The Best Radio Band for Off Roading - FRS GMRS CB or MURS?

Hey RCT! Here is a field test using FRS, GMRS, CB, and MURS while off roading. This test was to see which radio band (or type) would be best for off roading alone or with friends and family. Back in the days, it used to be CB radios but with FRS and GMRS being more popular, those may be your best bet since they are essentially easier to purchase locally. It also depends on if you'd like to connect with others nearby or have an uninterrupted talkaround. I think I will need to try again on a Saturday when it is busier.
Let me know what you think about the timelapse and music. I decided to add my adventure at the same time but didn't want to bore anyone.
Radios Used:
Motorola XTS3000
Motorola XTS2500
Uniden PRO401HH
Talkpod A36Plus
Radio Not used but in thumbnail or video:
BTECH UV-5X3
Motorola XPR6550
Motorola Astro Spectra
Instagram @Radiocheckk
Email Radiocheckkaz‪@gmail.com‬
Location: Four Peaks - Tonto National Forest
Vehicle: 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee TrailHawk
#talkpoda36plus #talkpod #motorolaradio #motorolaxts3000 #motorolaxts2500 #xts3000 #xts2500 #frs #gmrs #murs #cb #cbradio #uniden #unidenpro401hh #pro401hh #btech #btechuv5x3 #motorolaxpr6500 #xpr6550 #uhf #vhf #offroading #offroadingadventures #offroadingjeep #jeep #jeepgrandcherokee #jeeptrailhawk #trailhawk #4x4 #4x4offroad #motorolaastrospectra #astrospectra #fourpeaks #tontonationalforest #bushhwy #beeline #beelinehwy #passengerprincess

[@johnbridgeman758]

Hi, I just wanted to comment. For being outside I would say it would between GMRS because on GMRS, when you key up you would be transmitting 5 watts. On Murs on vhf murs is limited to 2 watts but the signal goes further. On FRS it's about a half watt

[@RadioCheckk]

@@johnbridgeman758 I agree. The band with more power is best. I guess my only other concern would be if people are willing to get their GMRS license (even though it's so simple). Thanks for watching!

[@AGPullen]

Hey, AZ born and raised here! A friend from work got me into off roading. He used to do long haul trucking so he's used to CB. When I got my truck, I went to a guy local to the east valley, CB Exchange, and had a Uniden PRO505 XL CB with a Wilson 1000 installed. Most of my friends have a CB (cab mounted or handheld) so I've stuck with that. It's worked really well for our adventures, although it does seem to pick up signals from my ABS from time to time, and the huge whip can be annoying some times with low trees, but its fun to use on and off road. I've thought about getting one of those Baofang radios but no one I know uses those frequencies so it's not worth it right now. You'll usually have a bit of traffic on CB out there around Butcher Jones/Four Peaks/Sycamore Creek and the weekends when everyone's out there. Especially when it's cooler out. It's been too hot lately for people to be out there messing around.

[@RadioCheckk]

@AGPullen thanks for watching. I got out of CB for many years when FRS got big and they are less noisy. I hesitated on getting back into CB because I figured not many use them. I'll have to keep tagging my CB out in that area to see what I hear. Other than that, on my entire road trip to and from CA, I didn't hear a single peep either. Thanks again!

[@TontonZen]

If your off-roading implies being close to your car all the time then stay away from walkies, or at least connect them to a decent mobile antenna. That will make a world of difference. Also the way you approach range varies with wavelength. UHF/VHF (a.k.a. FRS/GMRS and MURS respectively), have no reflectivity on the atmosphere (barely) so line of sight will dictate your range. CB is 11m which is HF and can benefit from skip, thus extending your range by reflecting on charged atmospheric layers, but to get real good results you'll have to walk the path of going a bit outside of the law and emit with a 100W booster. For GMR you can stick to the legal transmit power, line of sight works on UHF even with one watt, you'll need the extra power (not so much though, within GMR legal limits does it) to penetrate trees and small objects.

[@BlueInMyBlood9005]

I think many people are going with GMRS these days because for $35 you can get a license which covers you and your family for 10 years without taking a test. If you've seen the Notarubicon channel, Randy is in love with GMRS and is a big off road lover himself. Ever since the license fee reduction, boost in wattage and use of repeaters, it seems to be the best choice. FRS is too low powered and CB though still alive, is kind of messy with people illegally amping up and basically talking trash while stepping on others. It's still fun when listening to truckers, but compared to when I was born to now, it's just not what it was. Nice effects in your video.The music and different camera angles while filming your journey adds to the fun of the video. Keep them coming 👍.

[@RadioCheckk]

@BlueInMyBlood9005 Yes I watch Notarubicon as well. He's definitely big on GMRS. There was definitely more chatter on GMRS but everyone uses tones and can't really connect with other. I hesitated on buying a CB radio after many years of not having one and it's for that exact reason you mentioned. Thanks for watching and the feedback on my new editing!

[@jevasjunkbox]

If you wanna hear anything on that CB walkie talkie more than an 1/8th of a mile, you gotta connect a mag mount to the BNC connector. I still carry my old Maxon 27LP with me every once in a while on road trips just to see who's on, but TBH, with the rubber duckie in the cabin, I find I pickup more engine noise coming thru than actual radio transmissions. That said, CB is still good for on-road (listening to truckers on ch. 19), but for off-road, everyone's gone to GMRS. The sad part is, most ppl went to GMRS to talk amongst their own group (the ppl in their caravan), unlike the old days of CB where you talk to random ppl with a shared interest in radio.

[@RadioCheckk]

@jevasjunkbox I actually tested out my handheld CB with an external antenna with the BNC connected. This on a trip to and from CA. I unfortunately didn't pick up any traffic at all. As far as everyone going GMRS, that's what I was trying to say is that most radio have you go no tone or tone only and can't easily switch back and forth. Makes it less "connecable" to other. I like to have tones off so I can hear anyone. Thanks for watching!

[@mtu-engineer3220]

If users are running tone squelch you will be calling until you are blue in the face. You need to have a second location with all the radios to run actual test. We need to promote users leaving tone squelch off to provide maximum availability ofproviding help in emergency.

[@RadioCheckk]

@mtu-engineer3220 Thanks for watching! This test was more to hear what band had more traffic. The next video will be testing radios in distance, if anything. You are right. Like I also mentioned in the video, having tone will limit your availability to hear or talk to others. Hence why I prefer a radio with a switch to turn off and on the tone.

[@mtu-engineer3220]

​@@RadioCheckkI was specifically refering to you trying to get someone to respond to your radio check. Tone squelch on the trail makes any radio useless to call for help unless you cycle through all the available tones. When I am with a group using frs radios for any event, I try to get them to shut the tones off. This also helps with groups interfering with each other because they do not realize the frequency is in use.

[@BurninBogey7]

MURS is VHF 151-154 MHZ max power 2 watts, FRS and GMRS share the same frequencies 462MHZ, but differ in power wattage from 2-5/50 watts respectively depending on license. CB is HF-27MHZ at legal 4 watts, requires no license, but you will hear a lot of trucker swearing. MURS, FRS, GMRS all use FM modulation, just like listening to music on the FM radio. CB uses AM, a different type of modulation system that sounds different than FM. Typically, the lower the transmitting frequency, the further it travels. In the application of off-roading, we don't need our signal to travel a hundred miles. so UHF-FRS-GMRS radios are perfect for this application. There are more technical aspects of the differences between AM, FM, but I won't discuss them here.

[@mrkmdz]

I believe that AM CB is 4 Watts carrier, but up to 12W PEP, depending on the percentage of modulation and the radio. Walkie-Talkies generally don't put out the maximum licensed power due to limited heat dissipation on the final transistor. There is now also FM CB in the same 11m frequency band. Because FM is frequency, rather than amplitude modulated, the power output is constant.

[@BurninBogey7]

@@mrkmdz AM is 4 watts, 12 watts SSB, correct me if I'm wrong.

[@rrrrsorry8408]

@@BurninBogey7 you are correct

[@mrkmdz]

@@BurninBogey7 Do more research.

[@BurninBogey7]

@@mrkmdz then show me

[@rrrrsorry8408]

From what I've seen the last few years you have the jeepers and their CB radios a few cary frs/gmrs . The side by sides run the rugged radios or equivalent vhf business band "race radios " . then there are a few of the have ham license that take advantage of higher power and repeaters when they can hit them .BTW You need to have a Gmrs license and call sign to access there repeaters also the right pl tone and offset programed into you radio or nobody is going to hear you let alone respond . cheers

[@RadioCheckk]

@rrrrsorry8408 Thanks for watching! Yes, a GMRS license is needed for any GMRS operations (at legal power). This test was more for busy bands; repeaters in the valley wouldn't help out when off-roading. This was more for anyone who wants to pick up a few radios talk to their friends while off roading, license free, install free. Thanks!

[@spirit_wolf123]

Can I suggest you skip showing content such as FRS on a gmrs or ham radio you snitching on yourself...

[@RadioCheckk]

@@spirit_wolf123 FRS and GMRS share the same frequencies. No ham radios were used in the making of this video. Thanks for watching 🤙