Baofeng? GMRS that's inexpensive?

[GSequoia]

I'm pretty sure Anak understands the technology. I'm pretty sure he's much more of a radio nerd than you are (and much more so than I).


I think GMRS is a dead-end. You end up with a typically cheap handheld that's more of a toy. Mobile GMRS rigs are few and far between and expensive if you can have them. You have a license that is more expensive than an amateur license, the only difference is no test (which is a pretty easy test). I see little value in GMRS and less in FRS.


2M is a superior platform with nice inexpensive mobile rigs and the previously mentioned dirt cheap handhelds as an option. You have a much wider frequency range to use so when you're in a populated area you don't have as much traffic issues. The licensing is inexpensive and test easy to pass with just a bit of studying. I own five or six Baofeng radios and as anybody whose been at an event with me in the past few years can attest I hand them out like candy to use on our simplex frequency. There have been a few people who have developed an interested in the technology directly because of this when they see how much nicer they are than CB radio. Legally there is no difference between handing out a GMRS to an unlicensed person verses handing out a 2m so why go with the more limited, crippled technology?

[Kejtar]

And you're missing the point. I want gmrs.

[Kejtar]

And if he knows so much about radios why is it that he didn't add any value but rathet chose to stir stuff up? Is that indicative of the type of a person he is?

[Anak]

Originally Posted by Kejtar

And if he knows so much about radios why is it that he didn't add any value but rathet chose to stir stuff up? Is that indicative of the type of a person he is?

I thought you might have some brilliant insight of which I was completely unaware with regard to this:

Originally Posted by GSequoia

Legally there is no difference between handing out a GMRS to an unlicensed person verses handing out a 2m so why go with the more limited, crippled technology?

It would appear that you know something which I do not, and consequently that you would be able to teach me. Thus far it hasn't happened.

But I do thank you for not questioning my mother's species or for suggesting I go perform impossible acts upon myself. I have to grant this is a welcome improvement over a similar, recent past interchange.

Thank you.

[Kejtar]

License applies to me and my immediate family. This covers me for what I need it to do. I asked for radio recommendations. That's it....

[GSequoia]

Well a bit more detail could have helped you. Given the nature of this group it's only obvious that we would assume you are referring to vehicle-to-vehicle traffic verses radios shared between a kid and her parents, if you had been upfront with that detail it would have saved me from recommending differing technology.

I'd still use Baofeng radios instead of the toy GMRS radios. They will do everything the toys do while offering you more when Julia gets her license. The only feature that you won't have is the "Call" feature you find on those radios (which transmits a ringing type alarm to the other radio, not a very important feature).

[Kejtar]

Geoff - my question wasn't which radio type to use for a particular application but rather which one of the particular radio type radios folks used and like.

[GSequoia]

If somebody asks me what welding rod to use to weld an axle I'm not going to spout a rod, I'd explain why that's not a good idea and what better options are.

In either case, see my answer above.

[Anak]

I think the resounding abundance of recommendations should indicate something.

Should.

BTW, my 12 y.o. has his ham license, and probably should be taking his test to upgrade to General. Ham is plenty easy enough to be family friendly.

[Kejtar]

And that's fine for you. HAM won't work for me for quite a few years.

[Anak]

It looks like you are in the perfect spot to learn something and teach the rest of us about it.

[Kejtar]

So I can tell you baofeng 888 plus has good distance, feels cheap but has a downside of one out of two going bad out of the box. On the other hand $25 for a pair is a steal....
Seeing that there are other options out there I'm considering other options before I go to 888 plus.

[Anak]

Now we have a starting point.

See? We can do this.

In a year you will know something about their durability. You may also know if 1 out of 2 extends to 2 out of 4. Or if any vendors offer something in terms of customer service.

Keep the info coming and we will get somewhere.

Thank you.

[Kejtar]

So I figure that if the radio lasts me 2 years I'm happy. If it dumps under 2 years AMEX covers me. So I'm not too concerned with the customer service.

Anyways....

[GSequoia]

I've never had a failure they wasn't caused my physical abuse with my Baofeng radios.