FRS vs GMRS vs 900 mhz radios ( performance)

[rapidcharger]

I know of a 5 story hotel using DTRs.

Yes that is true. I want to know the distance on these types of radios?? Will they perform as far in a general suburban area from vehicle to vehicle about 1 mile?? Meaning, will they compare distance wise to a 5 watt VHF business banded radio???

If it's clear and flat with no obstructions your range will be about the same. But if you've got hills and trees as you often encounter on the highway, then VHF would improve your odds of a good contact. DTR radios are more for on site use in buildings and campuses, not for long range.

 

[N4KVE]

Years ago I tried this from car to car. 2 900 MTS2000's got barely 3/4 of a mile, while 2 UHF MTS2000's got over a mile on the open road. VHF worked even better. GARY

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I've never played on simplex with 900. All my stuff is 12W GTX mobiles with external antennas.

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[johnls7424]

Thanks guys for your input. I got blackbox bantam vhfs. Just looking for a digital radio. License free is even easier in that aspect. Just wanted to know what they can perform besides on-site radio communications.

 

[techguru]

Ya, sounds like the OP needs to just get some cell phone service that has the PTT feature, is that even still around with Nextel gone?

 

[legacyfarms]

Can it be done?

Im trying to get some mobile radios that will reach 10-15 miles(around the family farms). Ive been told there is a repeater about 3-4 miles from me. Would a 50 watt GMRS radio work? Im very new and dont have a clue.

 

[techguru]

Im trying to get some mobile radios that will reach 10-15 miles(around the family farms). Ive been told there is a repeater about 3-4 miles from me. Would a 50 watt GMRS radio work? Im very new and dont have a clue.

I'd start out with trying license free 2 watt MURS radios until we see where GMRS goes in the future.

You could also just use 4watt CB's.

 

[CaptDan]

Im trying to get some mobile radios that will reach 10-15 miles(around the family farms). Ive been told there is a repeater about 3-4 miles from me. Would a 50 watt GMRS radio work? Im very new and dont have a clue.

First - with regards to the repeater - you would require permission to use someone else's repeater ona regular basis.

Second - in a word - yes a 50 GMRS radio should cover your 10 - 15 miles around the farms. If you want better coverage you might consider your own centrally located repeater - depending upon terrain etc you might be able to cover that 15 mile area with hand held units transmitting to a centrally located repeater.

I would not be afraid of investing in GMRS equipment at this point - we can spend our entire lives waiting because something might happen - additionally - I believe most GMRS equipment can also operate on the business band so if something was to happen that significantly changed the GMRS - I would just apply for a business license for the farm. Same equipment - different frequency.

Dan

my computer = my opinion

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Real GMRS radios will all be part 90/95a compliant. As far as legal gear goes, if narrow banding were to get instituted on gmrs, a lot of equipment wouldn't make it. That is one thing to consider when buying equipment. If you have wide band only part 95a stuff and something happened you'd have to get new equipment to go to business or a narrow banned gmrs.

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[Logan005]

Im trying to get some mobile radios that will reach 10-15 miles(around the family farms). Ive been told there is a repeater about 3-4 miles from me. Would a 50 watt GMRS radio work? Im very new and dont have a clue.

If the repeater is only 3-4 miles, assuming the repeater has good sensitivity and an antenna above the average treeline a handheld at just 2watts should work. no need to put out anywhere near 50 watts.
Your antenna height and the height of the said repeater antenna are much more important than power in watts. I would refrain from transmitting any more power than is needed for said communication. you may be very surprised to find that less than a watt my trigger the repeater.

 

[N4KVE]

Real GMRS radios will all be part 90/95a compliant. As far as legal gear goes, if narrow banding were to get instituted on gmrs, a lot of equipment wouldn't make it. That is one thing to consider when buying equipment. If you have wide band only part 95a stuff and something happened you'd have to get new equipment to go to business or a narrow banned gmrs.

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Realistically, if GMRS went narrow band on Jan 1, how many people would throw their perfectly good wide band radios in the trash, & purchase newer narrow band equipment? Not many.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

Realistically, if GMRS went narrow band on Jan 1, how many people would throw their perfectly good wide band radios in the trash, & purchase newer narrow band equipment? Not many.

Same could be said about wide band only part 90 stuff on GMRS…


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[techguru]

I'd start out with trying license free 2 watt MURS radios until we see where GMRS goes in the future.

You could also just use 4watt CB's.

I forgot to mention if you try MURS use one of the two wide band freqs in wide band mode. WFM goes further at the same wattage than NFM.

 

[johnls7424]

GMRS radios are nice. I mean if you live in rural areas chances are you are not going to get much interference. I personally would go with a VHF radio. However most that perform 5 watts of power or more will require a FCC license. I have heard of people plugging in MURS radio frequencies and still operate with 5 watts of power on their two ways, but this is illegal according to the FCC guidelines for MURS frequencies. So, like others said try GMRS radio's that actually perform with 2 watts. Some i've seen do perform with 5 watts ( or so they advertise)

 

[Project25_MASTR]

GMRS radios are nice. I mean if you live in rural areas chances are you are not going to get much interference. I personally would go with a VHF radio. However most that perform 5 watts of power or more will require a FCC license. I have heard of people plugging in MURS radio frequencies and still operate with 5 watts of power on their two ways, but this is illegal according to the FCC guidelines for MURS frequencies. So, like others said try GMRS radio's that actually perform with 2 watts. Some i've seen do perform with 5 watts ( or so they advertise)

When someone says a UHF HT runs 5W what they really mean is that the VHF version of that HT runs 5W. I've yet to see a UHF HT run at anything more than 4W.

 

[johnls7424]

5 watts VHF would probably be best suited for him. VHF doesn't penetrate well through houses/trees. UHF for sure is better. You will get farther distance ( with alot of static) with a analog UHF radio at 4 watts as opposed to VHF 5 watts. I have blackbox bantam 5 watt VHF radios with a large rubber ducky antenna. In the suburbs I get about 1 mile coverage radius. With a 4 watt UHF I get about 1 1/2 mile coverage. Havent tried the 900 mhz bands. Probably will perform about the same as a UHF 4 watt radio. Considering the Motorola DTR radios are only 1 watt digital. Which equates to 4 analog watts of coverage/power.

 

[K5MPH]

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To my understanding MURS radios do not have the distance capabilities that I am looking for.

If you take a 2 watt murs radio and connect it to a out side antenna you get over 2 mile range very easy It could be a mobile are base antenna eather way.......

 

[michy]

One experience I had with the DTR650s was battery life lasted way longer than my HT1250 radios (with new batteries in all of them).

 

[johnls7424]

The consensus I get is that Motorola DTR's, mainly the 550's and 650's perform quite well. Even distance wise.

 

[michy]

I have lots of HT1250's.. (UHF / 4w), and in my tests, the DTR650s perform as good as (perhaps better).

That test was me in an building downtown, with my friend on the skytrain heading away from me.

One feature we loved with the DTR's also, was the confirmation that the other radio was in range. You can do similar with HT's, but its not the same.