Ham vs GMRS vs CB: which radio for your vehicle?
| Service | License | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| GMRS | FCC license required; individuals 18+; 10-year term; covers immediate family (FCC) | Off-road and overland groups, families, convoys; repeaters allowed |
| Amateur (ham) | Must pass an FCC exam (Technician is entry level) (FCC) | Most capability and bands; wide repeater networks; long-distance travelers |
| CB | No individual license (FCC) | Truckers, some off-road clubs; longer antenna |
| FRS | No license; low power, fixed antenna | Handhelds for spotters; talks with GMRS on shared channels |
| Business band (Part 90) | Separate license with frequency coordination | Company fleets — GMRS can't be licensed to a business (Modern Diesel summary) |
How to decide
- Who do you need to talk to? Match your group. Many trail groups run GMRS; trucking still uses CB.
- Will you take an exam? If yes, ham gives the most options. If not, GMRS is the common choice.
- Running a business fleet? Look at business-band radios from a two-way radio dealer — most shops in our directory do this daily.
Next: choose an antenna mount.