Just depends on how serious the user wants to be... and if they are using
radios for business and or personal communications.

Most common people trying radios don't want to even think about them, its
enough to figure out how to push the transmit button.

So the simplicity and low cost of an FRS radio is the big deal. Only the
shorter range keeps them from really becomming a lot more common place.

If you want more range, you can easily apply for a business radio license
which would give you 10 to 25 watts of power, more than enough for most
short haul direct conversations. Notice some of the latest radios are
combination FRS and GMRS Radios... drives a lot of GMRS repeater users
crazy.

*****

I have friends using CB for business... when the long path band conditions
are wacky, a mutual friend in Mexico might have to relay a message back
to the mobile which is only 15 miles from the base. Most people are not
going to even try to bother with it.

*****

FRS is popular, I can hear and talk back to a lot of users from a
2500 foot mountain top site. Put one of the silly simplex repeaters on
the air from the same mountain and watch the fun begin.

cheers
skipp
http://sonic.ucdavis.edu