Comms: Need to Know what you Know

[SuperiorDG]

So I have been looking around for some radios to replace my Midland GXT1050VP4 36-Mile 50-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios. They have nowhere near the advertised range and want something stronger with more range. In the city I could not get more then a mile or two out of them. I've settled on a UHF system with either a 2 or 4 watt range.

I've been looking at three options:

Blackbox Bantam UHF 2-way Radio http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=AFAGM2K2OIRAD

Motorola On-Site RDU2020 2-Channel UHF Water-Resistant Two-Way Business Radio http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-RDU20...ref=pd_sim_e_3

Motorola On-Site RDU4100 10-Channel UHF Water-Resistant Two-Way Business Radio http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-RDU41...pd_sim_sbs_e_3

I like the rep that Motorola has but the price is high. Does anyone know what kind of range any of these has? It would be nice to have about 5 to 10 mile range in the city.

Thanks for the help.

[cmailliard]

Not sure on how these work with the frequencies reserved for business use or how to apply. Never looked into it, but I am now.

You can consider MURS - FCC LINK and WIKIPEDIA LINK. These are limited to 2 Watts of power but you can increase range with an external antenna. Motorola makes a MURS Business Class Radio, the RDU2080. MURS are VHF frequencies in the 151 and 154 MHz area.

Given this is the S&P forum I am assuming this is the purpose you are looking to use these for? You can also consider the Baofeng UV-5R+ for this type of purpose. They are not Part 95 Certified by the FCC and you are not supposed to use them on FRS/GMRS/MURS frequencies, but pretty much everyone does. These are dual band VHF/UHF radios that are dirt cheap and work pretty well. Very easy to program. You still will not get the range you want, but that type of range in the city is pretty tough with low power radios with no access to a repeater.

[RCCrawler]

I've got a couple of these for racing.

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.ph...products_id=24

We give them to the remote pits to talk to the race car, they work real well, even better if you toss one of their long range antennas on them.

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.ph...&cPath=182_400

I've used them out in the desert and gotten good range, mileage may vary in the wooded mountains.

[cofi]

Given this is the S&P forum I am assuming this is the purpose you are looking to use these for? You can also consider the Baofeng UV-5R+ for this type of purpose. They are not Part 95 Certified by the FCC and you are not supposed to use them on FRS/GMRS/MURS frequencies, but pretty much everyone does. These are dual band VHF/UHF radios that are dirt cheap and work pretty well. Very easy to program. You still will not get the range you want, but that type of range in the city is pretty tough with low power radios with no access to a repeater.

the baofengs are the way to go 40 bucks shipped!

[rbeau30]

the baofengs are the way to go 40 bucks shipped!

I have two, and I want more to keep ready to go in some mylar for emp. It is also how I decided to get my HAM License. These little handhelds are awesome. The FIRST upgrade I would suggest is a 14" antenna for <10 bucks.

Then larger battery
Then battery case that you can put AA's in.
Then external mic.

[SuperiorDG]

Not sure on how these work with the frequencies reserved for business use or how to apply. Never looked into it, but I am now.

You can consider MURS - FCC LINK and WIKIPEDIA LINK. These are limited to 2 Watts of power but you can increase range with an external antenna. Motorola makes a MURS Business Class Radio, the RDU2080. MURS are VHF frequencies in the 151 and 154 MHz area.

Given this is the S&P forum I am assuming this is the purpose you are looking to use these for? You can also consider the Baofeng UV-5R+ for this type of purpose. They are not Part 95 Certified by the FCC and you are not supposed to use them on FRS/GMRS/MURS frequencies, but pretty much everyone does. These are dual band VHF/UHF radios that are dirt cheap and work pretty well. Very easy to program. You still will not get the range you want, but that type of range in the city is pretty tough with low power radios with no access to a repeater.

I have two, and I want more to keep ready to go in some mylar for emp. It is also how I decided to get my HAM License. These little handhelds are awesome. The FIRST upgrade I would suggest is a 14" antenna for <10 bucks.

Then larger battery
Then battery case that you can put AA's in.
Then external mic.

Thanks, ever heard of these. For that price I will have to give them a try.

[streetglideok]

So I have been looking around for some radios to replace my Midland GXT1050VP4 36-Mile 50-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radios. They have nowhere near the advertised range and want something stronger with more range. In the city I could not get more then a mile or two out of them. I've settled on a UHF system with either a 2 or 4 watt range.

I've been looking at three options:

Blackbox Bantam UHF 2-way Radio http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=AFAGM2K2OIRAD

Motorola On-Site RDU2020 2-Channel UHF Water-Resistant Two-Way Business Radio http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-RDU20...ref=pd_sim_e_3

Motorola On-Site RDU4100 10-Channel UHF Water-Resistant Two-Way Business Radio http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-RDU41...pd_sim_sbs_e_3

I like the rep that Motorola has but the price is high. Does anyone know what kind of range any of these has? It would be nice to have about 5 to 10 mile range in the city.

Thanks for the help.

More power, and better antenna will be the key players there, neither of which work in your favor with FRS radios. With VHF and UHF radios, you're limited mostly by line of sight. If terrain blocks your view of the other guy, you likely wont get to him without aid of a repeater. Same time, at higher elevation versus surrounding terrain, you can get out a lot further. From the top of pikes peak I had no problem getting out past Denver. Look into the radios suggested, and learn the frequency limits. If you wander onto ham radio frequencies without a license, you're likely to get tracked down and reported. FCC likes to start fines in the 10k range. If those options still limit you, then you may look into getting a ham license and gaining a lot more access to options.

[SuperiorDG]

More power, and better antenna will be the key players there, neither of which work in your favor with FRS radios. With VHF and UHF radios, you're limited mostly by line of sight. If terrain blocks your view of the other guy, you likely wont get to him without aid of a repeater. Same time, at higher elevation versus surrounding terrain, you can get out a lot further. From the top of pikes peak I had no problem getting out past Denver. Look into the radios suggested, and learn the frequency limits. If you wander onto ham radio frequencies without a license, you're likely to get tracked down and reported. FCC likes to start fines in the 10k range. If those options still limit you, then you may look into getting a ham license and gaining a lot more access to options.

Sounds like a good idea. I'll do some research. Thanks

[streetglideok]

I should add, that if you choose that path, it can lead to more toys. Just picked up my new radio, that I'm deciphering the owners manual on as we speak.

[cofi]

I have two, and I want more to keep ready to go in some mylar for emp. It is also how I decided to get my HAM License. These little handhelds are awesome. The FIRST upgrade I would suggest is a 14" antenna for <10 bucks.

Then larger battery
Then battery case that you can put AA's in.
Then external mic.

mylar works as a faraday cage??