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FRS Radio Recommendation

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WA4PYQ

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I need a high quality, proven, handheld FRS radio that is highly water resistant. I would like it to be rechargeable, yet also have the capability to accept alkaline batteries in the event of a power outage. I would greatly appreciate your help. Thank you.
 
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BMDaug

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That’s actually a harder question than it sounds… frs radios are typically not up to the durability standards of commercial or public safety radios simply because the target audience doesn’t want to pay for durability. They want an inexpensive radio that works well enough.

IMO, BCA (Back Country Access) makes some good FRS radios. A more expensive option would be the Garmin Rino series of radios. Both of these options offer rechargeable batteries and would need an external battery pack to fulfill your AA battery requirement.

The above are options that are completely legal and part accepted for use on the FRS. There are many commercial options that will operate very happily on FRS frequencies, but none of them meet the part acceptance requirement.

-B
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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ICOM IC-4008A. Very old model. I have three. Hard to find, IP67, AA powered. you might look at Garmin, also check out West Marine to see if they have any such models.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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My Correction: The IC4008A is JIS-4 rated. It is gasketed construction. This same radio model was used by US Marines as a squad radio with different frequencies.

 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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I have this Kenwood FRS radio. Not current production, but it’s the best FRS radio I’ve ever seen, short of loading FRS freq’s in my APX.

Yup; those were available around same time as the ICOM's and are equally good rugged radios.
 

RFI-EMI-GUY

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Motorola claims IP67 on this radio model. How they perform as a radio is anyone's guess.

 

Giddyuptd

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Why not just pay the 35 dollars and get gmrs license. Then it'll be talking turkey with better options.
 

GraniteScanner

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I have these radios, they still preform rock solid, its the best your going to get in terms of FRS from Motorola.
Would recommend these for sure.
Motorola claims IP67 on this radio model. How they perform as a radio is anyone's guess.

 

jeepsandradios

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I have a pile of the Talkabouts and they are great simple small units. I have the midland mobiles but use the talkabouts outside the jeep. Had one lost in the mud over night on a jeep ride and was still on the next day. Hosed it off and its still talking.
 

DeeEx

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Motorola Spirit and the Talkabout Sport 7 series were durable and had long life on those tiny battery packs. I think they were FRS.
 

mmckenna

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Motorola Spirit and the Talkabout Sport 7 series were durable and had long life on those tiny battery packs. I think they were FRS.

They were GMRS.

Midland or a Motorola is the way to go. It'll easily meet all the requirements. I have a pair of Motorola radios that my son used. Had rechargeable batteries, but could run AA alkaline in them. Water resistant. Easy to use. No nonsense. Durable enough for a kid. Not overly confusing like trying to run a higher end radio.
 

KK6HRW

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That’s actually a harder question than it sounds… frs radios are typically not up to the durability standards of commercial or public safety radios simply because the target audience doesn’t want to pay for durability. They want an inexpensive radio that works well enough.

IMO, BCA (Back Country Access) makes some good FRS radios. A more expensive option would be the Garmin Rino series of radios. Both of these options offer rechargeable batteries and would need an external battery pack to fulfill your AA battery requirement.

The above are options that are completely legal and part accepted for use on the FRS. There are many commercial options that will operate very happily on FRS frequencies, but none of them meet the part acceptance requirement.

-B
Don’t the Garmin Rhino radios operate on the MURS frequencies (not FRS)?
 

mmckenna

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Don’t the Garmin Rhino radios operate on the MURS frequencies (not FRS)?

No, they are GMRS.


Garmin does have some dog tracking collars that use MURS.
 

CanesFan95

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Anyone know what's the TX power is on those T605s? And the speaker audio milliwatts?
 

redbeard

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That’s actually a harder question than it sounds… frs radios are typically not up to the durability standards of commercial or public safety radios simply because the target audience doesn’t want to pay for durability. They want an inexpensive radio that works well enough.

IMO, BCA (Back Country Access) makes some good FRS radios. A more expensive option would be the Garmin Rino series of radios. Both of these options offer rechargeable batteries and would need an external battery pack to fulfill your AA battery requirement.

The above are options that are completely legal and part accepted for use on the FRS. There are many commercial options that will operate very happily on FRS frequencies, but none of them meet the part acceptance requirement.

-B
I'll second the BCA radios. Doens't meet the AA requirement but if you are in the middle of nowhere and only have what you brought, bring a USB battery bank instead of loose alkalines. Maybe one of those ones with a solar cell on it.
 
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