Experiments with GMRS

[adric22]

I got into radios a few months ago. I was trying to put together "emergency bags" for our two cars and I wanted some kind of backup communications device.

Originally I purchased some GMRS bubble-pack radios that claimed 20 miles. I was sorely disappointing when I found out I could only get about half a mile.

So I went back and spent even more money and bought some "36-mile" GMRS radios by motorola that also claim to support repeaters. Again, I was disappointed because the range was no better and I was not able to hit any of the repeaters in the area unless I drove within a mile or so of the tower.

So I decided to go back and buy some Midland hand-held CB radios. Again, sorely disappointing. The range was actually worse than the bubble-pack radios. So I bought telescoping antennas off of eBay that claimed to double the range of the handheld CBs... but there was no difference.

So the next thing I did was bought two Feidaxin FD-450a UHF radios off of eBay for about $100 for the pair. I programmed them with the 16 GMRS stations and I've been quite amazed. So far I've gotten 2.5 miles. I haven't tried going further yet, so I may be able to get even more than that. But that is 5 times further than I've been able to get with any other type of radio.

So I applied for and paid for my GMRS license today since it looks like I'll be using these as GMRS radios. I'm also studying to get a HAM license so I can use the other frequencies on my radio. However, between me and the family it will have to be GMRS because I do not believe my wife or daughter would ever be able to pass the HAM test. There is way too much technical stuff to know. Fortunately GMRS does not require a test.

So the lesson learned is that if you are serious about GMRS and want decent range, the FD-450a radios are cheaper than some of the bubble pack radios but have tremendously more range.

 

[SteveC0625]

Realistically, with any of the bubble pack or other handheld GMRS radios, 2+ miles is the best you can get. The advertising on the packages is a lot misleading (there are other threads here already about this) unless you are communicating handheld to mobile or handheld to repeater or mobile to repeater.

A half mile on the FRS side with 0.5 watt is pretty reasonable. The 2 watt bubble pack GMRS radios should do at least double that or further depending on terrain.

If you really want to do it right, get some 5 watt portables certified for Part 95. They should be good for several miles reliably or further on the GMRS channels.

 

[SCPD]

I got into radios a few months ago. I was trying to put together "emergency bags" for our two cars and I wanted some kind of backup communications device.

Originally I purchased some GMRS bubble-pack radios that claimed 20 miles. I was sorely disappointing when I found out I could only get about half a mile.

So I went back and spent even more money and bought some "36-mile" GMRS radios by motorola that also claim to support repeaters. Again, I was disappointed because the range was no better and I was not able to hit any of the repeaters in the area unless I drove within a mile or so of the tower.

So I decided to go back and buy some Midland hand-held CB radios. Again, sorely disappointing. The range was actually worse than the bubble-pack radios. So I bought telescoping antennas off of eBay that claimed to double the range of the handheld CBs... but there was no difference.

So the next thing I did was bought two Feidaxin FD-450a UHF radios off of eBay for about $100 for the pair. I programmed them with the 16 GMRS stations and I've been quite amazed. So far I've gotten 2.5 miles. I haven't tried going further yet, so I may be able to get even more than that. But that is 5 times further than I've been able to get with any other type of radio.

So I applied for and paid for my GMRS license today since it looks like I'll be using these as GMRS radios. I'm also studying to get a HAM license so I can use the other frequencies on my radio. However, between me and the family it will have to be GMRS because I do not believe my wife or daughter would ever be able to pass the HAM test. There is way too much technical stuff to know. Fortunately GMRS does not require a test.

So the lesson learned is that if you are serious about GMRS and want decent range, the FD-450a radios are cheaper than some of the bubble pack radios but have tremendously more range.

Feidaxin FD-450a UHF radios not FCC part 95 certified for GMRS or anything else either I believe.

 

[hhrj]

Feidaxin FD-450a UHF radios not FCC part 95 certified for GMRS or anything else either I believe.

I was going to bring this up earlier this morning but decided to see how long before someone else did.
When he gets one in hand and enters the FCC ID # in the database then he will know.
The FCC really raped people on this one.
Read my thread " Is a Motorola HT1000 certified for GMRS?"

Good Luck