If you’re about to buy a radio, you do your research, you review what's out there, and you figure out what it's going to cost. Pretty simple, right? Then you learn about the hidden FCC licensing fees - fees that could run your business thousands of dollars that you hadn't anticipated.
Then you learn you’ll have to pay again when it’s time to renew your license. Damn. But all is not lost.There are a chosen few handheld radios out there that the FCC has no financial claim to!
That means no licensing fee! No license renewals!
Your money can stay where it belongs: in your pocket.
This article will give you everything you need to know about FCC licensing (and how to avoid it). We’re also going to give you what you need to know to make an informed buying decision.
With this article and beyond, Tech Wholesale is a one-stop-shop for business two-way radios with no FCC licensing.
If you have any questions that this article doesn’t answer, our team of dedicated radio professionals is standing by to answer them.
Reach out to us via live chat on our website, give us a call at 888-925-5982, or fill out our contact form
If one of these radios interests you, contact us for a free personalized quote
What Do You Need in a No FCC-License Walkie-Talkie/Radio?
FCC stands for Federal Communications Commission. It's an independent agency of the United States government that manages the public use of the radio spectrum.
In other words, if it’s broadcast over public space, they control it.
Unfortunately, their power extends beyond fining Howard Stern and purging the airwaves of fart noises.
The FCC has allocated specific bands of frequencies to various types of radio users. They also regulate the equipment those users are allowed to use.
Some of these regulated bands are:
- The Family Radio Service (FRS channels)
- The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
- The Business Radio Service (BRS)
- The Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)
FCC license fees typically apply to GMRS and BRS radios.
However, there are wavelengths that the FCC has set aside for public use, and radios that work on these specific wavelengths require no fees and no paperwork. That’s what we’re talking about here.
To clarify, the FCC approves these wavelengths and radios for public use, so there's nothing illegal or shady about the lack of a government fee. Jack-booted thugs aren’t going to kick in your door. At least not for this, anyway...
Of course, not every radio on this list is going to be perfect for you. If you have questions, we’re on hand to answer them.
Reach out to us via our website to live chat with an experienced representative. You can also call us at 888-925-5982 or fill out our Contact Form.
Best No FCC-License Radio Models
Motorola DLR1020
The Motorola DLR1020 is our first no FCC license radio. It's a two-channel walkie talkie, meaning that you can segment your business' staff into two different groups. That means you can have a dedicated channel just for management.
It only uses one watt of power to push out the signal. That’s not a lot, so it’s better suited for smaller locations. Using this device, you’ll find an outdoor range of up to two miles and an indoor range of 300,000 square feet (or up to 20 floors).
It runs on a 900 Mhz digital communication band, which is how it escapes the FCC licensing that most VHF and UHF radios are subject to.
Motorola DLR1060
The Motorola DLR1060 also runs off of a digital band, making it immune to FCC licensing.>
This is a radio that is perfect for a larger workforce. If you’re a hotel or multi-story office building, this could be a solid choice for you.
It has six different channels for staff segmentation. You can have dedicated channels for multiple staff levels within your operation.
With an outdoor range of up to two miles and an indoor range of 300,000 square feet or up to 20 floors, this is a radio that will provide interference free communication, no matter where you are.
It also features a Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum, which protects your sensitive conversations from being picked up by hobbyists or other business radio lines.
In other words, your privacy is protected.
Motorola RMM2050
The Motorola RMM2050 Runs on MURS frequencies, placing it outside the usual government licensing.
It should be noted, however, that this is a VHF radio. That means it is primarily designed for outdoor use.
It features five distinct channels. You can separate your staff for more efficient communication. It also runs off of two watts of power, making it stronger than the DLR1020.
It has an outdoor range of up to two miles. That’s the only range that matters on this one.
As a VHF radio, it’s not nearly as effective indoors.
The RMM2050 comes with a voice activation feature. Communication won’t interrupt a staff member’s primary duties. They can talk and work at the same time. It’s like walking and chewing gum, only more profitable.
This could be useful for a maintenance team or outdoor construction site.
It also comes equipped with a sturdy and robust design. This is a great choice for outdoor physical labor. The device can be dropped without breaking, which is a massive bonus on a Jobsite.
There is also an antimicrobial coating on the exterior surfaces of the radio to stop the spread of germs. That’s another necessity when dealing with the great outdoors.
If you’re interested in any of these devices, we can give you a free quote, personalized to your specific business needs. Contact us today.
Which No FCC-License Radio is Right for You?
This section will cover the right radios for some of our most frequent buyers. Different industries require a different kind of radio.
If you’re a massive retail location, it won’t do you any good to get a no-FCC license radio with a short-range. Likewise, if you’re a small medical office with only a few employees, it would be overkill to invest in a radio designed for large hospitals.
At Tech Wholesale, we’re dedicated to ensuring our customers find the perfect radio that fits the size and scope of their business. We create custom quotes for all of our customers that are modeled explicitly to your company and budget.
If you don't see your industry below, feel free to reach out to our experts and we'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us at 888-925-5982 or fill out our Contact Form.
The Right No FCC-License Radio for Restaurants
If you’re looking for a radio with no FCC fees for your restaurant, you should look no further than the Motorola DLR1060.
For starters, it has six channels that you can use to segment your staff (kitchen, wait staff, hosts) as well as management (for some of the more sensitive, personnel-related conversations you may not want employees to hear).
It uses one watt of power, which is perfect for most small to midsize restaurants.
The indoor range of 300,000 feet also easily covers the distance needed.
When using DLR1060, you’ll be able to communicate individually with other users. So, in a restaurant setting, a host can let a specific server know that they have a new table without bothering the entire wait staff. If you’re interested in the Motorola DLR1060 for your restaurant, contact us today for a free quote.
The Best No FCC-License Radio for Medical Facilities
Medical facilities will find the Motorola DLR1020 to be their ideal radio.
It provides reliable indoor communication for up to 20 floors. In the event of an emergency, you'll always be able to reach the person you need.
The DLR1020 also allows for one-on-one communication if a specific staff member is needed in a patient’s room.
This device uses a Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum with a unique, four-digit radio profile ID to keep your communication secure. This ensures that you’re doing everything you can to protect the confidentiality of your patients. It wouldn’t be good if a patient’s medical information was being relayed and it was picked up by someone else.
The Motorola DLR1020 also comes with a page all feature. It allows you to alert all medical staff in the event of an emergency.
If you’re interested in the Motorola DLR1020 for your medical facility, click here to get a quote.
The Best No FCC-License Radio for Outdoor Businesses
The Motorola RMM2050 should be the no FCC-license choice for businesses that operate primarily outdoors.
As a VHF radio, it is designed for reliable outdoor communication but won’t work as well indoors. VHF signal travels twice the distance of the UHF signal on open ground, around foliage, or over rolling hills.
What’s more, this device’s two watts of power enable enhanced coverage over distance.
You’ve also got five different channels to use when segmenting staff. That’s particularly helpful for something like a golf course, where you can segment between the caddies, cart personnel, groundskeepers, and so on.
It provides reliable outdoor communication for up to two miles. You’ve got some distance to play with.
Landscapers or maintenance workers can also use the VOX voice command feature to continue working with their hands while maintaining communication with fellow team members and supervisors.
If you're interested in the Motorola RMM2050 for your outdoor business, contact us for a free personalized quote.
Want to Learn More?
You can save yourself a lot of time and money by purchasing a no FCC-license two-way radio from Tech Wholesale. However, as we’ve discussed, these radios are not one size fits all. Make sure you’re picking the device that best suits your business needs. And we want to help with that.
Reach out to TechWholesale via live chat, contact form, or on the phone at 888-925-5982 to get your questions answered.
If you already know the radio that you want, contact us to receive a personalized quote.
Related Reading