uhf/vhf vs frs/gmrs radios
 

Looking for my first radio and have a question. Other than range, what are the advantages of a programmable uhf/vhf radio such as the puxing 777 or 888 compared to something like a motorola talkabout.

Don't forget to use the search function, bro. Since I've got nothing to do, I'll toss my 2 cents. I've recently bought a Puxing 777 (from online reviews & recommendations, fellow players I've gamed with, etc.). I've tried it around my house and in a forest behind my community, it's awesome. Common pros of these UHF/VHF vs. FRS/GMRS radios are:

- Extremely long lasting battery life (on Low power)
- Huge range
- Upgradable parts (antennas, headsets, etc.)
- Durable
- Progamming = easy peasy once you get the hang of it (Super customizable)


People who have actually gamed these in skirmishes and milsims will fill you in on the missing information.

Friends don't let friends use talkabouts. Honestly if you're gonna fork out $65 for a pack of shitty radios, you may as well spend the extra $10 for a Puxing. Accessories, range, durability, all are better with a decent quality amateur radio compared to a blister pack one.

the uhf radios are definitely great.. just remember to program them to the frs/grms frequencies as soon as you get them... accidentally transmitting on say restricted frequencies would be bad juju.

They are also compatible with military/replica communication gear.
And they don't make the anoying Bleep Bleep sound when transmitting.

Anyone poluting the comms with those sounds should be expelled from a milsim.

http://canadianspectrumpolicyresearc...ocation-08.jpg

FRS and GMRS are a family of OPEN Public frequencies with in the decimetre band known as UHF for which short range communication is legal.

After that any difference between Motorola's, Kenwoods, and so on come down to the output capabilities. Being capable of 460-470mhz transmission/receipt is not necessarily make a good radio.

Research the product before buying always. Larger battery capacities and water resistance are key things to pay attention to in batteries for the use in Airsoft. 9 times of 10 humidity is what kills your Crappy Tire Radios and because of poor build/designs it often does not take much humidity to kill them.



It has become a little annoying to hear reference of a UHF radio being better than an FRS radio, when Family Radio Service units ARE UHF radios. Just pre-programmed to be stuck in 450-470 range pending place of sale.

FRS radios are limited to 0.5watt
GMRS radios goes up to 1watt
Typical programmable radios goes up to 5watts

Being better is in their power. They will also blast other weaker transmitter off the air if 2 try to talk at the same time.

And it's not true that a 0.5watt radio is good up to 500m in the wood. I think it can barely do 500m in open grounds.

FRS/GMRS = UHF


Cobra =/= Motorola

;)

1 Watt radio's can suffer in the woods as well; and easily get their range cut down to less than 500m pending the topography. That will play into the transceiver a lot, as well as the antenna's integrity.

The point is that you have to research the radio; and not get hung up on FRS/GMRS vs. UHF.

Also, the limit for transmit power on GMRS in Canada is 2 Watt; having 5Watt could potentially land you in hot water (But not likely).

If you really want to get into increasing range, the output is not the place to start; a repeater station is! A fair number of programmable Radios could be programmed to operate as a repeater as well.

A Garmin 650 is a pre-programmed FRS radio; but by your previous statement ((as it is)) Fox, it's not better than a "UHF Radio". Yet it has 5Watt transmit capability for US Model and 2Watt for Canadian market. That's an "FRS Radio" by this "standard" that has been set. It's just annoying wrong way to look at/for radios.

Also, GMRS is limited to 2watt transmission in Canada before you start getting into licenses and permits etc. Transmitting at 5Watts likely won't catch much attention but if it did...

If you really want to boost range, stop looking for big transmission power boosts and start looking into repeater stations. This is where "programmable" can really shine as depending on the unit very often such units can be programmed to act as a repeater.

Awesome, thanks for clearing up my ignorance on the subject. This is the first radio I've ever invested in, still learning and happy for all the info man.

http://canadianspectrumpolicyresearc...ocation-08.jpg

Just cause of the thread title I want to point at this link again and say

"STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM BUYING VHF RADIOS!"

It's not impossible to get your hands on them, but using one of those will definitely land you in hot water fast. And no one that you WANT to hear you, will. Nor will you hear anyone you're listenin' for.


At the end of the day, if all you can get your hands on is a cheap Cobra, you're still better off than most. And you can easily disable on MOST cheaper FRS units:

http://www.ehow.com/how_5201798_remo...rs-radios.html


The art of radio's comes in listening. They're there for information gathering mostly. Often knowing what others are doing gives you massive tactical advantage, even if you can not transmit back to them.

as much as people badtalk those frs radios, I had a pair of motorolas that worked as advertised as far as I could tell... definitely better than 500m range.

Having a radio is better than not having a radio. Then you get into the BS that was NF2... where nothing cut through the channels because there was so much going on.

as a matter of fact, I think my motorola talkabout worked more than the woxoun I have now. Alas... both of them are sitting in FRMSC's lost and found at the moment. :P