To me, its just crazy. So, I have to carry two silly radios to talk to them and still hit the HAM repeaters in the area should the need arise. There are so many identical radios (one for GMRS the other identical for HAM) that this is starting to feel like a scam. In fact, I'll just say it, this is a scam. I think that we are better than that. The industry should do better.
I can understand what you are feeling. To those not familiar with how the FCC rules work, it's easy to think this is a scam. You are not the first that will say this and you won't be the last.
But, it's not a scam. The rules and type acceptance requirement are there for a very valid reason, and your questions/concerns are exactly why.
Here's the issue:
The FCC knows that the average consumer/hobbyist/ham is not going to understand the technical requirements that regulate radio usage, radio design, spectral purity, interference, etc…..
To make it easier for consumers/hobbyists/hams, the FCC uses Type Acceptance as a way to make it clear which radios will meet the complex type acceptance/technical requirements for specific radio services. The requirements that an FRS only radio must meet are different than the technical requirements for a GMRS radio. Same with MURS. Same with ham. Same with marine VHF, etc….
Average Joe consumer/hobbyist/ham is going to look for a radio that fits the radio service they are using. FCC made it easy.
Where the issue happens is when someone is looking for a radio that is outside the FCC rules.
But, lucky for us, the Chinese are here to save the day. They'll happily sell you some cheap radio on a chip for $14 that has poor filtering and no type acceptance, and happily release software/firmware that'll let it blow by all the FCC requirements. And there's no shortage of people that assume that the FCC is out to get them, and the Chinese are the true saviors. They'll gobble up these radios like pigs at a trough of slop. Amazon/e-Bay will happily take your $14 for one of these radios, because the main #1 concern is that Jeff Bezos gets a new yacht, and we keep American dollars flowing into the Chinese economy.
Yes, you could buy some $14 Cheap Chinese Radio and be able to transmit on all these bands.
And then there's the hacked MARS/CAP modded ham radios. Again, FCC rules are there for a reason. That reason is most hams barely can pass a 35 question multiple choice test. The internet gives them the ability to take tests over and over again until they can pass the test in their sleep without actually having to learn the material. What happens with this is we have hams that have no idea what the FCC Part 97 rules say. They get their guidance from those on the internet that will tell them to do whatever they hell they want and completely ignore anything that looks like integrity, skill, knowledge or honesty.
But, now I sound a bit bitter. Maybe I am. Maybe I've had far too many experiences with people that thumb their noses at the rules for their own benefit, completely ignoring how it impacts everyone else.
There is no easy answer for what you want. The issue is that you want one radio that will do absolutely everything. The FCC rules don't allow that for good reasons. There are far too many technical and legal reasons why we can't have that. There are far too many that have zero integrity and will willingly risk causing interference to others, including public safety users, all in the name of convenience.
What you want:
You want a radio that you can use on the ham bands.
Solution: Get a ham radio designed for this. Commercial radios won't have a VFO option. Some can be set up for front panel programming, but that's another legal issue that many turn a blind eye to. Truth is, a nice Yaesu amateur radio will serve you well on the ham bands, and do stuff that other solutions won't.
You want to be able to talk to those that don't want to get into the amateur radio hobby while hiking.
Solution: Find out what they use. Likely FRS. Get a basic FRS radio. Having a common radio platform that matches others just makes things easier all around. One guy with a "special" radio just complicates everything. The "Keep It Simple, Stupid" thing applies very well here.
If you have satellite capability, then use that for emergencies. Trust me, this will work faster/better than ham radio. Hams have zero requirement to help you in an emergency. They are random hobbyists that may or may not be listening. They may not be willing to help you. And, yes, I know this for a fact, I've tried to use amateur radio in emergencies a few times. It. Does. Not. Work. It is NOT an emergency radio service. Random ham is not going to be able to deal with a true emergency, even if you can find one. Trust in professionals, not hobbyists.
