We used the BaoFeng UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radios with an 8" whip antenna. I programmed the radios with the open source chirp software. It's much easier to save a configuration and then upload it to the radios. Additionally I set a digital coded squelch (privacy code) to keep the channel quiet from interference or cross talk. Also I programmed the NOAA channels. As others have stated you need a license to operate on the FRS or GMRS. These radios are 5watts in power so you would need a GMRS license.
http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Download
