GMRS Walkie Talkies - a question

[Manonthefence]

Mrs fence and I will be touring Arizona late this year with friends in two RV/Camper Vans. We thought it would be a good idea to get a pair of walkie talkies to keep in touch between Vans rather than use mobile phones.

Now it appears that most of the really good radios and GMRS and according to every website I have looked at one needs to get a licence which costs $85 (more than the cost of the radios).

Before we ditch the idea as too expensive I wouldn't mind answers to a couple of questions.

1. Can a retailer sell you the radios without seeing a licence.
2. How do the authorities police the use of these radios and do they actively do so.

I guess what I am asking is, is it feasible to just buy them and use them in the hope that we dont get caught, and if we do what happens. (Is it like having a dog licence used to be over here in the UK?)

I am happy to forget the idea if its inadvisable to use the radios without a licence but if it isn't really policed then I am happy to take the risk.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[Ollie]

I bought a set for my trip to France in 2005, to meet up with friends at le Bourget. I went to the store, picked a pack, paid and walked out.

If you're worried about the state of the law in the UK, you can buy them in North America where they are on free sale, like kid's walkie-talkies.

[Cvairwerks]

Go for the FRS radios instead. You should be able to get a pair of Motorola units for about 40$. They have at least 10 channels and more than 10 security codes per channel. So if you are on Ch1, code 3, that's the only thing you will recieve. Range on the open road is about a mile or so and no ticket required.

[TimAPNY]

Go for the FRS radios instead. You should be able to get a pair of Motorola units for about 40$. They have at least 10 channels and more than 10 security codes per channel. So if you are on Ch1, code 3, that's the only thing you will recieve. Range on the open road is about a mile or so and no ticket required.

We use the Motorola Radios for hunting, they are very nice and work well. we've had cases where we've gotten several miles of range out of them, sometimes a lot less (when in heavy wood and behind hills and things). I see they came out with some that have 10 mile range now, I think those are what I'm going to pick up when I get the money, instead of borrowing a radio. They are well built and seem to hold up to a far amount of abuse and the batteries last a long time even in the cold.

Tim