Walkie-Talkies?

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I read thru the Comm thread, but while that is all interesting, I'm looking more for something that would allow family members in the same city to communicate- family members that have a hard time working a cell phone let alone a radio. I did a search on 'walkie-talkies' and got two hits.

I see the walkie-talkies at the Radioshack website touting things like up to 25 mile range and different radio types, but reviews say they only work for a mile? My family members are all with in 1.5 miles (linear), in an urban environment, and during the day, all would be with in a 5 mile bubble 95% of the time. Also wanted a radio in case we had to move or leave and need to caravann.

Do any of these run on AA batteries? I'm trying to standardize everything on AAs. Looking for like 4 units, plus like two spares to deep store and protect from EMP- which I know is a whole other thread.

What is the best options for short range comms that neophytes could use?

[Outlander Systems]

Motorola XTN-series aren't bad. They hold up to some wicked abuse, and can take AA in a pinch. They all come with a built-in rechargeable battery and base-station for recharging.

The most I've been able to milk out of them is ~3 miles.

There's a plethora of accessories for them as well.

ETA: I've got a couple of them at work that are well over 6 years old, with 40+ hours a week of use on them that are still kicking. I've personally seen on thrown 75 - 100 feet, land on pavement and still function. The only gap in the armour is that after 6 years of abuse, the PTT button's contact gets unreliable.

[Jerm]

I have a set of the Cobra GA CC3's(GMRS/FRS).They may be discontinued as I'm having a hard time finding a link.IIRC they were advertised as having a 18 mile range.

They have always been good for at least 2 miles over uneven ground(hills/bends/forrest of SW-VA) and often work up to 3-4 miles.

Run on 2 AAs.

They look just like these(and the features/specs look the same) but it's a different model # and battery set-up(AAA)...

http://www.zalmar.com/detail-Communi...00_2_WX_VP.htm

[bkb0000]

i think the "range" advertised is for direct line of sight, zero humidity, with no solar activity, and no other RF interference. so basically, the middle of intergalactic deep space.

for any kind of LOS range, anything over 7 miles, even on the ocean (actually, especially on the ocean), is actually impossible- you lose LOS at about 7 miles from man-hight due to the curvature of the earth.

we used to use the Motorola Talkabouts at work, about 7-8 years ago. they advertise a 20 mile range now, but it was only advertised as 3, i think, back then, and we'd usually get half that. i seriously doubt you're going to get any better than about that in an urban environment without amplification

[kmrtnsn]

It sounds like the best "radio" solution to your environment is Sprint/Nextel PTT.

[QuietShootr]

It sounds like the best "radio" solution to your environment is Sprint/Nextel PTT.

Yeah. All kidding aside, I don't see this meeting with much success.

Only way to know is to try an experiment. Go buy a couple of the GMRS/FRS HTs and try them out and see if you can link up. If/when it doesn't work, come on back and we'll get you sorted out.

[kmrtnsn]

I am not a fan of the S/N PTT either but where else are you going to get the range, the pseudo trunking ability, and the interior reception for less than $5,000.00 a unit without an agency type relay contract with Motorola? GMSR/FRS doesn't work in the same building half the time, let alone across town within the OP's five mile urban bubble.

[QuietShootr]

I am not a fan of the S/N PTT either but where else are you going to get the range, the pseudo trunking ability, and the interior reception for less than $5,000.00 a unit without an agency type relay contract with Motorola? GMSR/FRS doesn't work in the same building half the time, let alone across town within the OP's five mile urban bubble.

Agreed, I don't think they're a survival solution though, because they're just as dependent on infrastructure disruption as a regular cell phone.

[arbninftry]

I read thru the Comm thread, but while that is all interesting, I'm looking more for something that would allow family members in the same city to communicate- family members that have a hard time working a cell phone let alone a radio. I did a search on 'walkie-talkies' and got two hits.

I see the walkie-talkies at the Radioshack website touting things like up to 25 mile range and different radio types, but reviews say they only work for a mile? My family members are all with in 1.5 miles (linear), in an urban environment, and during the day, all would be with in a 5 mile bubble 95% of the time. Also wanted a radio in case we had to move or leave and need to caravann.

Do any of these run on AA batteries? I'm trying to standardize everything on AAs. Looking for like 4 units, plus like two spares to deep store and protect from EMP- which I know is a whole other thread.

What is the best options for short range comms that neophytes could use?

Or is there a way to magnify, like a directional antenna, to "exagerate the signal"? And make it reach out, or are you better off using a CB?

[QuietShootr]

Or is there a way to magnify, like a directional antenna, to "exagerate the signal"? And make it reach out, or are you better off using a CB?

Without getting too far off in the technical weeds, the simple answer is no. A FRS capable radio, by law, can't be capable of having an external antenna attached...therefore, it's hard to do much with them other than to get the whole radio (and the operator) up high. This is usually less than convenient.

This is why we have been encouraging the use of commercial grade equipment (at least). A commercial or ham HT that is capable of being connected to an external antenna could have a simple antenna made that could be thrown up into a tree to get additional height - since height is range when it comes to VHF/UHF simplex radio.

Also - if you are trying to communicate with someone who has a hard time negotiating a cell phone, their conception of radio is likely to be what they see cops using: you have an HT, you talk into it, and the person you're trying to reach comes back clearly and legibly. They don't understand that the HT is just the part of the multi-thousand dollar system that they're not seeing, and they get frustrated and angry when their Wal-Mart blister-pak Dale Earnhardt model FRS/GMRS HTs that were advertised to go 25 miles suddenly won't make it to the next block.

That's kind of a tough scenario with what we know. Why don't you back up and ask yourself what you're trying to achieve?