FRS or GMRS?

[xerb1962]

Does anyone have any real world experience with these handhelds?
I need a couple for some outdoor work that will have the users no more than 5 miles apart, outdoors.
I have seen them as low as 20 dollars NEW! and am awful suspicious.
We are willing to pay for a good quality pair of new radio's but I would like to hear from somebody who has actually used them in a work enviroment.

 

[N_Jay]

Does anyone have any real world experience with these handhelds?
I need a couple for some outdoor work that will have the users no more than 5 miles apart, outdoors.
I have seen them as low as 20 dollars NEW! and am awful suspicious.
We are willing to pay for a good quality pair of new radio's but I would like to hear from somebody who has actually used them in a work enviroment.

5 miles is VERY far for simplex.

Most of the cheap ones will get you 1/2 to 1/2 a mile reliable and a mile in good conditions.

Better ones get you a tad more, but nut much.

 

[stiffnecked]

I've got 6 of them. We use them in our operations in Alaska each summer. On the average
we are getting about 5 to 6 miles of coverage. I like them.

 

[NeFire242]

What brand / model are you using to get 5 - 6 mile range?

GMRS would be a better option as it would give you the ability to use more power.

 

[xxxsandman]

Don't forget GMRS requires each user be licensed or each family.

Also neigther is for business use, although there seems to a lot of business chatter on them. FRS/GMRS radios seem to be the poor/small construction companies radio or choice now days.

 

[mshadwick]

Icom makes a really good frs/gmrs radio. IC-F21GM Not really any bells and whistles, but a good solid radio. I have had a pair of them for a couple of years. As for 5 miles?? I dont think you are going to accomplish that with a couple of simplex handhelds.


http://www.icomamerica.com/products/frs/f21gm/

 

[n5bew1]

You might do a little better with a VHF no license MURS 154.600 etc but it will shared with a lotta people.

 

[KD5WLX]

FRS power limitations are going to limit you to about 1/2 mile +/- due to line of sight and local noise. They might work better in Alaska if one op is on a hill, and due the generally quiet RF environment. In town, you'll get considerably less that 1/2 mile.

GMRS requires a license, and while it ups your power, it doesn't get you a better antenna or height (key to line-of-sight comms).

If you're not doing business on them, Amateur radio would do you much better, but don't even think about getting on them without a license (cheap - as in free, + $14 to take the test) and don't use them for "commercial" stuff. Hunters is fine, hunter guides is a no-no on the ham bands. But for range, I have an HT that can talk to Stillwater and Fayetteville, AR simultaneously (on the right freq, and with the repeaters (5 to be exact, although the whole system has 15) to help.

 

[xerb1962]

Thanks to everyone for the replys. I knew some of the info you all have provided and was really just looking into someone who had actually used the radios and what they thought of them. We will probably look into the Icoms mentioned above.

As far as amateur is concerned...Why on earth would anyone want anything to do with that? All I ever hear on those bands is a bunch of people talking about their Brucitus and what their doctor said in yesterdays appointment

 

[mam1081]

As far as amateur is concerned...Why on earth would anyone want anything to do with that? All I ever hear on those bands is a bunch of people talking about their Brucitus and what their doctor said in yesterdays appointment

Ya just might be listening to the wrong repeater!

Since you're in Guthrie, I know of one that is within listening range that might have a little more interesting topics usually discussed on it, but I think you should try to find the freq yourself!

 

[xerb1962]

No need, it is about 800ft away from the desk where I am sitting!

 

[mam1081]

No need, it is about 800ft away from the desk where I am sitting!

Hmm. Which one are you referring to? I don't think we're talking about the same one...

 

[xerb1962]

South Logan Co.