Of the people who have 2-way radios, which one(s) do you recommend? At the local store I have the following options:

$50 Motorola 14-channel 2-mile range

$100 Motorola 22-channel 5-mile range with rechargeable batteries which can also use standard AA's.

$90 Cobra (plus $10 rebate - net cost = $80). 22-channel, 5-mile range. Rechargeable units. I don't believe they can use standard batteries.

Does anyone have any thing similar to the above? Are the 2-mile ones decent? Or are they pretty crappy and is the sound quality poor. The more expensive ones seem to have voice compression and some other stuff for greater clarity. Plus I would think the longer range would be more beneficial on the road since there are plenty of obstacles in the terrain.

My MAIN USE would be for MINI Meets like the one on Feb. 9th in Bear Mountain. But I might also use these when running to the supermarket when my wife is baking goodies (like black & white cookies OR white chocolate chunk brownies - yummy!) or even at the mall or beach.

Any suggestions???????????

Thanks in advance.

 

I have the $50.00 motorola ones and they work fine. Except if you go to Disney World and every tourist has one and you can't even talk because there's so many people talking at the same time on every channel. While driving and talking they work very well. And my kids love them to play with outside. The $100.00 are good also but I'm not so sure of the range. Same thing with the channels just have more to chose from.

 

The 22ch 5 mile radios requires a licence. The 2 mile radios do not.
I have been using a set of motorola talkabout radios for around 5 years and they are great for most things. The biggest problem is the range. This will be an issue if you are using them between cars on a trip. The biggest plus is the battery life we could get a weekend of constant use without needing new batts.

Things to look for:

A hands free kit with voice activation (a must when driving or if you are working on something)

Pl tones. this allows the radio channe; to become semi private. Only another radio with the same tone code will be able to talk to you.

Your mileage may vary

 

The difference between 2 mile and 5 mile range is FRS for 2 and GRMS for 5. The GRMS channels are in the same frequency range and really no difference bewtween the 2. The GRMS units are higher power.

If you want any type of scanner help, go to my cheesy page at:
Frequency Help from me "WorldWideWebb"

462.5625 FRS1
462.5875 FRS2
462.6125 FRS3
462.6375 FRS4
462.6625 FRS5
462.6875 FRS6
462.7125 FRS7
467.5625 FRS8
467.5875 FRS9
467.6125 FRS10
467.6375 FRS11
467.6625 FRS12
467.6875 FRS13
467.7125 FRS14

462.5500 GMRS1
462.5750 GMRS2
462.6000 GMRS3
462.6250 GMRS4
462.6500 GMRS5
462.6750 GMRS6
462.7000 GMRS7
462.7250 GMRS8
467.5500 GMRS1
467.5750 GMRS2
467.6000 GMRS3
467.6250 GMRS4
467.6500 GMRS5
467.6750 GMRS6
467.7000 GMRS7
467.7250 GMRS8

 

Hi GreatGro!

I picked up a pair of Motorola 6400TXs from CostCo for about $80. It was a package of 2 units plus belt clips and 2 recharges and 2 bases (which aren't very well designed, IMHO) This is the GMRS type. I've been happy with them. The TX feature gives you the weather broadcasts. Not totally necessary, but fun. The rechargeable feature I find to be important. I find I'm much more likely to use them if they are always charged and ready. Anyway, it's more features than I need, but I like it. :smile:

I love them for when I'm working in the basement and my wife is upstairs, or if one of us walk to town and the other is at home. Better than a cell phone for that type of thing.

One thing, however. These Motorolas and I believe the Cobras (not sure) use a 1 Watt broadcast in the GMRS range. There are others that broadcast the full allowable 2W signal for that band. That extra power could come in handy. Real world range at 1 watt is not close to 5 miles.

Good luck,
Wactuary

_________________
IB/W MCS 1,2,3,H/K
White Wheels and Bonnet Stripes
Built 1/27/03, moved to 190 as of 1/28
Setting Sail on the Falstaff 1/30!
<B>Monitoring 7-21</B>
and waiting very impatiently...

 

I personally don't like the FRS radios. I've used them in the past and the range isn't that great, depending on what you are doing. For MINI cruises I've found that GMRS radios work much much better...FRS radios are 2 miles - but that is 2 miles of perfectly clear flat land, not twisty hilly roads we love to cruise on.

Sure GMRS requires a license....but I have found that most people that use them don't bother with getting the license.

I'm not suggesting you do this, *legal blurb*, you do what you want, just letting you know what i see others doing pertaining to the license.

Even if you want the license it isn't a hard process to go through and the GMRS radios come with the forms usually or info on where you need to get the forms and what is involved.

 

>>I picked up a pair of Motorola 6400TXs from CostCo for about $80.
>>
>>I love them for when I'm working in the basement and my wife is upstairs, or if one of us walk to town and the other is at home. Better than a cell phone for that type of thing.
>>
>>One thing, however. Real world range at 1 watt is not close to 5 miles.
>>

Not that it really matters, but, based on wactuary's description I think I got the same set from Costco and they are T6400WXs.

I agree that they are great for when I'm downstairs/outside and she's upstairs/inside!

As for the "real world" range, I don't know if it is the wattage or if it is the level v. hilly terrain as daMatta mentioned. I only got a solid mile in extremely hilly terrain out of mine.

Here is a pretty extensive previous thread on the topic:

FRS Radios! A MUST for every MINI.

In that thread there are links to Motorola's website for some of the rebates they are offering. (I think it was $25 off for a T6400?)

Also, a while ago others were championing 7 sub 21 as the MINI channel!

 

it isn't the wattage or terrain that matters...it is the combination of both. The GMRS are higher wattage thus a longer range, thus in hilly terrain you can still get 1-2 miles out of them where as with the FRS you can barely get a half a mile in some terrain.

There are alot of neat features on some of the nicer GMRS radios...some have hands free, some have weather radio band which can come in handy, some have compasses, others have backlight displays.

 

>>There are alot of neat features on some of the nicer GMRS radios...some have hands free, some have weather radio band which can come in handy, some have compasses, others have backlight displays.


FYI: the T6400WXs have all those features except the compass - and then some. (clock, stopwatch, and some I'm sure I'm forgetting.) I think they are quite nice for the price.


BTW, I just remembered that the 1 mile range I spoke of earlier was between my Motorola and my brother's Cobra. And it was on 7 sub 21 (an FRS channel) Maybe the two Motorola's would have worked together better?

_________________
The SharkFin antenna is 2 fun! Click for info!


<a href=https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB_14&file= index&action=viewtopic&topic=2936><i mg src="https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...></a>

 

If you're smart enough to drive a mini, then you're smart enough to pass the technicians licence to get the entry level Ham Radio Licence. No morse code to worry about, easy study books available from Radio Shack, and various online sources. (My 10 year old daughter passed the test, it's not tough!)

Then you can pick up cheap 1-5 watt HT's, on 2 Meters (144MHz) or 70cm (440 Mhz) and not worry about range because you use high power repeaters. Essentially you can talk for miles and miles and not worry too much about range.

Details at
American Radio Relay League (ARRL)

just a shameless plus for Ham Radio ...

Fraser, W3UTD

 

>>Hi GreatGro!
>>
>>I picked up a pair of Motorola 6400TXs from CostCo for about $80.>>>>>>>>

THanks. This is where I saw them. They have the 3 types about at the Costco in UNion on Rt 22. Is that where you got yours? Or did you go to Route 10 Costco?

>>One thing, however. These Motorolas and I believe the Cobras (not sure) use a 1 Watt broadcast in the GMRS range. There are others that broadcast the full allowable 2W signal for that band. That extra power could come in handy. Real world range at 1 watt is not close to 5 miles.
>>


I BELIEVE (but am not sure) that the Cobras said 2W. If that's true, should I go for those?

 

>>>>There are alot of neat features on some of the nicer GMRS radios...some have hands free, some have weather radio band which can come in handy, some have compasses, others have backlight displays.
>>
>>
>>FYI: the T6400WXs have all those features except the compass - and then some. (clock, stopwatch, and some I'm sure I'm forgetting.) I think they are quite nice for the price.
>>


I believe the CObras MAY have all the above and they also DO have a compass!

 

Yes, I have the Cobra and 2 sets of FRS one by Kenwood and 1 by Motorola... got the Motorola set when I bought my wife new tires from Michelin thru TireRack 15 months ago for her Lexus RX300. The Cobra operate in 2watt mode like the top of the line Motorola and they have WX, stopwatch, handsfree, rechargeable, and compass. I have standardized on 7-21 and while I don't have my MCS yet. I haven't heard any MINI on this channel and I have called some. Have any of you had a MINI meeting with a stranger on 7-21. I think this is a great idea! I just hope people try it! 7-21 is a great choice because it is both a GMRS and FRS frequency, and it is easy to remember!

Let's all agree to get a set and turn them on when we see MINIs!


jc :smile:

 

>>The Cobra operate in 2watt mode like the top of the line Motorola and they have WX, stopwatch, handsfree, rechargeable, and compass. >>>>>>>>


I think I'm leaning towards the CObras.....

 

Greatgro technically that is the best choice... long term I am not as certain. The Motorolas are very very common, and in general have a higher perceived quality. I haven't had my Cobra long enough for a long term test. I bought it for the price factor for the features. So far it is more than adequate.

jc

 

>>The 22ch 5 mile radios requires a licence. The 2 mile radios do not.
>>I have been using a set of motorola talkabout radios for around 5 years and they are great for most things. The biggest problem is the range. This will be an issue if you are using them between cars on a trip. The biggest plus is the battery life we could get a weekend of constant use without needing new batts.
>>


Thanks a lot for all of the info. Question - do you need a license just to use the higher power ones, or only when using GMRS frequencies or only when using full 2-watt power????

THanks

 

Don't know, but if you don't broadcast at GMRS you don't need a liscense. You can receive all you want. It only is required in order to broadcast. Of course the whole point is to communicate... If you only want to listen get a scanner. :smile:

 

Actually you don't need the license to broadcast on channels 15 and up. So you can still use CH7 with the full power. the only bad thing is the battery drain.. Keep it on the lower power mode till you need it.
The cheaper ones work fine if you don't have them on the floor. Anything above 50MHZ is line of sight so you need to at least keep the radio on the dash or in the map pocket to work deciently.
Be sure to get the PTT push to talk lapel clip. I never use the VOX because the background noise will cut prople off.

I too am a HAM
KB5ZAU - General Class

Later players!


>>Don't know, but if you don't broadcast at GMRS you don't need a liscense. You can receive all you want. It only is required in order to broadcast. Of course the whole point is to communicate... If you only want to listen get a scanner. :smile:

 

I was at Costco on 22. (crashing a friends membership, but I'll probably join myself before too long)

Get GMRS capable radios no matter what. FRS are too limited and they are cheap enough that it's not that big a deal. If the Cobra goes to 2 watts and has the recharging stuff, I'd probably go with that. I saw that one at the store, and I don't remember why I chose against it. It could have been that it was lacking something important to me (recharging system), or just irrational Motorola brand recognition/bias. 2 is better than 1 and should extend your range about 40% since power propagates with the square of distance.

The Motorola T6400WX (thanks for correcting me, I was at work when posting) broadcasts at full power in all GMRS legal channels and at 1/2 power in only the FRS exclusive channels. So on channel 7 it is pushing 1 watt. I don't know how the Cobra operates. I'm not aware of any way of selecting a lower broadcast power except by choosing an FRS only channel.

For build quality, things are only getting cheaper and better, so I wouldn't worry too much. The Motorola seems like it will survive armagedeon, but who knows, and does it matter.

I'm still monitoring 7-21 and when I see a MINI I call out, but I'm driving an old SAAB myself, still. I don't always have my radio with me, but I expect to carry it more when I have my MINI. :smile:

GreatGro, maybe we will be the first random meeters on 7-21?!?

Wactuary

 

Bumping this one, as I am in the market for a pair of radios for tours. Things have changed of course in two years, and could use some recommendations.

 

I have a set of Motorola talkabouts that I got for 38.00. They are GMRS and came with re-chargeable batteries that can be replaced with AA cells. I tried them for range last week and I got 1.47 miles from a handset that claims 8 miles. They have VOX built in and can be fitted with a headset. They are model T5530

Happy hunting!

 

Going with a set of Midlands. We'll see how they are.