Tom, FRS walkie talkies are generally good for an about a 1/2 mile range if there are no obstructions like tall buildings or large trees around. No license needed. GMRS walkie talkie radios use higher power and have a range of about 1-2 miles. A GMRS mobile radio can usually range about 1-2 miles. A base station radio with a larger antenna can have a longer range but it depends greatly on terrain. A repeater can be used for GMRS but that’s another can of worms. A GMRS license costs $35 for a period of 10 years and it covers immediate family living at that address. Everyone would use the same call sign. No testing is needed. Some channels are shared between FRS And GMRS so both radio services can communicate with each other. A means to charge the batteries of the walkies is also needed. The mobile GMRS radios are meant to be used in a vehicle or at home with a power supply and they use 12 volt power. I use a battery box or a 12 volt power supply.