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
i'm trying to get a motorola gp328 to work with a kenwood tk-3360.
One of the frequency ranges on the kenwood is 400 - 470 mhz, and there is a 403 - 470 range on the motorola. The frequencies we use are 467.750 mhz for channel 1 thru 457.800 mhz for channel 15, so i'm assuming this will work. Please advise if i'm on the right track
Hi I have a Motorola ht1000 I just want to know if it will communicate with the Motorola cp200?
I have owned a pair of UNIDEN 2889 radios for a few years now. I just purchased a pair of UNIDEN 2638 radios. For some reason, when I set both pairs of radios to the same channel and privacy code, only the like-model radios can hear each other (the two 2638's can hear each other and the two 2889's can hear each other but the 2889's can't hear the 2638's nor can the 2638's hear the 2889's).
I called UNIDEN and asked why this was and they told me that the two radios are programmed differently and privacy codes won't work across the two models.
This is confusing to me because I have the two user manuals and all fo the frequency and tone information is the same for the two models (with the exception that the 2889 has more privacy codes to choose from).
Is this normal? I was under the impression that if any radio that operated over the same frequency and privacy code could communicate with any other radio.
Hi,
I'm looking to buy a headset for my MJ431CR Motorola radio. It seems most Motorola headsets are compatible with the MJ270R , yet the MJ431CR is never listed as such. Does everything fitting the 270 will also fit the 431? Or did I just make a mistake buying the 431, with doesn't fit any headset? Thanks!
No. UHF and VHF radios operate on different bands. A dual band radio that is capable of operating on both UHF and VHF can be programmed for frequencies within the range supported by the radio on either band, however a single band radio that only operates on UHF cannot be programmed to operate on VHF frequencies and vice versa,
For more information, watch our Radio 101 video Radio 101 - The difference between UHF and VHF radios.
Can a UHF mobile radio be programmed to a VHF radio?
Will a Motorola radius p110 be compatible with a Maxon?
Will the Icom f4011 work with the Motorola mr350r? I would like to order one and want to make sure that it will work with this radio that I already have!
Thanks
I am in a group of people using various radios including motorola xtn. I recently purchased a kenwood protalk 3130 and it isn't working. What can I do?
i have a midland NAUTICO3 that is suppose to have 88 channels and i was hoping it would work on some of my old radios and they didn't (i can understand why) but will it also connect to other like newer radios and i don't think it was custom built
if i am in a group of people useing MOTOROLA HT1000 UHF radios, and i buy my own second hand(same brand and model) will it work?
I have 3 old BellSouth 1022SL 15 ch two ways. When set to ch 2, they appear to be incompatible with my Midland, Cobra, & Motorola GMRS two ways. Does anyone have the ch vs freg chart for the old BellSouth 1022SL radios?
No. The CLS1410 is not an FRS/GMRS radio.
I have a Motorola cls 1410 radio and wanted to know if it would work with a FRS\GMRS consumer radio. Thanks
I am looking for a radio that can communicate with Garmin rino radios. I want to mount the radio in my truck. My friends and I use the rino's on hunting trips and we have found the rino's go through batteries very quickly and have a limited range. I am thinking the a radio that is mounted in the truck would have more available power and a lager antennae, hopefully with a better range. We do use the privacy settings on the rino's. Do you have any suggestions?
CLS 14110 AND 1110 ARRE VFH CLS1810 MADE FOR TARGET ARE UFH AND ARE COMPATIBLE WITH MOTOROLA VFH RADIOS EXAMPLE ALL XTN
Yes. To learn more about consumer FRS/GMRS radios and compatibility listen to The Two Way Radio Show Episode 1 - An Introduction to Consumer Radios. It should answer most of your questions about FRS/GMRS radios.
Cobra microTALK CXR925 Two Way Radio Motorola - 35-Mile, and 22-Channel FRS/GMRS 2-Way Radios (Pair) can they work together????
Hi All
Do we have a compatible between 2 kind of radio : Midland GXT-1000 and Kenwood TH-K4AT
I see in user manual that they have the same range of frequency
462.5625 - 462.7250 Mhz - step 250kHZ for Midland GXT-1000
400 - 470 MHz - step 25kHz for Kenwood TH-K4AT
Thanks
Hi I have two motorola cls 1410 and two motorola cls 1810 and even I put them in the same channel, frequency and code they still don't work (all 4) together only the two and two that are the same model... Is it possible to make them work together or do I have to get them the same model?