Re: FRS radios

From: Barry Oliver (barrysuperhawk@insightbb.com)
Date: Sun Dec 05 2004 - 11:55:19 EST


Jason Bleazard wrote:
> On December 5, 2004 07:27 am, Bill Day wrote:
>
>>I myself only ahve the CB in the truck. I guess before hand I could pick
>>up some FRS's
>
>
> We're in the same boat. However, since the subject came up, I've been keeping
> an eye out for the FRS radios to see what prices are like. They're getting
> pretty cheap, and plentiful to boot. I've seen 'em at Wally World, Best Buy,
> Amazon.com, even the drugstore sells them. I think FRS is rapidly becoming a
> lot more widespread than CB ever was.
>

That is true, but they are generally used a bit differently than CB's...
  I don't recall seeing families trying to keep track of their kids or
event security people coordinating themselves with CB's heh. A CB's
strongest point over FRS is range. The downside is it's inherent
requirement of a 12v power source.

> We'll probably get an FRS radio or two at some point in the near future. Does
> anyone know what features or specs to look for? Brands to stick with or
> avoid? What's "GMRS" anyway?
>

You already know the brands, or at least the brand names. Motorolla
makes excellent radios that are durable, reliable and have gobs of
accessories available [rechargable battery kits, earphones and
microphones, you name it.] Cobra makes good radios, with less variety
than Motorolla with reguards to radios and acceassories. Audiovox, is
exactly what you think they are, functional but sorta generic, it would
be a good choice if you only intended to use them infrequently and were
prepared to take very good care of them. I know from personal
experience that Motorolla radios will survive repeated 1m drop tests and
still work, heh.
   GMRS is just a different frequency or channel that attempts to give
better range. It works in open level ground, but it has the same
antenna as a frs only radio, and thus a comparable range in terrain.
Also, in order to use GMRS, all of the participants need to have GMRS
capability...



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