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FRS radio
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. |
FRS radio
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FRS radio
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. |
FRS radio
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.
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FRS radio
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:00:39 -0400,
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 them on and off for 20 years or so. They can be handy as an intercom device on the boat if one of us is on the flybridge and the other below. We've also used them a few times as a way of keeping in touch with another car that we were traveling with. We'd usually get a mile or two of range on typical roads but hills can reduce that. Talk of 30 miles is just nonsesnse for every-day, reliable usage, even over open water. Our 1 watt marine VHF handhelds are good for no more than 2 or 3 miles over water in most conditions, and they are far more capable than the cheapo FRS units. These were $20 for 2 so I am sure they are not much (probably 500mw) but you can get a 5 watt for around $70 a pair. I wasn't sure If I really wanted them at all but I put a $40 set in my Amazon Cart and a few days later they offered them to me for $20. I would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger. So far we are using them for the same thing. My wife is a little under the weather and she can talk to me if I am at the other end of the house in the shop or working outside. Next time I get out taking Deuce for a cart ride I will see what they really do. I can't find any specs on these things about radiated power. Realistically if they get to the other end of the neighborhood it should do all I need. I just want to see how much we really use them. This is the 3d set I have had and the first time we used them at all. I gave the other 2 pairs to the kids. |
FRS radio
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
wrote:
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. We have a set. Have not used them for some years. Nice, with kids or grandkids. Select a channel and sub channel that do not seem to be busy. Better while hiking, and little cellphone coverage and cheaper if lost and do not break as easy. |
FRS radio
On 4/15/2019 7:48 PM, wrote:
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. You may be confusing FRS "walkie-talkies" with GMRS radios. FRS stands for "Family Radio Service" and output power is 2 watts as of 2017. Before that they were 500 milliwatts. They now have 22 channels however channels 8 – 14 must still be limited to half a watt output. GMRS is "General Mobile Radio Service". GMRS still requires a FCC license and, as a base station, can use a power amp to output 50 watts. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com |
FRS radio
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. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com |
FRS radio
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:09:47 -0400, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:00:39 -0400, 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 them on and off for 20 years or so. They can be handy as an intercom device on the boat if one of us is on the flybridge and the other below. We've also used them a few times as a way of keeping in touch with another car that we were traveling with. We'd usually get a mile or two of range on typical roads but hills can reduce that. Talk of 30 miles is just nonsesnse for every-day, reliable usage, even over open water. Our 1 watt marine VHF handhelds are good for no more than 2 or 3 miles over water in most conditions, and they are far more capable than the cheapo FRS units. These were $20 for 2 so I am sure they are not much (probably 500mw) but you can get a 5 watt for around $70 a pair. I wasn't sure If I really wanted them at all but I put a $40 set in my Amazon Cart and a few days later they offered them to me for $20. I would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger. So far we are using them for the same thing. My wife is a little under the weather and she can talk to me if I am at the other end of the house in the shop or working outside. Next time I get out taking Deuce for a cart ride I will see what they really do. I can't find any specs on these things about radiated power. Realistically if they get to the other end of the neighborhood it should do all I need. I just want to see how much we really use them. This is the 3d set I have had and the first time we used them at all. I gave the other 2 pairs to the kids. Greg. Something about this does not sound right: " I would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger. So far we are using them for the same thing." |
FRS radio
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. |
FRS radio
On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote:
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. I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story: When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house. The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side. Justan will remember it. Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the trees on the side. As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped. She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped. Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck and asked, "What's the problem?" She said, "Nothing, you are doing good". "Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked. She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything". --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:27:04 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:
On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote: 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. I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story: When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house. The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side. Justan will remember it. Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the trees on the side. As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped. She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped. Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck and asked, "What's the problem?" She said, "Nothing, you are doing good". "Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked. She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything". --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com Yes, that was funny!! Female logic at its finest! |
FRS radio
Good understandable hand signals can be handy on the water too. Last time I went sailing on a friends 40' Irwin he had a mooring at the Wagwaltic Club on the North West Arm. The wind was quite heavy from the North as we returned trying to pick up the bridle line. It ended up being more of an effort than it should have been with the helmsman trying to deceifer our signals of how much further to motor and in what direction. Way to windy to hear properly.
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FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:16:41 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote: On 4/15/2019 7:48 PM, wrote: 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. You may be confusing FRS "walkie-talkies" with GMRS radios. FRS stands for "Family Radio Service" and output power is 2 watts as of 2017. Before that they were 500 milliwatts. They now have 22 channels however channels 8 – 14 must still be limited to half a watt output. GMRS is "General Mobile Radio Service". GMRS still requires a FCC license and, as a base station, can use a power amp to output 50 watts. I understand the difference but $7 a year is not much of a big deal to get the GMRS. It does look like it is just money. I don't have to tune up my 55 year old Morse skill. |
FRS radio
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. |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:58:58 -0400, John H.
wrote: On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:09:47 -0400, wrote: On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:00:39 -0400, 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 them on and off for 20 years or so. They can be handy as an intercom device on the boat if one of us is on the flybridge and the other below. We've also used them a few times as a way of keeping in touch with another car that we were traveling with. We'd usually get a mile or two of range on typical roads but hills can reduce that. Talk of 30 miles is just nonsesnse for every-day, reliable usage, even over open water. Our 1 watt marine VHF handhelds are good for no more than 2 or 3 miles over water in most conditions, and they are far more capable than the cheapo FRS units. These were $20 for 2 so I am sure they are not much (probably 500mw) but you can get a 5 watt for around $70 a pair. I wasn't sure If I really wanted them at all but I put a $40 set in my Amazon Cart and a few days later they offered them to me for $20. I would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger. So far we are using them for the same thing. My wife is a little under the weather and she can talk to me if I am at the other end of the house in the shop or working outside. Next time I get out taking Deuce for a cart ride I will see what they really do. I can't find any specs on these things about radiated power. Realistically if they get to the other end of the neighborhood it should do all I need. I just want to see how much we really use them. This is the 3d set I have had and the first time we used them at all. I gave the other 2 pairs to the kids. Greg. Something about this does not sound right: " I would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger. So far we are using them for the same thing." I guess I should have separated those thoughts ;-) |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:30:30 -0400, John H.
wrote: On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:27:04 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote: On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote: 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. I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story: When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house. The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side. Justan will remember it. Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the trees on the side. As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped. She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped. Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck and asked, "What's the problem?" She said, "Nothing, you are doing good". "Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked. She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything". Yes, that was funny!! Female logic at its finest! === Female logic? https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:30:30 -0400, John H.
wrote: On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:27:04 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote: On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote: 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. I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story: When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house. The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side. Justan will remember it. Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the trees on the side. As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped. She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped. Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck and asked, "What's the problem?" She said, "Nothing, you are doing good". "Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked. She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything". --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com Yes, that was funny!! Female logic at its finest! That is one area where Judy and I don't have a problem. With all of her work experience in the various male dominated fields she knows the hand signals for truckers, crane operators and heavy equipment. It is that mundane stuff we have trouble with like "I thought you said you wanted to go out to dinner". |
FRS radio
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! |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 13:35:31 -0400, wrote:
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:30:30 -0400, John H. wrote: On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:27:04 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote: On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote: 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. I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story: When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house. The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side. Justan will remember it. Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the trees on the side. As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped. She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped. Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck and asked, "What's the problem?" She said, "Nothing, you are doing good". "Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked. She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything". Yes, that was funny!! Female logic at its finest! === Female logic? https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com OK, OK! |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 13:50:13 -0400, John H.
wrote: 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! I am sure you are right. I am not likely to be at either of them again so that is not an issue. |
FRS radio
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. :) |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:46:40 -0700 (PDT), Its Me
wrote: 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. :) The funny thing is before the truckers got cool (Smokey and the bandit stuff), CB was that way. I knew some CB guys and it was real quiet on those bands before around 74-75. There were fishing pros on the Chesapeake who used them because people would be listening on VHF but they had the CB bands to themselves. With the right antennas you could get from Schiebels down to Tangier Island or beyond (25-30 miles) |
FRS radio
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. |
FRS radio
True North wrote:
Good understandable hand signals can be handy on the water too. Last time I went sailing on a friends 40' Irwin he had a mooring at the Wagwaltic Club on the North West Arm. The wind was quite heavy from the North as we returned trying to pick up the bridle line. It ended up being more of an effort than it should have been with the helmsman trying to deceifer our signals of how much further to motor and in what direction. Way to windy to hear properly. deceifer? You can't call that a typo, spelling cop. It's hard to decipher your posts when you don't quote. |
FRS radio
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7:38:20 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:46:40 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote: 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. :) The funny thing is before the truckers got cool (Smokey and the bandit stuff), CB was that way. I knew some CB guys and it was real quiet on those bands before around 74-75. There were fishing pros on the Chesapeake who used them because people would be listening on VHF but they had the CB bands to themselves. With the right antennas you could get from Schiebels down to Tangier Island or beyond (25-30 miles) Even that was a stretch and required the "just right" conditions. Over water was better, but over land was just a few miles if you were lucky. I got into CB in the late '70s, and had a Shakespeare "Big Stick" on a 35' mast in the back yard. With an old Johnson "White Face" base station tweaked to put out about 15 watts and a Turner +3 power mic, I had the county covered.. If I needed more, I could crank up the 200 watt linear amp and walk tall, as they used to say. With SSB, I talked from SC to TX and beyond late at night when the "skip" rolled in. Heh, fun memories. |
FRS radio
On 4/16/2019 8:39 PM, Its Me wrote:
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7:38:20 PM UTC-4, wrote: On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:46:40 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote: 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. :) The funny thing is before the truckers got cool (Smokey and the bandit stuff), CB was that way. I knew some CB guys and it was real quiet on those bands before around 74-75. There were fishing pros on the Chesapeake who used them because people would be listening on VHF but they had the CB bands to themselves. With the right antennas you could get from Schiebels down to Tangier Island or beyond (25-30 miles) Even that was a stretch and required the "just right" conditions. Over water was better, but over land was just a few miles if you were lucky. I got into CB in the late '70s, and had a Shakespeare "Big Stick" on a 35' mast in the back yard. With an old Johnson "White Face" base station tweaked to put out about 15 watts and a Turner +3 power mic, I had the county covered. If I needed more, I could crank up the 200 watt linear amp and walk tall, as they used to say. With SSB, I talked from SC to TX and beyond late at night when the "skip" rolled in. Heh, fun memories. Same here shortly after getting out of the Navy in 1977. We lived in a house right on the ocean and I had a Radio Shack "base" unit and a Big Stick. I modified the radio a bit ... 15 watts and about 35 watts SSB PEP. On Saturday and Sunday mornings I could talk to a guy in Italy. Evenings it was Texas and the West Coast. --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:43:44 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote: On 4/16/2019 8:39 PM, Its Me wrote: On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7:38:20 PM UTC-4, wrote: On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:46:40 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote: 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. :) The funny thing is before the truckers got cool (Smokey and the bandit stuff), CB was that way. I knew some CB guys and it was real quiet on those bands before around 74-75. There were fishing pros on the Chesapeake who used them because people would be listening on VHF but they had the CB bands to themselves. With the right antennas you could get from Schiebels down to Tangier Island or beyond (25-30 miles) Even that was a stretch and required the "just right" conditions. Over water was better, but over land was just a few miles if you were lucky. I got into CB in the late '70s, and had a Shakespeare "Big Stick" on a 35' mast in the back yard. With an old Johnson "White Face" base station tweaked to put out about 15 watts and a Turner +3 power mic, I had the county covered. If I needed more, I could crank up the 200 watt linear amp and walk tall, as they used to say. With SSB, I talked from SC to TX and beyond late at night when the "skip" rolled in. Heh, fun memories. Same here shortly after getting out of the Navy in 1977. We lived in a house right on the ocean and I had a Radio Shack "base" unit and a Big Stick. I modified the radio a bit ... 15 watts and about 35 watts SSB PEP. On Saturday and Sunday mornings I could talk to a guy in Italy. Evenings it was Texas and the West Coast. These guys were using a base station antenna that was probably too tall but in the 70s who was going to drive down to Ridge Md to catch them. The head boat he ran had a marine antenna is high up as it could be on a 2 deck boat with a fly bridge. They didn't know about co phase in those days. I don't think they had any heaters. The guy I was fishing with had a standard radio and a marine antenna. Most days we were still getting the Scheibel base until we got to Tangier and we could always raise the Bay Queen that was running around the south Bay |
FRS radio
On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 17:39:30 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote:
On Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 7:38:20 PM UTC-4, wrote: On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 15:46:40 -0700 (PDT), Its Me wrote: 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. :) The funny thing is before the truckers got cool (Smokey and the bandit stuff), CB was that way. I knew some CB guys and it was real quiet on those bands before around 74-75. There were fishing pros on the Chesapeake who used them because people would be listening on VHF but they had the CB bands to themselves. With the right antennas you could get from Schiebels down to Tangier Island or beyond (25-30 miles) Even that was a stretch and required the "just right" conditions. Over water was better, but over land was just a few miles if you were lucky. I got into CB in the late '70s, and had a Shakespeare "Big Stick" on a 35' mast in the back yard. With an old Johnson "White Face" base station tweaked to put out about 15 watts and a Turner +3 power mic, I had the county covered. If I needed more, I could crank up the 200 watt linear amp and walk tall, as they used to say. With SSB, I talked from SC to TX and beyond late at night when the "skip" rolled in. Heh, fun memories. My furthest CB chat was from the east side of El Paso over the valley to the west side - about 30 miles. |
FRS radio
Back in my CB days, I do still have the radio, I once skip talked to a guy in St. Louis Mo. I was at the time in Trenton Mi. about 25 miles south of Detroit. We talked for about a half hour clear as day. We were about 511 miles or so apart from each other.
I did have my CB radio tweaked after I bought it. Mine does put out 29 watts of power. Miss those days. |
FRS radio
On Thu, 18 Apr 2019 01:43:40 -0700 (PDT), wrote:
Back in my CB days, I do still have the radio, I once skip talked to a guy in St. Louis Mo. I was at the time in Trenton Mi. about 25 miles south of Detroit. We talked for about a half hour clear as day. We were about 511 miles or so apart from each other. I did have my CB radio tweaked after I bought it. Mine does put out 29 watts of power. Miss those days. === It's much easier to get a ham radio icense than it used to be. The Morse code requirements stopped a lot of people in the past but that has just about gone away. The technical and regulatory requirements are relatively easy and many local radio clubs offer free classes. I got my first license when I was 12 years old. With a ham license you can communicate just about anywhere in the world when conditions are right, and the equipment options are virtually endless. I have a fairly basic 150 watt single side band transceiver on our trawler and have talked with stations as far away as Japan and eastern Europe. http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed https://www.eham.net/newham/ --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com |
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