wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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I'd think 25-30 miles is mountain top to mountain top, in real life 5 miles is pushing it. (however the Companies really do have folks who climb mountains just to prove their radios an do great range)
No favorite brand, Just remember that the radios operate on a frequency that is close to .. 462 MHZ or about 65 CM
So up to 65 (or 130) Centimeters the bigger the antenna the better the antenna
Now if you want real range, MY TS-2000 lets me chat with folks all over the country on voice, and all over the world on digital modes (however it's not hand held) My Yesau FT-51R can do Las Vegas to North Ireland or Australia just fine (But I do admit I'm cheating a bit, much of that is VoIP using a local IRLP node) (or I can do Detroit/Southfield Michigan to .. Just about any place too)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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maddog348
Bakersfield,CA
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Joined: 04/08/2008
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ThankYou gandude. Thot I was missing something -- have Cobra FRS/GMRS HT's(&lic) to keep in touch travelling(no cel svc) in mtns or waiting rest of family arrival in camp -- thought we were doing pretty good getting couple of miles in that terrain. Did get better than that -- clear across town to company dispatch TOWER when vehicle unit went down -- but that was pretty flat.
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WayneZat
Tucson, AZ
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Joined: 04/17/2004
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Thanks hemlox, I have read a few good reviews about the Midland GXT 900 and 950. I was hoping for something more like 10 to 15 miles knowing that 30 was really stretching it, I guess that's just not possible. Cell phone service is fairly good with a Wilson Electronics system in our 5th wheel but it does help deep in the woods on the ATV.
Wayne z.
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Mandolin Guy
West Central Georgia
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Joined: 10/10/2007
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Even downhill with a tailwind, you couldn't get 30 miles on an FRS radio. Line-of-sight with no obstructions and no power lines, etc., MIGHT get you 5 miles but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that, either.
David
Life is too short to worry about how short life is.
Retired Cop, 31 years
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hemlox
Western Illinois
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Joined: 05/21/2007
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WayneZat wrote:Thanks hemlox, I have read a few good reviews about the Midland GXT 900 and 950. I was hoping for something more like 10 to 15 miles knowing that 30 was really stretching it, I guess that's just not possible. Cell phone service is fairly good with a Wilson Electronics system in our 5th wheel but it does help deep in the woods on the ATV.
Wayne z.
I have to be honest, I have not had the radios that long, I have'nt tried to get over 5 miles yet. I did not want you to think that was the farthest they would reach, because I do not know. I think with open ground 10 miles would be obtainable.
25 ft. Gulfstream Conquest
Chevrolet Suburban 4x4
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KeninAZ
SE AZ
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Joined: 06/22/2002
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Line of site (no obstructions in the way) you are lucky with .5-1 mile.
The only way you will get anymore is standing on a mountain.
The low power output coupled with the very short antennas really do you in.
Period.
I have been working on and playing with radio gear for most of my life in my job and hobby as a ham. I was also licensed for GRMS (more power there) but as a family we normally figured around a mile to be safe.
The claims these manufacturers make are ridiculous.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Another thing to remember.. FRS radios are short range, low power and 14 channels
GMRS radios are higher power, longer range, 21 channels (normally) and REQUIRE AN FCC LICENSE
The penality for unlicensed operation is something like 2,000 dollars and/or 2 years IIRC without double checking my rule book
Oh, yes.. I have a license
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alexs
Westminster, MD
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Joined: 04/21/2008
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I am not sure if any of the bubble pack GMRS can touch 21 miles. Even my Motorola GP-68 and Kenwood TK-360(full 5 watts) can't touch that on the ground. It is all about line-of-sight. If you can see it you can hear it. The antenna on those things are more like resistors.
As previously posted, even a 1/2W can get more than 10 miles going from mountain top to mountain top.
BTW, I have a Kenwood TK-805 Mobile(25W), with a "real" NMO mount 5db AS antenna, and it would not go more than a few miles on the ground. However, I can key up a repeater 20-30 miles away without any problem.
yes, I have a GMRS license too. it let you play with cool stuff like repeaters and higher power mobiles.
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