Bill, Motorola FRS/GMRS radios have an external dual mic/speaker port that you can plug a headset or a handset into. Ram makes a universal mount for the radio that one could mount outside the vehicle and run the mic into the car. I have one I use stuck up to the sun roofto get it up higher in the car and it works fairly well.

This is not a discussion about HAM Radio being better, but how to get the most out of the FRS since we cannot require all the new members that come and go to have a HAM license, we need an effective way to communicate that most people have.

Speaker + Mic combo unit.
www.pryme.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2286



using mobile (tiny keyboard) so expect errors

Pryme looks like a good source for affordable radio products. My thanks to Brad, Scott, and everyone else who contributed.

Bill

My thanks, too, for the excellent thread and links!

Here's the link to the radio I'm using.
The price has gone up considerably, but it does have an external antenna.
It worked very well during our Spring 2012 Death Valley Geology tour.

www.westcoastmall.net/midland-75-510xlm-...-antenna-p-1390.html

Scott,
wow thats kool looking and super portable too, so how much would a set up like that cost? my frs is so old i can hardly understand what trail leaders say and transmission is lousy... time for a new one soon.

tomas