A few years ago when we were experimenting with these low-power radios, we purchased a simple mast and tripod from and put up a small ground plain vertical antenna at our base camp at an elevation of about 16 feet above used icom ground--that installation vastly improved the quality of our audio and the distance of the communication. here are some questions and tips to consider if you plan to get frs radios: how often do you plan to use the radios for? if it is only going to be used for limited purposes, you might save some money and get a scaled down model. if however you plan to use them extensively, a few extra bucks up front may make you a happier camper. for extensive users, also consider the battery used to power the frs radio - you might want to get a model that uses rechargeable batteries, otherwise you will spend some extra money for batteries.

what is the purpose of using these radios? if you plan to use them to talk-up-a-storm - go right ahead! but, keep in mind, anyone within range may tap into your conversation at any time if they also have an frs radio, unlike a cell phone. it is not best used for private conversations. my friend has a different brand icom frs radio then the one i want to buy. are they compatible? yes! all frs radios operate on the same range of frequencies, regardless icom of brand. although, keep in mind that if you or your friend has an older model, you may have different sub-channel capabilities (14 channels vs. 14 channels with 38 sub channels).