I would like to purchase a set of two way radios for camping/hiking/hunting. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Range would be a couple of miles. I have absolutely no clue about GMRS and getting an FCC license. Is it worth $75.00 to get the license for 5 years? Can you use the GMRS without the license? Please advise.
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Two Way Radios
- Thread starter md lou
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
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- 3,292
Ive got some climbing and hiking friends who carry Motorolas. All i know is that theyve been real happy with theirs and that theyre real rugged and simple. Theyre also pretty cheap.
You can read up on the specs here: http://www.motorola.com/walkie-talkie/english/specification.html
You can read up on the specs here: http://www.motorola.com/walkie-talkie/english/specification.html
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2007
- Messages
- 2,179
All I've ever messed with were the FRS and CBs,I can't imagine a situation where you would need the GMRS or even how they would work that much better.The FRS radios work fine for most any camping,hunting,hiking situation and there are probably more of them in use so in the event of a emergency it would be easier to find someone else using them.If your looking for something more than a FRS radio check out the new handheld CBs,Cobra makes a nice small one with weather,I don't know what kind of range they have but it probably comes close to the GMRS radios and will have a lot more uses.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2005
- Messages
- 955
I've got a set of Midland GXT radios that I really like. I bought them at REI for about $60. These radios are a nice size, and will run on either AA cells or rechargeables. They have a charging stand, so I just leave them in the stand until I'm ready to pull them out and use them.
These radios let you use the FRS channels, as well as GMRS. Power is variable, with settings of low, medium, and high. I've accidentally left my radios on, and three days seems to be about the charge life.
Range is supposed to be over 30 miles on high power, which I was a bit skeptical about. In heavily wooded country, or the city, or most anyplace that you don't have a direct line between the radios, you'll probably only get a couple of miles. This is still really good, especially when you compare that to lesser radios, that may only get 1/2 mile or so.
I had a chance to test the range in a direct line a few weeks ago, and I was rather surprised. On the side of a mountain, looking directly toward my house with no obstructions, I was able to talk to my wife 26 miles away! I checked the distance on Google maps when I got home, and I was really surprised. My wife was in the house, so outside we may have done even better.
As for the license -- I don't know of anyone who gets a GMRS license. I certainly never have, and I've been using GMRS for years.
Radios are really nice to have on car trips, when you have more than one vehicle. Trying to snatch out your cell phone, dial someone, wait for them to answer, then tell them to pull off at the next exit really sucks. With the radio, I just hit the call button, wait for an answer, and chat away.
These radios let you use the FRS channels, as well as GMRS. Power is variable, with settings of low, medium, and high. I've accidentally left my radios on, and three days seems to be about the charge life.
Range is supposed to be over 30 miles on high power, which I was a bit skeptical about. In heavily wooded country, or the city, or most anyplace that you don't have a direct line between the radios, you'll probably only get a couple of miles. This is still really good, especially when you compare that to lesser radios, that may only get 1/2 mile or so.
I had a chance to test the range in a direct line a few weeks ago, and I was rather surprised. On the side of a mountain, looking directly toward my house with no obstructions, I was able to talk to my wife 26 miles away! I checked the distance on Google maps when I got home, and I was really surprised. My wife was in the house, so outside we may have done even better.
As for the license -- I don't know of anyone who gets a GMRS license. I certainly never have, and I've been using GMRS for years.
Radios are really nice to have on car trips, when you have more than one vehicle. Trying to snatch out your cell phone, dial someone, wait for them to answer, then tell them to pull off at the next exit really sucks. With the radio, I just hit the call button, wait for an answer, and chat away.