Reliable Comms For
BC BACKROADS
AND BEYOND.
Vehicle-specific land mobile
radio kits for BC's Forest Service Roads.
BC BACKROADS
Travel the BC Backroads
with confidence.
Colliding with a loaded logging truck on a BC Forest Service Road is a real hazard.
Handheld radios lack the range, while GMRS and cheap consumer radios aren’t suitable for the Resource Road ("RR") channels that logging trucks communicate on.
Our vehicle-specific FSR radio kits are built to eliminate the guesswork.
INSIDE THE KIT:
Icom IC-F5023 Commercial Mobile Radio
Pre-programmed with all BC RR and LADD channels.
Heavy-Duty Hand Microphone
& mounting clip
Larsen 1/4 Wave Antenna Whip with Spring Base
The commercial forestry standard
Larsen Coaxial Antenna Cable Kit
17ft. long. Connector included.
Vehicle-Specific Antenna Bracket
No-drilling required. Bolt cleanly into the existing factory hood/cowl bolts of your vehicle.
All necessary 12V power cables
With connection hardware
PROGRAMMED WITH RR CHANNELS
With Concierge Radio License Support.
Usable on all BC logging roads.
Easy DIY Installation
No-Drill Antenna and Radio Mounting Options.
Vehicle-specific. Save Time. Save your Trim.
Trail-Ready convenience
Everything You Need to Get Up and Running.
Industry-leading hardware for commercial reliability.
Forest Service Road Mobile Radio Kits
SAFETY STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION
share the road.
Logging trucks and other road users
communicate on "RR" channels.
The right radio keeps you informed, reduces risk and helps everyone get home safe.
BC BASED
Proudly Canadian
40+ YEARS
Radio Communications Expertise
REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS
For Off-Roaders, Workers, Explorers
FAQs FOR Backcountry Comms
What is an FSR, and do I legally need a radio to drive on one?
An FSR (Forest Service Road) is a dirt resource road used by massive, loaded, industrial logging trucks.
While it is not legally mandated for public recreational drivers to have a radio, it is strongly recommended for survival.
Logging trucks have the right-of-way, travel at high speeds, and cannot stop quickly.
Without a radio to hear them calling out their Kilometer locations on the FSR, you are driving blind around narrow, single-lane corners.
Can I use these radios outside of British Columbia?
The radio itself will, of course, work anywhere. However, the RR frequency and radio license is only valid for use within BC. Transmitting on those channels outside of BC would be non-compliant operation of your radio and can cause safety issues for other users in those areas.
Can't I just use a standard VHF Portable Radio?
Handheld portable radios (walkie-talkies) are limited to 5 watts of power. Because FSRs wind through deep mountain valleys and thick timber, a handheld's signal gets blocked incredibly quickly.
Our flagship Icom 5023 mobile radio pumps out a massive 25 watts of power, using an externally mounted, tuned and high-performance Larsen antenna to throw your voice signal around blind corners and down long logging corridors where handhelds would completely fail.
Why can't I just buy a cheap $100 radio online?
Cheap generic radios sold online (like unblocked Baofengs) are made with lower quality electronic components, meaning they struggle to cleanly lock onto the exact narrow-band frequencies used for the BC "RR" radio channels that logging trucks communicate on.
If your radio bleeds static or cannot clearly transmit a kilometer call over long distances, it isn't just ineffective—it's a massive safety hazard.
Additionally, they are usually not ISED-certified for use in Canada, making them illegal to import or operate. So there's also that...
What does "calling your kilometers" mean?
On BC FSRs, traffic safety relies on drivers announcing their position over the radio. You will see yellow signs on the side of the road marking the distance (eg. "Km 12").
Drivers will radio in their location and direction—for example, "Down at 12" or "Up at 12".
Our kits allow you to call out your own position and hear these oncoming trucks well in advance so you can find a safe place to pull over and avoid them.
FAQs FOR RADIO LICENSES
Why do I need a radio license?
The short answer is that radio licenses help to minimize interference—improving comms and safety for all users.
Here's how that works:
Unlike consumer walkie-talkies and inexpensive radios sold online, the radios used on BC's Forest Service Roads operate within Canada's professional commercial radio system.
Because these frequencies are used by logging companies, contractors, utilities, municipalities, and other organizations that rely on radio communication for safety and operations, they are carefully managed by "Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada" (ISED) to minimize interference and ensure reliable communications.
Radio licensing helps keep the system organized so that everyone can communicate safely and effectively when it matters most.
How does the radio license work?
Your FSR Radio Package comes fully programmed and includes your radio license to use it on RR channels.
We submit the application to ISED on your behalf. We also take care of the technical frequency information and program the radio before it ships.
That means your radio arrives properly licensed, professionally programmed, compliant, and ready to use on BC Resource Roads.
ISED radio licences operate on an annual licensing period that ends each March. Your initial licence is therefore issued for the remaining portion of the current licensing year, rather than for 12 months from the date of purchase.
After that, the licence is renewed annually each March. Annual renewals are currently $55 per mobile radio and are paid directly to ISED.
What happens after my radio license expires?
Licenses expire in March of earch year. Prior to this, ISED will contact you to renew your license.
If you don't renew, your radio will continue to function but we do encourage our customers to remain compliant.
Can I buy an FSR Radio Kit from you without a radio license?
Yes — however, as a reputable Canadian radio shop, we cannot legally program frequencies into a radio unless the customer holds a valid radio license for the frequencies they plan to use.
While some shops may choose to program radios without proper licensing, ISED enforcement around unlicensed radio use has increased in recent years, and hefty fines get issued for non-compliant radio use.
More importantly, FSR radios are a safety tool. When you’re sharing active logging roads with loaded industrial traffic, reliable and compliant communication matters. Our goal is to ensure that our customers receive a professional, properly configured solution that they can depend on with confidence.
A license costs $55/year per radio, which is only about $0.15/day.