Buying Radios

[covert]

Surprised there hasn't been a better thread on this. maybe i just couldn't find it. anyway, i've resisted buying radios for years but the time has come and the research has begun. seems to me that all FRS radios are pretty similar. anybody feel differently?

range is not a big issue for me as they'll be used only for short range communication.

1)durability is important
2)weight is very important, anyone noticed differences of more than 1-2oz per brand/model.
3)must have simple reliable keylock
4)water resistant
5)rechargeable vs batteries? don't know. are some rechargeable models lighter?

personal insights into what people like/don't like about the radios they own would be appreciated.

[Snow Dog]

You left out temperature. Most consumer electronics isn't rated for cold weather. It might work; it might not. My Audiovox radios don't work below 0C.

And you want a GMRS/FRS anyway. More power on the GMRS channels.

[Obstruction]

There appear to be a number of threads on this topic.

[covert]

i'm not too worried about temp. these will be used for guide/client communication at the top and bottom of lines so they can live inside a jacket most of the time.

[iceman]

There appear to be a number of threads on this topic.

It was very popular for a while there.

[covert]

if anybody is interested i'm buying these....

Attachment 14553

...so this thread can die. they are miniscule, weigh 2.75oz each with 3 AAA lithium batteries inside. keylock, .5watt, frs/gmrs compatible. sounds perfect for weight/size conscious short range communication. $22 for a pair and if they suck, back to REI they go.

[iceman]

Damn, those things are tiny, and cheap as hell. Report back on how they work out, I'm not totally stoked on my Motorola rechargeables.

[flatNshallow]

or woot today but slightly larger...

[splat]

I got a set of super dooper Cobras with settings for vox and a kabillion chanels, if anyone's interested. 3 units, one is missing plastic antenna protector, and charger, maybe two chargers.

[Lexi-Bell]

One of my ski partners has these, and they are a killer deal.

If you plan on using them at the resort, one thing to consider is there are no sub channels, so you're on 1 through 12, no 9-11, 4-20, etc. Which sucks when you're listening to gapers and parents trying to call Billy all day.

[bad_roo]

I just got a pair of these BT Freeway Pros for £22 off ebay. Really solid construction, not too weighty, 304 channels and a very good vox system with earpieces and mikes. They come in very handy on car photo shoots and I've tried the earpiece under my ski helmet and it fits OK. Have to see how the vox function handles wind noise but the mike can be tucked out of the way a bit and the vox has different sensitivity settings.

Downside is a 16 hour charging time from flat and a modest 3km range.

[splat]

This is the Cobra setup I got for $40.00 (runs about $120-$200 w/accessories) with charger, but no mike or earpiece:


There's some good prices on their site for radios with up to 17 mile ranges: http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=...ate/index&id=1

* 2 PR 4000 WX 2-way Radios
* X3 Power Tech delivers up to 7 Mile Range
* NOAA All Hazards Alert Radio
* Digital Compass
* 836 Privacy Channel Combinations with 22 Channels and 38 Privacy Codes
* Selectable High/Medium/Low Power (3.0W/2.0W/0.5W)
* Clock/Alarm & Stopwatch with Split-Timer
* Water Resistant to IP54 Standard
* 10 Channel Memory
* Scan (Channel, Privacy Code, Memory)
* VibrAlert® Silent Paging
* VOX Hands Free Operation
* 1 Year Limited Warranty

[mnflyfish]

I picked up a pair of Motorola's cheap last hunting season. They have worked very well in the deer stand, winter fly fishing, and skiing. They do blow through the battery a little faster in the cold but if you keep them in a pocket or just inside your jacket it's not a huge problem. I got earbuds with mine as part of the package, keep the radio in a pocket and still have access to the radio. I don't have them with me but they were the cheap ones I think I paid around $35. I've dropped them, the kids got a hold of them at Disney World and spilled stuff on them, etc.

Oh, and they did work great at Disney, my wife and I broke away while my parents took our kids to the Magic Kingdom. We were able to talk just fine while we were at MG Studios. I don't know how far that is but I thought it was pretty good. In Montana this spring we were able to communicate across the entire area.

Good Luck,
Jay

[splat]

Quite a testimonial. Montana's a fair-sized state.