One of the questions that we are asked frequently is if a new two way radio that a customer is considering purchasing will be compatible with older radios that they already have. This compatibility question is best answered based on the type of radio (such as consumer vs. business), as the answer is very different.
Consumer Radios
Consumer radios generally operate on a standard set of frequencies assigned to preset channels. But that's only part of the equation. There are different types of consumer radios, so these frequency and channel assignments depend on what type of radio it is.
Perhaps the most popular types of consumer radio are the FRS and GMRS walkie talkies. These radios operate on the UHF band. At one time this type of radio used either the GMRS or FRS services, and for awhile most were manufactured as "dual service" radios that supported both FRS and GMRS. These radios typically had 22 channels. Older models with only 14 channels were considered FRS radios.
After the FCC Part 95 reform in 2017, these combo radios were no longer considered dual service, but reclassified as either FRS or GMRS, depending on their wattage among other things. Today, FRS and GMRS share the same channel and frequency assignments and are able to communicate with one another on the same standard 22 channels. Additionally, Some GMRS radios have 8 additional channels to communicate with GMRS repeaters.
Regardless, all of the radios that support FRS and/or GMRS use the same frequencies and are compatible with one another. Simply set all radios to the same channel number and privacy code, and you will be able to communicate. FRS and GMRS radios are not cross compatible with other types of consumer radios.
CB radios operate on the 11 meter AM band, and have their own channel and frequency assignments. CB radios have 40 channels, and some are capable of Single Side Band (SSB) operation. CB radios are not cross-compatible with any other consumer radio service.
Consumer Marine radios operate on VHF marine frequencies and are intended for use on private, non-commercial vessels over water. Some older marine radios were dual service radios combined with FRS/GMRS, but
the FCC no longer allows the manufacture or sale of these models. Marine radios are not cross-compatible with other types of consumer radios.
MURS radios operate on the VHF band and have 5 dedicated channels. These radios can be used by consumers or businesses, which technically puts them in both types for this discussion. However, it is its own radio service with specific operating requirements and restrictions. MURS radios are not cross compatible with other types of consumer radios.
Popular manufacturers of consumer radios are Cobra, DeWALT, Galaxy, Midland, Motorola (Talkabout series), President, Uniden and Wouxun. Kenwood used to make GMRS models (the TK-3101 and TK-3131, for example), but have moved away from consumer radios and no longer produce them.
For a more in-depth discussion on the different types of consumer radios, listen to episode 75 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast.
Business Radios
Compatibility is not nearly as straightforward when it comes to business radios. First of all, there are several types of frequencies that business radios are made to support: VHF, UHF, and 800/900 Mhz frequencies, for example. The first step in finding a compatible radio is choosing a model that supports the same frequency type as your existing radios.
These frequency types refer to an entire range of actual frequencies, and just choosing the same frequency type does not guarantee compatibility. If you purchased your existing radios from a true two way radio dealer, there is a possibility that the dealer could have programmed special custom frequencies into the radio. If this were the case, your radios may not be compatible with a new radio even if you purchased the exact same model.
Usually most compatibility issues arise with 4 or 5 watt radios, which are much more likely to support custom programming. With one or two watt business radios, it is a little easier to ensure compatibility. The Motorola CLS series of radios and the two watt RM series models will always be compatible, and two watt Kenwood radios that are marked with a ProTalk label will always be compatible, provided you purchase the same model.
In addition to band and frequency compatibility, there are different types of digital business radios which are not inherently compatible with one another. These include DMR, NXDN, and 900 MHz digital radios.
DMR is a very popular digital technology used by Motorola, Vertex Standard and TYT. There are a plethora of DMR radios available that are compatible with one another. NXDN is used by Kenwood and Icom. While not as prevalent as DMR, NXDN radios are popular with some businesses and organizations. These two technologies use different methods and protocols, so are not cross-compatible on their own without some type of digital converter.
The 900 MHz digital radio is another thing entirely. It uses Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum or FHSS technology. This is a clever concept that increases secure communications, but comes with the caveat that one brand of 900 MHz radio may be completely incompatible with another.
If you have any questions or concerns about business radio compatibility, the easiest option is to simply contact us and we can recommend a compatible solution. For older radios or radios that could have been custom programmed, we may ask that you send in the radio so that we can read the actual frequencies from the radio before making a recommendation.
Related Resources
Looking for a MURS Compatible Radio?
It's Official: Vertex Digital and Motorola TRBO Radios Now Compatible
The Two Way Radio Show TWRS-07 - Comparing Small Business Radios
Radio 101 - The facts about GMRS two way radio compatibility
Jay yes my trying to make the Baofeng uv-5r to talk with the Motoroal CLS 1410 can you help?
I have a Baofeng UV-82 is it compatiable with our Kenwood TK-3402U. We are having issues getting them to talk to each other.
will the baofeng uv-5r work on a Motorola cls 1410?
Hi Mike, the CLS1413 is for use in Canada only, and is programmed for such use. Although there are a few differences between the CLS1110 and CLS1410, both use the same business frequencies and will work together. Read the Motorola CLS1110 / Motorola CLS1410 Two-Way Radio Comparison for details.
Hello I have 2 questions. At our company we bought two Motorola cls1410 and they work great. We wanted to expand. Ended up getting a good deal on cls1413 which is a Canada version. It does not seem to work with the 1410 model..... Is this correct? And 2nd question is will cls1410 work with the cls1110? Thanks for your time
Hi there. I was wondering if a kenwood TK-3301 which has 16 channels would work with normal/new 8 channel radios?
cheers sam
Hi Carlos, I am not familiar with an MH320. Are you referring to the Motorola Talkabout MH230? If so, that is an FRS/GMRS radio and is not configurable.The Baofeng BF-F9 v2+ is an amateur (ham) radio. Although it is technically possible to program the BF-F9 to operate on FRS and GMRS frequencies, it is not FCC Part 95 type accepted for use on either FRS or GMRS in the US and is not legal for use on FRS channels, as the 8-watt BF-F9 far exceeds the 1/2 watt legal limit and antenna requirements for use on FRS frequencies. If you reside outside the US, you will need to contact the agency governing radio communications in your country before attempting to program the Baofeng for use with the Talkabout.
I have Motorola mh320 and i want to know hoy to set up with boafeng bf-f9 v2+.
Thank you
Hello I have a UHF HT1000 and I'm trying to have it programmed for my local police department can anyone help? Can I send it out to someone to have it programmed?
The Baofeng is an amateur radio.The Motorola Talkabout is a consumer FRS/GMRS radio. Although the UV-5R and its variants operate on the same band and can technically be programmed to operate on FRS and GMRS frequencies, the radios are not Part 95 type accepted for legal operation on either service. In addition, the legal power limit for transmit operation on FRS is 1/2 watt (500mW) and the lowest power setting on the Baofeng exceeds that. I would highly discourage the idea of programming a Baofeng to talk with a Motorola Talkabout FRS/GMRS radio.
Can i use a Baofeng uv 5r v2 + with a talk about off the shelf radio if so how can i
Thanks, Alex
Will Motorola CLS 1410 work with Kenwood Protalk XLS ? So far they don't seem to work channel to channel. Can they be programmed? Thanks!
very useful article. thankyou for clearing a few things up
Hi James, unfortunately, no. The CP200 is a business radio and the Motorola Talkabout radios operate on FRS/GMRS frequencies. Consumer radios such as the Talkabout line are not recommended for business use as they are not built for the daily rigors and wear of business applications. Business radios are initially more expensive, but they will last longer and will likely save you the costs of frequently replacing consumer grade radios over time.
I work in a hotel and they use motorola Radius cp200 radio and 90% are broken. They bought some Motorola talk abouts and wanted to know if they could be synced together to talk to one another.
Hi Hax, the short answer is no. The Motorola CLS 1110 is a business radio and the Midland is an FRS/GMRS radio. Although the radios operate on the same band, they are programmed to different frequencies.
Can a CLS 1110 radio work with a Midland GXT 895? I found the motorola in a dumpster and found that it operates on the UHF band similarly to the Midland.
I have a pair of Cobra CXT395 are they compatible to communicate with Motorola MJ270R We are on channel 5 do I have to set them to anything special or just set them both to channel 5?
Hi Glen, the Kenwood TK-3101 is a UHF radio and was generally pre-programmed to GMRS frequencies. According to the product brochure, the TK-360G is sold in Europe and supports either 440-470 MHz or 403-430 MHz depending on the version.
If you have the version that supports the higher frequencies and you have software and a cable to program it to the GMRS, they may talk to each other. However, the TK-360G is technically not a GMRS radio. If you are in the US, it may not even be FCC approved for use on the GMRS. If the radio has an FCC ID, you can look it up in the FCC ID database at http://transition.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid/ .
Hi i have a Kenwood TK-3101 but i just purchased a second radio from a friend, a Kenwood TK-360G. I cannot get these on the same frequency. Is this something you can help with or are they not compatible?
Thanks,