Communications on the road

[mikenmarge]

We use Verizon and walkie talkies. Have had good service with Verizon in most areas when others
Could not. When traveling with friends, the wallow talkies work great.

[Rob & Cathy]

. When traveling with friends, the wallow talkies work great.

We've also found the FRS radios work great when traveling with friends.

Rob

[mikenmarge]

Sorry about my typos. I'm using my Droid "Smart" phone and it sometimes changes my words to a completely different word. BTW, sometimes if you are in a no service area, the cells don't work to communicate with your friends. So the walkie talkies make sure you can get through.

[The sailor]

I have to think about something for a day or two, FRS is a new frequncy? I have not heard of it before.
do these walkie talkes come as a headset with voice activation for hands free operations? What is the power and range, what would be the cost? If I wanted to look on internet, what brand is the best?

I know, Norma says I over research ever thing, just back habits Jim

[Rob & Cathy]

I have to think about something for a day or two, FRS is a new frequncy? I have not heard of it before.

This is from Wikipedia Jim:

The Family Radio Service (FRS) is an improved walkie talkie radio system authorized in the United States since 1996. This personal radio service uses channelized frequencies in the ultra high frequency (UHF) band. It does not suffer the interference effects found on citizens' band (CB) at 27 MHz, or the 49 MHz band also used by cordless phones, toys, and baby monitors. FRS uses frequency modulation (FM) instead of amplitude modulation (AM). Since the UHF band has different radio propagation characteristics, short-range use of FRS may be more predictable than license-free radios operating in the HF CB band.

They're available everywhere Jim if you decide to go that route.

Rob

[The sailor]

Hi guys i'm back.......after a couples hours on the net, I am looking at the FRS walkie-talkies, made by Midland # GXT1050VP4, sold by Best Buy for $66.99. They come with head sets for hands free operations.
Has anyone used them or know anything about this item. I read the reviews which tells me that about 20% of the people that purchased them, hated them, mostly because they would not reach 35miles like the ads say. Some people don,t know, my VHF on the boat was 25watts, and it would not get out 35 miles. Any help would be nice, see you guy down the road..............Capt Jim

[The sailor]

Hi did any body see this last post? does any one have an opinion? Thanks Capt Jim

[Don Wilson]

I have a less expensive set and they have only a 1/2 mile straight line range but they were only purchased to communicate when parking the trailer in a campsite. We have used them when traveling with other people and they worked okay. There is probably someone who has the set you are looking at but simply have not been on the website since you posted!

Don

[Rob & Cathy]

Jim, don't buy them for the 35 miles they advertise. The BEST you're going to get out of any of the FRS radios is 3-6 miles and that's under ideal conditions.

Rob

[sew2bhappy]

We bought an inexpensive set at a truck stop ... I think about $20. Since we plan to only use them for positioning the 5th, long distance wasn't a factor. Might start with something in that price range, and if you find you need more, then upgrade

[The sailor]

Thanks guys, that is what I wanted to know, will check at the first truck stop for the $20 set. We are getting verizon phones, the old people type with big numbers, I sure appeciate the help. Two more weeks and we start for the USA, I think this old man may be getting excited. Capt Jim

[quailhunter]

My wife and I both have cell phones---she just calls me, I put the phone on speaker and lay it on the console and she directs me while I am backing. No need for the walkie talkies.

Quailhunter and Granny