| Author |
Message |
    
Tomcatinva
Junior Member
Username: Tomcatinva
Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 12:38 pm: | 
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Ok guys I hope I am posting this in the right place. I was just surfing the WEB and I noticed on Midland's web site that they are advertising a new GMRS/FRS radio that has a 12 mile range. Ok I know about "line of site" and if conditions are perfect, like on "open water" or in "the plains" of west Texas. But they are saying it has 3 power settings with the highest at 4 watts. Is this really possible could GMRS be really getting more power? It's the Midland GXT400 with what they call "X-Tra Talk".
So what does everyone thing? Just curious... :-)
Thanks...
TomCat CEF217 |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1490
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 1:52 pm: |
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Tom
If you beleve 12 miles ..... I have a freshly refurbished statue in new your harbor .... |
Barracuda
Intermediate Member
Username: Barracuda
Post Number: 256
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 2:39 pm: |
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TomCat,
I looked at the site and find it strange that the radios that would seem to be their high-end, power-wise, do not permit repeater based operation. At least I couldn't find it in their manual or the description on the radio. However, at least one of their lower power, but much higher priced, radios can do this.
Go figure.
Barracuda |
Ca346
Advanced Member
Username: Ca346
Post Number: 969
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 3:13 pm: |
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They'd be nice to keep track of my wife when WE go to the shopping mall and I sit people watching... probably get arrested for being a suspected terrorist... |
Barracuda
Intermediate Member
Username: Barracuda
Post Number: 257
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 3:34 pm: |
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Bruce,
Here's how the manual says you can achieve maximun range using these radios. The following is excerpted from the GTX-400 manual
"Your GXT Series radios are designed to give you maximum range
under optimum conditions.
Optimum Conditions are:
l Over water
l Open rural areas without obstructions
l Flat areas where you can see the other person"
I just love the last point. You too can get maximum range (their stated 12 miles) if you can see the other person over flat ground?!?!?!?! I didn't think that was possible given the earth's curvature. Now maybe on top of two mountain peaks with a good telescope...
73
Barracuda |
Dindin
Intermediate Member
Username: Dindin
Post Number: 338
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 5:52 pm: |
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over open water ,isn't line of sight approximatly 5 miles?
I have a pair of Motorola Sport7 frs handhelds that will talk about 3 1/2to4 miles over the road and about 7 miles from here at the house to the top of a nearby firetower.got them in 97 about $100 for the pair. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1491
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 6:57 pm: |
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Between 2 mountains ill buy
Line of sight is ((sq root of H ) * 1.4 )
H=ant hight in feet
SO over a flat place no trees nothing it is about 4 miles SO its 8 miles person to person now ASUMING you can get to this moonscape place it could be done my bet is even over water 12 miles is MORE than streching it. |
Ca346
Advanced Member
Username: Ca346
Post Number: 972
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 20, 2004 - 7:44 pm: |
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Bruce, you are always saying the glass is half empty  Now KB would be complaining the antenna was too short... |
Tomcatinva
Junior Member
Username: Tomcatinva
Post Number: 26
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 2:01 pm: |
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Bruce,
Yea, I think in my younger days I bought some ocean front property in Kansas really nice too, built a house on it and renting it out as a resort. ;-)
But seriously though... I have a pair of Cobra PR-2000wx I use when I go skiing and they do pretty well on the slopes in Colorado. But they only have 2 watts of power and as we all know the trees will absorb the RF, and they are kind of heavy for the ski jacket. I also added a better antenna to the radios as these are removable antennas and seem to work better than the short antenna they come with. So... I was thinking if these are a little better on range (with 2 times the power 4 watts) and lighter. So I was thinking, it might be worth it to look into. That’s why I was looking for ya’lls input.
Thanks Again,
TomCat CEF217
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That ELCO Guy (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 9:15 pm: |
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Additional Information...
I found this in the FCC data base of general information. GMRS radios require an FCC license. The applicaton can be downloaded on the FCC web page and requres an $80 license fee for a new license issue.
Copy as follows....
"If you operate a radio that has been approved exclusively under the rules that apply to FRS, you are not required to have a license. FRS radios have a maximum power of ½ watt (500 milliwatt) effective radiated power and integral (non-detachable) antennas. If you operate a radio under the rules that apply to GMRS, you must have a GMRS license. GMRS radios generally transmit at higher power levels (1 to 5 watts is typical) and may have detachable antennas. The current fee for a new GMRS license is $80."
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Johnhenre
Junior Member
Username: Johnhenre
Post Number: 46
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 9:27 am: |
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OUESTION I BOUGHT (5) STANDARD 25 WATT MOBILE RADIOS,AND THEY CAN BE PROGRAMMED TO FRS,OR GRMS.THEY ARE NOW PROGRAMMED TO BE USED ON REPEATER'S. SO IF I SET UP TO A SINGLE FREQENCY LIKE GRMS, CAN I RUN THESES 25 WATT RADIO'S? |
Troublemaker
New member
Username: Troublemaker
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:19 am: |
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I'd like to see the FCC try to enforce that one!!! |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 3374
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:24 am: |
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Johnhenre,
If they will tune to it yes you can use them if you choose to.
Legality is another matter and 100% your choice to use what you choose.
Lon
Tech808 |
Bc910
Member
Username: Bc910
Post Number: 62
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 11:34 am: |
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Is there a manufacturer making murs radios yet? Last I heard no one is. |
Highlander
Advanced Member
Username: Highlander
Post Number: 590
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 12:20 pm: |
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I think GMRS licencees are allowed up to 50 watts.
As far as I know, you can use re-programmed business band radios on either GMRS or MURS, as long as you follow all the power and bandwidth rules on both services. |
Barracuda
Intermediate Member
Username: Barracuda
Post Number: 259
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, August 22, 2004 - 1:27 pm: |
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Highlander,
The FCC says that station equipment in the GMRS service must be certified for use in GMRS. Applicable part below.
Sec. 95.129 Station equipment.
Every station in a GMRS system must use transmitters the FCC has certificated for use in the GMRS. Write to any FCC Field Office to find
out if a particular transmitter has been certificated for the GMRS. All station equipment in a GMRS system must comply with the technical rules in part 95.
You are absolutely right on the 50watts though as well as the bandwitdth issues needing to be followed. If one did follow the frequency, bandwidth and power requirements, I don't know how the FCC could determine that you are out of compliance. But as Lon said, the decision to use non-type certified equipment is 100% your choice.
73
Barracuda
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1497
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 7:13 am: |
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MY 2 CENTS
If the FCC cant track down a CB er running 100,000 watts into a 10 elm beam why worry about a 50 watt 460 mhz mobile? Unless you cause a problem i dont think anyone will care.
MURS MANY RADIOS WILL WORK WELL ON MURS
some older ones will not meet the bandwidth but most new ones will ........ 151.820 is my home ch. |
Highlander
Advanced Member
Username: Highlander
Post Number: 591
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 9:16 am: |
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Ok, I stand corrected on certification for GMRS.
Is this also true for MURS? Would that make the radio shack business band mobiles that were on clearance a while back illegal for MURS?
We have been having fun with a pair of those mobiles--I have a portable setup for my bicycle so I can keep in touch with the home base when I am riding in the countryside within about 10 miles of my house. Using a 5/8 wave magmount on the bike luggage rack and a discone at the base. Just like 2 meters only no license needed. We tried essentially the same thing with GMRS and got 5 miles, still pretty neat, but MURS does better for that particular application. |
Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 1499
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 9:43 am: |
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MURS IS COOL I LOVE IT 2 WATTS AND A BEAM MAKES FOR GOOD RANGES ! I run a 5 db gain colinear on the car and a 18 foot tall (3) 1/2 waves stacked vertical 9dbi gain 30 foot up at the house ...... 9-12 miles no problem ...... and i got 18 miles with just 2 watts! Even with a 40 foot tall 5/8 wave i got at least 10 miles ........ too bad that the radios are so hard to come by. |
Barracuda
Intermediate Member
Username: Barracuda
Post Number: 260
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 10:54 am: |
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Higlander,
I believe FCC wants type certification for all Public radio service equipment. However as has been said already if the power, bandwidth and frequency requirements are met and you are not causing any interference I can't see how FCC would know or really care. As for MURS, like Bruce I use it and enjoy it. I do not use any fancy antennas with it though. I have 4 hts with the stock rubber ducks and 3 mobiles that either use cut down 2m mag mounts or twinlead JPoles. I am not trying for long range with them, just local comms mainly to support events I participate in (e.g. various foot-races, bike races etc.) For MURS I too use 151.82, not much local use on that freq. I stay away from 154.57 and 154.60 because they are used by my town's local security force (pre-MURS license grant). |
Highlander
Advanced Member
Username: Highlander
Post Number: 592
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 2:16 pm: |
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Cool stuff for sure, we are using 151.940. I hear some interesting stuff on 154.570 and 154.600, lot's of questionable business kind of stuff--sounds like at least one "escort service" is actively using old "dot" itinerant business radios. |
Tomcatinva
Junior Member
Username: Tomcatinva
Post Number: 29
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Monday, August 30, 2004 - 9:26 pm: |
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Well everyone I think I have found out how the FRS/GMRS radios manufactures are getting by with this "extended range" 6mile/8mile GMRS radios. Other than the fact of stating "Under Ideal Situations" but I was looking at some Cobra radios and I found this quote...
"Maximum Range Extender -- Overrides Auto Squelch to provide extended range reception."
SO I guess what they are saying is that if you turn off the squelch you can hear the other person further away, along with a bunch of noise. :-) too funny.
Anyway I thought I would share that with everyone. Gotta love the fine print I guess!!
TomCat CEF217 |
