Posted: 2/12/2014 4:35:11 AM EDT
|
Not a radio guy, basic understanding of radios I use at work (Emergency Services) and i have a personal radio programed for our county for emergencies.
Id like to get a few hand held radios for personal use. Can anyone recommend a quality hand held non licensed radios for personal use. Best bang for buck. Not expecting anything amazing, just the best possible with out license or spending a great deal of money. Thanks. |
|
Quoted:
Not a radio guy, basic understanding of radios I use at work (Emergency Services) and i have a personal radio programed for our county for emergencies. Id like to get a few hand held radios for personal use. Can anyone recommend a quality hand held non licensed radios for personal use. Best bang for buck. Not expecting anything amazing, just the best possible with out license or spending a great deal of money. Thanks. Do you want no license at all, or just no license that involves a test? The reason that I ask is that you can get a GMRS license that your whole family can use. If you don't want to be involved in any kind of licensing then you will probably be limited to FRS. They both come in handheld form. I have a fair number of these little handhelds and they actually work reasonably well as long as you don't expect too much from them. Having said that, this is the ham forum. Have you ever thought about getting your technician license? It doesn't cost much and doesn't take much time to study for. |
|
I know you said no license, but this is a great option for only $85 and no ham test.
Goto www.gmrs.com With a GMRS license everyone in your family umbrellas under it and uses the same call letters. Look and see if a repeater is in your area that is for free public use and working. If so go online to the FCC website apply for a FRN number and then a GMRS license for $85. Then you can talk all over without a lot of fancy equipment, just some little Baofeng radios. And it takes about 15 to 20 minutes online to fill out the form and pay. Note: if there is not a GMRS repeater in your area working the GMRS license is not worth A thing IMHO. With the repeater in our area we get about 50 miles coverage. |
|
Anything in the Citizen's Band realm... which includes FRS, and MURS, too. MURS is useful, better range than FRS, better quality radios, but they are more expensive. They use VHF frequencies in the 151 and 154mhz range, there are 5 channels, and nobody's ever on them, except for Wal-Mart on channel 4 and 5. :D Works great for getting people to their registers.  You can buy a 5 year GMRS license for $95'ish (IIRC), and like previously said, it's good for the entire EXTENDED family... Even in-laws. GMRS just lets you use channels 1-7 and 15-22 (on the combined FRS/GMRS radios) at >500mW. But, you're never gonna get really good distance out of any of those HT's (handheld transceiver) without some sorta repeater, which is a good reason to get into Ham radio. (Shameless plug) |
|
OP, I udenstand your POV. Here's the quicks rundown of radio services typically available to individuals: CB: Limited to 5 watts (normally). Operated in the 27MHZ range, AM mode. Mostly line of sight, rarely any hand held radios available and if there are they are impractically large. 40 channels available and you will constantly be dealing with the CB crowds, vast majority old school trucker and CB lingo running high power amps and never getting anywhere. Probably ideal for RV'er going down the interstate. FRS: Hand held cheap bubble pack radios running 1 watt or less in the UHF range. Strictly line of sight and range usually 1 mile or less, typically 1/2 mile. No repeater system that I know off so it's pretty much all radio to radio. I don't recall how many channels off hand, 16 I believe but radios have tone squelch which helps filter out others. Ideal radio for open contained areas, not the sixe of most amusement parks. MOre like a large park. MURS: Hand held and some mobile units. opeate in the VHF but also limited to 2 watts. MURS are shared by many buisnesses and will constantly interfere in urban areas. Again MURS do not have any repeaters. Maybe effective 3/4 mile and line of sight. GMRS: only need one license per family. I'm sure having a pool of radios that others can use won't be an issue. Not recalling the watts, 5 I think for hand held and 25 for mobile if you can find or just use commercial radios? UHF range. much better than the rest but will require some investments. GMRS repeaters are available but very limited. Maybe just a couple in large cities and always on some low cost site (someone's house). It would be a different story if they were mountain topped but those sites cost $$$$. HAM: Might want to reconsider investing time to get a Tech license. If my then 8 y/o and now working on a 6 y/o can do it.......... nuff said. Maybe 2 weeks of your time. Plus side, in a nutshell, whatever public safety has capable of, so do hams. VHF/UHF and higher. VHF and UFH is the bulk. Worldwide repeater access, most on prime locations and capable for a very large coverage area sometimes better than public safety. Power output of these radios are permissible to ???? can't remember because all my radios fall way short of the requirements because it's not necessary. I have Motorola 110W radio mobiles and 5 and 7 watt hand helds. You can use amateur designed or commercial radios. Nothing says you have to become a ham, just get a license and leave the nonesense talk to others. I've been license since 1995 and really just had my license for my own limited use until about 3 years ago where I began to expand. My oldest son and youngest daughters have their ham tickets so yeah, friends and family can EASILY do it and you will get much more out of it for your investment. The only real drawback to ham (besides you may end up listening to old guys bitch about the weather or health care issues) is you cannot conduct business, as in any comms used for financial gain. If guys from work want to go hunting, that's allowable. You can also go rogue and get a radio set up for the family and friends. Tha tusually will require a hefty purchase of radios that can be programmed. Then find an unused frequency and squat. But unlike squatters, if you interfere with a licensed ententy, or worse, a military or LE, they will track you down, take your equipment, and fine you. You might mitigate the fine, but goodbuy radios. In my book not worth it. And again, no repeaters so you will have some tight limits. SOme folks think it's ok to squat on marine frequencies or race frequencies. Good luck with that. The last option is optaining your own license as a business (i.e. trust). Equipment and license is spendy, much more if a repeater will be needed. Ideal if you have a substantial buisness that is spread out (farm). Hope this help. I'd say GMRS if you don't need to depend on repeaters. Ham reigns in as #1 for all other personal. Hunting, camping, off-road, all outdoor to include making ham an outdoor hobby. Ham also opens the door to HF frequencies that none of those other services can touch. Nothing is as cool as being deep in a remote and desolate AZ canyon four wheeling in a quad with no cell or repeater coverage and I can talk to someone 125 and 50 miles away radio to radio on 40 meters NVIS with 50 watts! PS, I have a nasty head cold and my screen is dim. F' spell check. |
Motorola has some license-free handhelds on the 900 MHz ISM band. 1 watt, digital, frequency hopping spread spectrum. Our church ordered a couple for evaluation and have ordered six more. Haven't had a chance to play with them yet though. 
http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/motorola/motorola-dtr550.aspx |
|
GMRS…5W maximum on the shared frequencies (those shared with FRS). 50W maximum for mobile and repeater applications. A mobile is defended as any transceiver with an antenna mounted on a vehicle that has the ability to move (more or less).
Some times GMRS repeaters will outperform the ham repeaters. I maintain two GMRS repeaters on the two tallest buildings in Lubbock. Have roughly a 30 mile talk radius to them. One is a 50W (out of the duplexer) repeater mounted 320 ft off the ground, the other is a 25W (out of the duplexer) mounted 200 ft off the ground. I like GMRS, it's also very practical if you have a family run business or farm/ranch. If their isn't a repeater in your area, you can build some pretty simple GMRS repeaters for $150 or so. Might have figure out how to get them programmed, but its not hard to build a 25W repeater that will do what you need. I've got $20 into one of mine…dumping more into it to convert it into a solar powered portable repeater though. |
|
Quoted: GMRS…5W maximum on the shared frequencies (those shared with FRS). 50W maximum for mobile and repeater applications. A mobile is defended as any transceiver with an antenna mounted on a vehicle that has the ability to move (more or less). Some times GMRS repeaters will outperform the ham repeaters. I maintain two GMRS repeaters on the two tallest buildings in Lubbock. Have roughly a 30 mile talk radius to them. One is a 50W (out of the duplexer) repeater mounted 320 ft off the ground, the other is a 25W (out of the duplexer) mounted 200 ft off the ground. I like GMRS, it's also very practical if you have a family run business or farm/ranch. If their isn't a repeater in your area, you can build some pretty simple GMRS repeaters for $150 or so. Might have figure out how to get them programmed, but its not hard to build a 25W repeater that will do what you need. I've got $20 into one of mine…dumping more into it to convert it into a solar powered portable repeater though. It's not that GMRS out performs ham (UHF). They are identical in performance in the UHF band. The only way one will outperfom the other is location and antenna. HAM tend to have top pick on repeater locations, mostly do to their intended use to assist in emergency. I;ll bet there are more than one wide area VHF coverage repeater for Lubbock, TX. In smaller cities/large towns you don't hear many UHF ham repeaters. You are blessed to have access to tall buildings (I've been to Lubbock) with a flat surroundings. And for hams VHF is more popular than UHF and you see more UHF repeaters in larger cities. But for larger locations, like here in Phoenix, choice repeater sites are mountain tops, which are expensive and require much to have an approved spot. Typically organizations and clubs like Races, ARA, or other amateur emergency non-profit organization will get a spot and will often aloow open repeater use. This is how hams have a huge advantage. I can't remember where the nearest GMRS repeater was located but I think it was a top a 5 to 7 story building. We also have a few downtown 30+ story buildings which only a couple ham ham repeaters. We can do without the building repeaters with our surrounding mountain top repeaters. Don't get me wrong, GMRS is great and I wished as ham I could have the family use it on VHF/UHF. Unless more GMRS owners can get their machine on choice spots and as plentiful as hams, they will ahve their limits. I know someone who was trying to get a lease and approval to put a GMRS on White Tank Mtn. which would have had awesome coverage, they wanted to charge starting around $8,000 a year and some other high dollar charge to have the radio installed and antenna at their spot. ETA: I looked up MyGMRS. GMRS repeaters are still slim pickings compared to ham repeaters and nearly all GMRS repeaters are home based and half require permission. I commend you have the best locations in Lubbock and nice work on getting it on that one building. I know I don't have that influence to do the same. |
|
Quoted: I know you said no license, but this is a great option for only $85 and no ham test. Goto www.gmrs.com With a GMRS license everyone in your family umbrellas under it and uses the same call letters. Look and see if a repeater is in your area that is for free public use and working. If so go online to the FCC website apply for a FRN number and then a GMRS license for $85. Then you can talk all over without a lot of fancy equipment, just some little Baofeng radios. And it takes about 15 to 20 minutes online to fill out the form and pay. Note: if there is not a GMRS repeater in your area working the GMRS license is not worth A thing IMHO. With the repeater in our area we get about 50 miles coverage. It is a violation of FCC Rules to use non-type-certified equipment in radio services governed by Part 95. A Rules violation in one service can have an adverse impact on the license for another service. The Commission takes the view that if it finds a candidate unfit to be a licensee in one service, the candidate can be deemed unfit to be a licensee in any service. Using a piece of equipment that is not type-certified for its intended use can cost you your amateur radio license, even if the violation did not involve operation in the amateur service. |
|
Quoted:
Not to hijack the thread but if someone has a commercial license, like a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator or Marine Radio operator, or GMDSS Radio Operator's License, do you still need an amateur license for GMRS ? Thanks For GMRS you need a GMRS license. |
|
Quoted:
For GMRS you need a GMRS license. Quoted:
Quoted:
Not to hijack the thread but if someone has a commercial license, like a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator or Marine Radio operator, or GMDSS Radio Operator's License, do you still need an amateur license for GMRS ? Thanks For GMRS you need a GMRS license. I was afraid of that. It seems kind of silly though since with the commercial licenses you have taken tests and operate radios of much higher power. |
|
Quoted:
It's not that GMRS out performs ham (UHF). They are identical in performance in the UHF band. The only way one will outperfom the other is location and antenna. HAM tend to have top pick on repeater locations, mostly do to their intended use to assist in emergency. I;ll bet there are more than one wide area VHF coverage repeater for Lubbock, TX. In smaller cities/large towns you don't hear many UHF ham repeaters. You are blessed to have access to tall buildings (I've been to Lubbock) with a flat surroundings. And for hams VHF is more popular than UHF and you see more UHF repeaters in larger cities. But for larger locations, like here in Phoenix, choice repeater sites are mountain tops, which are expensive and require much to have an approved spot. Typically organizations and clubs like Races, ARA, or other amateur emergency non-profit organization will get a spot and will often aloow open repeater use. This is how hams have a huge advantage. I can't remember where the nearest GMRS repeater was located but I think it was a top a 5 to 7 story building. We also have a few downtown 30+ story buildings which only a couple ham ham repeaters. We can do without the building repeaters with our surrounding mountain top repeaters. Don't get me wrong, GMRS is great and I wished as ham I could have the family use it on VHF/UHF. Unless more GMRS owners can get their machine on choice spots and as plentiful as hams, they will ahve their limits. I know someone who was trying to get a lease and approval to put a GMRS on White Tank Mtn. which would have had awesome coverage, they wanted to charge starting around $8,000 a year and some other high dollar charge to have the radio installed and antenna at their spot. ETA: I looked up MyGMRS. GMRS repeaters are still slim pickings compared to ham repeaters and nearly all GMRS repeaters are home based and half require permission. I commend you have the best locations in Lubbock and nice work on getting it on that one building. I know I don't have that influence to do the same. Quoted:
Quoted:
GMRS…5W maximum on the shared frequencies (those shared with FRS). 50W maximum for mobile and repeater applications. A mobile is defended as any transceiver with an antenna mounted on a vehicle that has the ability to move (more or less). Some times GMRS repeaters will outperform the ham repeaters. I maintain two GMRS repeaters on the two tallest buildings in Lubbock. Have roughly a 30 mile talk radius to them. One is a 50W (out of the duplexer) repeater mounted 320 ft off the ground, the other is a 25W (out of the duplexer) mounted 200 ft off the ground. I like GMRS, it's also very practical if you have a family run business or farm/ranch. If their isn't a repeater in your area, you can build some pretty simple GMRS repeaters for $150 or so. Might have figure out how to get them programmed, but its not hard to build a 25W repeater that will do what you need. I've got $20 into one of mine…dumping more into it to convert it into a solar powered portable repeater though. It's not that GMRS out performs ham (UHF). They are identical in performance in the UHF band. The only way one will outperfom the other is location and antenna. HAM tend to have top pick on repeater locations, mostly do to their intended use to assist in emergency. I;ll bet there are more than one wide area VHF coverage repeater for Lubbock, TX. In smaller cities/large towns you don't hear many UHF ham repeaters. You are blessed to have access to tall buildings (I've been to Lubbock) with a flat surroundings. And for hams VHF is more popular than UHF and you see more UHF repeaters in larger cities. But for larger locations, like here in Phoenix, choice repeater sites are mountain tops, which are expensive and require much to have an approved spot. Typically organizations and clubs like Races, ARA, or other amateur emergency non-profit organization will get a spot and will often aloow open repeater use. This is how hams have a huge advantage. I can't remember where the nearest GMRS repeater was located but I think it was a top a 5 to 7 story building. We also have a few downtown 30+ story buildings which only a couple ham ham repeaters. We can do without the building repeaters with our surrounding mountain top repeaters. Don't get me wrong, GMRS is great and I wished as ham I could have the family use it on VHF/UHF. Unless more GMRS owners can get their machine on choice spots and as plentiful as hams, they will ahve their limits. I know someone who was trying to get a lease and approval to put a GMRS on White Tank Mtn. which would have had awesome coverage, they wanted to charge starting around $8,000 a year and some other high dollar charge to have the radio installed and antenna at their spot. ETA: I looked up MyGMRS. GMRS repeaters are still slim pickings compared to ham repeaters and nearly all GMRS repeaters are home based and half require permission. I commend you have the best locations in Lubbock and nice work on getting it on that one building. I know I don't have that influence to do the same. It also helps when the County Sheriff's office is pushing the use of GMRS in an emergency…and when the emergency coordinator (who happens to be a ham and GMRS operator) loves to negotiate tower space. |
|
Quoted:
I was afraid of that. It seems kind of silly though since with the commercial licenses you have taken tests and operate radios of much higher power. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Not to hijack the thread but if someone has a commercial license, like a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator or Marine Radio operator, or GMDSS Radio Operator's License, do you still need an amateur license for GMRS ? Thanks For GMRS you need a GMRS license. I was afraid of that. It seems kind of silly though since with the commercial licenses you have taken tests and operate radios of much higher power. it's prolly more about revenue generation than ones tech abilities.... |
|
Quoted:
Be advised that a Baofeng is not type certified (part 95) for use on GMRS, PRS or MURS frequencies. It is a violation of FCC Rules to use non-type-certified equipment in radio services governed by Part 95. This. Here is a part 95 radio legal for use on GMRS (with a GMRS license of course): http://www.powerwerx.com/two-way-radios/handheld-wouxun-radios/powerwerx-gu-16-gmrs-handheld-radio.html |
|
Quoted:
This. Here is a part 95 radio legal for use on GMRS (with a GMRS license of course): http://www.powerwerx.com/two-way-radios/handheld-wouxun-radios/powerwerx-gu-16-gmrs-handheld-radio.html Quoted:
Quoted:
Be advised that a Baofeng is not type certified (part 95) for use on GMRS, PRS or MURS frequencies. It is a violation of FCC Rules to use non-type-certified equipment in radio services governed by Part 95. This. Here is a part 95 radio legal for use on GMRS (with a GMRS license of course): http://www.powerwerx.com/two-way-radios/handheld-wouxun-radios/powerwerx-gu-16-gmrs-handheld-radio.html Most Kenwood handhelds are Part 90/95A certified as are most Kenwood mobiles (I've got like 7 TK-880H's). Some of the newer Moto stuff is 90/95A, GP300's are 90/95A (few can program them), M1225's (I would assume the P1225 as well). Icom has had the F21 90/95A certified (they even had a field programable GMRS version called the F21-GM), I think the F4GS had cert as well but the F221 had cert. Kenwood is the only company that has made a true repeater that is 90/95A certified. Motorola had the GR1225 (baed off of two M1225 mobiles) and Icom had their version of the F420S and F221S repeaters. MURS is a slightly different story. Any Part 90 radio that obtained it's grant before the creation of the service in 2002 (or was it 2001?) that can meet specs is GTG. |