FRS/GMRS

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 07, 2006 8:22 pm

I am looking at getting a pair of FRS/GMRS 2 way radios.. I was wondering which brand is best to get... Needs some suggestions..

Thanks,

Ben

corwyyn · **Posted:** Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:28 am

Well, Motorolas are always decent, and I have a pair of Unidens that work pretty well. Don't expect to come anywhere near the distance claims on the packaging; given the limited power and small, non-replaceable antennas 1 to 1 1/2 miles is a more reasonable expectation. I had a pair of Midlands that I got dirt cheap on closeout - after taking them out for some tests I figured out why they were on closeout. Luckily I was only out about $12 for the pair.

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:29 am

I use Motorola Talk-Abouts, and I get about a 2 mile range at best. They are nice, but if I didn't already own them for other reasons, I would buy a CB first if you need distance.

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:48 am

I was just wondering because I am going to be driving a car to my brothers and my wife is going to be following me in the KJ and we would like to communicate with each other.. We are talking maybe a mile or 2 at the most going down the interstate...

Ben

corwyyn · **Posted:** Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:44 pm

benmar2000 wrote:

I was just wondering because I am going to be driving a car to my brothers and my wife is going to be following me in the KJ and we would like to communicate with each other.. We are talking maybe a mile or 2 at the most going down the interstate...

Ben

When I moved back from Phoenix my buddy was driving my KJ and we used our radios to keep in touch. At one point I had him drive out ahead to see how far apart we could get and still hear each other. It turned out to be about one mile. The thing to understand is that the metal in the vehicle will block some signal from getting out, so you won't get as much range as you would in the open.

mjfoto · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 10:29 am

Look for something like this

http://cgi.ebay.com/GE-40-CHANNEL-2-WAY ... dZViewItem

then toss it undser a seat. radio shack had some.

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:07 am

i got some motorola talkabouts years ago.. they still work great.. we use them when hiking.. or when my buddy brpn#2 and his family are in their KJ and we go on trails or just riding around.. they seem to work fine.. the new technology should be better then they are.. i think ive had these since 2001-2002.. i cant rem the number but they got newer ones that are even cheaper.. if thats all ur using them for.. best bet..

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 11:48 am

Thanks for the info.. I think that as long as we stay within 2 miles of eachother in the cars.. I think we should be fine.. I found a pair of Cobra ones for like $43 at Circuit City.. I think I will pick those up tonight after work..

Ben

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 2:42 pm

Found out my brother in law has a set I can use for FREE!!

So I will give them a try and it won't cost me nothing...

Ben

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:36 pm

That's the best way to try something!

Some friends and I used some a few years ago to go to Vegas and they made that exciting drive much more fun.

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:05 am

yah.. test for FREE is always the best

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 6:43 am

Well.. We used them this past weekend and they worked awesome.. My wife would get stuck in traffic as I was getting on the interstate... She would be about 5 or 6 miles behind and we could still hear and talk to eachother... It was flat terran either.. It was going through the Smoky Mountains.. It was awesome... We were using the Cobra WX4700 model... Drove 850 miles in 2 days and used 2 sets of batteries apiece.. The first set was the rechargeables so they might be worn out.. but the second set was some Energizer Max Alkies.. We talked all the way up.. For car pooling.. I would highly recommend these... And at only $49 from Circuit City.. Can't go wrong...

Ben

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:47 pm

Glad to hear they worked for ya!

iliveinacage · **Posted:** Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:03 pm

fyi you need a license to operate on the GMRS channels. FRS you dont.

benmar2000 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 09, 2006 7:09 pm

Yeah.. I know.. I have my FCC License for the GMRS.. I wanted to be safe then sorry before using them... Which also makes me wonder if I am with a group of people on trail run could they use those channels and piggy back on my license? Hmmm....

I know that you can use those channels for family use and personal use as long as one of the persons has a license...

Ben

FRS/GMRS

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