Longer range than FRS radio
I am really disappointed with my combination FRS/GMRS two way radio.
The maker claims this handheld radio has a range of 25 miles, but I know I’ll be lucky to get three miles with this transceiver, because it only has a power of 5 watts. I reckon the manufacturers must ‘test’ these radios out in the desert someplace when they come up with these supposed ranges the walkie talkies are supposed to cover – but don’t.
Well that’s enough complaining. I’m sure you have heard it all before. So please tell me… who is willing to recommend a good FRS two way radio to me that has got a better range?
I want my signal to get out more than just a mile or two.
heres where we evaluated them before buying ours……………….
we got the Midland GXT600, and it works better than my friends pager network service
Yes, those FRS radios don’t have much range at all. And you should take the advertiser’s claims of ‘x miles range’ with a bit of salt. Notice they say ‘UP TO x miles’, which isn’t the same as ‘x miles’. (Up to 1 million miles could be one inch! But I can be a bit cynical, yes.)
You say your radio also has GMRS channels. That’s good, but you need to spend $80 to buy a license from the FCC to use them legally. Those GMRS channels can have a bit more output power than the FRS channels. FRS radios usually only transmit at 1/2 a watt or less, GMRS radios send at 2 watts. And what’s more there may be a GMRS repeater in the area you can use.
A radio repeater is a higher power transceiver that picks up your signal on one frequency and simultaneously re-transmits it on another frequency. Repeaters normally have excellent antennas, and are mounted on radio towers or atop of tall buildings, so you can get great coverage.
If you need better coverage than that, you will have to get a license and use one of the other radio services such as MURS. Or you can study a bit and become a licensed amateur radio operator. Some of these guys talk to the world on 5 watts or less – but they do have to construct some great antennas!