~Toughbooktalk~

Hey guys,

I'm trying to get some powerful 2 way radios for my wife and I to use and for use in the boonies where there is no cell phone service. Also I want to use it at my home because we need to be able to communicate through out the day when we are 3 floors apart. Distance is a MUST.

I've talked to a few people and have been told that VHF is the way to go for "going through/around objects" but I'm finding UHF to generally have more watts.

Either way I'm going to purchase an FCC license but I've narrowed it down to the following 2 radios:

Midland GXT5000 UHF GMRS 5 watt radio - http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT5000-3 ... ds=GXT5000 - $240 total price.

~VS~

VHF 5 watt Motorola's RDV5100: http://wwww.factoryoutletstore.com/deta ... y_id=34573 - $518 total price. I'm leaning in this direction currently. I would need an FCC license for this too right? These appear to be everywhere with local retail shops and they used something similar in my old apartment complex. They seem to punch though everything... This guy is also repeater capable according to Motorola: http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/ ... 5100_US-EN

Needed:

DURABLE, water-resistant/proof - Of course right????
Lithium Ion battery that is wicked powerful on run time (Which the Midland doesn't have)

Question is: Which will work for me? I wanna be able to go up the road 4 - 5 miles. The basic 2 watt GMRS radios I have now I'm lucky if I get half a mile out of them. Is it even possible to do what I wanna do with a more powerful radio? Example: Last year I was travelling in 2 different vehicles with another friend and when we got as little as .25 to .5 mile out in traffic our radios cut out using the low .5 watt FRS channel (8 - 14)... STUPID. That isn't practical.

FWIW, I'm NOT apposed to installing a base station or repeater in my house but my understanding is that they need to be able to hop +5Khz to use a system like that and NOT all radios can do it.

Total budget for radios = MAX $500 - $600 but with a base station I know it'll be more. Considering I have always been fond of Motorola and the fact that they INVENTED the radio I'd prefer Motorola. I've been told that Motorola radios are the Toughbooks of the radio world.

Last but not least: What about these? http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-DTR550-P ... rds=DTR550 - I've seen these in use at a local retail store and have the "Nextel Chirp" style system and run on 900MHz. Are they better for distance? - They are also license free. About $563 total package for 2.

Thanks!

Talk to Azrial....

Hi Rob

You would need a pair of radios with a repeater and an antenna on a real tower to get this range. Maybe look for a two way radio company in the area…if there are any… Nextel put most of them out of business.

Nextel was the best 2-way and phone I ever had. Miss those days. Oh yeah …Nextel did have a off network two-way radio version phone but the range was limited to less than your nearest curb.

If there is any option for you Paul would know...http://www.qsl.net/k0rwu/

-Nick

Nick,

There is a local radio station here in the area that wants $25/month/line - So $50/month total. The radios I'd need would need to be $600/each = $1200 just in radios. That's a bit steep!

Thanks!

Lots of used equipment out there. ...

That DTR550 is looking nicer and nicer every time I look at it! SMS support too! They clain 40% better range than a normal UHF radio... I like that it has the traditional "Nextel" type of chirp too (Although, I'm more of a practical guy, not an ohh and ahh type of guy lol)

This guy reviewed it here and is telling me he's getting better range with this 900MHz unit than a traditional VHF/UHF radio: http://www.twowayradioforum.com/forum/s ... php?t=1069

I like how it has a "Handshake" to establish the connection first. That way, if you're not in range you know (Just like Nextel used to be if you had bad signal)

"When both are on, pushing the PTT causes a short 'handshake' to take place to make sure at least one other unit is in range. This is indicated by the "Nextel-like" tone. Once the tone ends about 1/2 second later, you can start talking. If the other radio is not in range, you will instead hear a loud beep."

"The DTR-series radios are pure digital radios, which means there is about a 1 second delay in the transmission. It also means that there is no fuzzy transmission from the far edge of their working range; they are either 100% clear or they don't transmit at all. When tested side-by-side with the nice Motorola Walkabout T6220s that held my previous record for range and clarity, the DTRs were much clearer."

"One cannot eavesdrop on a conversation with consumer-level scanners either."

I like the fact that it is 100% digital and works 100% with no fuzz/static at the far end.

Thanks!

A few notes from reading the link,

Read the part about Generation II 410. "nearly equal to 650"

Look for a deal with belt clips, lapel mikes, batteries and maybe a multi-unit charger. To live on the nite-stand? Accessories can eat you up.

I'd look at the 650 if I wasn't punching through trees and bushes. From personal experience HT1250's don't punch through mountains. (VHF) but they are pretty good through repeaters. My fire crew packs HT1000 (16 channel) The MURS freq we use for crew net is pretty weak but only used for short distances on the fire-line. By using the talk-around feature we are seeing about 22 channels on a 16 channel radio. Transmit and receive are different freqs. This is all just yaddling.

Go for the 410 Gen 2 or the 650 or wait for Bill to chime in. (The Az):)

J'd...

And I thought I was still going good with the tried and true CB radios, lmao.

CB is good if you want to talk to Hawaii. (skip)
I had a CB in the 69 Bronco P.U. one time. Talked to Oakland/ Fremont from a high point on the Boonville grade. Dual antennas and a little "help" on the tunnel. (100+ air miles)Plenty of room for the "help" as the Bronco had three on the tree. Back before they went to the increased numbers of channels.
Is 23 channels right? Yeah, truckers ran on 19.
Are there any old CB'ers on here?

Sorry for the OT Rob.

Problem with C.B. Too many clients and sunspots.

Hey Paul, how many watts were we playing with?

Hey, Rob....when you go HAM I have a guy (scary smart) that can help. You've talked to him on the phone....one time at my house.

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Bottom line: Expensive is better.

It's was dad's old 23 Channel Johnson. Power mike, 110% boost in voice and 50watt booster. Back in the day two of my uncles had big base stations. I just got his old setup and still use it from time to time.