Two way radios

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I don't even know where I would post this so I put it here. I'm looking to buy a decent set of two way radios. I've been looking at the midland GXT2050VP4 or the GXT1050VP4. They say they can transmit up to 36 miles but i know this is under the most ideal conditions, ie. nowhere i'll be using them. Can you recommend a better radio for under 90$? I'm looking for water resistant at the least, as many channels as i can get (no license YET), rechargeable, weather stations. Basically what these radio's have. But if you have a better recommendation i'm all ears. I would even consider just one.

 

[jim]

what are you going to use them for and where are you going to use them? jim

 

[Lassen Forge]

While Midlands are good radios, be warned that EVERY ONE of these manufacturers exaggerate their distance claim - sure, if you were say, on the moon, on the highest point, and talking to someone direct line of site, you *might* make out a word or 2 at 36 miles.

Realistically - if you get 5 miles you're doing excellent. If you want better, get your ham license, and get something that puts out 100 watts+ to a repeater on a mountain top. Or get a business band license and radio setup (as above) but expect to spend.

We have an 800 MHz system at work, using top of the line Motorola HT's, and "car to car" (ie not thru a repeater) these 25 watt radios (more power than MURS or FMRS) get about 4-6 miles. And they cost upwards of $3000 each

For what they are, the Midlands are fine, just don't go in starry eyed, as you will be disappointed.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Going to be using in the woods or house to house. You wouldn't happen to know the difference between the 1050 and the 2050, would you?

 

[Wizzard]

For that price range I'd get the highest advertised distance in either Midland or Motorola with the features you want (water resistant, etc). Biggest decision will be rechargeable or not, I like the option to use regular batteries so you can swap them out on the move if need be.

 

[CJM8515]

All of those GMRS radios work max 5 miles. Thats clear line of sight, no mountains or obstructions and so forth. Doesn't matter if you buy the top of the line or bottom of the barrel-they are restricted to something like 2 watts by the FCC. The more expensive oens just have more privacy codes and features.

Id look into MURS. Its license free and gets 5 miles and is a much better setup.

 

[bry@n]

My friends were looking at the exact midland radios to use at a gun range. Good info.

I like the one that use regular batteries but wonder if there are radios that can use both?

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I ordered a midland gxt5000 [emoji3]

 

[Catadj78]

I bought a Midland set last year. We lived on the FILs land at the time. 200 acres, cell phone service was terrible. The wife could get in touch with me anywhere on the land. Distance was about 1 mile roughly. Think they were 100 for the set

 

[dbabicky]

I have MIdlands and Unidens, all of mine can use either the rechargeable battery pack or AA's.

 

[Scooter70]

I bought a set of Motorolas from Costco a few years ago. 3 radios and a drop in charger that charges all 3 at once. We use them for road trips to the race track to talk truck-to-truck. Range is a mile or two. If we're out of that range we'll just use the phone. The battery pack is removable so I could run 3 AAs if necessary. For the cost and for what we use them for, they've worked out great.

 

[gh0st]

Friends of mine and I use used to use those two way radios on long car trips. Uniden sells some refurb stuff that you can pick up cheap, but the give of us probably went through 8 radios in a year. They all **** for one reason or another, the battery, the audio, the reception, etc. I picked up a BaoFeng ham radio for $35 with a slightly bigger antenna and it's the best thing ever. You're supposed to have a ham license to transmit on all of the frequencies it is capable of, but I've locked mine down to the GPRS frequencies and the lowest power setting.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

The FRS radios are considered throwaways, but that's not a bad thing. Just means you're not putting a ton of money into a radio and if it gets damaged or lost, you're not out much for the use you put them to. I keep a couple in my emergency evacuation bag along with multiple sets of batteries (stored separately and in a sealed bag) so I'm ready if I need them.

For my volunteer event management group, we use digital radios that are programmable. We settled on the Motorola SP50 series which are long since discontinued, but still show up on the used market. With 35 radios, we are set for event usage with lots of options for lapel mics, antennas, etc. Some of the units have the option for connecting to the base station and a telephone network, but we found it just wasn't needed with cell phone use so prevalent.

In the case of an emergency, we're set to be linked up regardless of cell conditions. Most of us are also amateur radio licensed with 2 meter rigs in our vehicles, so we're good there.

FRS radios are great for on site use at other places you might not think about like a county fair, shopping mall with kids, trade shows, etc. Any place where you need to keep in contact within a smaller venue space.