Dumb questions - GMRS / FRS
 

Not sure if the subject is pertinent to this NG...
==================================================

I want to buy a couple "Talkabout" radios for various purposes to keep
in touch with my son or girlfriend, notably while hiking, skiing and
while at large events (airshows).

What *is* needed and what is fluff?

How congested are these freqs these days?

What models have the best range?

Any general comments welcome.

Cheers,
Alan

I bought a pair of FRS units at a local flea market.
They are GREAT for keeping in touch with the YL at Home Depot...when I'm
looking at hammers, and she is looking at flowers...It even worked once when
I was in the home depot, and she was in the Target's next door!
No congestion at all.
But....
When we were at Disney, it was tough to find a clear channel, and there was
always someone suddenly talking while we were in mid chat!
Also great to have when you are following someone else in separate cars!!
....Dave

"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...

Not sure if the subject is pertinent to this NG...
==================================================

I want to buy a couple "Talkabout" radios for various purposes to keep
in touch with my son or girlfriend, notably while hiking, skiing and
while at large events (airshows).

What *is* needed and what is fluff?

How congested are these freqs these days?

What models have the best range?

Any general comments welcome.

Cheers,
Alan

I bought a pair of FRS units at a local flea market.
They are GREAT for keeping in touch with the YL at Home Depot...when I'm
looking at hammers, and she is looking at flowers...It even worked once when
I was in the home depot, and she was in the Target's next door!
No congestion at all.
But....
When we were at Disney, it was tough to find a clear channel, and there was
always someone suddenly talking while we were in mid chat!
Also great to have when you are following someone else in separate cars!!
....Dave

"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...

Not sure if the subject is pertinent to this NG...
==================================================

I want to buy a couple "Talkabout" radios for various purposes to keep
in touch with my son or girlfriend, notably while hiking, skiing and
while at large events (airshows).

What *is* needed and what is fluff?

How congested are these freqs these days?

What models have the best range?

Any general comments welcome.

Cheers,
Alan

What *is* needed and what is fluff?

They really don't come with much fluff. If you're operating in remote
areas, I suppose you don't need to have all 14 channels and all 32 ctcss
tones, but most come with the whole thing anyway. Just look for cheap.
I saw a pair of FRS radios at Fry's Electronics in California yesterday
for under $10.00.


How congested are these freqs these days?

Might be congested if you were on a cruise ship or some large sport
event or similar crowd; otherwise finding a clear channel shouldn't be a
problem.

What models have the best range?

The units that are ALSO GMRS capable probably do. However,
technically, you must have an FCC GMRS license to operate these. Bet you
a dollar to a donut that 99% of the buyers of these units don't. While
I don't condone unlicensed operation, I must say I haven't ever heard of
the FCC issuing citations to FRS/GMRS HT owners for this infraction, yet.



Ed WB6SAT

What *is* needed and what is fluff?

They really don't come with much fluff. If you're operating in remote
areas, I suppose you don't need to have all 14 channels and all 32 ctcss
tones, but most come with the whole thing anyway. Just look for cheap.
I saw a pair of FRS radios at Fry's Electronics in California yesterday
for under $10.00.


How congested are these freqs these days?

Might be congested if you were on a cruise ship or some large sport
event or similar crowd; otherwise finding a clear channel shouldn't be a
problem.

What models have the best range?

The units that are ALSO GMRS capable probably do. However,
technically, you must have an FCC GMRS license to operate these. Bet you
a dollar to a donut that 99% of the buyers of these units don't. While
I don't condone unlicensed operation, I must say I haven't ever heard of
the FCC issuing citations to FRS/GMRS HT owners for this infraction, yet.



Ed WB6SAT

On Tue, 04 May 2004 00:09:00 GMT, Ed G
wrote:

The units that are ALSO GMRS capable probably do. However,
technically, you must have an FCC GMRS license to operate these. Bet you
a dollar to a donut that 99% of the buyers of these units don't. While
I don't condone unlicensed operation, I must say I haven't ever heard of
the FCC issuing citations to FRS/GMRS HT owners for this infraction, yet.


I read the entire outside of three different brands at Costco.
Twice each. There was no mention on any of the licensing requirement.
I'd be really surprised if it showed up anywhere obvious inside the
box either.

I'm willing to bet the FCC does no more about these things
than they ever did about the mess that CB became. And it has to be
hard to even locate these things -- I doubt the FCC will be out in
force trying to find them at football games, campgrounds, etc.

On Tue, 04 May 2004 00:09:00 GMT, Ed G
wrote:

The units that are ALSO GMRS capable probably do. However,
technically, you must have an FCC GMRS license to operate these. Bet you
a dollar to a donut that 99% of the buyers of these units don't. While
I don't condone unlicensed operation, I must say I haven't ever heard of
the FCC issuing citations to FRS/GMRS HT owners for this infraction, yet.


I read the entire outside of three different brands at Costco.
Twice each. There was no mention on any of the licensing requirement.
I'd be really surprised if it showed up anywhere obvious inside the
box either.

I'm willing to bet the FCC does no more about these things
than they ever did about the mess that CB became. And it has to be
hard to even locate these things -- I doubt the FCC will be out in
force trying to find them at football games, campgrounds, etc.

On Mon, 03 May 2004 18:58:55 -0400, Alan Browne wrote:


Not sure if the subject is pertinent to this NG...
================================================= =

I want to buy a couple "Talkabout" radios for various purposes to keep
in touch with my son or girlfriend, notably while hiking, skiing and
while at large events (airshows).

If you are in Canada it's a different ball game as to what is
allowed and what is not compared to the US radio regs.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

On Mon, 03 May 2004 18:58:55 -0400, Alan Browne wrote:


Not sure if the subject is pertinent to this NG...
================================================= =

I want to buy a couple "Talkabout" radios for various purposes to keep
in touch with my son or girlfriend, notably while hiking, skiing and
while at large events (airshows).

If you are in Canada it's a different ball game as to what is
allowed and what is not compared to the US radio regs.

--
73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane

Alan Browne wrote:

Not sure if the subject is pertinent to this NG...
==================================================

I want to buy a couple "Talkabout" radios for various purposes to keep
in touch with my son or girlfriend, notably while hiking, skiing and
while at large events (airshows).

What *is* needed and what is fluff?

How congested are these freqs these days?

What models have the best range?

Any general comments welcome.

Cheers,
Alan



Thanks all for replies.
Cheers,
Alan

--
--e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

Alan Browne wrote:

Not sure if the subject is pertinent to this NG...
==================================================

I want to buy a couple "Talkabout" radios for various purposes to keep
in touch with my son or girlfriend, notably while hiking, skiing and
while at large events (airshows).

What *is* needed and what is fluff?

How congested are these freqs these days?

What models have the best range?

Any general comments welcome.

Cheers,
Alan



Thanks all for replies.
Cheers,
Alan

--
--e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

Alan Browne wrote:
(snip)
: Thanks all for replies.
: Cheers,
: Alan

You want a *good* FRS radio? .. check out the ICOM IC-4088A Costs more
then the "bubble pack" radios and there is a reason for it .. it's a
"real" radio with a "real" antenna. (but it's still cheaper than my first
few FRS radios were years ago)

Richard in Boston, MA, USA

Alan Browne wrote:
(snip)
: Thanks all for replies.
: Cheers,
: Alan

You want a *good* FRS radio? .. check out the ICOM IC-4088A Costs more
then the "bubble pack" radios and there is a reason for it .. it's a
"real" radio with a "real" antenna. (but it's still cheaper than my first
few FRS radios were years ago)

Richard in Boston, MA, USA