I know this isn't a HT question, but I thought you guys might have some experience with FRS/GMRS radios.

My family is taking a trip to Disney next summer. I'm looking for some FRS and/or GMRS radios to use when we seperate.

I'm particuraly looking for ones that have better receive range, but cost is also an issue. Battery usage, ease of use, size, and of course price also factor in.

I have Googled to death looking for reviews of radios and have had VERY little luck.

I have read web page upon web page about what to look for in a radio (receive sensativity over power, battery use over power, etc), but I haven't found a site that (like this one) you can put in your requirements and it spits back suggestions.

Does anyone use these kind of radios while hunting, camping, trips, even while working that can give me some recommendations?

Thanks all.
SamG

good luck finding a frequency that isn't used by every other tourist, regardless of which one you choose.

I use the kenwood models. They have an optional VOX headset if needed. The battery life is good and the units I have contain a built-in ringer. This is usefull if you are in a Noisy area.
If you want better battery life, quality and performance, study for your amateur radio license and get a 2m/70ch hand held from Icom, yaesu or Kenwood. You will then have access to repeaters, phone patches and even the internet in some areas for free.
Take a look here... http://www.remote.arrl.org/
and here.. http://www.icomamerica.com/

Engenius cordless phones can be used as 2 way radios (no base station needed). The range on these things is incredible.

[Link: engeniustech.com]

I have had pretty good luck with the Motorola brand.. real rugged and weather resistent. I have a set that we take to ski and on family trips with the code lock out feature. I have not experienced too much trouble finding a channel that has no one or very limited numbers on it...GMRS you have to register with the FCC costs about $75 per year and is worth it to have a frequency that is some what clear.

Those look great! How much are they? Where can I get one? All I see on that link and one page back is tech info, no sales price or location, and I figure you know, so why should I send them an email and wait when you can tell all of us.

What about using some prepaid cellular phones?

Thanks guys, this is the kind of help I'm looking for.

Two notes... JWhitby, what model motorola do you use? I'm kind of partial to motorola also. :)

Also, the Envision phones sound great, but according to epinions.com, the lowest price is $335 for ONE! Sorry, I'm hoping to get four radios for <$200.

Anyone else?

SamG

You can purchsae Engenius products from several different wholesale locations- Graybar(www.graybar.com), Anixter(www.anixter.com), Inter-tel(www.inter-tel.com), TeleDynamics(www.teledynamics.com). I have personally used Teledynamics. The handset itself (no base station) has an MSRP of $199 (should give you an idea). I have not tested the range of the two way feature, but I have used the entire setup in large houses and have been able to walk around the block and still be well within range of the base station. No other cordless phone has come close to that! Just my $0.02.

Motorola radios are model number T5500, these will transmit up to 5 miles (with no obstructions) 1W of transmit power on the GMRS bands.
They sell a "family pack" of 2-T5500 and 2-T4500<---which do 2 mile transmit. You and wife carry the T5500 and give the kids the T4500 and you will always be in contact. (Geeez, I sound like a salesman...sorry) Try these, I know you will like.
Cost for all 4 radios is about $65. Oh yeah.... buy extra batteries they take 3AA's and you will get about a day and a half with "normal" talking. In other words don't try and have a complete comversation over the radio, just the "where are you?" "meet me at...." type thing and you will be fine.
You will probably be carrying other bags with things like cameras and camcorders just slip a few batteries in there each day.

This message was edited by JWhitby on 07/25/04 12:29.

Yeah that family radio what ever is real crowded. When I travel to volleyball tournemants it is impossile to use the things. Around an amusement park it most be awful. All these families who just piked them up for the day.

Use the motorola units in job sites. That is if I am working with that crew.

There are three crews I work with reguarly. The guys who all have cingular... the guys who have verizon... and the guys with NEXTEL. My personal phone is anextel and tankfully most of my friends have it too. We can use those a lot further than 5 miles too. :)

The motorlla units have access to the sam channels and sub channels as other manufactures. Just found them to be more tolerant of 30 foot drops from the roof.

|volleyball tournemants

That is too cool Springs..I coach volleyball...WAY off topic but I had to say HI to a fellow Volleyballer.

I love VBall too. Been playing organized ball for about 20 years now. Plenty of exercise and fun, and I've always been able to go to work the next day.

I live very near Disneyland, about 5 miles away, and I haven't updated my visiting habits in years. My non-technical solution, the one I use, is meeting at the Coca-Cola bar at the north end of Main Street, at a set time. My solution is as old fashioned as the RagTime music they play on the piano at that bar. And, it will probably be the best Rag Time piano you will hear in your lifetime. It's hard to find the time to appreciate the nuances at the mouse factory with all those popular rides to wait in line for.

If the music idea sounds interesting, hang out over by Pirates of the Caribean for a while and the Dixie band will start playing. Those guys are first rate too.

Most of all, have fun. It's the "Happiest place on Earth."

I just bought a pair of FRS/GMRS radios from Fry's Electronics in the Los Angeles area. Your profile does not mention a location and you do not even mention which Disney you will be visiting, so I have no clue if this will be helpful, but...

1)would you be so kind as to tell why you did not put your location in your profile? I have been wondering why people don't do that for a while now.

2)this model of radio, the Midland G-150, will end up costing me five bucks for the pair. They are on sale at Fry's for $14.99, and there is a $10 factory rebate for any pair bought before July 31 (I think).

The Midland units have VOX as well as 38 custom codes. You can set your radios so that they have to see one of these codes before they will send audio to the speaker.

Good Guys also had a closeout on a similar pair for about twenty dollars. That low price could make up for several inconveniences (that might not exist).