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two hand held with real 5 mile range
- Thread starter Nube2
- Start date
The chief factor limiting radio communication isn't the radios, it's the obstructions between the radios. I'm talking about anything that gets in the way between the two radios. Buildings and trees degrade the signal, terrain blocks it completely.
To have reliable communication between two GMRS handhelds at 5 miles range, your radios would have to be almost 17 feet above ground just to clear the Earth's curvature (assuming smooth earth). My GM-30 can be depended upon to work at about two miles range to another HT, but it easily makes contact through a repeater on a tall building 15 miles away.
To have reliable communication between two GMRS handhelds at 5 miles range, your radios would have to be almost 17 feet above ground just to clear the Earth's curvature (assuming smooth earth). My GM-30 can be depended upon to work at about two miles range to another HT, but it easily makes contact through a repeater on a tall building 15 miles away.
^^^ What @k7xta said.
Could you consider two 25 watt base units with outside antennas on a mast? Reliable comms is still not guaranteed due to obstructions along the RF path.
You don’t show your general location but as mentioned above, a common repeater could possibly give you reliable comms with two HTs. Do you know how to look for repeaters in your area?
Could you consider two 25 watt base units with outside antennas on a mast? Reliable comms is still not guaranteed due to obstructions along the RF path.
You don’t show your general location but as mentioned above, a common repeater could possibly give you reliable comms with two HTs. Do you know how to look for repeaters in your area?
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
This is where LOCAL repeaters (not linked) may be necessary to get solid reliable on street (meaning OUTDOOR) portable coverage. When one starts operating INDOORS, coverage can be severely impacted depending on building construction.
Here you go...
rapidradios.com
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MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
They are just PTToC. You know you get exactly the same functionality with apps like Zello, combined with a PTT Bluetooth RSM paired to a phone, there is absolutely no difference except Zello is free.
I know but I dont have to pair any thing etc. the radios work right out of the box.
To each his own. No big deal LOL I like them and they work for me.
Just my rant Steve
To each his own. No big deal LOL I like them and they work for me.
Just my rant Steve
As steve9570 notes about the performance, I am figuring the external antenna helps on TX and RX over a cellphone. Perhaps the walkie PTToC offers more TX power as well, but that’s a guess. There‘s also battery life to consider of a single task device.
Traditional radio options didn’t work for a friend for various reasons, so he opted for PTToC for his staff, plus the overall cost was amiable. He owns amateur and commercial repeaters, licenses, etc. and still opted for PTToC for his medical staff.
Still, for many, using Zello and a paired BT mic is probably the best and very low cost solution as MTS2000des points out.
Traditional radio options didn’t work for a friend for various reasons, so he opted for PTToC for his staff, plus the overall cost was amiable. He owns amateur and commercial repeaters, licenses, etc. and still opted for PTToC for his medical staff.
Still, for many, using Zello and a paired BT mic is probably the best and very low cost solution as MTS2000des points out.
What ever is right for you. I did not mind the cost of the radios up front. and I got to speaker Mics for under $30 bucks. For me when I am in Denver and want to talk to my wife with out my cell it works for me. And I live in Mass.
@steve9570 - Which speakers mics are you using? What kind of battery life are you getting?
Sorry for the late reply I bought the Rapid Radio Mics that go with the radios.
They seem to run 4-5 day before having to use the drop in chargers I got with them.
I have had hundreds of radios over the years and had many Nextels and the Rapid Radios work just as well as they did. Used them 3,000 miles apart with no issues.
They seem to run 4-5 day before having to use the drop in chargers I got with them.
I have had hundreds of radios over the years and had many Nextels and the Rapid Radios work just as well as they did. Used them 3,000 miles apart with no issues.
surfacemount
Member
The things you list aren't 'radios' so much as cell phones with subscriber units configured to look like a radio. They won't work without towers, switches and other computers, and a whole litany of other infrastructure.
A radio works without anything in between the units. That's the beauty of them, and why they still exist a hundred or so years later.
Entire militaries with commensurate budgets have been trying to crack this nut without success. You either need radios with large footprints and power requirements OR something in the middle.
The only way to do this while on the move in unfavorable terrain without a satellite, cell phone tower, or previously laid retrans/repeater/mesh is a manpack sized radio. Maybe.
Bottom line here is there are no hand held radios that will give 5mi range in a mixed suburban environment without any infrastructure. Everyone wants it, nobody has it.
It's not just "according to the video". It's right on the website, but you have to dig around to find it. This is on the page describing the radios:
- NO Licenses - Includes SIM card with 1 year of service per radio. Renew for another year for $50/year (no subscriptions/contracts/monthly fees).
Gmrsrancher
Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2024
- Messages
- 9
I beg to differ with the range stated here with gmrs hand helds. While I totally agree it has very little to do with brand, make, model, price ext. a 5w hand held with line of sight and a decent antenna can easily do 50plus miles. I do it each and every day simplex and into repeaters.
Line of sight, sure. Otherwise two handheld radios at 5ft off the ground in a flat urban or suburban environment, no. I’ve been trying that for 40yrs and it just doesn’t work.
No. You are absolutely not doing 50+ miles simplex between two handheld GMRS radios.
