RADIOS for even more fun on a Miata Run

GMRS radios

GMRS radios

Many participants in recent Sahuaro Miata runs reported having great fun in communicating with each other on the road via radio/walkie talkies. Many radio models are hands free, so you can easily talk on the radio if you’re driving alone and they work even where there’s no cell phone service. The club Board feels it is a great idea for everyone who participates in our runs should own a handheld or car mounted unit.

There are many types of consumer radios/walkie talkies, most work on similar FM UHF frequencies.

  • One is an FRS (Family Radio Service) radio. These are lower power (.5 watt) radios with a shorter range. 

  • The other is GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service). GMRS radios are more powerful providing a longer range. The FCC (Federal Communications Commision) does require a license to transmit with GMRS radios, but no license is required to listen. However, compliance with the licensing requirement appears low. You can easily obtain a 10-year license for $35. Search the internet for "How to obtain a GMRS license."

  • There are also widely available hybrid GMRS/FRS radios. These should be set on low power (.5 watt) on FRS channels, but higher power for GMRS channels.

All FRS and combination GMRS/FRS radios can communicate with each other on FRS channels. So which brand and model should you buy? That is a matter of personal choice.

  • A newer radio is the Baofeng UV-5G Plus. This comes highly recommended by several of our members, as well as the San Diego Miata Club. It costs less than the Motorola or Midland radios. 2 of them currently cost only $52 on Amazon. And a single radio is only $32. They are easy to use and have better transmit and receive range than most of the radios club members buy.

  • Some of our members own Midland hybrid GMRS/FRS models such as the GXT1000VP4. It is also available in camouflage colors or with yellow accents (GXT1030VP4).

  • One member recommends Motorola hybrid GMRS/FRS models (T400 or T460).

Please try to avoid cheap radios that use non rechargeable AAA or AA batteries. Their performance dramatically deteriorates as the batteries wear down.

These radios are widely available from many retailers. Amazon.com has some of the lowest prices. REI recently had a sale on Midland radios. A pair of hybrid GMRS/FRS radios sell for around $60. Except for the Baofeng UV-5G Plus (2 for $52, 1 for $32). This is slightly less expensive. Please check them out on Amazon!

Keeping it easy, we recommend buying the combination GMRS/FRS radios. They cover the low power and high power channels and are a more professional product.