Beginner seeks direction for handheld high wattage FRS or GMRS / Ham transceiver

[inquiring21]

I am looking to buy a pair of handheld FRS or GMRS / Ham transceivers that provide the highest legal wattage (am concerned about range) and I /another will take the Ham exam to quailfy to use of the Ham frequency. We will use the handhelds for casual communication when traveling or hiking or when separated from family and seek to use the ham option to communicate with other like minded persons also in the event of an emergency. I am not looking to spend thousands of dollars for each handheld but seek reliablity and tech support, voice clarity, and range without interference from local geography, if possible. I've MIDLAND GXT795 FRS handhelds now but am quite disappointed by their short range and am aware that "line of sight" is their operational requirement for constant communication so I want to have the option of ham communication using the repeater system for greater range. I am also open to suggestions re the most effective antenna for the handlhelds to maximize their range.

Ive seen the Baofeng units however have discovered several negatives re those units.

Thank you.

 

[Hans13]

In line-of-sight, wattage is not typically the deciding factor in range. Height is king. The higher in frequency you go, the more line-of-sight the signal gets. Wattage can allow for better penetration and more power to bounce the signal to target but you want as much height as possible. Increasing wattage doesn't typically add to distance much like adding height of antenna. Height gives the most bang for your buck.

AFAIK, there are no certified GMRS AND amateur radios out there since the minute you add frequency agility or amateur frequencies, it invalidates the Part 95 certification.

 

[WB9YBM]

I am looking to buy a pair of handheld FRS or GMRS / Ham transceivers that provide the highest legal wattage (am concerned about range) and I /another will take the Ham exam to quailfy to use of the Ham frequency. We will use the handhelds for casual communication when traveling or hiking or when separated from family and seek to use the ham option to communicate with other like minded persons also in the event of an emergency.

Not knowing the distance you want to cover, it's hard to make a recommendation. When you say "...highest legal wattage..." that's about 1,500 watts in ham radio (unless they've changed that since I scanned the rules last). Before I lug along a 220V generator and legal limit amplifier on a hike I'd probably use less power and use a portable beam antenna. In the 440 MHz ham range, that antenna size is pretty practical in size.

Heat is also an issue especially on H.T.s (handheld transceivers)--even though rated at a high power of 5W, they'll get pretty toasty and go through batteries fast especially during a conversation.

 

[cmjonesinc]

Since you mention family, you may see if there are any gmrs repeaters local to you. That license covers you and your immediate family with no testing requirements but allows you to use gmrs repeaters. Even if you do decide to get an amateur license, gmrs is still a nice thing to have if you have a local repeater.

 

[alcahuete]

To be 100% legal, you need a radio that is Part 95 certified. There are Kenwood radios out there that are Part 95 certified and will cover the 70cm ham band as well. If you want as close to legal as you can get without actually being legal, any Part 90 radio will work.

As others have mentioned, the wattage isn't going to make that much of a difference. If you're using the Midland radios on the GMRS channels, you're already at 5w. Going much higher than that is not going to do anything besides discharge your battery quicker, and really the only radios that claim higher than that (usually falsely) are cheap Chinese junk.

 

[jonwienke]

The AnyTone 878 does 1W on low power, 5W on high power, and 7-9W on turbo. It's Chinese, but a big step up from the Baofeng in quality, performance, and price. It's not type accepted for GMRS/FRS, but if you turn the power down to low on the FRS channels, nobody is likely to care.

 

[wa3hdi]

Remember, your ham license doesn't cover anyone but yourself as an operator, not other family members. This is different than a GMRS license that can cover the immediate family members.

 

[russbrill]

I am looking to buy a pair of handheld FRS or GMRS / Ham transceivers that provide the highest legal wattage (am concerned about range) and I /another will take the Ham exam to quailfy to use of the Ham frequency. We will use the handhelds for casual communication when traveling or hiking or when separated from family and seek to use the ham option to communicate with other like minded persons also in the event of an emergency. I am not looking to spend thousands of dollars for each handheld but seek reliablity and tech support, voice clarity, and range without interference from local geography, if possible. I've MIDLAND GXT795 FRS handhelds now but am quite disappointed by their short range and am aware that "line of sight" is their operational requirement for constant communication so I want to have the option of ham communication using the repeater system for greater range. I am also open to suggestions re the most effective antenna for the handlhelds to maximize their range.

Ive seen the Baofeng units however have discovered several negatives re those units.

Thank you.

Amateur equipment is NOT Part 90 or 95 approved... Sorry, no such radio is available...

 

[iMONITOR]

Regardless of what hand-held radio, wattage, frequency, you buy, or how much you spend. If you live in the city don't expect more then 2-3 miles range unless you go though a repeater. You'll most likely be very disappointed.