can be immersed in water depths up to 1meter for 30 minutes without any problems. This feature makes the Retevis RB23 GMRS radio ideal for canoeing, kayaking or any other water exploration.

Retevis RB23 gmrs radio order link:

Retevis RB23 GMRS Radio

19. Our first choice for paintball gmrs radio

When playing paintball, communication is essential to subdue opponents to win the game. If you have a large team of more than 5 players, then you need to properly coordinate and communicate with your team. And make sure that your call is not listened to by other people. At this time, FRS radio is definitely not the best choice, because FRS radio does not guarantee the privacy of your call, and you will often receive irrelevant signals. At this time, GMRS radio is the first choice. Even a small team with only two people can defeat a large team with precise and coordinated movements by using gmrs radio.

Retevis RB26 GMRS radio is our first choice for playing paintball. The RB26 GMRS Radio has a simple design gmrs radio. It was developed by Retevis and is specially designed for outdoor activities such as paintball. The channel lock fucntion can make you no worry of channel serial. Compact and portable design, supply the best communication to you and your paintball team.

Retevis RTB26 GMRS Radio order link:

Retevis RB26 GMRS Radio

20. Our top waterproof gmrs radio selection

In the wild, weather conditions are always an uncertain factor. We must protect all our outdoor equipment from being affected. Therefore, Retevis has developed a waterproof gmrs radio. These waterproof gmrs radios can be submerged in the water for 30 minutes without affecting their functions. In waterproof radio, the adjective that we often see waterproof is IP67. "IP" stands for Ingress Protection Rating, the first number is solid-state protection rating, ranging from 0-6, and the second digit is liquid protection rating, ranging from 0-8, indicating protection from vertical droplets to bottom pressure , The higher the number, the stronger the ability, but now most products can only reach a maximum of 7. In essence, IP67 tells us that the described waterproof two-way walkie-talkie can still withstand harsh conditions.

Our current two waterproof gmrs radios are Retevis RB75 and RB23. they are all up to IP67 waterproof level. The connection range of these two waterproof gmrs radios is up to 5 miles. In addition to long-distance communication capabilities, they also have 15 GMRS channels for long-distance communication and 7 FRS channels for shorter distances. Of course, they are also gmrs repeater.

Retevis RB23 and RB75 waterproof gmrs radio order  link:

Retevis RMRS Radio

21. Our best gmrs radio for children

Once the gmrs license is applied, all the family mumbers can use gmrs radio, including children, they may range from 5 to 18 years old, but they need to use gmrs radio to maintain communication with their family members. Retevis RB26 gmrs radio is also the GMRS radio designed by retevis in consideration of the suitable population for children. It is small and mini, does not have any front panel buttons, is simple to operate, and has a large flashlight function, which can be turned on with one key. It is very suitable for children who need to face uncertain outdoor environments use.

Click below to learn more of Retevis RB26 GMRS Radio

Retevis RB26 GMRS Radio

22. A selection of our top remote two-way gmrs radio

If you are hunting, traveling, or exploring in the open wild, and need to talk to your partner, then you need a radio set that can provide you with a longer distance. Few gmrs radios can provide a range of up to 50 miles. Regarding gmrs radio, it is important to remember that the determinant of the range is the environment in which the gmrs radio is used. Any data mentioned by others is just a reference for you. If you use it in an open environment, you can get closer to the communication distance advertised by the manufacturer.

*Note: The above distance is the actual test distance of Retevis around the location of Retevis. It is an urban environment with dense buildings. The above data is for reference only. The actual distance is subject to the actual use environment of gmrs radio.

23. First choice for gmrs radio with headphones

When buying a gmrs radio, buying a two-way radio with pre-packaged headphones for hands-free operation is a little money-saving trick, and the packaged product is often cheaper than buying it alone. In Retevis, every gmrs radio has a VOX function for hands-free operation. vox can be used with gmrs radio headset accessories.

Our preferred two-way radio with headphones is Retevis RT76P gmrs radio with earpiece. This combination is paired with air tube headphones, which are also the most common headphones in business. They are concealed and easy to wear. They are very suitable for hunting, boating, cycling and ski. Of course, you can also buy a combination of other models and earphones. You can find a suitable earphone on the product description page, accessory recommendation module, if there don’t have the type you want, please feel free to contact us.

Retevis RT76P gmrs radio with earpiece order link:

Retevis RT76P gmrs radio with earpiece

24. First choice gmrs radio for Hiking and Mountaineering

We must communicate to ensure safety. For those who like to hike and climb, choosing a suitable walkie-talkie not only needs to meet the basic communication but also facilitate outdoor use and operation. The most important thing is that it can help us at the critical moment when we need help. At the same time, we also need a walkie-talkie that is farther away. Our first choice for mountaineering and hiking is Retevis RB17P gmrs radio. It has 8-color backlight options, allowing outdoor enthusiasts to adjust the backlight color to meet the requirements of the screen in different environments, The small orange alarm button on the top of the gnrs radio can realize one-key quick alarm. Directly default "remote + local" alarm. Coupled with dual standby, you can enjoy the fun of communication while climbing and hiking. Retevis RB17P has the high power of 5W gmrs radio, which can realize long-distance calls outdoors. Support to connect to GMRS relay, the 11 NOAA channel also keep you stay in touch with the weather alert, making your communication more meaningful.

Retevis RB17P order link:

Retevis RB17P GMRS Radio

25. First choice gmrs radio for Biking

Romantic weather, natural scenery, mind-blowing wind flow and so on. are often reasons why people fall in love with biking. It is important for family biking or biking teams to maintain communication. But nature often hinders our riding communication, such as wind noise. Our first choice two-way radio for riding is Retevis RB17A gmrs radio. It has a beautiful green color that matches the colors of nature. The Retevis RB17A gmrs radio has 9 levels of noise suppression and wind noise resistance, which can help you achieve your ideal pass when biking. Retevis RB17A uses a high-grade glass fiber reinforced plastic antenna to enhance anti-interference and corrosion resistance, which can cope with the complex weather environment of riding and let you communicate without worry. compatible with gmrs repeater also will bring you more surprise and long calling distance.

Retevis RB17A gmrs radio order link:

Retevis RB17A gmrs radio

RETEVIS GMRS PORTABLE TWO-WAY RADIO COMPARISON GUIDE

Retevis Solutions focus on supplying Long Distance GMRS radio and long range radio solutions, if you need any help, welcome to contact us: info@retevis.com.