FRS (Family Radio Service) Radios

[SLVRBLT]

A few days ago, I helped my ex brother-in-law get to the lake by pulling his boat for him. (He was pulling his 35' 5er) When we were ready to leave his house, he handed me a small radio about the size of a pack of cigs. It was a Cobra, FRS radio, but I don't remember the model. FRS110 maybe? Anyway, we used these to converse with each other on the way to the lake and the clarity, reception, range, etc. was amazing! Seemed a lot clearer with a lot less static and traffic than CB.



After we got to the lake, he picked out a pretty tight spot to back the 5er into and with me acting as the "spotter" and using the radio with him listening to the other, it worked really well. This may be the most important use for them as even if the driver can't see you, he can hear you perfectly!



Since I just bought a 5er, and my spotter will be my wife,

I immediately ordered a pair of them to hopefully prevent me from meeting up with a tree, rock, or post in a campground somewhere.



Wasn't sure if anyone else was using these, but I couldn't remember seeing a topic on them? My $02.

Dave

 

[samb]

Use mine all the time.

 

[BK]

yes, they are a nice step above the CB.

They operate very close to the HAM 2meter band.



The basic reason they are soo clear is that they are FM.



CBs are AM.



They also use a squelch (sp?) technology that the HAM radios use, Tone Squelch. So unlike the CB with a basic level squelch, these FR dont produce sound till they receive the tone they are looking for, then they open up the squelch and let you hear what it's receiving. So again , unlike CB's which let you hear ANY noise that gets above the squelch.



These little wonders also use a sleep mod to save batteries when not in use. The only bad thing is that they use AAA. I would prefer AA.



I use one of my HAM HT, when doing it, I have a HAM 2 meter rig in the truck. But I hate the idea of my wife holding all that money in her hand. I expect one day that the HAM HT will wind up under the trailer wheel when she drops it. So I've been tempted to get the FR, I think Radio Shack now has mobil rig, complete with antena to mount in your truck!

 

[wyosteve]

I have Motorolas and they use AA batteries.

 

[BK]

wyosteve, what model?



My buddy has mots and they use AAA

I know mot makes more than one model, but they don't advertise what batteries they take, you usually gotta find them in a store to find that out?



Thanks

Bob

 

[SLVRBLT]

Guess I should have mentioned the ones I ordered are Cobra FRS-110. The use 4 AAA batteries, but a rechargeable battery pack is available and a charger that charges two battery packs at once. Don't know yet how long the 4 AAA's will operate them?



BK- Yes, the auto squelch technology works really well with no noise while on standby. I think at the frequency these operate at that they penetrate trucks, trailers, buildings, etc. better that the CB frequencies.



I appreciate the responses.



Dave

 

[swamp rat]

The week of the 4th of July, Office Depot was just about giving away the Motorola Talkabout 250's for $15 after rebates. They are being discontinued and getting rare after the OD special. At one time they sold for $99 each.

 

[Shooter]

Just like my stealth bombing credit card, I never leave home with out the FRS radios. Have the Cobra ??? water proof w rechargable batteries, 110 charger base for 2 radios, 2 cig liter adapter, and 2 head sets . They have the sub chanels, pageing, scrambler for " private " transmissions and more. They are also good when out in the wilds, truck to truck or truck to trailer in thoes states that allow. I bought mine last spring. They were a discontinued model with more features than the new model, dirt cheap. They were a buck twenty five list and got the whole package ( radios and acessories ) for forty on line.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

IT'S a minor point - but FRS radios are NOT "near the 2 meter Ham band" - they ARE near the 440 mhz Ham band...



Yer only about 300 mhz off...

 

[BK]

Gary,

your right, I suffured a brain fart...





Don't know what I confussed it with, but I was soo sure even when I read your message. So I had opened up the freq alocation chart... and I totally blew it... your right. .



I knew FRS was near one of the bands and for some reason I was stuck on it being the 2meter band, not the 440.



Well I guess I'm still human.



I know, it was the fumes from the cesspool... had to dig for the cap of it and open it up this afternoon... problems with it backing up... ya thats it, it was those fumes... those fumes werent any where as sweet as the smell of diesel



A $*ity job, put someone had todo it...

 

[SnoKing]

Was at Radio Shack last night and they have a new FRS that is built into a magnetic roof base with a remote mic and 12V power plug. FRS rules state NO remore antenna's, so I guess they got around it by putting the transceiver in the magnetic roof mount. It has the 38 squelch codes. Could make a good truck base master unit. $79. 95 each. Snow King

 

[Dkevdog]

I have a set of lesser expensive ones- maybe its the case with the cheapos, but seems to me there is alot of crosstalk on them, seems everyone has the same frequency. I know the motorolas have selectable channels. Just be careful and don't end up with a cheap one (mine was given to me for use in pulling networking cables).



Kev

 

[SnoKing]

Yeh, you really want the 38 squelch code units. I have two Kenwood units that are high quality. I built head sets into our Snowmobile helmets. Snow King

 

[Koa Man]

BK,

I have 2 Kenwoods and they take 3 AA batteries. Bought them when FRS first started to come out... cost me $130 each!

Just bought another pair of Cobra Microtalks for $69 with a $20 rebate. They use 4 AAA batteries.



I have been using FRS radios since about the end of '98 for backing up and hooking up trailers, among other things. Way better than CB and even business VHF radios for communication under 2 miles.

 

[LMautone]

great deal

as with all things that are new, the longer their on the market the cheaper they get. Midland now has top of the line FRS radios(with over 1600 privacy codes - this illiminates the cross chatter)available with rechargable batteries and a drop-in charger. the best part is you can buy the package( two midland ultra speak easy's #75-515, ni-cad batteries and a dual drop-in charger for under $70. 00. i have these radios and they are top quality and well worth the price.

 

[wyosteve]

BK, the Motorolas are Talkabout 250's. Got them at Cabela's with rebate for 59. 99. Love them.

 

[JAnderson]

Another nice feature of these radio's is the ability to talk hands free with an ear piece and micraphone. I use a Talkabout Distance hunting. It has a ni cad battery and will also use standard batteries. Nothing like getting ready to shoot an animal and have your friend call you on the radio at the same time. The animal did not hear because of the ear piece but I sure flew off the ground.