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FRS recommnedation?
6/1/2012 2:36:27 PM
Require vibrating/buzzing silent operation, prefer to have a text feature, MUST be 5 miles real range, prefer 7-10.
6/1/2012 3:17:19 PM
The five miles will never ever happen with any reliability with FRS radios.
You'll be hard pressed to do that with any Handheld.
Handheld to handheld that is.
You'll be hard pressed to do that with any Handheld.
Handheld to handheld that is.
6/1/2012 6:09:54 PM
Originally Posted By Tweightwee:
The five miles will never ever happen with any reliability with FRS radios.
The five miles will never ever happen with any reliability with FRS radios.
FRS radios are power limited (1/2 watt) and have piss-poor non-removable antennas by law. They won't carry more than a couple of blocks unless you have absolutely clear line-of-sight. GMRS is a little better, but they require you to get a license for the family.
With no exceptions, the blister pack FRS radios that I have fingered were crap. Not worth the price of batteries to power them up. You can shout further.
6/1/2012 6:50:10 PM
Originally Posted By GregMc:
FRS radios are power limited (1/2 watt) and have piss-poor non-removable antennas by law. They won't carry more than a couple of blocks unless you have absolutely clear line-of-sight. GMRS is a little better, but they require you to get a license for the family.
With no exceptions, the blister pack FRS radios that I have fingered were crap. Not worth the price of batteries to power them up. You can shout further.
Originally Posted By Tweightwee:
The five miles will never ever happen with any reliability with FRS radios.
The five miles will never ever happen with any reliability with FRS radios.
FRS radios are power limited (1/2 watt) and have piss-poor non-removable antennas by law. They won't carry more than a couple of blocks unless you have absolutely clear line-of-sight. GMRS is a little better, but they require you to get a license for the family.
With no exceptions, the blister pack FRS radios that I have fingered were crap. Not worth the price of batteries to power them up. You can shout further.
this. i have a drawer full of every brand. within a few months one or both of them ALWAYS failed with light use.
6/2/2012 11:12:21 PM
guess this is a no go.
I have times when I want to be disconnected from all... but her.
I have times when I want to be disconnected from all... but her.
6/3/2012 12:28:42 AM
You could go with a MURS HT, you'd probably get close to 5.
I had a set of the original motorola talkabouts that were pretty solid, but like the others,
there's no way you're getting 5 miles. I got about 1.5 miles car-to-car with them, and
get about the same with XRS units I use now. 5 miles is tough on a handheld.
If you absolutely have to have 5 miles license free, a SSB CB may work, still a bit
dicey but 12W into a good-sized CB antenna would work. Not exactly handheld, though.
I had a set of the original motorola talkabouts that were pretty solid, but like the others,
there's no way you're getting 5 miles. I got about 1.5 miles car-to-car with them, and
get about the same with XRS units I use now. 5 miles is tough on a handheld.
If you absolutely have to have 5 miles license free, a SSB CB may work, still a bit
dicey but 12W into a good-sized CB antenna would work. Not exactly handheld, though.
6/3/2012 5:34:41 PM
Just remember that even though some Chinese ham radios can transmit and receive FRS signals, doing so is illegal due to the fact that they transmit more than .5W and have removable antennas.
Should the FCC catch you doing so, there may be a fine involved with it.
Should the FCC catch you doing so, there may be a fine involved with it.
6/3/2012 5:40:26 PM
If solid, license free comms are what you are after then VHF MURS is the way to go as indicated above. My Icom F30GTs are programmed for MURS (as well as 2m ham, marine, public safety, weather etc). Good commercial LMR portables will give you more options, as well as the ability to upgrade your antenna-which is key. The Vertex HX-370 can be (legally) reprogrammed for MURS use.
The biggest downside to MURS is that your tx power is limited to two watts, but that is far superior to 500mW and a fixed antenna like FRS. The only purpose built FRS radio I've ever seen that was worth a damn was the Icom IC-4088, but they are spendy for what they are given their limitations (fixed antenna, 500mW ERP etc).
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
The biggest downside to MURS is that your tx power is limited to two watts, but that is far superior to 500mW and a fixed antenna like FRS. The only purpose built FRS radio I've ever seen that was worth a damn was the Icom IC-4088, but they are spendy for what they are given their limitations (fixed antenna, 500mW ERP etc).
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
6/3/2012 6:05:59 PM
The Vertex HX-370 can be (legally) reprogrammed for MURS use.
MURS is Part 95, the HX370S is Part 80/90.6/3/2012 8:00:49 PM
Originally Posted By Jester316:
Just remember that even though some Chinese ham radios can transmit and receive FRS signals, doing so is illegal due to the fact that they transmit more than .5W and have removable antennas.
Should the FCC catch you doing so, there may be a fine involved with it.
Just remember that even though some Chinese ham radios can transmit and receive FRS signals, doing so is illegal due to the fact that they transmit more than .5W and have removable antennas.
Should the FCC catch you doing so, there may be a fine involved with it.
I believe that MURS can have external antennas.
The chinacom radios (Wouxun) that I have are programmed to MURS frequencies and I can put up an external antenna.
Do Not Forget...
When may an amateur station use any means of radio communications at its disposal for essential
communications in connection with immediate safety of human life and protection of property?
B. When normal communications systems are not available
6/3/2012 9:16:26 PM
Originally Posted By wdlsguy:
MURS is Part 95, the HX370S is Part 80/90.
The Vertex HX-370 can be (legally) reprogrammed for MURS use.
MURS is Part 95, the HX370S is Part 80/90.I wondered if someone would call me out on that
Back when I was looking into reprogramming surplus LMR gear for GMRS and MURS use I heard conflicting reports about the legality of using part 90 accepted gear on services that are regulated under part 95. After two Icom LMR dealers completely contradicted each other I got frustrated, and decided to ask the FCC directly.
I'm paraphrasing, but the gist of what they said was that any equipment that is part 90 accepted will meet or exceed the technical requirements for a Part 95 radio for GMRS or MURS use specifically, with one notable exception being FRS. The other requirement mentioned specifically for MURS was that any part 90 equipment must be configurable not to exceed two watts ERP, obviously.
I've got the letter kicking around in my office somewhere. If I can find it this week I'll scan it and post it for you guys to see
6/3/2012 11:16:19 PM
The Ritron JMX-146D looks interesting: Part 95J (MURS) certified, 2 watts, removable antenna... 
http://www.ritron.com/pdf/jmx-de_uml.pdf
http://www.ritron.com/pdf/jmx-de_uml.pdf
6/3/2012 11:39:53 PM
Originally Posted By wdlsguy:
The Ritron JMX-146D looks interesting: Part 95J (MURS) certified, 2 watts, removable antenna...
http://www.ritron.com/pdf/jmx-de_uml.pdf
The Ritron JMX-146D looks interesting: Part 95J (MURS) certified, 2 watts, removable antenna...
http://www.ritron.com/pdf/jmx-de_uml.pdf
Wow, those are made in the US
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
6/4/2012 7:55:56 AM
So I wonder if Ritron JMX-146Ds equipped with Arrow II Portable Hand Held Yagis would do the trick?
6/4/2012 11:00:02 AM
Originally Posted By seek2:
You could go with a MURS HT, you'd probably get close to 5.
....
You could go with a MURS HT, you'd probably get close to 5.
....
I just buy two handsets and we're good to go?
6/4/2012 11:22:15 AM
Of the find in any stores, I prefer Cobra for features but like Motorola for durability and range.
I use these things all the time. Every time we work on our piping or use our fuse box, we use an FRS. My son and I use them for camping and ATV riding and we use them for car to car communication while traveling in convoy.
What I can tell you is pretty much ignore the range claims and this is one of those things the more you pay for it, the better it performs.
Tj
I use these things all the time. Every time we work on our piping or use our fuse box, we use an FRS. My son and I use them for camping and ATV riding and we use them for car to car communication while traveling in convoy.
What I can tell you is pretty much ignore the range claims and this is one of those things the more you pay for it, the better it performs.
Tj
6/4/2012 11:23:33 AM
I just buy two handsets and we're good to go?
Five miles rubber duck to rubber duck over real terrain probably isn't going to happen. You'll probably need higher antennas (such as rollup J-Poles hanging from a tree branch) or gain antennas (such as the Arrow II handheld Yagi above).
6/4/2012 11:26:54 AM
Originally Posted By wdlsguy:
Five miles rubber duck to rubber duck over real terrain probably isn't going to happen. You'll probably need higher antennas (such as rollup J-Poles hanging from a tree branch) or gain antennas (such as the Arrow II handheld Yagi above).
I just buy two handsets and we're good to go?
Five miles rubber duck to rubber duck over real terrain probably isn't going to happen. You'll probably need higher antennas (such as rollup J-Poles hanging from a tree branch) or gain antennas (such as the Arrow II handheld Yagi above).
so basically what I want isn't exactly possible.
6/4/2012 11:34:31 AM
Originally Posted By chapperjoe:
so basically what I want isn't exactly possible.
Originally Posted By wdlsguy:
Five miles rubber duck to rubber duck over real terrain probably isn't going to happen. You'll probably need higher antennas (such as rollup J-Poles hanging from a tree branch) or gain antennas (such as the Arrow II handheld Yagi above).
I just buy two handsets and we're good to go?
Five miles rubber duck to rubber duck over real terrain probably isn't going to happen. You'll probably need higher antennas (such as rollup J-Poles hanging from a tree branch) or gain antennas (such as the Arrow II handheld Yagi above).
so basically what I want isn't exactly possible.
not with frs blister pack radios
6/4/2012 11:38:02 AM
so basically what I want isn't exactly possible.
Five miles rubber duck to rubber duck across a body of water is no problem. Throw in terrain losses and vegetation losses and you probably aren't going to hear each other. Higher and/or gain antennas help to overcome those losses.
6/4/2012 12:04:58 PM
ok thanks guys!
