i forgot to mention that the FRS channels or 14 channel FRS handhelds will
put out 500 milli-watts or half a watt of RF to the antenna.
Although, i believe some manufacturers calculate DBI power out of the
antenna rather then actual RF power to the antenna...which means that they
calculate the DBI as how much power is radiating from the antenna and set
this at half a watt...much less efficient as far as talk power goes,
probably better for battery consumtion and they can put cheaper lower grade
components in because they are probably only putting a few hundred
milli-watts of RF to the antenna.
There is a chart for calculating DBI bassed on wattage and so on on the
internet somewhere, a google search will supply some good examples and
references on DBI power ratings.
Also, if you want to check out different makes of FRS/GMRS radios there are
lots of resources on the net for these.
73
Colin, VA6BKX
----- Original Message -----
From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: family band questionns
> the motorola series of handheld FRS radios are some of the best on the
> market.
> There are of course better ones, that is, heavier duty, probably higher
> quality components and all that, but for $85 a pair, any motorola FRS pair
> is going to be a pretty good bang for your buck.
> They are 14 channels if they are true FRS radios, and if they are GMRS/FRS
> hybrid radios they are 22 channels....the first 14 are FRS and the rest
are
> the GMRS channels.
> This also means that they are a full 2 watt output on FRS/GMRS channels 1
to
> 7 and 15-22 (these last channels 15-22 are GMRS only, the FRS and GMRS
share
> the channels 1 through 7 and you can run 2 watts under a GMRS license on
> those)
> Many of the features are useless generally speaking on FRS radios...things
> like multiple call tones, which are irritating at the best of times, and
> auto-power off, some have the NOAA weather frequencies in them....one
thing
> you might look for is the handhelds with the longest antennas on
> them...these generally are much more efficient then the handhelds with the
2
> inch stub since these are 1 quarter wave coil design...a longer antenna on
> the radio will give better radiation patterns then a shorter coil will.
> From personal experience, i have found that the motorola handhelds can be
> heard and can talk a longer distance and maintain good signals compared to
> other brands like midland or cobra or audiovox or who ever else makes them
> now.
> For the listing of frequencies check out
> www.frs.org
> and there are also links to GMRS pages from there.
> 73's
> Colin, VA6BKX
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Stevenson" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 11:45 AM
> Subject: family band questionns
>
>
> > What are the family band frequencies,
> > and how many chanels?
> >
> > What are the most full featured family band radios?
> >
> > Which are most accessable?
> >
> > Radio Shack has Motorola talkeys on sale for $85 for two
> > and base stations for $39 which are being discontinued.
> >
> > How do these radios compare?
> >
> > Thanks much again as always.
> >
> > 73
> > wb6 yoy
> >
> > (650) 604-5720
> >
>
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