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Better FRS Antennas?
- Thread starter KK6HRW
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Hit_Factor
Member
It's easy to outgrow FRS, especially when you know something about radio.
Get your GMRS license, it covers a good size family. The you can use all the better antennas (attached to better radios) you want.
Get your GMRS license, it covers a good size family. The you can use all the better antennas (attached to better radios) you want.
nd5y
Member
I have never seen one with anything but a helical antenna.
If you are shopping for FRS radios look up the FCC ID and see what the actual power output is. Some are way less than the 2 W (462 MHz)/0.5 W (467 MHz) limits. Some are even less than 0.5 W on all channels.
If you are shopping for FRS radios look up the FCC ID and see what the actual power output is. Some are way less than the 2 W (462 MHz)/0.5 W (467 MHz) limits. Some are even less than 0.5 W on all channels.
I have the license, just curious as to why some manufacturer doesn’t do a better job with FRS by offering a full two (2) watts of power into a really good antenna.
Because the people that purchase FRS radios want them small and easy to carry. They are mostly not radio people and want them small even if effects how they preform.
Hit_Factor
Member
It boils down to market study results, economics of production, and staying within the bounds of FCC regulations.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
A long time back (20 years?) Icom made a nice FRS radio that came in two models. One had the stubby antenna, and seemed to be the most popular. They had a second model with a full 1/4 wave flexible antenna.
I don't recall the model number, and I'm sure they are not in production anymore.
I haven't seen anything like it since. The stubby antenna radios seem to be popular with the great unwashed masses.
I don't recall the model number, and I'm sure they are not in production anymore.
I haven't seen anything like it since. The stubby antenna radios seem to be popular with the great unwashed masses.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Radio Shack at one time sold a "mobile" FRS radio. It was basically a magmount base containing all the radio electronics plus a 1/4 wave antenna, and combined cables that went to a handheld controller and cigarette lighter connector (from the 2002 catalog):
Would a ‘telescoping’ antenna help keep the popular “form factor” that these radios are known for and still improve performance?
I had one of these “Mobile FRS” units and it was a great radio (the receiver was especially sensitive). It lived on top of my Land Rover for about 10 years until the sun finally destroyed the external wiring cable.
Radio Shack discontinued production, and I always suspected that the FCC had ‘slapped their hand’ for cleverly getting around the “permanently attached“ rule to enable rooftop mounting of the antenna.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Probably. But consumers don't like that sort of stuff. FCC rules are pretty clear about what you can and cannot do with the antennas on these. ERP is limited to 1/2 watt or 2 watts, depending on the channel (§95.567). Antenna cannot have more gain than a half wave dipole (§95.587)
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Unlikely. The FCC would have granted the type acceptance for that, so they were well aware of it. It met all the FCC rules, and was perfectly legal.
Like I've said earlier, consumers are more interested in small/cute radios than something that actually works. Antenna size is a big factor in the consumer world, even for many hobbyists. Just search though this site for the number of people that want:
No external antennas on their car, but want to hear lots of radio traffic.
CB'ers that don't want some "huge antenna on their car", but want it to work well.
Hams that are afraid to install an external antenna.
No, these radios failed not because they didn't work or because the FCC didn't like them. They failed because most consumer have no understanding of how radios work and how important antenna are.
n1das
Member
Check out the Retevis RB17 FRS radio. I have a few of these. They work excellent and appear to be based on a commercial radio design and not something designed to be another consumer grade FRS bubble pack. Tx power according to the FCC Grant is 1.8W. The 1.8W is to stay under the FRS legal limit and account for measurement uncertainty and unit to unit variation. The battery life on a charge is VERY long due to the 4400mAh battery and is USB-C chargeable.
Retevis RB17 FRS radio
https://www.amazon.com/Retevis-4400mAh-Battery-Rechargeable-Shipping/dp/B084ZH7YT2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=retevis+rb17&qid=1600633633&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExTDBSOVRBQ1k2TFJBJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDY5NjE4S1Q3QVUwR0gwRVBBJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3MjcyOTAxNDUzMFlQ...
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n1das
Member
What Hit_Factor said.
I have been GMRS licensed since 1992 and have been using good quality Part 90/95 commercial gear. My GMRS callsign (KAE9013) predates the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS). The callsign resembles an old CB callsign since GMRS was previously known as Class A Citizens Band.
The only reason a I keep a few FRS radios around is for playing radio with my young nephews when they come to visit. They DO NOT get to play with my good radios.
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FRS regulations require a "unity gain" (no gain) antenna. So it's doubtful you'll you'll encounter anything high performance.
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