What's considered a "GOOD" FRS radio?

[mmckenna]

Who cares, it's short distance with portables, what, maybe a couple miles? That's radio Karen stuff. "They" don't have the manpower or inclination to care either. SMH

I get it.
The issue with that attitude is that it doesn't take all the reasons behind type acceptance into account. Too many assume that the FCC is just there to hassle people. It would benefit many to understand why the FCC requires type acceptance, and why following the rules benefits the hobby/radio service.

No, the FCC does not have the staff to enforce all this. But for those of us that like having radio services like GMRS, MURS, etc, helping keep what we have functioning properly is important. Might not be important to you, but it is to many of us.

 

[K6GBW]

To me the biggest problem with the Baofengs is the spurious emmisions. The spikes on other frequencies can cause repeaters some havoc. It's kind of like being a backpacker and leaving your trash behind. Just not nice. The Baofengs that do well on tests are fine. I agree the FCC messed up when mixing GMRS and FRS. The two never should have been placed on the same frequencies. But, you can't unring a bell. I do hope that the FCC might expand MURS to about ten frequencies, all narrow band. That would open up a lot of useful, unlicensed radio spectrum.

 

[mmckenna]

To me the biggest problem with the Baofengs is the spurious emmisions. The spikes on other frequencies can cause repeaters some havoc. It's kind of like being a backpacker and leaving your trash behind. Just not nice. The Baofengs that do well on tests are fine.

That's part of it. Not to mention the crappy audio. I put one on my service monitor a few years back and it was about 450Hz off frequency, which is well outside the spec for any reputable radio, and made it sound even crappier than usual. Another I tested was over deviating, and another seemed really quiet.

My issue with the CCR's is that they can be a powerful tool that falls into the hands of those that don't understand how to responsibly use it. Kind of like CB's back in the 70's with "extra channels" and everyone assuming they needed a linear to talk to their friend 4 miles away. It just lead to the RF cesspool that CB became.

I agree the FCC messed up when mixing GMRS and FRS. The two never should have been placed on the same frequencies. But, you can't unring a bell. I do hope that the FCC might expand MURS to about ten frequencies, all narrow band. That would open up a lot of useful, unlicensed radio spectrum.

MURS was another one where the FCC let it get out of control and just gave up. It used to be that those were part 90 frequencies and getting suitable radios required working with a shop that knew what they were doing. Then the market got flooded with the low tier Motorola stuff that was sold in every Home Depot back in the 1990's. Anyone could go in and buy a radio. Users were supposed to apply for a license, but no one did. It got out of control with too many users on some channels and no one was bothering with the license or rules.

Probably a few other VHF itinerants that are worthy of being dumped into the MURS pool. And I was always a bit surprised that the FCC hasn't done the same with the UHF itinerants.

 

[K6GBW]

Well, with the advent of "business" radios that put out a meer 2 watts and have 89 channel pre-programmed they might as well have. I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of businesses buy the radios, put them on some randomly selected frequencies and off they go. Licensing and coordination doesn't even enter their thought process. If they went to license by rule on those I doubt anyone would even notice.

 

[kny2xb]

Sure would be nice if Icom would jump back into offering GMRS handhelds in the U.S. again. Heck, maybe even add a small mobile rig. Think between that and MURS most folks would be all set.

I just posted this in another thread:

HERE'S what Icom needs to adapt/tweak for the US FRS/GMRS market
Icom's Australian UHF CB rigs:

Handheld -> https://www.icomjapan.com/lineup/products/IC-41PRO/

Mobiles -> https://www.icomjapan.com/lineup/products/IC-410PRO/ & https://www.icomjapan.com/lineup/products/IC-455/

 

[rf_patriot200]

Well, with the advent of "business" radios that put out a meer 2 watts and have 89 channel pre-programmed they might as well have. I'm willing to bet that the vast majority of businesses buy the radios, put them on some randomly selected frequencies and off they go. Licensing and coordination doesn't even enter their thought process. If they went to license by rule on those I doubt anyone would even notice.

You're absolutely right, until a grade school ends up transmitting on a Active Med channel, because that "school" didn't do their homework !

 

[bill4long]

MURS was another one where the FCC let it get out of control and just gave up. It used to be that those were part 90 frequencies and getting suitable radios required working with a shop that knew what they were doing. Then the market got flooded with the low tier Motorola stuff that was sold in every Home Depot back in the 1990's. Anyone could go in and buy a radio. Users were supposed to apply for a license, but no one did. It got out of control with too many users on some channels and no one was bothering with the license or rules.

Probably a few other VHF itinerants that are worthy of being dumped into the MURS pool. And I was always a bit surprised that the FCC hasn't done the same with the UHF itinerants.

True, but only really matters in large metro areas. I'm in north Indianapolis. MURS is quite under utilitized.

 

[VE7KND]

I have a need for one (single) FRS radio. I know Baofang's are considered cheap Chinese c-rap, and this Amazon link
Amazon.com : frs radio
shows a wide disparity in price. So I figured I'd ask the experts here, what is considered a "GOOD" FRS radio?

I understand I'm pretty late to the party but just wanted to comment that Rocky Talkies might be what you're looking for. I strictly buy yaesu handhelds for 2 Metres, and recently picked up a VX6R, which is ultra rugged, and I absolutely love it, but have owned Rockie Talkies in the past, and, although I wouldn't consider them in any way to be as durable as the VX6, I would say, for an FRS radio with a screen, they are quite possibly the top dog in this regard. They also come with a rechargeable li-ion battery pack, which literally lasts days, and has the option for an external mic. The company alos recently released GMRS waterproof radios, if that's any help. I, myself would lean toward the latter, cuz, 5-watts, but for the average Joe blow who doesn't give af about licensing, the 2-watters are going to get the job done *most* of the time.

I have a need for one (single) FRS radio. I know Baofang's are considered cheap Chinese c-rap, and this Amazon link
Amazon.com : frs radio
shows a wide disparity in price. So I figured I'd ask the experts here, what is considered a "GOOD" FRS radio?

 

[K6GBW]

Those Rocky Talkies look pretty decent, but the price...whew!

 

[Omega-TI]

Those Rocky Talkies look pretty decent, but the price...whew!

Yeah $110.00 for one is a little steep, even for me.

 

[KC3ECJ]

Has anybody tried the Cobra PX655?

 

[K6GBW]

I haven’t but they do look interesting. I see what appears to be the same radios listed as both PX650 & PX655. Still trying to see if there is a difference.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Has anybody tried the Cobra PX655?

I didn't even know Cobra made GMRS/FRS radios. Is that something new? Or maybe I just forgot they did, lol.

 

[K6GBW]

I saw it about a year ago, so it's fairly new. It's a bubble pack...but a better bubble pack than most.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Strictly FRS? Icom IC04008A. I have three of them. They held up rather well over the years.

 

[K6GBW]

I had one of those IC-4008's way back when. That was actually a really good radio. Small with a great antenna and easy controls. It also didn't look like a child's toy. Why do so many manufacturers have to make FRS radios look like the belong in a crib?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I had one of those IC-4008's way back when. That was actually a really good radio. Small with a great antenna and easy controls. It also didn't look like a child's toy. Why do so many manufacturers have to make FRS radios look like the belong in a crib?

And being a Japanese company, ICOM has some pretty good standards. The IC4008A is a true superheterodyne receiver, which means it will behave like an FM receiver with a limiter circuit and proper discriminator. The problem with China is that everything is about the price point, make as cheaply as possible. There is no effort to protect the brand. If Baofengs start exploding, they will just change the name and keep cranking them out.

 

[Omega-TI]

Strictly FRS? Icom IC04008A. I have three of them. They held up rather well over the years.

This is EXACTLY what I'd like. Sadly the only one I could currently find is used on Ebay << HERE >>. Because it's yellow it does look like it belongs in a crib and for $48.95 used and yellow, well... Now if it was black and no more than $35.00 with shipping included I'd have popped for it.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

This is EXACTLY what I'd like. Sadly the only one I could currently find is used on Ebay << HERE >>. Because it's yellow it does look like it belongs in a crib and for $48.95 used and yellow, well... Now if it was black and no more than $35.00 with shipping included I'd have popped for it.

They show up constantly on e-bay. You can usually get a pair for around $75. I would check every day and buy the best one you can find. These were about $75 each new back when they came out. I also bought some Panasonic cheapies at the time, (KX-TR-325?) about $15 used, They were pretty nice. However, those have rubber that entirely crumbled. The Panasonics are in my junk box. The ICOM's use better materials. The IC4008A's accept either AA alkalines or NICADs. I bought them because with Alkalines the batteries lasted a long time, 30 hours, with automatic battery save option.

The Yellow radio is in nice condition. Note the IP-67 gasket on the battery door.

 

[sempai]

i use scheduled searches on ebay to notify me when inexpensive UHF repeaters and some very specific computers and bags i am interested in show up. it's a lot less cluttered in those emails too.