In addition to Ham Radio, there a 5 other radio services anyone can use.

 

Family Radio Services (FRS):

Radios used are small handheld "walkie talkies" you can buy at WalMart.

Kids love these gadgets.

They are very low power using small attached antenna.

Range is really limited.

They are channelized (22) in the 462/467 MHz band (UHF), no license needed.

 

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS):

Same frequency band as FRS, but higher power, up to 50 Watts, repeaters

and larger antennas are allowed. Also, Channelized and license is required

to transmit. Some HAMs also have a GMRS license.

These radios are used by some businesses, mobile to base stations.

Most cities have repeater associations.

The members pay monthly dues that cover the expenses of maintaining repeaters in high places.

Depending on elevation, repeaters extend the range out to 50 miles or more.

Here in Colorado, repeaters are located on the mountains west of Denver.

Others are on tall downtown buildings.

 

Citizens Band (CB):

CB has been around forever. Remember the movie Smokey and the Bandit?

In the 60s and 70s, most truckers had a CB in the cab to talk with other truckers cruising down the highway.

They kept each other informed about "smokeys" and other road hazards.

They used large antennas mounted on the mirrors,

some used illegal linear amplifiers to boost the reach of their signal.

CB needs no license, is channelized (40) and has 4 Watts legal power.

Back then many drivers installed CBs in their cars, though few have them these days.

 

Marine Radio Service

If you own a small boat, you can use the 156/157 MHz frequency band without a license.

Large ships do require a license. Operation in other countries do require a license.

There are 80 channels, each assigned to certain uses.

 

Multi Use Radio Service (MURS):

MURS is very different from the others.

There are only 5 channels, 1-151.820 MHz, 2-151.880 MHz, 3-151.940, 4 (blue dot)-154.570 MHz, 5 (green dot)-154.600 MHz.

No license needed, but power is  limited to 2 Watts.