[Shotimes] RE: (OT) FRS/GMRS Radios for Convention Use

[Ron Porter]

In open terrain, I have easily gotten over a mile.



In our caravans, we can pretty easily get up to a =-mile (lead car to
caboose). It dies pretty quickly beyond that, however, so if someone falls
back, we cant hear them.



IMHO, that is one reason why getting into the GMRS channels could be of use.



The license is no big deal. I still have a CB license (KAYX9544and dont
ask me why I can remember thatI dont even know!!) and then they dropped
the license requirement right after I got mine. I went by the Golden Rat
anyway (driving a gold 71 454 Vette).



Ron Porter

  _____

From: Scott Krietemeyer [mailto:ven0msho@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, June 19, 2006 10:03 PM
To: ronporter@ameritech.net
Cc: Shotimes; V8List SHO; SHO Tech
Subject: Re: (OT) FRS/GMRS Radios for Convention Use



The one potential "issue" is that the lower channel #'s (which are the ones
that get farther range by the way) are GMRS channels which according to the
FCC you are supposed to have a license to operate on, all FRS transmissions
cannot exceed 500mw...  The longer range is only on the GMRS band which
(channels 1-8 IIRC) can use a higher power.  Don't expect much beyond a mile
out of FRS, and be thrilled when you can get 2 miles.

Ref here:
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=service_home&id=general_mobi
le> &id=general_mobile

Scott

On 6/19/06, Ron Porter <ronporter@ameritech.net> wrote:

FYI, for Convention folks.



FWIW, I've had a set of 14-channel Cobra FRS radios since '00. I bought them
after seeing the usefulness on the mountain drive at the '99 Convention in
Atlanta.



They are the old 4-AAA battery models that eat batteries quickly.



Anyway, since then, we have used the FRS channel corresponding to the SHO
Convention number as our channel for caravans and other SHO Convention
events. We have dropped using CB radios.



We are obviously up to the 15th SHO Convention, and the old radios don't
work on Channel 15. Didn't matter to me, as I was irritated with the old
radios that sucked up batteries, and had the low range.



There are a number of the 22-channel radios out there, with anywhere from
2-18-mile ranges, for a decent price. Plus, they are rechargeable.



I just ordered a set of Midland radios on Ebay, with an 18-mile range,
headsets, AC chargers, and a DC car charger, for $65 (Model GXT600VP4) . I
looked into Cobra and Motorola, but Midland had the better deal for getting
headsets, and both AC and DC chargers (so I can charge them in the car).



These FRS/GMRS radios will carry us through the SHO Convention #22 in 2013,
so I figure that we can worry about what channel to use in 2014 when we get
there!!



Ron Porter