Batboard

I have a question about how the different GMRS/FRS bubble pack radios are marketed. I am well aware of the differences between those and commercial quality GMRS radios with repeater capabilities. What I don't know is what criteria is used by the manufacturers (including Motorola) when they advertise the different ranges of the bubble pack radios. For example, a manufacturer will have in their GMRS/FRS line radios that they advertise the range as 5 mile, 8 mile, 12 mile, 20 mile and even higher. These are for allegedly different levels of GMRS/FRS radios in their product line. So, are they different? And if so, how? I know, of course, that the actual numbers are meaningless, but can one expect better performance from one that is marketed at 26 miles as opposed to 10 miles from the same manufacturer?

Nope. It's all marketing hype and lies.

What's interesting is most of these FRS radios put out .5 watts. So a claim of over 10 miles is ridiculously funny. I guess some are now putting out 2 watts (the GMRS / FRS / weather combo radios ) that are now claiming 20+ miles. Again, funny as hell. What's interesting is (I know they've been doing this for awhile now) is how these little radios have BOTH weather (on VHF) AND FRS on UHF all in the same radio. I always thought that was neat, yet we have these radios that cost thousands of dollars that only do one band lol

I echo what was written above. It's all lies. You can't have the same exact design radios, using the same exact type of non-removable antennas, give widely differing results. But remember what Barnum said about the fact that there is a sucker born every minute who reads that crap on the packaging and believes it.

I was in RadioShack yesterday, and I walked over to the parts drawers to get what I needed, and saw a guy talking with the sales rep, looking over and comparing the various FRS/GMRS bubble-pack radios, comparing the ranges... "Oh, this one does 25 miles, and this one does 31, and..." I don't know why I didn't go over there and tell him the truth about all of them, but after the customer had purchased his radios and left, I went to cash out my parts, and as the guy was ringing me up, I casually mentioned, "You know, in reality, all of those walkie-talkies work roughly the same..." to which the rep nodded and responded under his breath, "Yeah. I know."

Makes me wish I had told the customer the truth!

The GMRS/FRS combos with 22 channels can put out 2 watts on the GMRS channels. So, if you have 2 Motorola GMRS/FRS radios transmitting at 2 watts on a GMRS channel it doesn't matter if you bought the one that says 10 miles on the pack or paid more for the one that says 28 miles on the pack. The range should be virtually the same, correct?

To add to the reality here, if you look at the actual FCC type acceptance documents, most of these radios don't put out anywhere near their claimed power outputs. I know they all vary a bit, but while they'll claim 500mw on FRS and 2 watts on GMRS, they often have drastically lower "real" power outputs. Look up a few on the FCC OET search and you will see what I mean.

billy7834 wrote:The GMRS/FRS combos with 22 channels can put out 2 watts on the GMRS channels. So, if you have 2 Motorola GMRS/FRS radios transmitting at 2 watts on a GMRS channel it doesn't matter if you bought the one that says 10 miles on the pack or paid more for the one that says 28 miles on the pack. The range should be virtually the same, correct?

In theory - yes. In reality - YMMV.

So when I hit the space station with my CP200 and a Yagi can I say it has a 200 mile range???

escomm wrote:So when I hit the space station with my CP200 and a Yagi can I say it has a 200 mile range???

Don't be silly! That's 400 mile range... round-trip!

escomm wrote:So when I hit the space station with my CP200 and a Yagi can I say it has a 200 mile range???

you would be telling the truth......
or at least a version thereof.....

Hello:
I also agree with all above.
You will not get that type of range period.
Not to steal someones else qoate but rather repeat it.
YOU WONT GET 25 MILE RANGE FROM 3 AA BATTERIES.

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