It does seem to be a good video. I don't see the advantage of MURS over CB, as both are channelized and can be used by almost everyone. The advantage of having the short-range comm is that there are fewer listeners. Maybe that is an advantage of MURS as few people use it as he stated. I did a similar walkabout test with my security cameras
I mentioned elsewhere that I bought some Bao Feng hand-held radios a few years ago, and need an FCC license to legally use them. COVID screwed up the in-person license classes, and now that they're back I cannot find one any closer to me than an hour away. If it were a 1-time class, I'd make the drive. But these are 6-8 sessions. I may find a more local ham radio group and see if they can help me out. I have the study guide, and used to work for the communications division of NEC (radio, microwave, satellite) AND I've taken electronics classes. So I don't walk into this without a decent knowledge base. But I really want the interactive aspect of it.
@John Brunner there are classes online. I don't have the link as I am out-of-pocket, but I am sure you can find them if you search. You will have to go somewhere for the exam, but that should be a one-time trip. You can listen without a license of course, and I use mine mostly as a "scanner" to listen to ambulance and fire calls. You can use them as FM radios. If you look at CHIRP you can get the frequencies for your area.
Thanks, Don. I was looking for something in person, as much for the social aspect as anything else. And I can take the radios with me and find out exactly what they can really do. I've seen folks with them and they use them at large events to communicate with each other, but apparently they are communicating over a network, not directly over the airwaves. That means diminished SHTF functionality.
You can use them directly or over a repeater. The repeaters allow you to transmit over a much larger area. Some require a code and some do not. The classes will teach you that.
I'm not a fan of CB, but when conditions are right, you have a good antenna, etc. it could be a longer-distance alternative. GMRS probably offers short-range advantages (FRS interoperation) over MURS but MURS might be more "secure" with less interference just because it isn't as popular. But practically speaking for SHTF scenarios... is long-distance 2-way that important? I'd think hams might be in a better position for handle wide area disseminate of information using varying SW bands as conditions and time of day dictate. So for a non-ham maybe a solid SW radio with SSB support might make good sense. One suggestion that sounds good to me might be the slightly higher-priced Chinese portable "Qodosen DX 286" which uses a highly sensitive, selective, and feature-rich automotive RF chipset. It even makes the broadcast FM band DXable. SSB support was added late via firmware update according to one reviewer's recent video. But verify this yourself. This could be a radio used to gather ham-provided intelligence, but another handy SWL radio could serve as well.