On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:03:40 -0400, wrote:

Anyone know anything about these? I picked up a pair for about $20 and
we are playing with them. This set says they are good for 5 miles but
I have seen some that say 30 miles. I assume that is on 3 mountains
across a valley but who knows?
It does sound like something campers might like tho and if you really
can get out some number of miles in the woods hikers and hunters might
like them.
I know everyone just uses their phone these days but there is some
facility in having simple PTT. My wife says it is like her old NexTel.

So far around here it sounds like I may be the only one using it. I
put the radio on scan last night and I never heard a thing all night.
This is like CB in the 60s I think.

We've used those at Disney World and on cruises, several years ago - before we all had cell phones.
They worked OK, but often other folks with the same radios or on the same freq stepped all over us.
I like cell phones better.

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:18:08 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:03:40 -0400, wrote:

Anyone know anything about these? I picked up a pair for about $20 and
we are playing with them. This set says they are good for 5 miles but
I have seen some that say 30 miles. I assume that is on 3 mountains
across a valley but who knows?
It does sound like something campers might like tho and if you really
can get out some number of miles in the woods hikers and hunters might
like them.
I know everyone just uses their phone these days but there is some
facility in having simple PTT. My wife says it is like her old NexTel.

So far around here it sounds like I may be the only one using it. I
put the radio on scan last night and I never heard a thing all night.
This is like CB in the 60s I think.

We've used those at Disney World and on cruises, several years ago - before we all had cell phones.
They worked OK, but often other folks with the same radios or on the same freq stepped all over us.
I like cell phones better.

We are just playing with them now but the PTT thing is pretty cool. I
imagine cell phones have made them pretty unpopular because I still
have not heard another soul. It sort of makes me wonder how much you
could get away with if there is nobody around to complain. With a
decent high gain antenna on the roof, I bet these things would get out
to virtually everywhere I ever go. They are allowed to pump out 5
watts now without a license and if you get the $70 GMRS license I
think you can go up to 50 watts with an outside antenna.

I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:58:47 -0700 (PDT), True North
wrote:

I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

The range claims jumped when the upped the allowable power to 5 watts.
Five watts and a decent antenna should get you to the horizon in open
country.

On 4/15/2019 9:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:58:47 -0700 (PDT), True North
wrote:

I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

The range claims jumped when the upped the allowable power to 5 watts.
Five watts and a decent antenna should get you to the horizon in open
country.



FRS radio output power was "upped" from half a watt to two (2) watts
(not 5 watts) in 2017. Some channels are still limited to half a watt
though.

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On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:18:39 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/15/2019 9:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:58:47 -0700 (PDT), True North
wrote:

I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

The range claims jumped when the upped the allowable power to 5 watts.
Five watts and a decent antenna should get you to the horizon in open
country.



FRS radio output power was "upped" from half a watt to two (2) watts
(not 5 watts) in 2017. Some channels are still limited to half a watt
though.

I finally found the chart that explained all of that. It is
interesting that I still haven't heard anyone else on these radios and
they are on all day.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 13:19:41 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:18:39 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/15/2019 9:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:58:47 -0700 (PDT), True North
wrote:

I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

The range claims jumped when the upped the allowable power to 5 watts.
Five watts and a decent antenna should get you to the horizon in open
country.



FRS radio output power was "upped" from half a watt to two (2) watts
(not 5 watts) in 2017. Some channels are still limited to half a watt
though.

I finally found the chart that explained all of that. It is
interesting that I still haven't heard anyone else on these radios and
they are on all day.

You're not at Disney World or on a cruise!

On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 1:20:14 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:18:39 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/15/2019 9:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:58:47 -0700 (PDT), True North
wrote:

I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

The range claims jumped when the upped the allowable power to 5 watts.
Five watts and a decent antenna should get you to the horizon in open
country.



FRS radio output power was "upped" from half a watt to two (2) watts
(not 5 watts) in 2017. Some channels are still limited to half a watt
though.

I finally found the chart that explained all of that. It is
interesting that I still haven't heard anyone else on these radios and
they are on all day.

As Luddite points out it's 2 watts, not 5. The other limiting factors are that they have non-detachable antennas, so it's not so easy to replace with an upgrade. And they are UHF (around 450 Mhz), so *anything* messes with the signal. Walls, leaves, grass, you name it. That theoretical 30 miles drops to a mile or less in normal terrain.

They are cool radios, but they are best suited for short distance, occasional use. You are seeing that with your absence of other users. Tt's not our old CB.

True North wrote:
I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

Funny.

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:29:26 -0400 (EDT), Justan Ohlphart wrote:

True North Wrote in message:
I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

Why don't you educate her on where to stand and how to signal. A
good spotter is worth his/her weight in gold.

We now have a good system. She stands where she wants the driver's side rear corner of the rig. I
aim for her. Simple. No yelling, no waving, only a fist when it's time to stop. If she leaves the
spot to check the passenger side, I stop until she returns a few seconds later.

Works well.