• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

GMRS radios with 18 mile range!?!

Melensdad

Melensdad

Jerk in a Hawaiian Shirt & SNOWCAT Moderator
Staff member
I had a very unexpected surprise today. The lovely Mrs_B and I took off for a scooter ride into the countryside and we took 1 of our little Radio Shack FRS/GMRS radios, left the other at home with our daughter.

Almost 7 miles away from home we decided to explore a new neighborhood that is being built. So stopped for a moment and I called back to the house. Honestly I felt there was NO CHANCE that this glorified walkie-talkie could ever reach the house. Surprised as all heck, but it did.

It was set to a long range channel (according to the instructions, Channels 15 through 22 have longer potetnial range). We were set to channel 16.

Our house sits on a ridge, and I was transmitting from a hilltop. So while I could not see the house, there was no major physical/topographical obstruction between me and the house. The transmissions had some minor static, but nothing that was obtrusive.


I'm curious to hear experience from other FRS/GMRS users as to what sort of distances to expect. I hoped for 2 mile range! As I am shopping for another scooter now, I'll be needing at least one more FRS/GMRS radio.
 
That sounds cool. I bought a pair that advertised a 10 mile range to use on a cruise ship. Bad idea. I suppose with all the steel etc. the effective range became line of sight on the cruise ship. I've never tried them since, I'll have to dig them out. I don't think they are junk, just my mistake for thinking that they would work on a 1000 foot long cruise ship made of steel. :pat:
 
Doing a bit of research, these are FM transmitters, line of sight is pretty critical and bounce is not achievable. I'd suggest that on a cruise ship they might work on deck?
 
B_Skurka said:
It was set to a long range channel (according to the instructions, Channels 15 through 22 have longer potetnial range). We were set to channel 16.
Click to expand...
Since you're using those higher channels, you're in the GMRS range which does have a higher transmit wattage than channels 1-14. Not sure about your particular radios but they may be 2 watt which is 4x more transmit power than the .5 watt max on channels 1-14.
 
I'm not sure what the wattage is on these things, I've looked everwhere on the package and the Radio Shack website for the information but it is lacking (or my eyes are really bad)! Based on competitors radios that list wattage and "transmit miles" I would guess they are 2 watt when using the "boost" mode? I have not tried that feature yet, but there is a boost button that ups the power (and apparently drains the battery quickly?) for the longest range transmissions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top