Walkie Talkies - GMRS vs. FRS
 

I've been reading on the forum about walkie talkies and from what I understand, GMRS types are acceptable for use in Europe but FRS types aren't? I have a set of Audiovox 2-way radios and on the back of one I read "FCC ID: PDHGMRS-1200L" I'm assuming this means I have the GMRS kind and can use them. Am I correct?

Only PMR446 is legal in Europe, because everything else (including both FRS and GMRS) interferes with one of their emergency services.

There is no European personal radio service that works in the US, either.

Take your radios with you, LisaMS. It's highly unlikely that the frequency you select on your radios will be the "one" that is being used by emergency services in "Europe".
We take our GMRS radios everywhere we go - the world over. No issues.

I'm not sure about that. Frequency allocated to US FRS is used by the police in UK, and I can imagine the consequences of being caught!

To use radios in full knowledge that doing so might interfere with a rescue operation is selfish, uncaring, and immoral.

Do NOT use American radios in Europe. Period.

Actually interfering with a frequency is one thing; actually being tracked down because of doing so is another; actually being apprehended is still another.

Sounds as if you've found another "cause" Robespierre....but why not ask THE question:

How DO all those people who go to Europe and don't use walkie-talkies ever SURVIVE without them????????

That is a distinction without a difference, mon ami.

<i>Malum in prohibitum</i> means something is illegal, such as running a stop sign. But if the sign is in the middle of the Mojave desert, where cross-traffic can be seen for 5 miles in either direction, running it isn't morally wrong.

<i>Malum in se</i> means that the society defines an act as intrinsically wrong, such as murder. Whether or not one should use American walkie-talkies in Europe is not a question of probability, either of interfering with a rescue or being apprehended and prosecuted.

It is a case of <i>malum in se</i>, plain and simple.

Darn. And I was so excited that mine were GMRS instead of FRS, whatever that means! I thought I'd gotten lucky and wouldn't have to spend yet more money. LOL

My friends (in Germany that we are visiting) might have some walkie talkies themselves. I haven't even asked them yet. Since they go skiing quite often, it's possible.

Thanks everyone for all the info.

PMR446? Wish I understood what all these numbers meant! ;-)

Well, numbers and letters I mean. Just wanted y'all to know that although I'm from MS I do know the diference between numbers and letters at least! ;-)

Take care all!

Just can't spell *difference*! LOL! Okay, I'm not correcting myself anymore! Have packing and chores to do! (I think I like seeing myself post. ;-) )

(I'm goin' to Germany...I'm goin' to Germany...)

I was going to buy a set of these for the purpose of traveling too....but opted out when I found out that I needed a license from the FCC to operate it. ;-(

FRS doesn't require a license, but cannot be used in Europe.

Maybe you can pick up a pair of PMR446s on eBay and use them only when traveling. You should get a model that has CTCSS (it's a way of sharing a channel in high-traffic areas).

Why don't you just take a cell phone?