DISCLAIMER: Transmitting on any GMRS frequency with GMRS radios require an FCC license. Understand the rules and regulations of GMRS use before using GMRS radios. Transmitting on any amateur radio frequency with an amateur radio requires an FCC license. Understand the rules and regulations of amateur radio usage prior to using a ham radio. You are solely responsible for any illegal activities, and it is not my responsibility nor will I be held liable for your actions.
The short answer for this is GMRS. That answer would have been different 15 years ago. It is the fastest way to have communication devices that the entire family or household can use. All it takes is getting an FCC license by completing a form and paying $35 for a 10 year term. The radio selection is key here, and the more you spend, the better the quality. You want high quality as opposed to something you can buy at a local superstore. Once you configure the GMRS radios, it is as easy as setting the channel, and hitting the PTT (Push-To-Talk) button and start speaking.
Ham radio requires passing an exam and paying for the license (same fee and duration as GMRS), and everyone in your household needs to pass the exam and licensed individually. It is a bit more complex to setup and use than GMRS, but once you start using it on a regular basis, it can be as easy as using a GMRS radio.
Both GMRS and ham radio requires you to announce your callsign periodically (every 15 minutes for GMRS, and every 10 minutes for ham radio), but GMRS, everyone can use the same callsign in your household. So if you and your wife are talking, you’d announce your callsign, for example, ABCD123, and say this is John calling ABCD123 Lisa. Lisa can just start responding by saying, this is ABCD123 Lisa responding to John. And for about the next 15 minutes, John and Lisa will not have to announce their callsign. Make sure to end with the callsign when you complete the conversation.
Satellite phones are great in remote locations. I personally love the Iridium service when I am in remote areas. The equipment can cost a bit more or the same as a high end iPhone, but it only makes/receives calls and receives/sends SMS messages using the numeric key pad (reminds me of the old days of sending text messages.) The service is slightly higher (and somewhat complicated) than what cell phone service used to cost back in the 80s, so plan on spending a couple of hundred dollars a month per person in your household (no family plan) and don’t go over your allotted minutes or you’ll pay about $1 a minute for voice calls and anywhere between $0.10 to $0.25 per SMS message.
Take a look at this post for some pros and cons between GMRS and ham radio.
