GMRS Radios?

[Woody]

With the ol' tax returns coming around the corner-I'm already looking for useful ways to spend my money!     (Gotta beat the wife to it)  I've been thinking about getting a set of GMRS radios.  Is there any particular brand or model that I should get?  I was at Mills Fleet Farm tonight and saw one (forgot the brand) that has a range of 14 miles!  :o  To my inexperienced mind-that's just cool!  8)  Of course money is an object, but I am not afraid to spend a lil more to get a quality product that will last longer, and something I know I'll be happy with in the end. 

What brand/model do you own? And what do you like/dislike about it?  Does it have it's own rechargeable batteries or AAA/AA batteries?  What's the range? 

[GRIZ]

The one I have is incorporated into my gps unit. It says it's good to like 5 miles or so. Realistically it's more like a mile to mile and a half. That is out on the lake.

Maybe it would work up to 5 miles with the right weather conditions. temp, humidty, clear, no wind, barometer, the moon phase is just right and the tides not too high on the california coast. No in all seriousness just figure 1/3 of what it says from my experience. They are nice to have. Mine does not have a regarable battery, I wished it did. I really can't speak for one brand over another as this is the only one I've had.

[Benny]

Griz ,your correct on the distance these radios will communicate.

I have three sets, one is good for only 2 miles, one set is a 14 miler, and the last one I bought is good for 25 miles.

Now realisticly these are only good for about half what they claim to be.

My 2 miler could barely talk to Agate Bay resort from Agate reef about 1 mile out.

My 25 miler in South Dakota flat land was good for only 15 miles on a clear day.
When we had rain and cloud cover they would only reach out 10 miles.

Benny

[JohnWester]

To get one to go more then 15 miles would be surprising... on flat land, i.e. water, the distance you can see to the horizon is approx 15 miles due to the earths natural curvature.  I know these things aren't line-of-site, but I doubt you are going to get one that will work better without having a repeater or some sort of setup.

[Woody]

Thanks for the input guys!  I've never even used one before, but have been thinking about getting a set of them.  So if I understand it all correctly-basically I want one with the longest working distance (just don't expect it to actually make it that far).   Is there any particular features or brands I should get?  Also, the ones with rechargeable battery packs-yea or nay? 

I've got a Motorola Cell phone-and love it.  I also have Uniden land line phones-and love them.  So I figure between the 2 brands I should be ok.   And I know motorola has worked in the radio business for eons (ok, not quite that long), and they make the radios cops use too.  I just want to do all the research I can before I lay down my mooohlaahhh.   

[Spinach]

I've been running Motorolas for at least 10 years now, never any issues. Like everyone else said allready, expect about 1/3 or 1/2 of what they say there rated for. My current set are 12 milers, they probably get out to 4-5 miles on a good day. Still 4-5 miles is more than I ever need,most of the time the person on the other end is less than a mile away.

I'd go with any major brand that is on sale if I were looking for a new set.

[Benny]

If you like the Motarola's I would stay with them, I have them my self.
Cobra,and Uniden are good as well, I had bad luck with AT&T units if they sell them any more.

Also keep in mind that we are supose to get an FCC lisence on the long range models.
But I don't know of any one who has been ticketed for using them.

Benny

[GRIZ]

I thought they changed a few regs and you no longer needed FCC lic for marine band or other longer distance. I could be wrong, anyone know forsure?

[HOTROD]

i bought the 14 mile motorolas and was told that in order to get that range i have to get the fcc license. 

[Faceman]

I have two sets motorola and uniden. The motorolas are 2 mile range that work great but eat up batts. The unidens are 5 mile range and also work great but has rechargable batts. I mostly use the unidens because of the batts and they have the ear piece with inline mic. I cant say on the range of any of them as we are always less than 2 miles away from each other.

I also bought a cheap set of 2 mile unidens for the kids to play army with a couple of years ago. They have literally beat the crap out of them and they are still going strong. These also have rechargable batts. If they didnt the kids would have run my bank account down just for batts.

[Benny]

Griz, you could be right.

I have not seen the little asterics behind the sales adds any more that used to point out the license requirment.

I am just going off the instruction manual from my last set and the adds that used to have the asterics behind them.

Benny