Family Radio Service (FRS) Radios

Amateur Radio operators involved in emergency communications may encounter personnel from the agencies and organizations being served who are using Family Radios, known as FRS radios. These radios are not part of the amateur radio service, and persons using these radios do not need licenses. Because FRS radios use UHF frequencies, inefficient antennas, and low power, they have relatively short communication-distances.

You may be assigned by the NCS to operate a base station for the FRS radios, and if this happens keep in mind that you are not operating a ham radio station. However, the suggestions for clear and accurate speech can be used with FRS radios. Keep your transmissions short and use friendly, informal speech. If the FRS station has an antenna that swivels, be sure the antenna is in a vertical position.

Do not use amateur radio equipment to re-transmit FRS communications.