Motorola GMRS?

[K6GBW]

I'm a ham radio guy and also have GMRS for talking to my wife and some friends that aren't hams. I mainly use the GMRS radios simplex for caravaning and point to point within about a 1-1 1/2 mile radius. I'm looking for a Motorola radio similar to the RMM2050 VHF radio used for MURS only in UHF and that can be programmed for the GMRS frequencies. Can any of the RMU or similar radios be configured this way?

I'm trying to avoid radios with buttons on the front and as few controls as possible. My wife and others have a nack for somehow pushing buttons that shouldn't be pushed and messing things up! So a sturdy, simple, radio with as few controls and possible that can do 8-16 GMRS freq's is what I'm after.

The RMM radios are about $200.00 each and that seems reasonable for what I'm looking for. I've looked at the RMU models and I "think" they can only be used on pre-programmed DOT frequencies. Am I wrong? Are there any other options?

Thanks for much for any input.

 

[gewecke]

Google Motorola T7200 or T7400 :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[bharvey2]

If you aren't tied to Motorola, consider a Kenwood TK390. They're Part 95 compliant, rugged as all get out and can be found on the used market at a decent price. Not bashing Motorola, just suggesting some options if they'll fit your criteria.

 

[KB0VWG]

Not sure about these but they are very inexpensive, they don't have too many buttons on them.
5X BAOFENG Pofung GT 1 400 470Mhz FM Two Way Ham Radio Walkie Talkie Cable US 702334858950 | eBay

kb0vwg
wqoi992

 

[gewecke]

Not sure about these but they are very inexpensive, they don't have too many buttons on them.
5X BAOFENG Pofung GT 1 400 470Mhz FM Two Way Ham Radio Walkie Talkie Cable US 702334858950 | eBay

kb0vwg
wqoi992

Yep, cheap is about all they have going for them. You'll be stepping down considerably. :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[cmjonesinc]

Pretty simple and not a bad price. https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr505-gmrs-recreational-handheld-radio

 

[SCPD]

Please stay away from the CCR (Cheap Chinees Radios) they are complete junk. The Ebay link has 5 radios for $92.00, that's $18 per radio and for that price you get what you pay for. Tried a couple of Pofung radios for the heck of it since both radios cost approx. $10 dollars a piece. Receive was awful even through a repeater. One was almost deaf and would not receive 50 feet away from the other one and if it did it was hammered by descense from the other radio. Transmit audio was low and I would not even dare use them on the 70cm Ham band.

The radios were packed up and sent to storage since returning would be a waste of my time and money even though the seller offered free refunds but buyer pays shipping. Since price was only little over $20 for the set, it was not worth it. In fact one of them seemed to have died since it would no longer receive anything.

Like the other posters have said, go get some quality radios like Motorola or Kenwood. They can be had for a good price on Ebay and can be found that are certified for GMRS usage. Stay away from the CCR's, you will be much better off for simplex or repeater usage.with quality professional radios.

 

[N4GIX]

Pretty simple and not a bad price. https://powerwerx.com/tera-tr505-gmrs-recreational-handheld-radio

Tera TR-505 are excellent radios, especially for such a low price.

 

[toastycookies]

The Ebay link has 5 radios for $92.00, that's $18 per radio

Tried a couple of Pofung radios for the heck of it since both radios cost approx. $10 dollars a piece.

Since price was only little over $20 for the set, it was not worth it.

Your math is all over the place but I agree about the part about go Kenwood or Icom.

 

[SCPD]

Your math is all over the place but I agree about the part about go Kenwood or Icom.

How is my math all over the place?.

 

[gewecke]

Tera TR-505 are excellent radios, especially for such a low price.

Based on the reviews I've read, and the online specs I'd have to say this is probably the best choice. :wink: 73, n9zas

 

[gewecke]

Please stay away from the CCR (Cheap Chinees Radios) they are complete junk. The Ebay link has 5 radios for $92.00, that's $18 per radio and for that price you get what you pay for. Tried a couple of Pofung radios for the heck of it since both radios cost approx. $10 dollars a piece. Receive was awful even through a repeater. One was almost deaf and would not receive 50 feet away from the other one and if it did it was hammered by descense from the other radio. Transmit audio was low and I would not even dare use them on the 70cm Ham band.

The radios were packed up and sent to storage since returning would be a waste of my time and money even though the seller offered free refunds but buyer pays shipping. Since price was only little over $20 for the set, it was not worth it. In fact one of them seemed to have died since it would no longer receive anything.

Like the other posters have said, go get some quality radios like Motorola or Kenwood. They can be had for a good price on Ebay and can be found that are certified for GMRS usage. Stay away from the CCR's, you will be much better off for simplex or repeater usage.with quality professional radios.

I fully agree here, with one exception to the Tera models, from Powerwerx. Again based on their specs. . 73, n9zas

 

[N4GIX]

Like the other posters have said, go get some quality radios like Motorola or Kenwood. They can be had for a good price on Ebay and can be found that are certified for GMRS usage.

Motorola's "GMRS" radios are high-end bubble-pack quality toys...

HT1000 Motorola radios are relatively inexpensive, but somewhat of a challenge to program unless you have access to a Win98 or WinXP computer with a DB-9 or DB-25 serial port. The RSS programming software is available, but a bit of a challenge to find for download. There is a site in the UK that has most of the RSS for out of production Motorolas, Kenwood, and other major LMR manufacturers.

Given all of this, I'd still opt for the Tera TR-505 simply because they are new, US supported, and ruggedly built.

 

[Rred]

"HT1000 Motorola radios are relatively inexpensive, but somewhat of a challenge to program unless you have access to a Win98 or WinXP computer with a DB-9 or DB-25 serial port. "

Reality check, please?

Win98 was a program running on DOS, actually, so you can "shell out" to real DOS.
WinXP is WindowsNT, no real DOS running under it and just a DOS emulator running from it.

But either way, I keep being told that the Moto programming software requires that it be run under real DOS, not under any of the NT DOS-emulators. And from what little I've seen, it will not work when run on a WindowsXP system, no matter how you invoke DOS.

So, are you sure that the Moto programming software *will* function from something besides a real MS-DOS booting system?

 

[N4GIX]

"HT1000 Motorola radios are relatively inexpensive, but somewhat of a challenge to program unless you have access to a Win98 or WinXP computer with a DB-9 or DB-25 serial port. "

So, are you sure that the Moto programming software *will* function from something besides a real MS-DOS booting system?

Absolutely sure, at least with regards to the HT/JT1000 series. The last version of the RSS for them was R03.03.00-RVN 4098H and it will run under MS-DOS or a "DOSBox" command prompt.

I own and maintain an "ancient" Win98 machine and another WinXP machine just for the purpose of being able to program these venerable but well-maintained radios. Well, the WinXP machine also runs my MIDI studio software, so that's yet another reason to keep it running! :lol:

Most of the Kenwood LMR gear's programming software will run just fine under WinXP-32. More recently there have been many USB/Serial cables released using the authentic FDTI Prolific chip that will work on both Moto and Kenwood radios.

 

[Rred]

Thanks, Bill. That screen shot looks like a newer version than the one I had used, probably the DOSBox support was a relatively late addition.

 

[radioman2001]

I use a current model HP laptop that I USB boot in FreeDos. Granted you cannot use a USB to Serial adapter, but most if not all computers with a true serial port will work. the only software I had issues with was the original Saber.

 

[K6GBW]

Thanks

Thanks guys, I agree the TERA radios look "most" like what I'm looking for. Boggles the mind why Motorola wouldn't come out with a version of the RMU/RMM series of radios that are already set up for GMRS. They'd probably sell like hotcakes!

I may just go with the RMM2050 MURS radios. I wanted to keep it on GMRS since I have an XPR4550 in my truck but....well, I guess you can't have everything.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Motorola Systems Saber I radios are Part 95 compliant and have a 15 channel knob. Cons are that you need real DOS to program and you need to make sure you buy or build a 440 to 470 range radio. These radios can now be powered by lightweight lithium ion batteries availably on e bay.

 

[PHRadio]

Thanks guys, I agree the TERA radios look "most" like what I'm looking for. Boggles the mind why Motorola wouldn't come out with a version of the RMU/RMM series of radios that are already set up for GMRS. They'd probably sell like hotcakes!

I may just go with the RMM2050 MURS radios. I wanted to keep it on GMRS since I have an XPR4550 in my truck but....well, I guess you can't have everything.

I have the Tera TR-505 radios and they work very well. They are easy to program for MURS and GMRS. The programing software is free, and the cable is cheap.