Cost of FCC 2-Way-Radio License
Recently I bought a pair of Midland GXT1000VP4 GMRS Two-Way Radios so my wife and I can communicate with each other when she is hiking and I am at our campsite. Now I see that the box says "FCC Licens...
Forum Discussion
The easiest way to test them without a license is to just test them without a license, then buy the license if you decide you're going to use them regularly. Virtually no one buys a license for these blister-pack radios, and as long as you're not intentionally causing trouble, you have practically zero chance of running into problems being unlicensed. Since a 10 year license is only $70, I'd just go ahead and buy it if you're going to use them regularly on the GMRS channels
But, that said, you're almost certainly not going to find these useful for what you want to use them for -- *maybe* you'll be able to talk to your wife when she goes to the campground office 1/4 mile away if there aren't too many RV's between you and the office, but you're going to have trouble talking to her when she's 1/2 mile into the woods.
If you want a more usable solution, buy a 15W or 25W mobile radio for your RV and put a good antenna on the roof, then get your wife a good GMRS handheld with 5W output power (and a good antenna, not the 2" antenna on those midlands). Then you may be able to reach her a few miles into the woods, but I wouldn't count on much more than that if there's any significant tree cover. Maybe 5 miles or so if there's not much tree cover or other obstacles between your RV and her and if you mount the RV antenna on a high mast, you can get better range.
But, that said, you're almost certainly not going to find these useful for what you want to use them for -- *maybe* you'll be able to talk to your wife when she goes to the campground office 1/4 mile away if there aren't too many RV's between you and the office, but you're going to have trouble talking to her when she's 1/2 mile into the woods.
If you want a more usable solution, buy a 15W or 25W mobile radio for your RV and put a good antenna on the roof, then get your wife a good GMRS handheld with 5W output power (and a good antenna, not the 2" antenna on those midlands). Then you may be able to reach her a few miles into the woods, but I wouldn't count on much more than that if there's any significant tree cover. Maybe 5 miles or so if there's not much tree cover or other obstacles between your RV and her and if you mount the RV antenna on a high mast, you can get better range.
