Hi,
I am trying to find FRS radios that have the most actual transmit power within the limits (0.5/2W depending on channel). There is an old thread asking a similar question with a couple of recommendations here:
Seems like the bigger names like Motorola and Midland do not market or publish the transmit power, but the brands like Baofeng and Retevis do advertise it, but I was curious if the advertisements are honest.
So one has to go and look at their FCC filings perhaps, but my main questions regarding this are:
1) Is looking at the FCC filings a reasonable way to determine the actual transmit power of an FRS unit without measuring it myself? (more on this below)
2) Is it actually practical to measure the transmit power myself since the antennas are not detachable? Can't attach an SWR/Watt meter to any SMA connector. Don't want to open the units up. Is there another way without a whole lab?
So take the Retevis RT22 for example. Their own web site claims:
But if you look at their FCC filing's grant, it shows:
And the test report from the filing shows(on page 9):
Not clear to me where/how the discrepancy between the 1.05W tested vs the 1.08W in the grant. Maybe there's an automatic buffer added by the FCC or something?
So are these FCC filing documents a valid way to determine the real transmit power and validate my doubt that the marketed 2W is simply false?
I know transmit power doesn't correspond directly to range, but short of someone doing a rigorous and well-documented field test to compare units (like where the received signal strength is actually measured), it seems to be the best proxy.
Thanks
I am trying to find FRS radios that have the most actual transmit power within the limits (0.5/2W depending on channel). There is an old thread asking a similar question with a couple of recommendations here:
Seems like the bigger names like Motorola and Midland do not market or publish the transmit power, but the brands like Baofeng and Retevis do advertise it, but I was curious if the advertisements are honest.
So one has to go and look at their FCC filings perhaps, but my main questions regarding this are:
1) Is looking at the FCC filings a reasonable way to determine the actual transmit power of an FRS unit without measuring it myself? (more on this below)
2) Is it actually practical to measure the transmit power myself since the antennas are not detachable? Can't attach an SWR/Watt meter to any SMA connector. Don't want to open the units up. Is there another way without a whole lab?
So take the Retevis RT22 for example. Their own web site claims:
Power 2W/0.5W
But if you look at their FCC filing's grant, it shows:
Frequency Range | Power Output | Rule Parts |
462.5625-462.725 MHz | 1.08 Watts | 95B |
And the test report from the filing shows(on page 9):
Indicated Frequency (MHz) | Test Antenna Polarity | ERP (W) |
462.6375 | V | 1.05 |
So are these FCC filing documents a valid way to determine the real transmit power and validate my doubt that the marketed 2W is simply false?
I know transmit power doesn't correspond directly to range, but short of someone doing a rigorous and well-documented field test to compare units (like where the received signal strength is actually measured), it seems to be the best proxy.
Thanks