Smallest FRS/GMRS Radios?

S

Scott Free

Joined
Sep 15, 1999
Messages
3,319
I'm looking for the smallest decent FSR or FSR/GMRS radios I can find. I don't need them to reach half way accross the state, but I do want to be able to find my wife at the mall. I'm looking for small because I already carry WAY to much stuff in my pockets. I'm not looking for a toy, though.

Hoping I can find something decent.

Scott
 
FRS only..look into the icom IC 4008...
GMRS..if you can handle the $200 tag, the F21 GMRS..the others maybe smaller, but have HORRIBLE range..
12mile? 18mile? 8mile? nah..all the same....more like 15 blocks in NYC
 
Here you go Dick Tracy..
http://www.meritline.com/digital-wristwatch-and-2way-radio-2packs.html

.

X32X-2-box.jpg



Paul
 
Used a set of these in 4-Wheeling Death Valley last week.

Motorola FV200AA

Surprised the hell out of me as we also had higher priced Midlands that lacked both range and fidelity. Midland responses always started with, "Uh could you repeat that please." Car-to-car and open range transmit/receive were fair but I kind of doubt an effective range of 5-miles unless it's straight line-of-sight. You might pick up a pair with more range being in NYC. Fry's Electronics (www.outpost.com) has a fair selection and reasonable prices.




j
 
Remember...regardless of any of the blister packs claims, they all put out..like ONE watt ERP.. MAX
And those Motorolas don't have CTCSS (privacy tones) which doesn't allow you to hear anyone else on that channel unless they're transmitting the same code you set your radio to listen in on. (remember, ANYONE can still hear your transmissions)
 
Well,
Garageboy is one of the experts in this field. I only collect stuff. He does my research for me. He's currently putting together DES encryption package for Motorola Saber 2 radios...
He's a wealth of information. Ask him about VHF and UHF stuff. If the mall is mostly glass with vast empty space in the middle, VHF may be the way to go.

My suggestion is to buy the Icom F21GM radios, go on the FCC website and pick out someone's callsign from across the country (preferably one who did not include an address or telephone number from a major city) and use them (if anyone asks, just say you're passing through town and don't talk to them too much). Most GMRS licensees in large cities get them just cause they bought a bubblepack and never use them cause of the 4 block range.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Well,
Garageboy is one of the experts in this field. I only collect stuff. He does my research for me. He's currently putting together DES encryption package for Motorola Saber 2 radios...
He's a wealth of information. Ask him about VHF and UHF stuff. If the mall is mostly glass with vast empty space in the middle, VHF may be the way to go.

My suggestion is to buy the Icom F21GM radios, go on the FCC website and pick out someone's callsign from across the country (preferably one who did not include an address or telephone number from a major city) and use them (if anyone asks, just say you're passing through town and don't talk to them too much). Most GMRS licensees in large cities get them just cause they bought a bubblepack and never use them cause of the 4 block range.
Click to expand...


Oh, I almost forgot...
never use your real name or too specific a location over the airwaves.
 
GarageBoy said:
Remember...regardless of any of the blister packs claims, they all put out..like ONE watt ERP.. MAX
And those Motorolas don't have CTCSS (privacy tones) which doesn't allow you to hear anyone else on that channel unless they're transmitting the same code you set your radio to listen in on. (remember, ANYONE can still hear your transmissions)
Click to expand...

GB,

FRS radios are limited to 500m (1/2) W ERP
GMRS sets may transmit no more than 5 W ERP.

Thanks for pointing out the continuous tone-coded squelch system. We did experience minor interference - but we were in sparsely populated Death Valley. NYC would be a different animal and CTCSS is a definite requirement. Other Motorola systems starting with the FV500s have these “privacy codes”.

J




To be used legally, GMRS operations require an FCC license. GMRS radios share 7 interstitial frequency "channels" between FRS frequencies and have 8 channels dedicated solely for GMRS. Both FRS and GMRS are within the UHF range (300 MHz – 3.0 GHz). There are pros and cons to using UHF-v-VHF but UHF is used in FRS/GMRS for line of sight transmission, less interference to commercial systems, and is limited in its ERP to that end. The license to operate a GMRS radio requires an FC license good for 5 years for an $85 fee. Suggesting using another’s license for transmitting on GMRS could invite problems but people did similar things with CBs. The “non-blister pack” crowd of operators tend to have more expensive equipment, buy their licenses, and have been increasingly vocal regarding non-licensed operators with prodding from web sites like http://www.gmrs.net.tc/ So be forewarned, there is movement by the FCC toward more individual enforcement and fines. If you want to be legal and license free, it’s getting hard to find a purely FRS handset anymore although ICOM does make one for around $49.00.


The ICOM F21GM Mutt talks about utilizes FRS/GMS channels and radiates 1 – 4 W switchable dependent on channel selection. Each handheld transceiver also weighs more than ½ pound (close to 11 oz.) with batteries and measures 2 1/8 x 5 1/32 x 1 1/2 inches. Each transceiver lists at $214.00 and can be found for around $150.00 on the web. But if performance matters and price is not as important you can move up to the lighter (7.6 oz.) feature packed Garmin RINO 110 with FRS/GMRS, CTCSS, GPS, Alarms, calculator, calendar, clock, lap timer, stopwatch, games for around $139 on the internet.

But Scott wanted SMALL....and decent



:D

J
 
Sorry, I was referring 1 watt ERP on GRMS/FRS combination blister packed radios listed at many consumer goods stores that say they put out18 miles of range
 
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