hand held CB advice

[Precision]

Two of my buddies and I are on a hunting lease in coastal SC. We get minimal cell coverage out there so are looking into getting handheld CB's to communicate while hunting.

Our Campsite is on a 600 acre plot that is about 1/2 of a mile away from the rest of the 3400 acres. I estimate that 2.5 miles would be the longest distance between any two hunting stands. The area is a mix of pine forest and standing crops and is fairly flat. My buddy currently owns a vehicle CB, but if there are other technologies / bandwidths (such as GMSR) that would better suit our needs, we are willing to go with that. Not particularly looking to need to be licensed by the FCC, but if we have too...

And yes, cost is an issue. But, working is the biggest need as we already have a maybe with the cellphones.

Thanks for your help.

[Erik]

Radios like these are pretty popular around here by sports fishermen that fish in the same lake or river and want to keep in touch without using cellphones.

Cabelas also has a cheaper model, and you can proably find even cheaper somewhere else. I've seen cheap models here that has a max reach of maybe 1-2 miles, but it's probably better to step it up a bit, just in case.
There might be better options in the US than these though.

[Precision]

so if I understand correctly, we need to get GMRS licenses and 3 GMRS handheld units in order for this idea to work? Now if my limited research on GMRS is right, they are not compatible with CB's (different frequency bands). So they would be worthless in trying to talk to the other guys at camp who have vehicle mounted CB's?

We are from Florida and hunt in SC so we car pool up. Most of the rest of them are local boys and all have their own vehicles. Probably more info than needed, but that is why we are trying to stay with CB's. But hand held is pretty mandatory for us as we will have one vehicle (truck) and one or two 4 wheelers, so the elements come into play.

And assuming we do go with GMRS, how does one determine a good one from the shite?

[Aglifter]

I don't know what they're properly called, but you may check out a "business radio" system... Don't know anything else, other than it worked well around FTW in 1995

[308Mike]

If you know how to follow the rules, get VHF handi-talkies. Many have a high-power switch that's 5 watts, and although they're designed to be used for boaters, you can use them other times too. You're still encouraged to get a VHF license, but they're no longer required.

A word of caution, playing around on a VHF radio frequency monitored by the USCG can get you in BIG TIME federal trouble, so no playing around calling MAYDAY! on channel 16.