GMRS radio range

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

It's been years since I've used GMRS, and then it was with little bubble pack radios. They did fine for what we needed--keep in touch within eyesight while hiking, fishing, dove and duck hunting. While the ranges advertised are incredible--up to 36 miles or more!--a half mile to about two miles is the best we ever got in real life (buildings, boulders, trees, "regular stuff." ) A buddy's ICOM handheld might have done better under ideal conditions, but we couldn't get him any better in the terrain where we were playing.

Jump forward, where that same buddy has been trying to get me to take the test and get an Amateur license. I just looked at a radio website, which also handles the GMRS stuff, so I clicked my way into that section to see what's changed in 10 years or so. Along with all kinds of handhelds, with their still crazy mileage claims, they have a couple of quite affordable "mobile" units (meaning car mounted, not handheld) which have a lot more power: 15w as opposed to 2w max on most handhelds. With a decent antenna, can this get them where they might work between cars with an honest 5-10 mile range--maybe a touch better than the old CBs--as long as line of sight can be maintained?

Rick C

 

[gramps]

Get the ham license! Then you have access to repeaters, different frequencies, more power, less crowded spectrum etc.
gramps de WB4WBH

 

[Pat-inCO]

Since the requirements for a Ham license have changed (no morse code), all you
have to do is memorize some questions/answers.

Is the distance you can get with a hand held more than GMRS? You betcha!
It WILL vary by the type of antenna you use and the power you run, but I have
several contacts over the mountain (in CO), on simplex (no repeater) that was
about eighty miles. I will be the first to admit it was a seven foot tall antenna,
AND I was running fifty watts, but it does work. Hand held to hand held, and on
flat ground I've gotten about five miles.

Then you can add in the differences that running different modes will make. For
example: Where the standard FM (Frequency Modulation) radio/antenna can do
five or ten miles (once again no repeaters) you can switch modes to say RTTY
(Radio Teletype), and triple the distance, but that requires a computer. There is
also SSB (Single Side Band) that does very well.

Then if you want to go REALLY crazy, you can add morse code and a large
antenna and talk around the world on one watt. OR you can add in your cell
phone and talk around the world on small portions of a watt (Digital Mobile Radio)
using the internet.

You can spend as little as you want, or as much as you want, depending on what
you decide to do. :wink:

Pat, W0IPL

 

[Mobuck]

When I quit coyote chasing, I let my CB equipment fall apart(we had some killer output "boosters" back then). Later, I needed infield commo so bought some GMRS stuff. I had a "base unit" and a couple of the better end handhelds that would consistently connect from our north farm(FIL's place) which is about 5 miles cross country. My home place is on one of the higher elevations(the water tower is just up the road) and the north farm is also on high ground. FIL had a 40' tower for his CB antenna and once when I climbed it to secure the cable connections, I tied a piece of very visible plastic to the top. Using good binos, I could see this marker from my house.
I just bought a set of "16 mile range" handhelds and they barely work 1/2 mile in real life. Foliage seems to kill the signal.

 

[Big Old Boy]

Yep get the ham license much better off. Kg4cph. Also as a retired trucker I hated CB but when I got my ham license I always had a radio in the truck with linked repeaters we could talk over hundreds of miles. Only used CB when I was under oversized loads to communicate with escorts.

 

[Colonialgirl]

My Dad's call sign was:
WA6DXJ
He lived in Garden Grove, CA and use to go mobile when on vacation from his teaching job and headed to PA for the summer.

 

[Rook]

MY FIL, before he died, was a radio and TV repairman from back in the old days. He was into all kinds of radio equipment. He put an antenna high on the ridge above his house and he used to talk to people all over the world. I don't know much about the equipment he used but he used to talk to a friend of his in Australia from East Tennessee quiet often.

 

[Acorn]

As others have said, get the license. There are on line study tests. I thing you need to get 27-28 right out of 35 questions. Search on the AARL site for test dates near you. Most tests run about $15. I bought a Yaesu hand held but still haven’t found the time to test. The license is free and is good for 10 years.

 

[BROKENBEAR]

The Ham test is easy ..and something you need to add to the equation living in a geological disaster prone area ..a reliable ham radio could some day (heaven forbid disaster) be the only 2 way communications available to you for days or weeks ..
I got my General "Tag" over 10 years ago because one of my farms is 35 miles from my house with no cell coverage and often around farm machinery solo ..my 5watt 2 meter radio is on my belt just like law enforcement ..I hit the push to talk ..signal hits the repeater and bingo ..outside world
The other reason is we live near the Mississippi river right on top of the New Madrid fault ..rated as not if but when ..the last time ..the Mississippi flowed towards Canada for 3 days ..I'm thinking that would be a mind bending ride.
Get the ham License ....GO HERE:
https://hamexam.org/
Go to the bottom of page "Questions Pool" for flash cards, practice exams and questions pool

Bear

 

[Bull Barrel]

My son is a Ham (K4KLB) and gave me the booklet to look at and I took the sample test.
Remembering the stuff I learned in high school I passed it. Its pretty simple.
I have enough stuff I need to do before spending my $ on a radio.
Besides...he can give me a radio for Christmas...lol. He gets em cheep.

 

[Acorn]

My Yaesu is well rated for a hand held and was about $150.
You can get a Baefong for around $50 but they’re kind of hit or miss.

 

[Jeepnik]

Somewhere in a box is a set from the 70's. I doubt it would still work. I haven't messed with it for decades and today's equipment is likely leaps and bounds ahead of what we used then. I still think they should require knowing morse, keeps the riff raff away don't you know. :lol:

 

[Pat-inCO]

I still think they should require knowing morse,
keeps the riff raff away don't you know. :lol:

Somehow I have to agree with you.
That said, on my bad days I can only manage thirteen, but on good days I can
get above twenty. My goal is conversational at thirty (where most contests run).


Rick!
Another advantage of a Ham license is you can set up a store and forward
repeater on simplex. With one of those (about $200 plus an inexpensive radio)
you can increase your range to well over thirty miles (depending on where your
mountains are).