What is a MURS Radio?
The Multi-Use Radio Service or MURS is a license-free two-way radio service that is authorized by the FCC and which is available to both business and non-business users. It’s very handy for keeping in touch between vehicles traveling off-road when out of cell phone range, which is why some in the overlanding community use it.
We’ve used these very reliable VHF radios for years before finally transitioning to GMRS, which can have longer range, but does require an FCC license.
MURS is still a very attractive alternative to GMRS, mainly since it’s license free, and because VHF radio waves can sometimes travel farther in open country than UHF.
The only bummer about the MURS radio service is that power is capped by the FCC at 2 watts, the same as FRS radios. But, here’s the good part…
Unlike FRS radios, the FCC allows MURS radios to use external antennas, with no cap of ERP, or effective radiated power.
Mobile Use: Adding a 5/8 Wave External Antenna to a MURS Walkie Talkie
One of the best ways to boost MURS radio range when using them in a vehicle is to add an external antenna, preferably on top the cab. By adding a 5/8 wave 3 dB gain antenna, such as the Tram 1154 magnetic mount, you can effectively double your radio’s 2 watts of output to 4 watts, which is what CB radios are allowed to transmit. With a more efficient antenna beaming your signal out toward the horizon, your MURS walkie-talkie may be able to reach out up to 15 miles under the right conditions.*
Dual band ham antennas, like the Tram-Browning BR-180B, with 2.4 dB gain, can also work well as MURS antennas, and also serve as a GMRS antenna, if you ever decide to use that service.
Most handheld MURS radios feature a detachable antenna using either a male or female SMA connector. The kit below includes both kinds, and the UHF connector used by most 5/8 wave VHF antennas, like the Tram 1154.
Home Use: Adding a Base Station Antenna to a MURS Radio
It’s legal to use a base station antenna up to 60′ in height with your MURS radio. The Tram 1490 base station antenna features 6.7 dB of gain and can increase the effective radiated power of your 2 watt MURS radio to almost 8 watts. With one of these at even half that height, range of up to 20 miles is possible when the receiving station has a similar setup.
Note: Line loss from long runs of coaxial cable can be a factor with base antennas. Using high quality coax, such as Times Microwave LMR-400 can help offset this and let more power reach the antenna.
A Word of Caution About Using External Antennas With MURS Radios
Most VHF antennas found on Amazon and eBay are tuned for two-meter ham frequencies, (144-148 Mhz). For these antennas to work well with your MURS radio (and not harm it), they typically must be tuned. More often than not, you may have to remove some length from the stainless steel antenna in order for it to work properly. See our article How to Tune a Two-Way Radio Antenna For Low SWR for more on how to do this.
MURS Frequency List
Using The Two Wide-Band FM Channels on MURS For Better Reception
Wide-band FM is allowed on MURS channels 4 and 5. While you won’t get more range using these two channels, you may notice voice quality is better, and it may be easier to make out what someone is saying under sketchy conditions. The Radioddity MU-5 comes with channels 4 and 5 set to wide-band FM.
Choosing a MURS 2-Way Radio
Look for models of MURS handheld two-way radios which transmit the full 2 watts allowed by the FCC, along with those with a removable antenna. A very affordable option is the Retevis RB-27V, which is often sold in 4 packs for under $60. It has a 1500 mAh battery, which provides up to 17 hours of continuous use. For more rugged use, you may consider the Btech MURS-V2, which is rated IP-54 weatherproof.
- License-Free MURS Handheld Radio: Easy to use right out of the box. Keypad menu...
- Sync Display & Dual Watch: The display sync function shows you channel name and...
- UHF, VHF, NOAA Scanner & Monitor: MU-5 allows you to receive and scan on UHF,...
- User Friendly Scanning: Scanning options include customized frequency range...
- Multifunctional: The MU-5 has crisp, clear reception, NOAA weather receiving &...
*Mobile two-way radio range is highly subjective. Factors such as antenna height, terrain, weather and obstacles in the signal path can affect MURS radio range. When using a 5/8 wave mobile antenna on each vehicle, we’ve communicated as far as 18 miles apart, but 1-10 miles is more realistic.
For the full set of rules governing MURS, see the FCC Website
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