Help me!!

[USMCSKI]

Me and a group of buddies are looking for some radios to put in out off road vehicles for communications between us while exploring the mountains of WV. Someone suggested buying some old police radios and having them reprogrammed for FMS/GMRS channels. Anyone have any suggestions on what radios to look into. We are looking for something fairly high powered.

[RKG]

You cannot put "pure" FRS frequencies in "old police radios" and use them, license free, under the authority of the FRS regulation (47 CFR sec. 95.191).

If everyone has their own GMRS license, you can put a GMRS frequency in such radios as HT1000s. They can be adjusted up to about 5 watts nominal, though as a practical matter you'll get better life out of the RF amp if you back it off a hair.

For the frequencies that may be validly employed by GMRS licensees for simplex (direct) communications, see 47 CFR sec. 95.29.

[DPD1]

Icom has numerous models, like the F221, F221S, F6061. The 221S / 121S is usually about $260 or something. There's places that will program them for you at time of purchase, like GMRSoutlet or someplace like that.

But if you're in mountainous terrain, you might not want to rule out CB. If you aren't in an area that has a lot of CB traffic, the lower band might make it around hills a little better. And you could use 1/4 wave antennas. You wouldn't have to use big whips or anything.

[rescuecomm]

When did they do away with the 50 watt rule on GMRS? I thought a 45 watt GM300 would work well on GMRS with the proper licensing.

Bob

[eribenboim]

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Good post DPD1!

[dwh367]

Originally Posted by rescuecomm

When did they do away with the 50 watt rule on GMRS? I thought a 45 watt GM300 would work well on GMRS with the proper licensing.

Bob

It's still will the last I knew. Otherwise I'll have to DTMF the 50 watt repeater we have down to low power

[gewecke]

If you wish to program GMRS freqs. either simplex or rptr. the Kenwood TK 805D can be had reasonably as well as programmable from the front panel! This unit is capable of pl/dpl tones as well and would give you full power. FYI.
Good luck!

[MPSCS]

Originally Posted by USMCSKI

Me and a group of buddies are looking for some radios to put in out off road vehicles for communications between us while exploring the mountains of WV. Someone suggested buying some old police radios and having them reprogrammed for FMS/GMRS channels. Anyone have any suggestions on what radios to look into. We are looking for something fairly high powered.

Save your money, and don't bother paying for an expensive license. Buy some good FRS radios, and they should perform almost as well as the GMRS, using them in simplex mode.

[gewecke]

Originally Posted by MPSCS

Save your money, and don't bother paying for an expensive license. Buy some good FRS radios, and they should perform almost as well as the GMRS, using them in simplex mode.

The increase in coverage would be a benefit if you consider the fact that FRS is ONLY 500 milliwatts max.output compared to 4-5 watts from a commercial uhf portable even in simplex mode! Also that keeping in mind that a GMRS license is still good for a 5 year period.
N9ZAS

[gewecke]

Originally Posted by dwh367

It's still will the last I knew. Otherwise I'll have to DTMF the 50 watt repeater we have down to low power

Nope! 50 watts is still your legal max.out on that band.
N9ZAS

[N_Jay]

Just use CB

[MPSCS]

Originally Posted by gewecke

The increase in coverage would be a benefit if you consider the fact that FRS is ONLY 500 milliwatts max.output compared to 4-5 watts from a commercial uhf portable even in simplex mode! Also that keeping in mind that a GMRS license is still good for a 5 year period.
N9ZAS

That's what I thought too. But in testing FRS radios against a Motorola's HT1000, I found little advantage for GMRS over FRS. Maybe another 1/2 mile on the average.

I have a GMRS license, so I'm not just making excuses to avoid paying for a license. But it was a good reason to avoid paying for more expensive radios.

It seems the most any UHF HT will do on simplex is about 2 ~ 2.5 miles. Unless you're in a really open area with no trees, or tall buildings.

[gewecke]

True. The op didn't really specify how much range was important so with that in mind maybe FRS would be all that's needed.
N9ZAS

[N_Jay]

Link budget 1/4 watt UHF FM Radio - about 148 dB
Link budget 4 watt UHF FM tradio - about 160 db

[DPD1]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

Just use CB

Yeah, CB is considered the dinosaur band now, but I remember us talking for 10 miles or more with just continuous loaded 1/4 waves when we were kids. Simple, cheap and fun.

[gewecke]

I'm not sure about your figures njay,because there are many variables to factor in to come to those or any determination for effiency. I would see a noticeable increase in range over a FRS unit while using my portable simply because I use a tuned 5/8 wave antenna instead of the supplied antenna that was shipped with it. But if I used the OEM antenna that it came with then I tend to believe there would still be a noticeable difference. That's one of the things I love about UHF is the challenge.
N9ZAS

[N_Jay]

I used the base sensitivity and power out.
Yes differences in the antenna systems do make for a difference in how the link budget gets spent.

[hockeyshrink]

Originally Posted by N_Jay

Just use CB

Agreed

If you wanna push more watts and can spend a few xtra bucks, go with SSB capable equipment...that will get you up to 12 watts PEP. The band is perfect for that terrain, IMHO