The license at a glance

$35one-time FCC fee

10years before renewal

0tests to take

1license covers the family

Any GMRS radio over 2 watts needs this license to transmit legally.

Get licensed in four steps

Spouse, children (grown ones too), grandchildren, parents, siblings, in-laws and more.

Hold the side button, wait a second, speak, let go to listen

At the end of a conversation and every 15 minutes

A main and a backup from 15-22; privacy codes off

Height and open ground matter more than power

Setup	Typical range
Handheld, town or woods	0.5 to 2 miles
Handheld, open ground	2 to 5 miles
Handheld from a hilltop	5 to 15 miles
Mobile radio with roof antenna	5 to 20 miles
Through a repeater	20 to 50 miles

Typical estimates. Test between your own home and meeting place to know your real range.

One $35 license keeps the whole family talking when the phones go down.