Terrain, not watts
At GMRS frequencies the signal travels in near-straight lines. A ridge between you is a wall, and turning up the power does not knock it down.
Hero image goes here · 2200×1100 min · dark, wide, vehicle-with-antenna shot
Authorized GME Dealer
Comms that work when the phone doesn't
GME builds GMRS radios in Australia for people who actually leave pavement. Sealed, shock-rated, and engineered so the whole system — radio, antenna, and mount — works together instead of fighting each other.
- Authorized GME dealer
- Designed & made in Australia
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
- Installed in our San Marcos bay
GMRS, explained
The radio service built for exactly this
GMRS is a licensed two-way radio service on the 462 to 467 MHz band. It exists for families and small groups who need to talk to each other where there is no cell coverage, which describes most of the places worth driving to.
Unlike the bubble-pack walkie-talkies at the sporting goods store, GMRS allows a real external antenna, a proper vehicle-mounted radio, and access to repeaters. That combination is what turns a toy into equipment you can rely on.
FRS
The blister pack radios- Max power
- 2 watts, and 0.5 W on some channels
- External antenna
- Not permitted, fixed antenna only
- License
- None required
- Best for
- Campground and ski hill chatter
GMRS
What GME builds- Max power
- Up to 50 W by rule. GME runs 5 W
- External antenna
- Yes, and it is the biggest lever you have
- License
- $35, no exam, covers the family
- Best for
- Convoys, trail runs, overland travel
Amateur / ham
The hobbyist route- Max power
- Far higher, many more bands
- External antenna
- Yes, almost anything you like
- License
- Written exam, individual only
- Best for
- Radio as a hobby, maximum reach
Yes, you need a license. No, it is not hard.
This is the part that stops people buying, and it should not. There is no test, no study, and no radio background required. It is a form and a card payment.
$35One-time FCC fee
10 yrsLicense term
No testNo exam or study required
FamilyCovers your immediate family too
- Register for an FCC Registration Number (FRN) through the FCC's CORES system.
- Apply for the GMRS license in the Universal Licensing System. You must be 18 or older to apply.
- Pay the $35 fee. Most licenses are granted within a few days.
- Your call sign arrives by email. Everyone in your immediate family can then transmit under it.
Immediate family is defined broadly by the FCC and includes spouses, children, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and in-laws. One license, one call sign, everybody covered. Worth knowing: your name and mailing address become part of the public FCC database, so use a PO box if that matters to you.
How range actually works
Watts are not the number that matters
Every radio contact is a running tally of what helps the signal and what hurts it. Transmit power is one line on that ledger, and it is almost never the line that decides whether you hear each other.
GME builds the XRS Connect at 5 watts and spends the engineering budget on the parts that move the needle further: a clean receiver, tight channel filtering, and an antenna range designed to match the radio. Here is what actually sets your range.
Height buys horizon
Because the path is line-of-sight, mounting height sets the ceiling. Moving an antenna from the bumper to the roof adds more usable range than any power increase, and it costs nothing.
Power is one-way
Transmit power only helps the other truck hear you. It does nothing for what you hear. Antenna gain works on transmit and receive, so it improves both halves of the conversation.
Where to spend, in order
- Get the antenna as high and as clear as the vehicle allows.
- Match the antenna gain to the terrain you actually drive.
- Then, and only then, think about transmit power.
The XRS Connect platform
The radio hides. The controls don't.
Every XRS Connect radio splits into two parts: a compact base unit that disappears under a seat or behind the dash, and a speaker microphone that carries the screen, the buttons and the audio. You get a full-capability radio without surrendering your console.
Bluetooth then connects the whole thing to your phone, which is where the genuinely useful features live.
ScanSuite
GME's digital scanning technology sweeps for activity so you find the channel your group is actually on instead of guessing.
Active MuteAPP
The app detects an incoming phone call and mutes the radio for the length of the call, then brings it back. No reaching for the volume knob mid-conversation.
Voice playbackAPP
Records what just came through and replays it, along with the channel it arrived on. For when the answer to "say that again" is engine noise.
Over-the-air updates
Firmware updates arrive over Bluetooth from your phone. No cables, no laptop, no removing the radio from the vehicle.
Repeater capable
Eight repeater channels with split tone support, so you can reach a repeater and extend well past line-of-sight where one is available.
Magnetic mic mount
The 370C and 390C use GME's magnetic bracket, so the mic goes back in place one-handed without looking. The 330C uses a drop-in cradle.
Across the XRS Connect range
- 5 watts transmit power
- 15 GMRS channels (1–7, 15–22)
- FRS compatible
- 8 repeater channels, split tone capable
- 400 programmable receive-only channels
- Narrow and wide band
- Dual watch
- 51 CTCSS and 104 DCS tones
- Selcall (5 tone) and call alert
- Automatic power down
- User updateable firmware
- Designed and made in Australia
- 5 year warranty
- GMRS license required
Pick your radio
Three radios, one difference that matters
All three run the same 5 watts, the same channels and the same XRS Connect features. What separates them is how tough the chassis is, how it mounts, and whether you need a built-in GPS. Spend up for the environment, not for the radio.
Smallest
XRS-330C-U
GME US XRS Connect Super Compact GMRS Radio
$375.00
- Chassis
- ABS, super compact
- Mic mount
- Drop-in cradle
- Built-in speaker
- No, speaker mic only
- Sealing
- Standard
- Built-in GPS
- No
- Built for
- Tight modern cabs with nowhere to put a radio
Most popular
XRS-370C-U
GME US XRS Connect Compact GMRS Radio
$410.00
- Chassis
- Die-cast metal
- Mic mount
- Magnetic bracket
- Built-in speaker
- Yes, built-in secondary speaker
- Sealing
- Standard
- Built-in GPS
- No
- Built for
- Noisy cabins and hard use, the all-round pick
Toughest
XRS-390C-U
GME US XRS Connect IP67 GMRS Radio with Bluetooth® & GPS
$435.00
- Chassis
- Die-cast, sealed
- Mic mount
- Magnetic bracket
- Built-in speaker
- Yes, 2 W front-facing
- Sealing
- IP67 and MIL-STD 810G
- Built-in GPS
- Yes, built-in receiver
- Built for
- UTVs, buggies, crawlers, anything exposed
| Specification | Smallest
XRS-330C-U GME US XRS Connect Super Compact GMRS Radio $375.00 | Most popular
XRS-370C-U GME US XRS Connect Compact GMRS Radio $410.00 | Toughest
XRS-390C-U GME US XRS Connect IP67 GMRS Radio with Bluetooth® & GPS $435.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chassis | ABS, super compact | Die-cast metal | Die-cast, sealed |
| Mic mount | Drop-in cradle | Magnetic bracket | Magnetic bracket |
| Built-in speaker | No, speaker mic only | Yes, built-in secondary speaker | Yes, 2 W front-facing |
| Sealing | Standard | Standard | IP67 and MIL-STD 810G |
| Built-in GPS | No | No | Yes, built-in receiver |
| Built for | Tight modern cabs with nowhere to put a radio | Noisy cabins and hard use, the all-round pick | UTVs, buggies, crawlers, anything exposed |
| Shop | View radio | View radio | View radio |
Every XRS Connect radio needs an antenna. If you have not chosen one yet, the value packs bundle a radio with the matching low-gain antenna and save you money over buying the two separately.
Shop GME
Shop all GME products
Radios and value packs
If you are starting from nothing, buy a pack. Both of GME's value packs bundle a radio with a low-gain antenna, which is the right first antenna for most people driving real terrain.
Best valueSave $95
XRS-370C4P-U
GME US XRS Connect 4x4 Pack
The 370C plus the heavy-duty 2.1 dBi radome. The setup we fit most often, and the right first buy for hard trail use.
$540.00$635.00
View detailsCompact packSave $55
XRS-330COB-U
GME US XRS Connect Outback Pack
The super-compact 330C with the medium-duty 2.1 dBi radome. Same low-gain antenna logic, smaller radio, lower price.
$485.00$540.00
View detailsToughest
XRS-390C-U
GME US XRS Connect IP67 GMRS Radio with Bluetooth® & GPS
IP67, MIL-STD 810G and a built-in GPS receiver. For open cockpits and anything that gets hosed off afterwards.
$435.00
View details
XRS-370C-U
GME US XRS Connect Compact GMRS Radio
Die-cast chassis, built-in speaker, magnetic mic mount. Buy this on its own if you already have an antenna.
$410.00
View details
XRS-330C-U
GME US XRS Connect Super Compact GMRS Radio
The smallest mobile GMRS radio GME makes. For modern trucks with no space left under the dash.
$375.00
View details
AE4705B-U
GME US Heavy Duty GMRS Radome Antenna (6.6dBi Gain) - Black
Heavy-duty 6.6 dBi radome. Maximum reach across open desert and plains, on GME's toughest base.
$245.00
View detailsAntenna school
Find my antenna
Gain is a shape, not a score
The single most common mistake in vehicle comms is buying the highest gain number available. Gain does not make an antenna better. It changes the shape of the signal, trading vertical coverage for horizontal reach.
Picture a donut around the antenna. Low gain gives you a tall, fat donut. High gain squashes it into a wide, flat disc. Same energy, different distribution.
2.1 dBi
Low gain
A tall, rounded pattern. Less absolute reach, but it still talks when you are climbing, descending, leaned over off-camber, or sitting below someone on a switchback. GME's pick for rough country.
4 dBi
Mid gain
The compromise, and a sensible one. Enough flattening to gain real distance on open ground without losing the vertical coverage you need in hills. The default if your driving is genuinely mixed.
6.6 dBi
High gain
A wide, flat disc aimed at the horizon. Excellent across desert and plains where the other truck is far away but level with you. Its weakness is elevation change, where the pattern can pass over or under the other vehicle entirely.
These are illustrations of pattern shape, not measured plots. The point is the tradeoff, not the exact geometry.
01Ground plane
Some antennas need a conductive metal surface under them to work properly. Every GME radome and both lightweight antennas are ground independent, so they mount anywhere: bumper, rack, canopy, bracket.
The one exception is the low-profile AE9000-U, which is ground dependent. On a composite canopy, fiberglass shell or plastic bumper, it is the wrong choice.
02Where you mount it
Height wins. Higher is farther, because the path is line-of-sight. A roof or rack mount beats a bumper stub every time.
Keep the antenna clear of large metal obstructions, and avoid mounting behind the cab where the roofline blocks the direction you are driving.
03Whips are consumable
GME sells the whip separately from the base. Take out a whip on a low branch and you replace a $42 to $165 part, not the whole antenna.
The lightweight and flexible antennas share one base with interchangeable 2.1 and 4 dBi whips, so you can also change gain to suit the trip without redoing the install.
Antenna selector
Which antenna is right for your rig?
Gain is not a quality rating. It describes the shape of the signal, and the right shape depends entirely on where you drive. Answer three questions and we will tell you which GME antenna fits, and why.
Answer the first two questions and your recommended antenna appears here.
2.1 dBi low gainHeavy dutyGround independent
AE4704B-U
GME US Heavy Duty GMRS Radome Antenna (2.1dBi Gain) - Black
Low gain keeps a broad, rounded pattern, so you stay in contact when the truck is nose-up on a climb or leaned over off-camber. The heavy-duty spring base and radome are GME's build for hardcore wheeling.
$225.00
View product
2.1 dBi low gainMedium dutyGround independent
AE4707B-U
GME US Medium Duty GMRS Radome Antenna (2.1dBi Gain) - Black
Same broad low-gain pattern as the heavy-duty version, on a medium-duty spring base. GME positions this range squarely at overlanders who hit rough sections occasionally rather than every weekend.
$165.00
View product
2.1 dBi low gainLightweightGround independent
AE4201-U
GME US Lightweight GMRS Antenna (2.1dBi Gain)
Compact, ground independent, and forgiving in tight or built-up terrain. Shares its base with the 4 dBi whip, so you can change gain later without changing the install.
$70.00
View product
6.6 dBi high gainHeavy dutyGround independent
AE4705B-U
GME US Heavy Duty GMRS Radome Antenna (6.6dBi Gain) - Black
High gain flattens the pattern toward the horizon, which is what you want across open desert and plains. Heavy-duty base to survive the abuse getting there.
$245.00
View product
6.6 dBi high gainMedium dutyGround independent
AE4702B-U
GME US Medium Duty GMRS Radome Antenna (6.6dBi Gain) - Black
The reach of the high-gain pattern on a medium-duty base. Best value for open country if you are not crawling rocks.
$185.00
View product
4 dBi mid gainLightweightGround independent
AE4202-U
GME US Flexible GMRS Antenna (4dBi Gain)
Sits between the two extremes, so it holds up across varied terrain without being wrong anywhere. Stainless and UV-resistant TPU, and the flexible whip shrugs off branch strikes.
$80.00
View product
2.1 dBi low gainDiscreteGround DEPENDENT
AE9000-U
GME US Discrete Low Profile GMRS Antenna (2.1dBi Gain)
Four inches tall. The pick when you have no bumper mount, want a clean roofline, or only head off-road occasionally in a daily driver.
$105.00
View productHeads up: this is the only antenna in the GME range that needs a metal ground plane. It will not perform correctly on a composite canopy, a fiberglass shell, a roof rack crossbar, or a plastic bumper. Call us if that is your mounting surface.
Add the fold-down bracket
GME US Fold-Down Antenna Mounting Bracket - Black — $119.00
GME's heavy-duty fold-down bracket tilts the antenna flat in seconds. This is the right answer to a garage door or low branches, rather than downgrading to a shorter antenna and giving up range.
Cover both ends of the range
GME US Lightweight GMRS Antenna Whip (2.1dBi) — $42.00
The 2.1 and 4 dBi whips share the same base. Add the low-gain whip and you can swap gain at the trailhead: low for the hills, 4 dBi for the open stuff.
Not sure, or running a composite canopy or roof rack? Call us at (833) 744-6624. We install these in our San Marcos bay and can tell you what works on your specific vehicle.
Installed in San Marcos
We'll wire it in for you
A GMRS radio is only as good as its install. Coax routing, antenna placement, a clean power feed and a ground that does not hum are the difference between a radio that works and one that lives in a box.
We do this in our own bay, and we are an authorized GME dealer, so warranty work stays local too.
- Antenna placement chosen for your roofline, rack or canopy
- Coax routed and secured out of the weather
- Switched or constant power feed with proper fusing
- Hideaway unit mounted where it stays dry and cool
- Speaker mic and bracket positioned for your reach
- Radio tested on channel before you leave
- Showroom
- San Marcos, California
- Talk to a human
- (833) 744-6624
- Hours
- Add your showroom hours
- Dealer status
- Authorized GME dealer and installer
Install photo goes here — antenna or radio install in the bay
Common questions
Before you buy
Do I really need an FCC license?
Yes. GMRS is a licensed service, and transmitting without a license breaks FCC rules. The good news is that it is a form, not a test: $35, valid for ten years, no exam, and one license covers your immediate family. Most are granted within a few days.
GMRS allows 50 watts. Why does GME only make 5?
Because power is the smallest lever in the system. At these frequencies the signal travels in near-straight lines, so terrain decides your range far more than wattage does, and transmit power only helps the other vehicle hear you, not the other way round. Antenna choice and mounting height move both halves of the conversation.
The honest exception is reaching a distant repeater across flat, open ground, where a higher-wattage mobile genuinely has an edge. If that is your main use case, call us before you buy.
Will a GME radio talk to my friend's GMRS radio from another brand?
Yes. GMRS is a standard, so any two licensed GMRS radios on the same channel and tone will talk to each other regardless of who made them.
One thing to know: GME's XRS radios cover channels 1 to 7 and 15 to 22, plus repeater channels. They do not include channels 8 to 14, which are the low-power FRS-only channels. If your group has settled on one of those, pick a different channel before you head out.
Which antenna should I get?
It depends on terrain, not on price. Low gain (2.1 dBi) keeps a taller, rounder pattern that still works when you are climbing or leaned over, which is what you want in hills and tight trails. High gain (6.6 dBi) flattens the pattern toward the horizon for real distance across open country, at the cost of vertical coverage.
Use the selector further up this page, or call us and describe where you actually drive.
Can I mount the antenna on a roof rack or a composite canopy?
Yes, for almost the whole range. Every GME radome antenna and both lightweight antennas are ground independent, so they do not need a metal surface underneath and can go on a rack, a bracket, a canopy or a bumper.
The exception is the low-profile AE9000-U, which is ground dependent and needs conductive metal beneath it. On a composite canopy or fiberglass shell, choose a radome instead.
What happens when I snap a whip on a branch?
You replace the whip, not the antenna. GME sells the whips separately and matched to each base, so a tree strike costs a part rather than the whole assembly. Worth keeping a spare in the truck.
Which radio should I buy?
All three have the same 5 watts, the same channels and the same features, so choose on environment. The 330C is the smallest and fits where nothing else will. The 370C has a die-cast chassis, a built-in speaker and the magnetic mic mount, and is the all-round pick. The 390C adds IP67 sealing, a MIL-STD 810G rating and a built-in GPS receiver for open cockpits and genuinely brutal use.
Do you install these?
Yes. We are an authorized GME dealer and we fit radios and antennas in our own bay in San Marcos. A clean install is most of what makes a radio work, so if you are local it is worth letting us handle the antenna placement, coax routing and power feed.
Still deciding? Call us at (833) 744-6624 or come by the San Marcos showroom. We would rather talk you into the right setup than sell you the wrong one.
