best two way radio?

[trapstercarl]

I'm looking at buying a new set of two way radios.Anybody have any input on which ones are the best? carl

[engsetters]

I found the Midland radios the best for my needs. They are small and compact. they will reach out in the dense cedar swamps and will program with any other radio out there. I like the large back clip over the other compact radios. Midland stands behind their product. Also they have the weather channel which is a great feather. I bought four radios when i rabbit hunt with others i like to stay in contact during the hunt.

[QuakrTrakr]

I like the Midlands too. Great range and clear reception. Very easy to use, and I can turn off that god awful transmission end BEEP.

[ESOX]

Motorolas are great radios.
Garmin Rhinos are realy sweet, eliminates carrying yet another piece of gear.

[WALLEYEvision]

I like the Midlands too. Great range and clear reception. Very easy to use, and I can turn off that god awful transmission end BEEP.
:yeahthat: Here's another vote for Midland. I would recommend buying one with the longest range (that you can afford). I have one with an up to 14 mile range. It woks great on the water, but in dense woods or hilly terrain, I can only send/receive for a mile or two. ALSO, try to stay away from the camo models. Yeah they look cool, but they're also harder to find if you drop them.

[QuakrTrakr]

ALSO, try to stay away from the camo models. Yeah they look cool, but they're also harder to find if you drop them.
That goes for cell phones, gps, calls, etc. Some things shouldn't be camo'd.

[.480]

Another vote for the :

Midland GXT 500 X-Tra talk.
with weather band.

[Utahan]

To continue with this questions, what is the average actually distance that your radios work. I have some Motorolas that only work about .5 mile when they are supposed to be 10 mile. It is in heavy woods, but relatively flat land.

Troy

[Ranger Ray]

I have the Garmin Rhino 120's and like the dual function of GPS and radio. Most will not come anywhere near the distance claimed in hilly wooded area's.

[QuakrTrakr]

I never really tested distance. I'm using the GTX300 and it's easily gone a mile through wooded areas. I've put it on scan during rifle season and listened to guys 4 miles away. I know because they were hunting a farm a buddy owns. But you judge a radio by transmit power, not reception.
I'm pretty sure the FCC will only allow 2 watts of power for a family freq. radio. Alot of the cheap ones are only 1/4 watt.

[luvitlo94]

Go with the Midlands, and make sure you get the 5 watt models. I think they usually go for around $89 a set. They work great!

Here is a link to their site with all the 18 mile range (5 watt) models, they are actually cheaper than I thought.:

http://www.midlandradio.com/comersus/store/comersus_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory= 133

[ih772]

If you're going to use the GMRS channels you have to be licensed by the FCC.

This link (http://www.geocities.com/gmrspage/power.html) explains power output and range claims. It also tells you how to find out the actual power your antenna radiates.

Here's a link (http://www.popularwireless.com/gmrsfaqa.html) for all you ever wanted to know about FRS/GMRS radios but were afraid to ask.

Here's (http://www.commtechreview.net/frsradio/faq.htm) another. It explains the CTCSS and Subchannel operations.

This last link (http://www.southernce.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/range.htm?E+scstore) has a table showing the approximate range of radios with different types of terrain.

You can find a license application on the FCC's website. www.fcc.gov (http://www.fcc.gov)

[SalmonSlayer]

I just purchased the Motorola T7100 Series FRS/GMRS from Cabela's for $59.99...now I see they are $54.99.

Anyone have anything to say about these radios? I plan to use them out west for Elk in Colorado. They claim 10 miles...but I know that's ideal conditions...but 1-2 miles should be adequate for our hunting party.

Does anyone ever buy a FCC license anymore? Do they even monitor or respond to those channels? or are they too busy and understaffed to effectively patrol the usage of GMRS channels?

Thanks for the input!

[trainwreck]

I use the Midland GXT 656 that are supposed to be 18 mile range. I find they will work up to around 4 miles in the woods unless there is a big hill in in between. I heard they are " line of sight" so hills are going to cut down the range. They also have a vibrate mode.

[Riva]

Do any of these models have a voice activated function, specifically: a feature that allows you to talk with someone else without having to physically bring the unit to your mouth?

Years ago, I had a cheap set of radios from Radio Shack that you could actually whisper into and it would transmit the whisper up to 1/4 mile away.

[Michigan Mike]

Hello Carl
I upgraded this year to the Midland 18 mile/5watt and am real happy with them and are the best I've owned over the last 10 years out of 3 other sets.
I believe we bought them a Dicks for $99 which included the chargers
earpiece ect.
Good for a mile a 2 in heavily wooded areas which is all I need them for.
I like the fact I can turn off all those dang beeps too.
Not worth buying anything less than 4 watts IMO.

Mike

[TNL]

I just purchased the Motorola T7100 Series FRS/GMRS from Cabela's for $59.99...now I see they are $54.99.

Anyone have anything to say about these radios? I plan to use them out west for Elk in Colorado. They claim 10 miles...but I know that's ideal conditions...but 1-2 miles should be adequate for our hunting party.

Does anyone ever buy a FCC license anymore? Do they even monitor or respond to those channels? or are they too busy and understaffed to effectively patrol the usage of GMRS channels?

Thanks for the input!

I've owned probably 6 different pairs of radios and recently bought the 7100s ($49.99 from Dicks, sorry, maybe they will credit you the difference). None have EVER transmitted or received as far as the box said they would. That being said, transmit on the lower 6 channels for most power if someone has a lesser radio. I find that a hlf mile through the woods is no big deal, but if there is earth (hill, mountains) you'll be lucky to get anything. When we were out west for elk, we could transmit a couple of miles--line of site. However, if one guy was in a draw and the other guy was in another draw, there was no reception whatsoever except for maybe the "call" button. As for the GMRS FCC, thing, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

tnl

[luvitlo94]

Do any of these models have a voice activated function, specifically: a feature that allows you to talk with someone else without having to physically bring the unit to your mouth?

Years ago, I had a cheap set of radios from Radio Shack that you could actually whisper into and it would transmit the whisper up to 1/4 mile away.
Yes, the Midlands have the eVox feature which does that. They also come with some headsets if you buy the kit, which work very nice.

[ih772]

[quote=SalmonSlayer]Does anyone ever buy a FCC license anymore? Do they even monitor or respond to those channels? or are they too busy and understaffed to effectively patrol the usage of GMRS channels?quote]

Yes they do. I happen to know someone at the FCC that investigates this very thing for a living here in MI. You really wouldn't want to pay the steep fine either.

[dtg]

Last X-mas, I bought the Cabelas Midland "Buddy pack" 4 radios w/ chargers, ear pieces w/ mic, etc. I only got to try it out this year during deer season. All I can say is that the Voice activated mic, doesn't work that great with "whispers" I had to keep pushing the mic close to my mouth to get it to pick up. I'll get to use them again this year for fishing up in Ontario, where we will be anywhere from 1-8 miles from each other on the open water. So far, I like it, except for the whisper thing.

[Just_One_More]

[quote=SalmonSlayer]Does anyone ever buy a FCC license anymore? Do they even monitor or respond to those channels? or are they too busy and understaffed to effectively patrol the usage of GMRS channels?quote]

Yes they do. I happen to know someone at the FCC that investigates this very thing for a living here in MI. You really wouldn't want to pay the steep fine either.

Well thats is why you can set your radios to different powers H M and L and L is 1 watt which is allowed and if I can transmit only a maximum of 14 mile on H in best conditions the fcc better have lots of receivers to pick up my tranmison or have lots of guys that are pretty close to me to bust me.

[ih772]

The technique they use is pretty interesting to say the least. Part high technology and part social engineering.