Here are some more specifics on the rules.
http://www.popularwireless.com/gmrsbppfaq.html
http://www.popularwireless.com/gmrsbppfaq.html
2-way radio recommendation
- Thread starter stockae92
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ICOM makes good stuff as all serious radio users know. My marine handhelds are a pair of over 15 yr old ICOMs that still get the job done, though newer, smaller ones exist.
Re FRS, I've had some cheap Motorolas that I loan to my students at the track for paddock questions and they seem to have about 3/4 mile of reliable range in that situation.
And we use some cheap Midland LXT320s with charging stations and NiMHs at work. They cover inslide a 500,000 sg ft steel builiding just fine and last the shift before recharging despite the 4 AAA powerpacks.
For longer distances, you'll want to the added punch however. And if you want to go a couple days on a batt set, you'll need more capacity.
Re FRS, I've had some cheap Motorolas that I loan to my students at the track for paddock questions and they seem to have about 3/4 mile of reliable range in that situation.
And we use some cheap Midland LXT320s with charging stations and NiMHs at work. They cover inslide a 500,000 sg ft steel builiding just fine and last the shift before recharging despite the 4 AAA powerpacks.
For longer distances, you'll want to the added punch however. And if you want to go a couple days on a batt set, you'll need more capacity.
spacetroll
Newly Enlightened
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Those VHF Marine radios are not legal to use unless you are on the water, on the dock or on shore in a business servicing boaters.
Not that I give a $h*t just a fact.
I second Bluecrows recommendation on the Midlands. I have the GXT-400
set and they have a true 2 watt output. I googled a lot and found the FCC test data for them. Most others I checked put out about 1/2 watt or less. They run on AAs and my informal testing stopped at about 1.5 miles
blocked by buildings and stuff.
set and they have a true 2 watt output. I googled a lot and found the FCC test data for them. Most others I checked put out about 1/2 watt or less. They run on AAs and my informal testing stopped at about 1.5 miles
blocked by buildings and stuff.
Ditto on the Icom but better is an older Motorola JT1000 which is very rugged and the battery lasts a long time. I would recommend getting an amateur radio license. Current fee is $14 for ten years. Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve but the benefits far outweigh the little time it takes to learn.
For example out local club provides training over a weekend ( 8 hours on Saturday and 4 Sunday including the test).
Your profile doesn't indicate the city in California but take a peek at all of the 2-meter (VHF) available in So-Cal:
http://rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org/2m.htm
For example out local club provides training over a weekend ( 8 hours on Saturday and 4 Sunday including the test).
Your profile doesn't indicate the city in California but take a peek at all of the 2-meter (VHF) available in So-Cal:
http://rptrlist.w6jpl.ampr.org/2m.htm
scott.cr
Flashlight Enthusiast
One thing I find about the FRS radios is that a lot of businesses use them for business purposes so you can wind up with interference. It's not a legal usage of the family radio service; it's "family" radio service, but either they don't know or don't care.
A few people have mentioned getting a Ham license. I'd love to see you get yours, but then everyone else in your group that wants to use the Ham bands will have to get a license, and good luck motivating a group to do that. Though, the great advantage of having a Ham license is the inexpensive, high-output radios you can use. A Yaesu VX-170 is $117, five watts output, submersible, and it comes with a rechargeable battery pack and AC charger. Plus you can use Ham radio repeaters, which will extend your talk range a great many miles, and they're legal to use in most other non-US countries with your US license (sometimes you have to get a temporary permit to the other country, but it's fee-only in all cases I've applied).
A few people have mentioned getting a Ham license. I'd love to see you get yours, but then everyone else in your group that wants to use the Ham bands will have to get a license, and good luck motivating a group to do that. Though, the great advantage of having a Ham license is the inexpensive, high-output radios you can use. A Yaesu VX-170 is $117, five watts output, submersible, and it comes with a rechargeable battery pack and AC charger. Plus you can use Ham radio repeaters, which will extend your talk range a great many miles, and they're legal to use in most other non-US countries with your US license (sometimes you have to get a temporary permit to the other country, but it's fee-only in all cases I've applied).
TXArsonCop
Newly Enlightened
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Yes, but now you're totally changing the intent of the original post. A JT1000 or the cheaper HT1000 is going to be considerably more expensive than any other radio mentioned so far. I know this because I carry the HT every day.
Sure you can hope to score one cheap somewhere but then you need the software/hardware to program it or you'll have to take it to a radio shop and pay someone else to do it for you. HAMs might have a work around, they usually do find ways to program radios that aren't supposed to be "field progammable." Also, any JT/HT1000 you would receive would most likely be in a "public safety" range of whichever spectrum it's in since fire/police & EMS are probably the biggest market share of that particular radio. That would increase your likely hood of causing interference for your local emergency responders.
The JT/HT1000 radio is a LMRS radio which for the private citizen should be licensed as a Land Mobile Private or Land Mobile Commercial and that's gonna cost you $160 vs. no fee for a basic HAM & $85 for a GMRS.
FWIW our FD LMRS license is good for 10 years.
Something I haven't seen mentioned yet is "MURS". This is similar to the UHF FRS offerings, but is instead in VHF and has fewer channels (only 5).
Since they are VHF their signal will carry a bit farther. There is no license needed, and you can use commercial radios (Icom, Motorola, Kenwood, etc.).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Use_Radio_Service
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm
Since they are VHF their signal will carry a bit farther. There is no license needed, and you can use commercial radios (Icom, Motorola, Kenwood, etc.).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Use_Radio_Service
http://www.provide.net/~prsg/murs_faq.htm
Russianesq
Enlightened
Vacation walkie talkie - 2 way radio
Going away on vacation (outside of USA).
Cell usage is going to be a fortune, so I want to get some type of a walkie talkie to communicate with travel companion at the resort.
While doing research I ran into the alphabet soup of abbreviations for different type of walkie talkie technologies = FRS, GMRS, eXRS.
Did anyone have any good experience using a walkie talkie during vacation?
Any recommendations on equipment?
Thanks :thumbsup:
Going away on vacation (outside of USA).
Cell usage is going to be a fortune, so I want to get some type of a walkie talkie to communicate with travel companion at the resort.
While doing research I ran into the alphabet soup of abbreviations for different type of walkie talkie technologies = FRS, GMRS, eXRS.
Did anyone have any good experience using a walkie talkie during vacation?
Any recommendations on equipment?
Thanks :thumbsup:
Bright Scouter
Enlightened
Re: Vacation walkie talkie - 2 way radio
GMRS and MURS give the best distance, normally. But check where ever you are going to see if they are legal to use in that country. Sometimes these radios may even transmit on police bands in another country. I can bet that may cause you some problems.
GMRS and MURS give the best distance, normally. But check where ever you are going to see if they are legal to use in that country. Sometimes these radios may even transmit on police bands in another country. I can bet that may cause you some problems.
Re: Vacation walkie talkie - 2 way radio
Radio regulations are different with each country. In the U.S. it's all regulated by the FCC, but their authority and the regulations don't extend beyond the U.S. Frequency allotments and assignments can be very different, or just different enough to be a nuisance in use. When it comes to radio equipment that broadcasts, the difference can be enough to make your equipment useless. Use of non-type-accepted can result in confiscation , hefty fines, or even jail.
Radio regulations are different with each country. In the U.S. it's all regulated by the FCC, but their authority and the regulations don't extend beyond the U.S. Frequency allotments and assignments can be very different, or just different enough to be a nuisance in use. When it comes to radio equipment that broadcasts, the difference can be enough to make your equipment useless. Use of non-type-accepted can result in confiscation , hefty fines, or even jail.
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fieldops
Flashlight Enthusiast
I cannot speak for other nations law's, but in the US, GMRS and MURS must only use "TYPE ACCEPTED" radios. You cannot use reprogrammed Motorola's or other commercial radios unless they are type accepted under PART 95 of the commission's rules. Commercial radios type accepted under part 90 (LMRS) are not legal for use on GMRS or MURS, unless they are also type accepted under part 95. Most commercial rigs are not part 95 accepted. It is possible to look up the radio's on the FCC site to see which type acceptance they were granted. Not many are likely to be checking type acceptance in the field, but those are the rules. Just an FYI
KC2IXE
Flashaholic*
I happen to know that GE/Tyco/Erricson/MA-COM MP/A and MRK radios are GMRS/MURS accepted - I've looked that one up..
fieldops
Flashlight Enthusiast
It's good to see more radios being certified for part 95 type acceptance. it gives us all more choices.
KC2IXE
Flashaholic*
Yeah - somewhere on the FCC site is a list of models that are approved - I found it easier to work the other way - for instance - the UHF M/PA I have is fcc id AXATR-185-B2 - which means it is FCC approved for parts 22,74,90,95. The M/RK is approved for 22,74,90 (90 is the OLD GMRS part for 'color dot' radios - before the moved it to 95) - so it is good for those freqs
fieldops
Flashlight Enthusiast
I wish there were better conventions on certifications. The VX-7R that my ARES district uses is virtually identical to the Vertex aircraft HT. Same chassis, just a few tidbits different. Same thing for the Icom V8000. we all know this is done so manufacturers can use the same chassis type without having to retool for each model. Many LMRS radios meet the same technical standards for part 95. It should be easier to get those radios type accepted than it is currently.
73 Frank WQ1O
Cape Cod & Islands ARES DEC
73 Frank WQ1O
Cape Cod & Islands ARES DEC
spacetroll
Newly Enlightened
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- Jun 5, 2004
- Messages
- 173
At risk of the flaming I setting myself up for. The mileage claims are not necessarily a lie, years ago I was using one of the first Motorola 14 channel .5 watt FRS and made contact from a mountain road line of sight down to the valley floor 12 miles away. I have heard of contacts of up to 80 miles line of sight.
That said I have some Cobras and Midlands that claim 16-18 mile but through trees, houses etc. a mile to mile and a half tops.
That said I have some Cobras and Midlands that claim 16-18 mile but through trees, houses etc. a mile to mile and a half tops.
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craigberesh
Newly Enlightened
If you ask me I would recomend amatuer radio. It requires a license but the test is very easy. It cost 5.00 to take the test for a license, that is good for 10 years and can be renewed without retaking the test. The ham radio will give you great coverage and if a repeater is in the area you will have execellent covarage. Most hame radios are commercial grade units so the sound quality is far better then the grms or frs radios. A good place to look at these options are.
www.hamtestonline.com
www.arrl.org
www.hamradio.com
:twothumbs
Craig
www.hamtestonline.com
www.arrl.org
www.hamradio.com
:twothumbs
Craig
scott.cr
Flashlight Enthusiast
If you decide to go this route, you can take sample tests at: http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl
Before getting my Ham license I simply took and re-took the sample tests until I passed them all. (It took about two hours.) After playing with Ham radios and repeaters I cannot imagine how my life was before that hahaha...
BTW I paid $14 for my license test and fee, I think that is standard...
