Hi Collin, I don't know about mine, but my batteries in my FRS radios tend
to last a month. I think they are Kenwoods or something like that.
Operation is really straight forward, and they've never gotten warm or
anything after transmitting a while and just use tripple a batteries. I
think that they go for about a mile or two but I could be wrong.
On Mon, 18 Apr 2005, Colin McDonald wrote:
> 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
> > >
> >
>
|
