What is the best two way radio on the market out there for town-wide coverage?

I need a 2 way radio system with the longest range…  I’ve got to be able to rely upon this radio system for my business . I need a two way radio which lives up to its promises about being able to reach however many miles distant. It seems that many of them don’t match their hype.

I’m thinking about buying a pair of handheld two way radios for my small consulting business. I would like as long of range as possible since I know you get less distance due to building obstructions and weather conditions.

Both radios should have a recharging base they plug into.

I’m looking into this as an alternative to wireless phones since I would only be speaking with one other person 95% of the time (my dispatch).

Using these type of radios would cut down on the need for a larger calling plan with phones since most of my clients are within the same 5-10 mile range. I don’t need private/encrypted channels but the FRS channels around here are too busy with other users.

I’ve seen GMRS radios advertised as being capable of working up to 18 miles. But I would like to  find a longer range than that if possible.

I am quite willing to apply for a FCC license if needed.

A Radio Shack mobile radio set up for MURS use

The MURS or Multi Use Radio Service was set up by the FCC in 2002 to become a new type of Citizens Band (CB) service.

The Multi Use Radio Service was designed to be used by the general public for private, two-way, short-distance voice (or data) communications for personal or business activities.

MURS uses five Industrial/Business Pool VHF channels known in the PLMR community as the VHF “color dot” frequencies. These had previously been covered by FCC Service Rules Part 90, but are now known as Part 95.

The MURS frequencies are:

151.820 MHz
151.880 MHz
151.940 MHz
154.570 MHz
154.600 MHz

One advantage that MURS radios have over the old CB radios is that you can use a thing called CTCSS  (Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System). Each of your five MURS channels or frequencies has 38 CTCSS tones you can choose from. (You and the person you are talking to both agree on the same CTCSS tone you will both use.) This locks out anyone else on the same channel so you wont hear them.

The CTCSS tone system allows you to operate on a busy channel without being bothered by the other people there. And since there are 5 available MURS channels and 38 tones you can use on each of them, it’s rather like having 190 “channels” to choose from.

Anyone may operate a MURS two way radio as long as they are not a foreign government or someone representing a foreign government, but they must use the apparatus in accordance with the rules set out in 47 CFR. 95.1309 and in Sections 95.1301-95.1309.

No MURS radio is allowed to transmit more than 2 Watts transmitter power output, and FCC restrictions state the highest point of any MURS antenna must no be more than 18.3 meters (60 feet) above the ground or 6.10 meters (20 feet) above the highest point of the structure on which it is mounted.

FCC Reference: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=multi_use