wrote in message
oups.com...
wow you guys aren't too friendly - don't worry i'll not post here
again.

good bye.

Fortunately Fred gave you a good response and Steveo was actually dripping
sarcasm (I'm still mopping it up over here), so that was only one turkey
response. Not bad on the net.

Ken

Several years ago I bought one from a ham that makes them himself. Really
good quality, reasonable price and he engraves your callsign on the top of
the case. Does anybody know if he still does these and if so do you have
his contact info? Thanks for reading. - John

Several years ago I bought one from a ham that makes them himself. Really
good quality, reasonable price and he engraves your callsign on the top of
the case. Does anybody know if he still does these and if so do you have
his contact info? Thanks for reading. - John

To DanJr.

I'm sure you were merely being sarcastic in this comment but it's comments
like those that give Amateur Radio Operators a bad name.
If I had an elmer like you, I'd be embarrassed to be anything more than a
CB'er.

To Wgrant,

As you have seen in earlier posts, HT's are probably not the best due to the
limitations on range. But, if GMRS is available in your area, it could be an
option. It does require a license however.

Not to justify anything that this other clown said, but an Amateur Radio
license and the use of HAM radio & repeaters you and your friend could
easily keep in touch not only just across town but across the globe using
many different types of radios and modes.

Please don't be discouraged by some of the "Dinosaurs" in Amateur radio who
frown upon those who don't conform to their idea of what Amateur Radio
should be like - as history is full of dinosaurs that wouldn't adapt.

Good luck and if you have more questions, PLEASE feel free to post them.

73'
Jim.
KB6ZOP


"danjr" wrote in message
...
get an amateur radio license. This is an amateur radio radio group.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello!

I would like to buy a pair of "walkie talkies" to allow myself and
a friend to talk without incurring large cell phone bills.

We are on opposite sides of a town, about 3 to 4 miles apart (although
we will be moving closer soon - around 1 to 2 miles apart).

Please can you recommend a good product or range of products that will
work for this purpose?

Thanks!!

-wgrant909

To DanJr.

I'm sure you were merely being sarcastic in this comment but it's comments
like those that give Amateur Radio Operators a bad name.
If I had an elmer like you, I'd be embarrassed to be anything more than a
CB'er.

To Wgrant,

As you have seen in earlier posts, HT's are probably not the best due to the
limitations on range. But, if GMRS is available in your area, it could be an
option. It does require a license however.

Not to justify anything that this other clown said, but an Amateur Radio
license and the use of HAM radio & repeaters you and your friend could
easily keep in touch not only just across town but across the globe using
many different types of radios and modes.

Please don't be discouraged by some of the "Dinosaurs" in Amateur radio who
frown upon those who don't conform to their idea of what Amateur Radio
should be like - as history is full of dinosaurs that wouldn't adapt.

Good luck and if you have more questions, PLEASE feel free to post them.

73'
Jim.
KB6ZOP


"danjr" wrote in message
...
get an amateur radio license. This is an amateur radio radio group.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello!

I would like to buy a pair of "walkie talkies" to allow myself and
a friend to talk without incurring large cell phone bills.

We are on opposite sides of a town, about 3 to 4 miles apart (although
we will be moving closer soon - around 1 to 2 miles apart).

Please can you recommend a good product or range of products that will
work for this purpose?

Thanks!!

-wgrant909

GMRS via a repeater or w/ a pair of directional antenna's may work well, but
be aware you will need an FCC GMRS license (and your friend will also,
unless he is family, as defined in the FCC GMRS rules). The license is $75
and is good for 5 years IIRC. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is very
similar to unlicensed FRS (Family Radio...), but you have more channels than
FRS, share some w/ FRS, are allowed to use alternate antennas on the radio,
antennas w/ gain, repeaters and can use more RF power. Both FRS and GMRS are
in the UHF band (462 MHz).

The other option to look at is amateur "ham" radio. Here yopu and your
friend will each need an amateur radiio license (Technician class is enough,
$12 (or soon $14/$15?) multiple choice test, no morse code test (for the
Tech class lic.) and is good for 10 yrs. Here you'd likely use a "2 meter"
(146 MHz VHF) or perhaps "70cm" (445MHz UHF) radio, either with an external
antenna or an antenna on the radio.In populated areas repeaters are common,
perhaps more common than GMRS repeaters, or you can talk directly, as w/
GMRS. The two, GMRS and ham should be similar in performance. Look at both,
see which makes the most sense for you.

See also: http://www.popularwireless.com/ for more on GMRS in particular and
FRS/CB/amateur/etc. in general. Another option might be MURS (a VHF radio
system, fairly new) but I am not up on the FCC rules and the equipment is
not yet common I believe.

For you the only downside to GMRS I see is license cost. OTOH you can also
talk to anyone nearby w/ a FRS radio, might be handy.

For Ham radio look for the book "Now you're Talking" at RadioShack or other,
the Tech test (35 multiple choise questions, 28 to pass) is not very hard,
and if you like to tinker a bit too amateur radio can be a lot of fun.

wrote in message
oups.com...
thanks for the reply fred - i'll keep investigating. GMRS looks like
the way to go

GMRS via a repeater or w/ a pair of directional antenna's may work well, but
be aware you will need an FCC GMRS license (and your friend will also,
unless he is family, as defined in the FCC GMRS rules). The license is $75
and is good for 5 years IIRC. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) is very
similar to unlicensed FRS (Family Radio...), but you have more channels than
FRS, share some w/ FRS, are allowed to use alternate antennas on the radio,
antennas w/ gain, repeaters and can use more RF power. Both FRS and GMRS are
in the UHF band (462 MHz).

The other option to look at is amateur "ham" radio. Here yopu and your
friend will each need an amateur radiio license (Technician class is enough,
$12 (or soon $14/$15?) multiple choice test, no morse code test (for the
Tech class lic.) and is good for 10 yrs. Here you'd likely use a "2 meter"
(146 MHz VHF) or perhaps "70cm" (445MHz UHF) radio, either with an external
antenna or an antenna on the radio.In populated areas repeaters are common,
perhaps more common than GMRS repeaters, or you can talk directly, as w/
GMRS. The two, GMRS and ham should be similar in performance. Look at both,
see which makes the most sense for you.

See also: http://www.popularwireless.com/ for more on GMRS in particular and
FRS/CB/amateur/etc. in general. Another option might be MURS (a VHF radio
system, fairly new) but I am not up on the FCC rules and the equipment is
not yet common I believe.

For you the only downside to GMRS I see is license cost. OTOH you can also
talk to anyone nearby w/ a FRS radio, might be handy.

For Ham radio look for the book "Now you're Talking" at RadioShack or other,
the Tech test (35 multiple choise questions, 28 to pass) is not very hard,
and if you like to tinker a bit too amateur radio can be a lot of fun.

wrote in message
oups.com...
thanks for the reply fred - i'll keep investigating. GMRS looks like
the way to go