GMRS, MURS and DTR Digital at Disney World

[JASII]

I thought I would resurrect this post because I was using off-network Direct Talk last weekend while camping. The group I was with had a Nextel Motorola i315 and two i670s. We had reliable coverage for 1/2 mile, but beyond that forget it. I have also experimented recently with using a select "channel" and "code" vs. "Pvt only". While it is nice having the option of using "Pvt only", I am finding it to be less convenient for how I typically use these. The reason is if I have, for example, Channel 2 Code 2 selected, whenever I want to contact another person on that channel/code all I have to do is press the push to talk switch without even bothering to look at the display. With a "Pvt only" selected I have to either enter the 10 digit number of select the contact of who I wish to talk to. Until recently, both my wife and I had regular Nextel service. I still have Nextel through work, but she switched to T-Mobile because of her other family members. While I also have a subsidy unlocked Motorola Tundra GSM phone on T-Mobile, I really don't want to bother with that if we are in close proximity to one another and just want to be able to reach each other quickly. Since I have a pair of Nextel Motorola i670s, I have just been leaving them in her van, since that is typically what we use if the family is going somewhere together. If we end up shopping, we each take one of these and can reach each other quickly when we need to. We also keep a spare car charger in the van in case one of the batteries needs to be topped off.

[rescuecomm]

I have 5 Motorola I355's that are used for the same thing in crowded areas. The 0.6 watts doesn't go far, but usually far enough. As a matter of fact, we used two of them to coordinate labeling electrical panels at the factory rather than tote around the old Motorola P110 UHF HTS.

Bob

[JASII]

Do you usually select a Channel and Code or do you ever select Channel and Private? Usually I go with a Code rather than Private, but I was trying Private this weekend. At first I thought it was neat since I could chat with my wife without the kids hearing, but then I realized that in this case KISS applies (Keep It Simple Stupid) and that with a Code selected all I needed to do was use the Push To Talk to call. With Private, after a period of time, I had to go to the contact list or enter the 10 digit telephone number to call my wife. Not a real big deal for me, but she probably prefers more than I do to keep it simple.

[jwilkers]

Originally Posted by tekshogun

The DTR radios are nice, but for practically the same thing, the Trisquare radios are better priced.

Of course in a serious working environment where you are worried about ruggedness or so, perhaps the Motorola radios are better, but seriously, I would consider the TriSquare units.

I used the TriSquares at WDW. They worked great. Had full communications across all areas we were split up in the Magic Kingdowm. Stock batteries lasted from 1 pm to 11p when we left... they just gave up at the last minute

I long gave up on FRS/GMRS, as you have crowded frequencies that make communications impossible at best.

[jwilkers]

Originally Posted by N2DLX

Forget their 800 MHz transmitters, what about 500 people within 1,000 feet of you with FRS/GMRS radios yakking on them endlessly? I'd take leaky coax from a 50W transmitter 1/4 mile away than several watts being radiated within sight of me.

GMRS would probably work great if there wasn't so much co-channel interference in the parks. WDW's Nextel system is not sharing the same channels as the DTR/Trisquare radios, so even with a noisy transmitter it still won't cause as much interference as an on-channel source.

When I go there next I'd love to tape a VHF radio, UHF radio, and a DTR or Trisquare radio together and try them out under the exact same conditions. I'm sure the results would be interesting.

For the Hams, there are 2M and 440 WDW repeaters on property apparently. If this is true, coverage should be phenomenal, although you're limited to who you can talk to.

Every time I've been there the WDW repeaters have been silent. On the air... just no users.

[rescuecomm]

I usually do code/channel since we won't be giving any information over the air that could be exploited. I have scanned using the monitor all function and never heard anyone else talking on Directalk. That could be a function of the short range and where I work.

Bob

[MOTEX]

frs and gmrs radios in crowded amusement parks is a no win situation.
way too many people using them.
I use my TriSquare radios in these places without all the interference.
Recently went to Nascar race.
100,000 plus in the stands.
I tried to use my frs/gmrs radios with PL and scramble.
No dice on ANY channel.
Unpacked the TriSquares and they worked on the first channel I picked.