Quote:
Originally Posted by tx_shooter
So how many people really need to have comm for 40 miles when wheeling with friends?
Last month I went wheeling with friends and we used a mix of GMRS truck mounted radios and FRS handheld radios with zero issues. I know all the HAM guys are pounding on their keyboards saying we only had 2-4 miles of coverage with the FRS radios - but that was more than enough for terrain and highway usage we did. We had comm link between the trucks around 8 miles from first to last on the highway and close to 5 miles inside the wheeling area.
Sure - HAM setups can talk to people 50 miles away if those people are listening. Personally I only care to talk to the people in my group. GMRS truck mounted Midland radios are doing a great job at that. Between a few truck radios and a handful of cheap FRS radios we are all 100% legal (the GMRS guys have their licenses) and the FRS radios go to people without. No FCC issues and we all have a great day.
But it is not tacticool like HAM. I can live with that.
|
Theoretical distance isn't a good measure. Everything is terrain dependent on all systems. I have gotten <1/4 mile in a valley and 150 miles from top of a mountain with the same HAM radio.
For simplex (radio to radio) operation, if the power levels are set to the same, and similar handheld antenna are on each setup, a HAM radio will preform near identical to GMRS or FRS.
I agree that car-to-car coms does not require much. You most certainly dont need a HAM radio.
For wheeling or road-trip with people who don't really care about radios, I use MURS. I prefer it over both FRS and GMRS.
Multi-Use Radio Service - Wikipedia
The biggest benefit is that MURS rules allows for external antennas, which makes a world of difference when operating from inside a car.
MURS is free and does not require a licence. I'ts similar to FRS without antennas restrictions and better power limits.
The benefit of a HAM radio is access to more bands, and repeaters. Equipment is also more capable and you can get crazy with antennas as well. With my ham radio I can track GPS position (APRS) of friends, text message without cellular, send data like photos, have better emergency coms using repeaters, make my own repeater using my truck radio... There are far more reasons to be a ham beyond just talking to the dude next to you. It's the most capable tool you can have in terms of radio.
