I'm looking into buying an FRS radio for the BG trip, at Hawkeye's suggestion.
Does anyone have a preference regarding a radio brand name, frequencies, etc.?
Your help will be appreciated.
[ 23. August 2002, 09:36 AM: Message edited by: JohnS ]
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on 23 August, 2002 10:41 AM:
I just bought a 2 pack of Cobra radios. They came with rechargable batteries and charger. 14 channels and a 2 mile range for $49.00. Did not seem too bad considering that some were $70.00 per set and single units for $30.00 and did not come with the batteries and charger. I no nothing about these radios and would also like to know if they are junk,I will return them.
Posted by OBSSD (Member # 1258) on 23 August, 2002 10:57 AM:
I have a set of Cobra's and they're OK. One downside is the mic's really finicky. If you hold it too close to your mouth or talk too loud, the other people will barely hear you over the distortion. And they pick up a lot of wind noise, too.
Posted by DanA_F99_1977 (Member # 118) on 23 August, 2002 11:22 AM:
I bought a ham radio and modified it for FRS frequencies. Full 5 watts!! And yes, I did get my amatuer license.
I have the Motorola talkabouts. They are much better than the Cobra's I had. I had cheap Cobra's though so maybe that is why they weren't that good.
Posted by HTWLSS (Member # 117) on 23 August, 2002 11:38 AM:
The Cobra radios seem to be fine.
I bought some Motorola Talkabouts on clearance at Target. They're spendy at regular retail, but on clearance, they're almost as good of a deal as the Cobra brand.
As long as it has two channels (a main and a sub), you should be fine.
Posted by agmSS (Member # 853) on 23 August, 2002 11:50 AM:
I bought a pair of Motorola talkabouts earlier this summer. I bought them as singles at KMart for about 30 bucks each. They work well and I've used them pretty often when I'm cruisin' with Dan or others in our informal group.
Now I gotta get my HAM license....
Andy
Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on 23 August, 2002 02:45 PM:
Motorola's at Radio Shack - seem just fine. I did not get the rechargeable. If the regular batteries die on the trip most gas stations etc carry AA, the recharge ones and your SOL!
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on 23 August, 2002 03:32 PM:
Meijer's in Michigan have the Uniden 14 channel with 2 mile range clearanced out for $16.00 ea. They do not come with rechargeable batteries .
[ 23. August 2002, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: 2002Z4CSS ]
Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on 23 August, 2002 03:39 PM:
There's a few sales over here as well. We'll be checking them out this weekend.
Thanks, everyone, for your help.
"10-4 good buddies" Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on 26 August, 2002 09:53 AM:
I returned the set of Cobra radios that we never used and got a nice set of Uniden radios from Circuit City for $24.00. I took Brians advise and bought non rechargeable batteries,a 16 pack from Sam's Club for $8.00. Tried the radios out and they seem to work for 2 miles or so as advertised. Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on 26 August, 2002 10:18 AM:
I ended up buying a pair of Motorola Talkabouts. They use both rechargeable and regular batteries and have a 2 mile range. This particular model has a nice feature where you can dial up frequencies in between the main FRS frequencies, in the event the main frequencies are already in use by others.
Thanks again for the advice.
Posted by 2002Z4CSS (Member # 1393) on 26 August, 2002 10:31 AM:
I forgot to mention that the Cobra radios were only 14 channel and the Unidens are 22 channels. Since I don't live Cobra's (Rustangs) and have Brickyard 400 #22, the obvious choice was the Uniden radios!
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