I need to buy some 2-way radios that are somewhat rugged, somewhat water resistant, and can clearly reach out several miles of generally low terrain and thick vegetation. I'm looking at FRS/GMRS radios as the likely best solution. I don't mind paying licensing for GMRS.

Back in the 1970's I had a couple of 22 ch CB radios. They sucked unless you had a base station and illegal broadcasting gear. I understand the GMRS is a lot better than CB. Is there a base station/antenna advantage with GMRS?

Should I move this to the audio discussion?

Thanks for your comments.

Bot

uniden handhelds are nice units and they provide the form for the licensing I have a couple with licenses they were free as a sub permit to my ham license.

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Get a set of quality units and test them within the return period while FRS is a good technology I have used radios in the terrain you describe and it was a challenge for military VHF's for seemingly simple communications.

You can checkout a set of used Motorola Visars and I'm positive they would fit the ticket...but at a price.

Visar product line is no longer manufactured (http://www.motorola.com/Business/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Two-Way+Radios+and+Pagers+-+Business/Portable+Radios/Yesterdays+Products/Visar_US-EN), but the Google prices for them aren't bad.