OT-two way radio

[SueInBoston]

Sorry, a bit OT, but I think there are more techies on this board vs. other...

Can anyone recommend a good set of 2 way radio? My requirements are around 10 mile range, vibrate, and capability for headset and not overly chunky.

Motorola makes about 20 different models and the general reviews are not that great. Midland seems to get decent review but are limited. Then there's are some less expensive brands like Cobra and Uniden, no review on these that I can find.

I'm not looking to use it in WDW but other spots where we can't use cell phones. We're going to Atlantis in August and this will be a good way to keep in touch.

thanks for any advice.

Sue

 

[Cricket2]

My requirements are around 10 mile range

Do you really need 10 miles? I have a VHF radio base station with 50 foot tall antenna and a remote handheald unit that cost hundreds and it only goes about 2 - 2 1/2 miles in a residential enviornment. Those specs you might be looking at on radios are based on mid-air measurements or mountain top to mountain top.

 

[Cricket2]

Also, I don't know what the laws are there (Bahamas right?). Those frequencies might be reserved for something else down there.

 

[bradk]

according to the FCC, FRS is allowable in the caribbean, but that's what they say.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=operations&id=general_mobile

but i don't think FRS will give you what you want anyway. FRS have a theoretical range of up to 2 miles? but in the real world, it's much less.

you'd have to go to GMRS at a minimum, which requires an FCC family license to operate. even then, the theoretical range falls a bit short of 10 miles.

 

[SueInBoston]

OK, let's scratch the 10 mile requirement. I basically picked that out of a hat, I was reviewing Motorola website and their models range from 2 - 22 miles, so I picked ten to be the midepoint I know...real technical
So FRS will be sufficient and won't require a special license.

Any model suggestions?

TIA

Sue

 

[Cricket2]

I have a set of GMRS Cobras that are ok for a few hundred feet or so (again this is in a residential area) and those are ok. If one of your handsets is in a thick walled building though, I don't know how well they would work. We have one set in a brick/steel building and another that walks the grounds and it's good in some areas and just so-so in others but we can always hear each other. We don't use them that often because we have the VHF system and it's so much strongger.

 

[Groucho]

We picked up a set of FRS radios a few years ago, I think with the intention of using them at WDW... they never worked well, and somewhere like WDW, there are so many people that you'll probably find all the channels already used by other people. The radios are now just toys for my son.

Cell phones work far better, though obviously that involves a bit of a (financial) commitment!

 

[mabas9395]

We have some Motorola two-ways that we got a Walmart last year. We get over a mile in a residential area. Thats more than far enough to keep tabs on my DS10 & DS8, thats as far as they currently go on their bikes.