GMRS range in actual use?

[DAW89446]

For what it’s worth:

Twenty five years ago I used hand held Motorola FRS radios for road and trail trips with one or more friends driving their own rigs and having their own radios. They were fine in varying terrain as we seldom were more than a mile apart. Sometimes we had surprising long distance transmissions/receptions, sometimes disappointments. It was all part of the fun, a lot of chit chat and sharing observations over the air filled the hours and miles.

Fast forward to 2013. After some researching, I bought a middle price set of Midland GMRS handheld radios from Walmart. A buddy and I did a day trip exploring some nearby ghost towns over valleys and mountains. Big disappointment. Range wasn’t anywhere near claims. Audio quality was horrendous and often indecipherable. I sold them soon after at a garage sale.

If I were a young man again and still doing frequent trips with friends, I’d go with 2M HAM for vehicle to vehicle transmissions (a substantial regional user base with numerous repeaters) and a Garmin InReach for emergencies or communicating with loved ones at home. I’ve had some limited experience with both and have a favorable impression.

 

[jdm-v35]

For what it’s worth:

Twenty five years ago I used hand held Motorola FRS radios for road and trail trips with one or more friends driving their own rigs and having their own radios. They were fine in varying terrain as we seldom were more than a mile apart. Sometimes we had surprising long distance transmissions/receptions, sometimes disappointments. It was all part of the fun, a lot of chit chat and sharing observations over the air filled the hours and miles.

Fast forward to 2013. After some researching, I bought a middle price set of Midland GMRS handheld radios from Walmart. A buddy and I did a day trip exploring some nearby ghost towns over valleys and mountains. Big disappointment. Range wasn’t anywhere near claims. Audio quality was horrendous and often indecipherable. I sold them soon after at a garage sale.

If I were a young man again and still doing frequent trips with friends, I’d go with 2M HAM for vehicle to vehicle transmissions (a substantial regional user base with numerous repeaters) and a Garmin InReach for emergencies or communicating with loved ones at home. I’ve had some limited experience with both and have a favorable impression.

Here is my problem with the situation. I am pretty well prepared, plan well and play it safe. The guy i go hunting with is an older guy who is never prepared and wings it to barely get by. He also seems to have exceptionally bad luck. In my specific situation I would buy a vehicle GMRS radio for myself and also buy a handheld to lend him so we can keep communication as we drive since there is no cell reception. I have a Garmin Inreach Messenger myself but with no cell reception and his unpreparedness that gmrs handheld would be the only means of communication between us until reaching a town. So for me this is mostly a lifeline during that 70-90 miles without a phone since there are rarely any others driving that road.

 

[DAW89446]

Here is my problem with the situation. I am pretty well prepared, plan well and play it safe. The guy i go hunting with is an older guy who is never prepared and wings it to barely get by. He also seems to have exceptionally bad luck. In my specific situation I would buy a vehicle GMRS radio for myself and also buy a handheld to lend him so we can keep communication as we drive since there is no cell reception. I have a Garmin Inreach Messenger myself but with no cell reception and his unpreparedness that gmrs handheld would be the only means of communication between us until reaching a town. So for me this is mostly a lifeline during that 70-90 miles without a phone since there are rarely any others driving that road.

Your plan sounds plausible. I’d suggest researching to find good quality and good performing radios. Your results in the field over time and terrain is the only true litmus test if they fit your needs.

As for me, a lot of people pan FRS and they did fine for my needs and use. GMRS didn’t work for me. But I blame that on my impulse purchasing poor quality radios based on package specs. My recommendation for 2M HAM is based on what many off roaders I’ve interacted with in the intermountain West and the past two decades eventually drifted to and implemented due to their superior range. But it isn’t cheap and not really the best choice for the occasional off roader.

 

[jdm-v35]

Your plan sounds plausible. I’d suggest researching to find good quality and good performing radios. Your results in the field over time and terrain is the only true litmus test if they fit your needs.

As for me, a lot of people pan FRS and they did fine for my needs and use. GMRS didn’t work for me. But I blame that on my impulse purchasing poor quality radios based on package specs. My recommendation for 2M HAM is based on what many off roaders I’ve interacted with in the intermountain West and the past two decades eventually drifted to and implemented due to their superior range. But it isn’t cheap and not really the best choice for the occasional off roader.

I offroad maybe a couple times a month but really that one occasion every year is where I get that far off grid that it becomes an issue. The other places I can probably get reception even if its like 20 miles from civilization

 

[branconway]

A GMRS license should do the trick


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[jdm-v35]

Had some extra credits on amazon so I ended up buying a Retevis RA-86 and matching handhelds as it seemed to be easier to use than the midland mxt275. I figure it is better to have it as another means of communication in addition to my Garmin Inreach for emergencies.