Need some GMRS education

[holyford86]

Thinking about getting a gmrs radio to supplement my tuned cb but thinking I would like to go with a reasonable quality handheld as it will not see much use and would be reasonably close to others. I see the specs for distance and whatever and it doesn't really tell me how they preform in the real world. Does anyone have much experience with them? Recommendations? I'd post it in the communications section but really don't have an issue, just looking for opinions and such.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I was using the Midland handhelds spotting for my wife in my Bronco on the trailride, worked great for that.

She has a biggerish GMRS mounted in her Bronco, I think it is like the 15w one.

 

[snoranger]

I was using the Midland handhelds spotting for my wife in my Bronco on the trailride, worked great for that.

She has a biggerish GMRS mounted in her Bronco, I think it is like the 15w one.

Isn’t the 15 watt now the smallerish one? They have a 40 watt and a 50 watt now.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Yes, 15 is the smallest. 50 is the biggest.

I really like having the mobile and handhelds specifically for spotters or passengers that wander away from your rig.

 

[holyford86]

Yes, 15 is the smallest. 50 is the biggest.

I really like having the mobile and handhelds specifically for spotters or passengers that wander away from your rig.

I've been toying with the idea of just using the handheld units exclusively, seems like they top out around 5 watts. how's the range on them?

 

[ericbphoto]

Midlands are good. Although it's Asian, baofung (mis-spelled, I'm sure) gets good reviews for a lot of their products. I would rate them a good second choice.

 

[holyford86]

Midlands are good. Although it's Asian, baofung (mis-spelled, I'm sure) gets good reviews for a lot of their products. I would rate them a good second choice.

I've been looking at their btech stuff, seems nice and the price point also helps too

 

[ryan]

I have midland handhelds and the range is surprisingly good. we'll use them driving as well. I have a hardwired unit that i need to put in still

 

[holyford86]

I have midland handhelds and the range is surprisingly good. we'll use them driving as well. I have a hardwired unit that i need to put in still

I would only be using them in wooded areas over a range of one or two miles at maximum so this sounds encouraging for my usage case.

 

[ryan]

I would only be using them in wooded areas over a range of one or two miles at maximum so this sounds encouraging for my usage case.

This is how I've been using them for several years now and have not have any problems. They've gotten more popular now, so we've started using privacy codes lately to avoid dealing with crosstalk, which has been helpful. This year I got my license for it to avoid any FCC issues. It's not something I think is especially risky, but it's not expensive and is good for 10 years.

 

[holyford86]

This is how I've been using them for several years now and have not have any problems. They've gotten more popular now, so we've started using privacy codes lately to avoid dealing with crosstalk, which has been helpful. This year I got my license for it to avoid any FCC issues. It's not something I think is especially risky, but it's not expensive and is good for 10 years.

Well, I guess I'll start shopping for radios then. I also plan in getting the license just in case, once I find the units I like. thank you.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Isn’t the 15 watt now the smallerish one? They have a 40 watt and a 50 watt now.

When she won hers she got the bigger one, I got the smaller one.

I know they came out with one quit a bit bigger since then.

 

[holyford86]

Well, the FCC let me have a GMRS license, what a pain it is navigating that system to get it done though. I've been leaning towards ordering a pair of the gmrspro radios from btech and voiding the warranty with better antennas immediately, haha.

 

[snoranger]

Well, the FCC let me have a GMRS license, what a pain it is navigating that system to get it done though.

It’s almost as if they don’t want you to get the license.

 

[holyford86]

It’s almost as if they don’t want you to get the license.

No joke, I had to read a tutorial just to figure out where to go to even start the process.