Can I get in trouble for using these radios without a license?
It's illegal to TRANSMIT with them.
Oh shoot, that changes everything!
Officer Bowling, checking in.
Seriously, it is extremely easy to get a Technician license. You can use any number of free online study sites, and the test fee is a whole $14. We have a number of kids in the valley that are under 12 years old who have licenses, so I'm not kidding when I say it isn't difficult. Around the corner from me is an 11-year-old girl who recently earned her Amateur Extra, the highest ham radio license there is.
Back to the radios. I have some experience with the cheap Baofengs. Their quality is hit or miss. Some radios hold up well over time; others (like my first one) develop problems and need to be replaced. Getting warranty service is about impossible... but that's fine, since buying a new one barely costs more than shipping your old one in for repair. Just consider them disposable radios.
In case you or anyone else reading this thread wants to use a radio but refuses to get a ham license, here is a summary I wrote a while back for another forum. This is a list of all the common car-to-car radio options, listed in order from shortest to longest range of communication. Many of them require no license, as noted below.
FRS (Family Radio Service) benefits:
1) uses handheld "bubblepack" radios which are tiny, extremely inexpensive, and widely available
2) no license required, so everybody can use one
3) FM operation for clear sound and little interference
FRS drawbacks:
1) limited to .5 watt output, which keeps range extremely short
2) radios must have fixed antennas, also hurting range (especially when transmitting inside a car)
3) only 14 channels available
MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) benefits:
1) no license required, so everybody can use one
2) FM operation for clear sound and little interference
3) 2 watt maximum output provides slightly greater range than FRS
4) external antennas are allowed, potentially increasing range a little further still
MURS drawbacks:
1) range with fixed antenna radios is still very short (especially when transmitting inside a car)
2) radios with removable antennas get pricey
3) only 5 channels available
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) benefits:
1) FM operation for clear sound and little interference
2) 50 watt maximum output can significantly increase range (but most handhelds only put out 4-5 watts max)
3) can use repeaters to increase range even further
GMRS drawbacks:
1)
always requires a license for use (no exam; just a fee)
2) range for typical handhelds ("bubblepack" radios) w/o a repeater isn't much better than MURS
3) repeaters are very scarce (Utah has only 6, for example)
4) high power mobile radios are very expensive ($275+ for just the radio)
5) only 15 channels available (22 total on handheld hybrid FRS/GMRS radios)
CB (Citizen's Band) benefits:
1) affordable; new mobile radio/antenna/cable/mount setup can be had for ~ $75
2) no license required, so everybody can use one
3) CB radios are very common among Jeepers
4) CB offers better range than all the above options (except a high power mobile GMRS radio)
CB downsides:
1) there are thousands of a**holes out there actively trying to ruin your experience
2) 4 watt maximum legal output limits range, though it beats all above handheld options
3) CB uses scratchy, static-filled AM operation
Ham radio benefits:
1) FAR better range than all the above options (mobile radios usually put out 50 watts or more)
2) low power handheld radios can use upgraded antennas, further increasing their range
3) thanks to repeaters, the range gets even better (especially with linked repeaters)
4) repeaters are very common (at last count, Utah has 129 on 2m and 179 on 70cm)
5) dual band radios offer hundreds of frequencies ("channels") for use
6) ham operators tend to be much better behaved than CB operators
7) mobile ham radio typically uses FM operation for clear sound and little interference
Ham radio drawbacks:
1) you must earn a license by passing a 35-question test
2) moderately expensive; a quality 50w 2m mobile radio/antenna/cable setup runs ~ $225
3) because of #1 and #2, many Jeepers don't have a ham radio
Once you've had a taste of ham radio, you will forever look down on CBs due to their significant shortcomings. But does that mean CBs are entirely worthless? Of course not. If all you want to do is talk to other vehicles in your caravan and you'll always be very close to each other, CBs would be a simple, cheap way to achieve your goals. If you're really thinking you may be in a remote area with no phone service and you might need to make an emergency communication with the outside world, CB will very likely be completely useless in such a situation... and if you're counting on it to save you, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.
In case you didn't know, ham radio has an entire culture centered around emergency communication and response. There are a great many hams out there who are eager and willing to assist any sort of distress call they hear. (This is where the whole mantra of "when all other forms of communication fail, there is ham radio" originates.) Be advised that most hams take great pride in their hobby, meaning they also police it. Most legit hams aren't thrilled by people who illegally use these frequencies, to the point that they sometimes track down pirates and turn them over to the authorities.
Anyway, those are some thoughts on the matter.
