Two Way Radio License?

[millsclimber]

Hey guys,

I didn't know where else on the forum to post this, so here goes. I have used cheap, old two way radios for a long time now to communicate on long climbs or when doing alpine routes. They are toast now. So, naturally i've been looking at new ones. The following caught my eye because they are inexpensive and sound like they might be pretty good.

2 questions for the group:

1. I see people using these all the time that I'm betting don't have an FCC license, but REI and others (most notably, the FCC) say I should have a license to use them on GMRS frequencies. I'm far from an expert so I'm just regurgitating what I read. Any opinions/recommendations? I use them infrequently and an $85 license to operate my $45 radios seems a little beyond what I was looking for. Does anyone really get licenses to operate these things? Should I even worry about it?

2. Anyone have experience with radios like these? Are they good in canyons, at the crag, etc? If I decide to buy them (depending on the license issue), just wondering if they are worth it or not.

Thanks!

http://media.rei.com/media/ww/e61e7389-9505-4dd4-9302-8825209441fa.jpg

[theking648]

if it's FRS/GMRS then you don't need a license as long as you use the FRS channels.. which if i remember right are 1-14, i think 1-7 are FRS/GMRS shared(low watts) and 15-22 are GMRS which require a license to use.

so no you don't need to buy a license as long as you use FRS channels.

I'm sure someone else here could shed more light on the topic.