Free Two-Way Radio, No FCC License Required

I will be discussing some of the most common radio setups. There are many other methods to setup and use your radio station. A good source of information is to find and talk to one of your local Amateur Radio Operators. Often called HAMS.

Hand held No FCC License radios are a really good way to stay in contact with family members and friends during emergencies, vacations and during outdoor events like hunting and fishing.

Useful Terms:
FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
Ghz (GigaHertz) 1 billion hertz
Mhz (MegaHertz) 1 million hertz
Khz (KiloHertz) 1 thousand hertz
Hz or Kc (Hertz) 1 hertz
HF (High Frequency) 3 Mhz to 30 Mhz
VHF (Very High Frequency) 30 Khz to 300 Mhz
UHF (Ultra High Frequency) 300 Mhz to 1 Ghz
FM (Frequency Modulation)
AM (Amplitude Modulation)
SSB (Single Side Band)
CB (Citizens Band) HF band
FRS (Family Radio Service) UHF band
MURS (Multi Use Radio Service) VHF band
Marine Radio – VHV at 1 or 25 watts

FCC Allows Free No License required on several Frequency groups. This information is general in nature for more detailed information visit FCC website.

CB (Citizens Band) operates on 40 channels in the HF band at a maximum of 4 watts output power. As of this date CB are authorized to operate FM, AM and SSB modes.

Note: FM mode is a new mode allowed for use on CB band. Currently few if any CB manfacturers are offering a CB with the new FM mode.

CB radios can be either hand held or mobile mount type radios and have an effective reliable range of no more than about 3 to 5 miles. CB mobile radios most often require 12 volt power supply and external antennas.

CB Frequency	CB Channel	Customary Use
26.96500	CB Channel 01	open to all
26.97500	CB Channel 02	open to all
26.98500	CB Channel 03	open to all
27.00500	CB Channel 04	open to all
27.01500	CB Channel 05	open to all
27.02500	CB Channel 06	open to all
27.03500	CB Channel 07	open to all
27.05500	CB Channel 08	open to all
27.06500	CB Channel 09	Emergency
27.07500	CB Channel 10	open to all
27.08500	CB Channel 11	open to all
27.10500	CB Channel 12	open to all
27.11500	CB Channel 13	open to all
27.12500	CB Channel 14	open to all
27.13500	CB Channel 15	open to all
27.15500	CB Channel 16	open to all
27.16500	CB Channel 17	open to all
27.17500	CB Channel 18	open to all
27.18500	CB Channel 19	open to all
27.20500	CB Channel 20	open to all
27.21500	CB Channel 21	open to all
27.22500	CB Channel 22	open to all
27.25500	CB Channel 23	open to all
27.23500	CB Channel 24	open to all
27.24500	CB Channel 25	open to all
27.26500	CB Channel 26	open to all
27.27500	CB Channel 27	open to all
27.28500	CB Channel 28	open to all
27.29500	CB Channel 29	open to all
27.30500	CB Channel 30	open to all
27.31500	CB Channel 31	open to all
27.32500	CB Channel 32	open to all
27.33500	CB Channel 33	open to all
27.34500	CB Channel 34	open to all
27.35500	CB Channel 35	open to all
27.36500	CB Channel 36	open to all
27.37500	CB Channel 37	open to all
27.38500	CB Channel 38	open to all
27.39500	CB Channel 39	open to all
27.40500	CB Channel 40	open to all

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FRS (Family Radio Service) is a private, two-way, short-distance voice and data communications service for facilitating family and group activities. The most common use for FRS channels is short-distance, two-way voice communications using small hand-held radios that are similar to walkie-talkies. 1 to 3 mile range.

Below is a frequency and please note the Maximum wattage output for each frequency.

Channel No.	Frequency	Power (ERP in Watts)
1	462.5625	2 W
2	462.5875	2 W
3	462.6125	2 W
4	462.6375	2 W
5	462.6625	2 W
6	462.6875	2 W
7	462.7125	2 W
8	467.5625	0.5 W
9	467.5875	0.5 W
10	467.6125	0.5 W
11	467.6375	0.5 W
12	467.6625	0.5 W
13	467.6875	0.5 W
14	467.7125	0.5 W
15	462.5500	2 W
16	462.5750	2 W
17	462.6000	2 W
18	462.6250	2 W
19	462.6500	2 W
20	462.6750	2 W
21	462.7000	2 W
22	462.7250	2 W

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MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) uses 5 channels in the 151 – 154 MHz spectrum range. The most common use of MURS channels is for short-distance, two-way communications using small, portable hand-held radios that function similar to walkie-talkies. 1 to 3 mile range.

There are five (5) MURS channels. Maximum output wattage is 2 watts.

151.820 MHz (2 watts)
151.880 MHz (2 watts)
151.940 MHz (2 watts)
154.570 MHz (2 watts)
154.600 MHz (2 watts)

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Marine (VHF) hand held or fixed station radios are an excellent investment if you spend time boating on large bodies of water. Over open water they commonly have an effective rang from 5 to 30 miles.
Marine radios are far more reliable than a cell phone, with its limited on-water range.

VHF Channel Plan

CH	Transmit	Receive	Notes
01A	156.050	156.050	(U.S.) Port Ops., Commercial, in New Orleans & Lower Mississippi
01	156.050	160.650	(Canada & International) Marine Operator
02	156.100	160.700	(Canada & International) Marine Operator
03A	156.150	156.150	(U.S.) U.S. Coast Guard
03	156.150	160.750	(Canada & International) Marine Operator
04A	156.200	156.200	(Canada) Coast Guard
04	156.200	160.800	(International) Port Ops., Commercial
05A	156.250	156.250	(U.S. & Canada) Port Ops., Houston VTS, Seattle VTS, Seattle Traffic
06	156.300	156.300	(U.S., Canada & International) Inter-ship Safety
07A	156.350	156.350	(U.S. & Canada) Commercial
07	156.350	160.950	(International) Port Ops., Commercial
08	156.400	156.400	(U.S., Canada & International) Commercial (Inter-ship)
09	156.450	156.450	(U.S., Canada & International) Boat Calling, Commercial, Non-Commercial
10	156.500	156.500	(U.S., Canada & International) Commercial
11	156.550	156.550	(U.S., Canada & International) Commercial, Berwick Bay VTS, Houston Traffic, New York VTS (Sailing), Victoria Traffic
12	156.600	156.600	(U.S., Canada & International) Port Ops., Houston Traffic, New Orleans VTS, New York VTS (Anchored), San Francisco Traffic, St. Mary’s River
13	156.650	156.650	(U.S., Canada & International) Inter-ship Navigation Safety (Bridge-to-bridge), Louisville VTS, Prince William Sound VTS
14	156.700	156.700	(U.S., Canada & International) Port Ops., Los Angeles/LB VTS, Lower Mississippi VTS, New York Traffic, Seattle VTS, San Francisco VTS
15	–	156.750	(U.S.) Environmental (Receive only)
16	156.800	156.800	(U.S., Canada & International) International Emergency, Distress, Safety and Calling
17	156.850	156.850	(U.S., Canada & International) State Control – 1 Watt Only
18A	156.900	156.900	(U.S., Canada) Commercial
19A	156.950	156.950	(U.S.) Commercial
20A	157.000	157.000	(U.S.) Port Ops.
20	157.000	161.600	(U.S., Canada & International) Canadian Coast Guard, Port Ops. (Repeater)
21A	157.050	157.050	(U.S. & Canada) U.S. & Canadian Coast Guard
21	157.050	161.650	(International) Port Ops., Commercial
22A	157.100	157.100	(U.S. & Canada) Coast Guard Liaison and Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts
22	157.100	161.700	(International) Port Ops., Commercial
23A	157.150	157.150	(U.S.) U.S. Coast Guard
23	157.150	161.750	(Canada & International) Marine Operator
24	157.200	161.800	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
25	157.250	161.850	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
26	157.300	161.900	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
27	157.350	161.950	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
28	157.400	162.000	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
61A	156.075	156.075	(U.S., Canada) U.S. & Canadian Coast Guard
61	156.075	160.675	(International) Marine Operator, Port Ops., Commercial
62A	156.125	156.125	(Canada) U.S. & Canadian Coast Guard
63A	156.175	156.175	(U.S.) Port Ops., Commercial, in New Orleans & Lower Mississippi
63	156.175	160.775	(International) Marine Operator, Port Ops., Commercial
64A	156.225	156.225	(U.S. & Canada) U.S. Coast Guard & Canadian Fishing
64	156.225	160.825	(International) Marine Operator, Port Ops., Commercial
65A	156.275	156.275	(U.S. & Canada) Port Ops.
65	156.275	160.875	(International) Marine Operator, Port Ops., Commercial
66A	156.325	156.325	(U.S. & Canada) Port Ops.
66	156.325	160.925	(International) Marine Operator, Port Ops., Commercial
67	156.375	156.375	(U.S., Canada & International) Commercial, Bridge-to-Bridge in lower Mississippi River
68	156.425	156.425	(U.S., Canada & International) Non-Commercial Recreation
69	156.475	156.475	(U.S., Canada & International) U.S.: Non-Commercial, Canada: Commercial
70	156.525	156.525	(U.S., Canada & International) Digital Selective Calling (Data)
71	156.575	156.575	(U.S., Canada & International) U.S.: Non-Commercial Recreation, International: Port Ops.
72	156.625	156.625	(U.S., Canada & International) Non-Commercial (Inter-ship)
73	156.675	156.675	(U.S., Canada & International) U.S.: Port Ops., Canada: Commercial
74	156.725	156.725	(U.S., Canada & International) U.S.: Port Ops., Tofino Traffic, Canada: Commercial
77	156.875	156.875	(U.S., Canada & International) Port Ops. (Inter-ship)
78A	156.925	156.925	(U.S. & Canada) Non-Commercial Recreation
78	156.925	161.525	(International) Marine Operator, Port Ops., Commercial
79A	156.975	156.975	(U.S. & Canada) Commercial, Non-Commercial in Great lakes
79	156.975	161.575	(International) Port Ops. & Commercial
80A	157.025	157.025	(U.S. & Canada) Commercial, Non-Commercial in Great lakes
80	157.025	161.625	(International) Port Ops. & Commercial
81A	157.075	157.075	(U.S. & Canada) U.S. Government Environmental Protection
81	157.075	161.675	(International) Port Ops. & Commercial
82A	157.125	157.125	(U.S. & Canada) U.S. Coast Guard & Canadian Coast Guard
82	157.125	161.725	(International) Marine Operator, Port Ops., Commercial
83A	157.175	157.175	(U.S. & Canada) U.S. Coast Guard & Canadian Coast Guard
83	157.175	161.775	(International) Marine Operator
84	157.225	161.825	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
85	157.275	161.875	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
86	157.325	161.925	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
87	157.375	161.975	(U.S., Canada & International) Marine Operator
88A	157.425	157.425	(U.S.) Commercial (Inter-ship)
88	157.425	162.025	(Canada & International) Public Correspondence (Ship-to-Coast)
AIS1	161.975	161.975	Automatic Identification System (AIS)
AIS2	162.025	162.025	Automatic Identification System (AIS)

Shortwave Bands

Frequency Range	Frequency Range	Frequency Range
2000 to 2107 kHz	8195 to 8815 kHz	19680 to 19800 kHz
2170 to 2194 kHz	12230 to 13200 kHz	22000 to 22855 kHz
4063 to 4438 kHz	16360 to 17410 kHz	25070 to 25210 kHz
6200 to 6525 kHz	18780 to 18900 kHz	26100 to 26175 kHz

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NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on the following frequencies across the country.
Note: Even if your radio will allow you to do so DO NOT transmit on NOAA weather frequencies.

162.400 MHz	162.425 MHz	162.450 MHz	162.475 MHz
162.500 MHz	162.525 MHz	162.550 MHz

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Sources include many big box stores like Walmart. Ebay is also a good source of CB and hand held radios.
Some of the Chinese made radios like Beofeng and Wouxun are well worth the money and have proven to be as good of a choice as well known names like Cobra, Motorola, Midland and Uniden.

If you want to avoid Chinese made radios good luck. To my knowledge there is not a 2 way radio currently being made in the United States.
Note: Amazon is almost always much more expensive than most other radio sellers.