Radios or hand held walkie talkies

[Fred T]

I would like to hear some thoughts on these new FRS technology walkie talkies. The ones that promise to go two miles and only have 1/2 watt of power. In the olden days they used to say that ya needed a watt to go a mile. I am looking into buying a pair of radios to be used in norths of Ontario. There are no repeater towers that I know of in the area so I am limited to radios that will go the distance by themselves. The other option that I am thinking about is two VHF Marine hand helds. I think that they can be purchased for the same or a little more than a pair of motrola distance radios. What are the feelings about brands and batteries. I usually go for a week and will be using the radio every day for an hour or so. There is no place or way to recharge them in the bush.
Lets hear the opinions
Thanks
Fred T

[John B]

I'm a big walkie talkie fan and I've owned a couple of brands. So far only the Kenwood and Motorola products have impressed me. If I was buying a new pair I would buy the new Motorola T6400's. They can be used on both FRS (1/2 watt)and GMRS (1 watt) frequencies, have a 5 mile range in open terrain, and have voice compression technology for extended distances. Cabela's sells them for 89.99.

Good luck!

http://commerce.motorola.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=235398&prmenbr=126&twoway_cgrfnbr=9&zipcode=&prsdesc=TALKABOUT®%20T6400%20AA%20Alkaline%20Radio

[Bob G2]

You will get much better range with the Marine Band (5W), but your power draw is greater. If you are going into the bush for a week with no way to recharge, bring extra batteries and cut out the small talk when using them.

[Boatnut]

You might want to try energizer's lithium photo batteries (AA size).
they are more expensive but last a lot longer. http://www.energizer.com/products/e2photo.asp

[dragger]

Get Motorola Talkabouts. We use them for everything and they work great. The 2 mile range is usually enough if several boats are fishing in the same area, if we are outside that range, we just use a cell phone, which doesn't happen very often.

[bobco]

Just a note: marine radios are illegal to use from shore(onland) chances are very slim to none that you would have problems but that is the law, I have heard people yacking on them going down the highway on channel 16 while I'm sitting on the lake, I wish the FCC would catch them. I have been very impressed with the FRS FR60 radios from Motoralo, we use them at the ski resorts and fishing. The other option is the extended range FRS , they require licensing to be legal.

[RANGER]

Fred T.,

I have and use all three (CB, VHF,and FRS). Each has it's place. The FRS radios are a very nice product and I use them a lot, as I do the CBs. However, if I were in your position and having to make a choice I'd opt for the VHFs. There are a number of reasons: 1) Most have 12 volt adapters; 2) They have 5 watts of power; 3) They're waterproof; 4) You can use them every time you're on the water for safety or communications whether in Canada or here; 5) VHF radios, for the most part, have the weather channels (8); 6) With a Marine VHF you are in the postion to call for help in an emergency or to be able to help another boater; and 7) The Coast Guard is at the push of a bottom.

They are more expensive but they also have more potential, too. Just pack extra batteries if you feel the need or don't opt for the 12 volt adapter.

[Nate W.]

On our last trip to Lac Seul we borrowed three Motorola talkabout 250s. They worked okay. There were supposd to have a one-mile range, but I think that was a slight exageration, even with nothing but open water between us. But we usually stayed about 1/3 or 1/2 of a mile a part anyway. Once one boat went behind an island or something, forget it. One thing we did to help save batteries is set our watches to chime at the top of each hour. When our watches beeped, we all turned on the walkie talkies, checked on and then turned them off again.

For Christmas I got two Talkabout T5200. I got in my car and drove more than a mile from my house and could still talk to my wife loud and clear. This was in town with everything possible between us. I see Best Buy has them on sale, or at least did a couple weeks ago.So far I really like them, but I think Ontario has lot of iron in the ground, which could effect reception, so well see what happens this summer.

[ufda]

Hey Ranger, you mentioned CBs in the beginning of your message. Since marine band is limited to use over water and I don't think the 2 miles range (over flat unobstructed terrain) on FRS is far enough, why don't more people use handheld CBs. I have seen much on this website about both FRS and Marine band but little on CBs. Why is that? What are the drawbacks? I was thinking of getting a couple of CBs for fishing. The lake I normally fish is 17 miles long in the mountains. Yet, I would like to use the radios someplace other than on the lake so marine banc doesn't seem to be the solution. I think the rest of the guys and gals that respond or read the original message above would be interested in your answers also or I would have posted a separate message. Watcha think?
Thanks

[RANGER]

ufda,

There is a group that I run with where we are all hooked together via CBs. They work nicely but they are not handheld, we have them mounted WITH a marine grade CB antenna (Shakespeare Little Giant 4050-B). They are limited by distance as is any radio but we have talked upwards to 5 to 7 miles measured (sometimes further) but that is with full size CBs. They aren't line-of-sight broadcasting like VHF so, that is an advantage. Another advantage is to be able to call the guys out on the water from one of the cars. That has some real potential. As long as there is no one else on your channel you can have a great day on the water with CBs! The drawback is that CBs are heavily used, especially around cities and Interstates and you're going to get walked on or have some idiot jump in to try to ruin your day. This doesn't happen when we are in Canada, though, because it is so remote. All and all we really enjoy them and it makes for good times, too.

Hope this answers you.

[retire55]

Fred T

I purchased the Motorola 6300 Talkabout last year and have no complaints. I used it for a week walleye fishing in Northern Quebec without a hitch. I didn't need new batteries but we did the same as Nate W suugested - only turned them on on the half hour. The 6300 provides access to weather alerts and has a vibrating call for those who use them while hunting. FWIW. Jay

[Fred T]

Thanks for all who voiced an opinion. I think that I will probablly end up with the VHF hand helds. Yes they are more expensive but I think that are a better deal in the long run. Does anybody know if they are line of site or not?
thanks
Fred T

[Rickk]

Ranger, I have a pair of 5 watt handheld CBs (er I THINK its 5 watt,..anyway I remember they were the highest handheld you you get by law) but the range was TERRIBLE!,..a "radiohead" friend of mine said it performed so badly because of the little rubber antenna that came with it and suggested that I use a (uhmmmm half or quarter wave?) one and it would greatly improve things,..anyway I never got to try it as I was getting a pair of 5 mile frs and gave the CBs away,..the 5 mile FRS works pretty well,..although asking for the full 5 mile is prob. pushing it unless you are on a high bank over water talking to another guy on another high bank,..I don't think I have and/or I don't know about voice compression. Does this greatly extend the range? Mine is a cheaper model(Audiovox) but has built in vox, NOAA weather and emergency weather alert, 15 gmrs channels, 38 privacy codes auto squelch and power save back light,emer channel, dual watch, and a few other things,...I haven't used it a lot but again, seems to work well for me,...I think it was 69 bucks for the pair, on sale at Best Buy,..

















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[jim c]

Where are you going to use the radios,in boats walking flatland,hills?The 1/2 wt wktkes are going to be short range.Marine is to much unless your in boats. The answer I believe is CB,thats what it was orig intended.There are many combos to chose from,been aroun long time.I would look for full power with low power swich for battery save when near.Ear phones for quiet opp and batt save also.A sellection of antena ,little rubber duckie,serious telescopeing (long)and tuned to cb,auto ants that can be attached to your radio directly and my favorite the pocket 1/4 wave (102 inch) ground wave rollup (homemade) this is made using 102 inch bell wire attacher to 102 inch coax cb cable center conductor with a conector to radio and about 50 ft lite line.Toss the line over a tree ,pull end of ant up in air (20 ft)will go 50 miles when you need it.Other opps recharg batts ,solar pannel hand crank generator extra batts.Remember 40 chanels up where your going theyll all be empty.idea!! find what locals up there use.

[RANGER]

Fred T.,

By it's nature VHF is line-of-sight.

[rickk]

interesting to know about long range antenna in an emergency. Not sure I totally understand you are attaching a conector to a 102 " bell wire to a 102" coax cable?,.THEN a lite line? Sorry I'm a bit confused,..

[ufda]

Yeah, thanks for the reply Ranger. It answers my questions pretty well. I think I will stick with the CBs. A one-mile range in this country (AZ) is just a small house lot. As quiet as it is out here I can holler that far. :-) Now you can understand my sign-off.
Thanks again.

[RANGER]

ufda,

Let me put you in another perspective. I'd forgotten that you are a MN transplant in AZ. The same CBs we use in the boats are interchangable with the cars and vice versa. In terrain like AZ I have talked for over 25 miles on the CB and I'm not running a foot-warmer either. Full 5 watt Browning Sabre and a matched K-40 antenna. Those reservoirs out there might lend themselves to much greater distances! I was relating topography like we have here in PA and the Canadian shield! Jeez man, you might be able to talk to God out there! :P