Which FRS / GMRS radio?

RacerX

RacerX

Professional Knucklehead; aka Jeffncs / RacerX
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Hi team!

Ive been looking at FRS / GMRS radios for a while and am running into a conundrum on which to buy!

I ruled out the Baofeng radios as I don’t need a new hobby and prefer to get up and running quickly.

I’m focusing my decision into the Midland style radios. With the following intended uses and criteria, which radio would you recommend and why?

Not planning to get a HAM license
Mostly used on the road for general comms with truckers and other users
Used while off-roading with groups
Used as emergency radio if stuck in woods alone
Not planning to transmit long distances
Cost is always a factor
Love to be able to mount in vehicle, but with flexibility to move from tow rig into Jeep and back

I’m leaning towards the Midland 115 with a magnetic mount antenna. I’d buy a second mount and work out the power source using a cig lighter or hot 12v supply.

Love to hear opinions and experience!
 
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"Used as emergency radio if stuck in woods alone
Not planning to transmit long distances"

Those seem to cancel each other out?

I'm no help on the FRS/GMRS, but I would highly recommend that you at least compare (hands on) either of those with a 2 meter ham radio HT.
 
@Snal~

I don’t wander too far into the out back... usually private lands or URE. Couple miles gets the job done either way.
 
A lot of people use the Baofengs on FRS and GMRS frequencies. Not _recommending_ that, just making an observation.
 
I just bought a three pack of the Midland GXT1000apv4. It’s a GRMS with a 5watt power rating.
I’m hoping they will serve me fairly well on and around the farm.
I read that to be legal, I’ll be needing a $70, 10 year license.
Anyone gotten their GRMS permission slip?
Bull
 
Bull Durham said:
I just bought a three pack of the Midland GXT1000apv4. It’s a GRMS with a 5watt power rating.
I’m hoping they will serve me fairly well on and around the farm.
I read that to be legal, I’ll be needing a $70, 10 year license.
Anyone gotten their GRMS permission slip?
Bull
Click to expand...
It's like registering a drone. I think a lot of people did it at first until they realized that there were not FAA people behind every tree.
 
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Bull Durham said:
I just bought a three pack of the Midland GXT1000apv4. It’s a GRMS with a 5watt power rating.
Click to expand...
You can look up the FCC testing data. There’s a good chance that the power doesn’t actually output 5 watts, but instead is compliant with the FRS radio regulations where you don’t need a license. I suspect it’s to nanny people into being compliant with the tighter regulations even if they don’t want to.

The Motorola T600 is a popular choice that is also a 5w radio but high power out is listed at 1.8w, under the 2w FRS limit. Then again, the transmitter may put out 5w but by the time it becomes effective radiated power it’s not. Marketing gimmicks.
 
Ah yes, marketing..,
Gotta love it. Thanks for the info.
I looked up several reviews and all of them seemed to agree that the Midland was one of the few that ran closest across the board to having 5 watt output.
I’m planning on getting into HAM once I get settled into my new digs. I’m planning on these walkies being the main comms between me and the wife while I’m building my barn and working around the place. Cell service can be spotty there sometimes.
 
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Bull Durham said:
I’m planning on getting into HAM once I get settled into my new digs. I’m planning on these walkies being the main comms between me and the wife while I’m building my barn and working around the place. Cell service can be spotty there sometimes.
Click to expand...
Same here. For Christmas, I got my parents a couple of GMRS radios. They kept saying that they had their "phones" but service is spotty and they're going to be one of the first things to go down when things go sporty. I am probably one of the few that went ahead and bought the license at $70 for ten years, but that will also free me up to put up a small area wide repeater or anything like that to greatly improve the radio line of sight as I would like to get coverage a little farther than the normal hand-held to hand-held will do.
 
Please let me know which repeater you decide to go with. I gave some thought to doing that as well, I’m just totally ignorant in most all things radio.
 
noway2 said:
Same here. For Christmas, I got my parents a couple of GMRS radios. They kept saying that they had their "phones" but service is spotty and they're going to be one of the first things to go down when things go sporty. I am probably one of the few that went ahead and bought the license at $70 for ten years, but that will also free me up to put up a small area wide repeater or anything like that to greatly improve the radio line of sight as I would like to get coverage a little farther than the normal hand-held to hand-held will do.
Click to expand...
Which GMRS did you land on?
 
Paid for my GMRS license a few weeks ago. The FCC just lowered the fee to $35, but that has not been implemented yet. They also raised fee for Ham licenses to $35. If you want your Ham license for free, get it soon. Of course there is also a testing fee for the Ham testing session. Tjat can range from$10 to $15, depending on where you test.
 
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