Trying to learn about radios

You will get a bunch of advice to get a ham license, and that is fine. But it won't get you communicating with family unless they are inclined to get a license which is rare,

I recommend the GMRS service. It is a high performance UHF radio service where you can run up to 50 watts, wideband FM. It is much more private than 27 MHz CB and has tone squelch so you don't hear others. It is a licensed service. A 10 year license that will cover you and your family, cousins included is $70 for 10 years. 2 cents a day. There is no test, you can apply on line and have a license assigned in 24 to 48 hours.

The radios run from cheap junk at Wal-Mart, combo FRS/GMRS radios that will work at most a mile, despite the package saying 32 miles. Then cheap Chinese Radios like Baofeng which are crap. In the middle are Midland mobile radios that unfortunately due to poor design or clever marketing deception only deliver narrow band FM, so they sound weak.

Your best bet are surplus Kenwood and Motorola commercial radios that you can pick up for under $200 each and provide 50 watts and wideband 16K0F3E or 20K0F3E modulation. The FCC certification will have an emissions list on the grant to show the power level, modulation etc for any radio you may consider.

Kenwood and Motorola make good 5 watt handheld radios as well. These are the commercial radios, not "talk abouts".

You will basically get range that is based on each radio seeing the radio horizon which can be calculated on line, but is dependent on the actual terrain. The higher your antenna, the better. If you can install a base station at your home with an antenna raised 30 or 50 feet above ground you will talk over town.

Between two 50 watt mobiles, 5 to 8 miles should be attainable. Base to mobile 8 to 12 miles if you have height. If you are on a tall hill, it will be as far as you can see and a bit more.

Repeaters are a big benefit of GMRS. You can put up your own, or use one that exists with permission of the owner. A radius of 12 to 30 miles is not uncommon.

Your 41 mile relatives would require a repeater midway between.

There are some folks linking GMRS using the internet. It is inexpensive and you can install a small station at your home and one at the relative 41 miles away and talk mobile to mobile to them through the link..

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Trying to learn about radios