Thanks for your comments Mike. I've also come to that conclusion this week and realizing I really do need an actual emergency comm device of some sort or ham possibly. We are 2WD but get into to some off track places sometimes. I would say that rarely do we go all day without seeing others though, but I do like to be prepared. Butt for camp purposes I think I'm liking the GMRS over FRS for the slightly extended range. We sometimes split up for hiking and can have 2 miles between us in the hills.
Again thanks and I really appreciate your contributions here.
You realize that GMRS HT (Hand Transceivers) are limited to 2 watts output, which is the same as FRS? So there isn’t any extended range to GMRS over FRS in your application. Also by FCC regulations a GMRS HT CAN NOT have a removable antennas or a way to change frequencies from the front panel (locking via software makes it able to be used on frequencies outside of the FRS/GMRS band and is illegal)
from the FCC: FR47 Part 95 (FRS/GMRS) section E
(a) Each GMRS transmitter (a transmitter that operates or is intended to operate in the GMRS) must be certified in accordance with this sub
part and
part 2 of this chapter.
(b) A grant of equipment certification for the GMRS will not be issued for any GMRS transmitter type that fails to comply with the applicable rules in this subpart.
(c) No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with a frequency capability not listed in
§ 95.1763, unless such transmitter is also certified for use in another radio service for which the frequency is authorized and for which certification is also required. No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. All frequency determining circuitry (including crystals) and programming controls in each GMRS transmitter must be internal to the transmitter and must not be accessible from the exterior of the transmitter operating panel or from the exterior of the transmitter enclosure.
(d) Effective December 27, 2017, the Commission will no longer issue a grant of equipment authorization for hand-held portable unit transmitter types under both this subpart (GMRS) and
subpart B of this part (FRS).
(e) Effective December 27, 2017, the Commission will no longer issue a grant of equipment authorization under this subpart (GMRS) for hand-held portable units if such units meet the requirements to be certified under
subpart B of this part (FRS).
So… with all of these use restrictions, I don’t see the point in getting a GMRS HT. I see the 25 or 50 watt mobile, but not for talking to peoples outside of a convoy.
Just an FYI, last summer I did a range test from mountain peak to mountain peak (5 miles as the crow flies) with two FRS Cobra HTs and two 2meter HTs (set on 0.50 watts) and was able to communicate just fine… when I hiked back down to the valley below the other station I was becoming broken even when I turned my 2m to the full 8 watts, but I could hear the other station just fine. Once I threw on the 1/4 wave antenna onto my 2m HT I could both hear and be heard… my point here is that it’s not all about wattage… a big part of it is the antenna. And since a GMRS HT antenna has to be fixed, it’s no better than a decent FRS HT.
