Motorola Talkabout and Baofeng UV5Ra questions.

[HBARleatherneck]

Ok, This question could go in the survival forum or the help forum. I come to you since most of the radio discussions are here.

We use the cheap motorola talkabout radios for ranch work etc. For example one of our goats got out of her jumped out of her pen and was through two 4strand barbed wire fences and a mile down the road in about 2 minutes. We jumped on the four wheelers and started after her. Unfortunately our radios were dead. So, it wasnt as easy to communicate as it normally is. These old motorola T5000 will easily get us 5 miles range out here.

Down to the question. We need new batteries for the talkabout radios. An aftermarket set will cost us with shipping about $30. mixed reviews on quality of batteries.
We have two Baofeng radios now and a 5 pack is only $100ish dollars. these have the lithium batteries and should be much better.

Have any of you programmed the FRS frequencies into the Baofeng? I know it can be done, but we havent taken out Ham test yet so we cant use them in non FRS frequencies.

Anyone have any information on how to do it? Help? Advice?

Or should we just buy new Motorola talkabout style radios and forget it?

here is a Baofeng set. will this work for frs? and we live in wide open country with no interference. would it work for a few miles?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846


I was thinking about getting this motorola set as it will let us leave one with the kids
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MT352TPR-FRS-Weatherproof-Two-Way/dp/B007UKVO3U/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&srs=2529943011&ie=UTF8&qi d=1389804173&sr=1-5&keywords=motorola+talkabout

[rbeau30]

Yes you can, but frs maximum power is .5 watt and I think the low setting on the baofeng is 2.5 with the high setting being 5 watt... If you use the Baofeng for GMRS frequencies you need a license, and technically you cannot use the baofeng for GMRS because it accomodates a removable antenna.

Others can correct me if I am wrong please.

EDIT:
http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/fami...io-service-frs
It says an FRS device must be manufactured to be so, and marked as an FRS device.

[HBARleatherneck]

what about the ones in my link towards the bottom? it sounds like they are more of the walkie talkie style not Amateur radio kind. But, Im not sure. The reviewers made it sound like they use them for business and pleasure.






on a different note

Will my Baofeng UV5Ra with stock antenna and battery even hit a repeater nearly 26 miles away? I cant pick up any traffic on it at all.

[rbeau30]

what about the ones in my link towards the bottom? it sounds like they are more of the walkie talkie style not Amateur radio kind. But, Im not sure. The reviewers made it sound like they use them for business and pleasure.






on a different note

Will my Baofeng UV5Ra with stock antenna and battery even hit a repeater nearly 26 miles away? I can pick up any traffic on it at all.

I can hit the Squaw Mountain repeater with my baofeng from my house is east Aurora.

[HBARleatherneck]

maybe I listen at the wrong times.

[rbeau30]

However that is not on a GMRS or FRS freq. FRS should have a range of about 1 mile due to the limitations on power. GMRS power limitations allow a little farther, there is a GMRS repeater nearby that I listen to, but I cannot get the tone right to be able to talk to the guys I am hearing.




Yeah, so if you want to be good with the letter of the law, technically you CAN use the baofeng to transmit and receive at the frequencies, HOWEVER, remember it IS a chinese item, and they don't care about our FCC regulations, and technically it is a Part 90 (I think) radio which means it is technically governed under Land Mobile Radios, and TECHNICALLY not even an amateur radio device either. But hey ahh well. For example, my radio in my car can listen to the GMRS/FRS/MURS and some other bands, BUT the bands are blocked from transmitting because my radio does not meet the requirements for those bands. You can unlock it with some desoldering but technically that is illegal as well.

But hey, this is a preparedness section, and I like that I have a small and cheap radio (so I can buy extras) so if just in case stuff hit the fan, I would have the ability to contact people, and know what is going on. If stuff hit the fan I don't think FCC rules would apply as much. Also the other half is stubborn about studying for her ticket, so I got a GMRS license so she could talk to me on the GMRS freqs as the license extends to immediate family. The range is not all that good, but it is a good way for her to practice.

[zteknik]

I have a set of talkabouts and they can accommodate 3or 4 double A batteries. So I'm thinking maybe one can get the rechargeable A's and still be able to charge them in their charging stand.
Probably a lot cheaper than the battery packs..

[gnihcraes]

on a different note

Will my Baofeng UV5Ra with stock antenna and battery even hit a repeater nearly 26 miles away? I cant pick up any traffic on it at all.

Possibly, just depends on the line of sight to the repeater and quality of the antenna. use the radio with a magnetic mount antenna on a car/atv and you might be able to bring up the repeater on 2.5 watts.

I can bring up the pikes peak repeater from my porch on some days with a rubber duck antenna - 5 watt handheld. Probably 100 miles line of sight?

[roberth]

Thanks for posting this thread and the responses. Very helpful, I don't have anything to add and I'm still researching.

[Irving]

Hbar, try programming in 145.145 there is traffic on that one all the time.