FRS/GMRS radios

[Steve]

I'm considering buying one of these new combo radios. One unit made by Cobra claims to have a 3 watt output with a claimed range of 7-8 miles. Does anyone have any of these new GMRS (not really new but being mass produced now) even in the 2 watt form and what kind of range are you getting with it on different terrains?

[SARDog]

I have a pair and the only thing i can say is that it is all line of sight. I hunt in some pretty big rolling hills and if i am on the other sidfe or a hunting partner it is still hard to get past 1-2 miles. The best i have found is a pair of marine vhf/fm 5 watt motorola comco's (walkie-talkies) you dont need a licesne, same as the FRS radios. They cost about $99 each. By water it helps, the sognal bounces off the water. I guess, like everything our wives complain about is the more powerfull the better. 3-4 watts is better depending on wherre you are.

[DEERSLAYER]

SARDog,

The last time I checked (several years ago) it was illegal to use marine radio's for land based activities. You might want to check into this before you use them again.

[Shoeman]

I'm sure Deerslayer is right

Here's a link to VHF Marine band usage

http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/vhfchanl.html

[Shoeman]

MAY I USE MY HAND-HELD MARINE VHF RADIO ON LAND?

You must have a special license, called a marine utility station license, to operate a hand-held marine radio from land -- a ship station license IS NOT sufficient. You may apply for this license by filing FCC Form 601 with the FCC. To be eligible for a marine utility station license, you must generally provide some sort of service to ships or have control over a bridge or waterway. Additionally, you must show a need to communicate using hand-held portable equipment from both a ship and from coast locations. Each unit must be capable of operation while being hand-carried by an individual. The station operates under the rules applicable to ship stations when the unit is aboard a ship, and under the rules applicable to private coast stations when the unit is on land.

[Steve]

Yeah I'm sure you guys are right about the VHS radios and I am souring on the FRS/GMRS radios as the serious reviews that I am reading really cut them down. Looks like I'll wait a few more years till they come out with something that does serious communication.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Steve, ever hear of cell phones, they go a hole lot further.

I have FRS and its supose to go 2 miles. Maybe on water, land maybe 1 mile with no hills.

[SARDog]

I forgot about the land use. But, I wouldn't worry about bothering anyone out on the water with the hand held unit on land. I just use it occasionaly, but most of all is to get that extra mile or two out of it when we deer hunt. I also like it for the weather channels too. Like you say Steve, in a couple more years they will have some neat radios out there to use. Probably satellite 2-way walkie-talkies too, if one doesn't have a nextel phone for two way.:D

[DEERSLAYER]

I wasn't thinking about bothering the people on the water so much as being a law abiding citizen and hunting by all the same rules as everybody else. Not to mention setting an example for the youngsters on this site. It dose not seem like a good idea to suggest something illegal to someone. I think we tend to pride ourselves on being legal on this forum. Don't mean to sound like the holier than thou type, just thought I would state what I thought was already obvious on here.

[SARDog]

I guess it all boils down to what ever resources you want to use that's available. I'll continue to use mine and you'll use what works best for you. In reality, an extra mile won't hurt especially when most LE is on 800 MHZ and digital.

[huntingfool43]

GMRS/FRS

Bought a set of 22 channel Unidens off Ebay a couple weeks ago.Had the wife hop in the car and drive 2 miles away (range of the radios) and they worked pretty good. There were trees and one big hill between us and still got good reception. I was surprized when reading the instructions though, it said I need a licence for them because of the upper 8 channels. I t said for FRS no lisence need but GMRS you do. Not sure if thats right or not but thats what it said.

[Steve]

Its correct you are supposed to get a license to use GMRS channels. I am ordering 2 2watt midland frs/gmrs radios and they key is they have removable antennae. This means the stocker 3" can be taken off to a more reasonable 8" or more :) This should get me out to 4 miles or more from a tree :D

[SARDog]

try http://scannerworld.com Steve. They might have an add on antenna that will work:D
I use the dual rubber duck antenna, it works great with the antenna adapter.

[Steve]

Look for a review of my new rig soon. It will specify the REAL world range of a set of these radios under several different conditions.

[Big Game]

Steve be sure and post the results. I am interested to hear of the real world scenario. I have held off buying some of these radios because I was skeptical. I think a product review forum would be a cool idea. Just a thought.

[Steve]

I'll be doing a full product review both with stock antennas and with antennas with a little extra :)

[NEMichsportsman]

Just curious if you have had a chance to field test the new handhalds?

[enfield]

Barring the not-so-good chance of tropospheric ducting or some other rare UHF propagation, the maximum range of UHF handheld or mobile radios in simplex communication is line of sight, whether you use 1/2 watt or 50,000 watts. That means 2 or 3 miles, unless one or both stations are on hilltops. Using a more efficient rubber duck antenna will increase received signal strength, but not range.

That's why the cops put their base antennas on tall towers.

[FishTales]

The GMRS radios require a license, the link is below,

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/personal/generalmobile/

[Steve]

For a review including range numbers see:

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/reviewpost/index.php

[NEMichsportsman]

Enfield

Why are the manufacturers able to advertise as a 5 mile or 7mile range? So if I read you correctly my 3 watt radios wont perform any better than a 2 watt?

[Steve]

They can advertise that because they are capable of that range over open water or between mountain tops. Any other terrain and all bets are off.

A 3W radio is not likely to out-perform a 2W by much if any at all. The biggest factor in the range of these radios is relative radio elevation and terrain.

[enfield]

To get a noticeable increase in received signal strength, you would have to at least double the 2 watts to 4 watts. Better yet would to quadruple it (to 8 watts) to get a full S-unit increase (6dB). To noticeably increase the received signal strength from 4 watts, you have to at least double the power again, to 8 watts (or, better, 16 watts).

There would be no noticeable difference at the other end between transmissions from a 2 watt radio and a 3 watt radio, all other conditions being equal.

It's usually not cost-effective to go for a couple more watts - you need a *bunch* more watts to appreciably affect the received signal strength. However, only increased antenna height will reliably increase range in the UHF band.