GMRS setup guides

Each guide quotes the Part 95 rule text it relies on (from eCFR, checked 2026-10-21) and uses only figures from FCC grants or maker documents. Any prices are the maker’s own list price on the date checked. No affiliate links, and nothing is presented as hands-on testing.

• Best GMRS radios for hiking and backpacking: picks for the trail from documented weight, waterproof rating, swappable battery, antenna and NOAA weather. Rocky Talkie, BTECH, Wouxun, Midland, plus a license-free FRS option.
• NOAA weather radios on the NWS approved list: the five listed models still sold with readable maker documents (Midland WR120, WR400, ER10VP, ER50, GXT1000), compared on SAME, alerts, power and jacks.
• How to choose a GMRS radio: handheld vs mobile, compared from FCC filings: the power rules for each radio type, repeaters, water ratings, batteries, antennas and programming across the 9 certified radios in our database, plus shortlists by need.
• GMRS antenna connectors and upgrade basics: handhelds vs mobiles: SMA vs SO-239 vs NMO, which radios document which connector, and how antenna gain interacts with the ERP limits.
• GMRS repeaters and mobile setup basics: how repeater pairs work, tones, permission, station ID, the no-internet-linking rule, and the RF-exposure install distances on mobile radio grants.