For backcountry community radio, it is best to use a radio with dual channel monitoring like the Rocky Talkie Expedition(5 watt) or BCA mini-Link, if you will be using radios for group communications. The feature rich Rocky Talkie Expedition(5 Watt) Radio has the best dual channel functionality, but is heavier than other radios with its larger battery and more power.
Any FRS radio should be compatible with community radio provided it is set to a real FRS channel(22 or below). Unless stated otherwise, all FRS radios are two watts on channels(15-22 or 1-7)
I have personally used a Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio. It is small and clips to your pack strap. It is two watts. For community radio, you can set up privacy code 30 once for channels 16, 18, 20 & 22. When you get to the trail, you only need to use the channel toggle on the top of the radio to select the correct community channel. You can use one of adjacent odd channels for your group channel with your own privacy code. Cody Townsend and Moli Noyes ski with Mountain radios.
For some backcountry folks, it might be an upgrade; for others, it might be overkill. But, if you want extra transmission power and by default, increased range, dual-channel monitoring, NOAA channels, and capacity to use repeaters, then the 5 Watt Radio it is. – The High Route
The High Route gave a glowing review of the BCA Link Mini. It has great dual channel monitoring in a low cost package. The review has a great discussion on the use of dual channels for community channels. A deal breaker is the non-standard “USB-C” charging cable. The radio will not charge with any other cable. If you lose it, you are out of luck, since BCA does not sell the cable separately.
The BCA Link 1.0(1 watt) and 2.0(2 watt) are good but, dated radios with no digital privacy codes. The 2.0 has a separate microphone with a cord. Nicolai Schirmer and Madison Rose Ostergren use the Link 2.0 radios.
There are also VHF radios that support GMRS and allow you to program FRS channels.
Here are preliminary survey results on radio usage
