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ok so i want two way radios that will go real far, you know like hatzolah, cops and cab drivers use. this for use in the country and eretz yisroel when we go on hikes, etc. what do i need to know, what model should i buy etc? will i need a license for them?
They go far because the organizations have “repeaters.”
If you purchase radios on your own you will have a fairly limited range, which of course varies based on model and terrain.
u can rent (i think u could buy also) from a place called “Abest radios”, they rent to a lot of camps and places that need radios. I don’t know their number but im sure you could google it and find out.
There are some commercially available small radios that claim to work for a mile. I’ve never seen the real-world use come even close to that though.
As far as the repeaters go, those are typically put up by a company or government agency so I doubt they would allow free usage. Also the repeaters have limits as well. My Hatzolah radio allows me to communicate with the dispatcher who might be sitting in Brooklyn even though I’m in the Catskills, but if I go to Miami where there is no repeater my radio will work for 10 blocks, maybe.
As a side note, the poster above “shtieging” mentioned a company called Abest. I don’t know what this website’s policy is regarding posting phone numbers, so I won’t do that, however, I have done a rather large amount of business with them and have both purchased and rented equipment from them. I would highly recommend them based on my personal experiences.
its_me – They have a new thing out there (last couple of years) called Family radios. The FCC has upped the distance -like to around 10 miles. No license required. They are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased online. Unless absolutely needed UHF and VHF radios are a fortune. Licenses are required. If you need further than the max allowed by FFR’s, use your cell phone.
I know companies whom do have UHF/VHF systems and instead of adding money for upgrades, they use that cellular company that offers separate walkie- talkie lines on their service. I forget the name, but you can Google it.
FRS works for about 1/3 to 1 miles, and doesn’t need a license. GMRS works for about 2 to 5 miles, and technically needs a (easily obtained) license but the GMRS radios are widely sold in Wal-Mart and electronics stores. Ham radios go much further but are expensive and need a license that you need to practice and pass a test for.
Just get a Nextel/Mirs. In today’s age when most mobile providers offer unlimited, just call the other person.
BuzBuz – Yea, that’s the name Nextel.
shlishi -They now have a new non-license system called EXTRS.
I went onto the Walmart site and the longest distance GMRS radio is a Uniden for 36 miles. Don’t forget -outdoor use only. The comments say less than a mile if in a building.
Health, the manufacturers wildly exaggerate in their claims how far it can go. Technically if you are in a flat dessert it may work that far. But not in real life with buildings or mountains in the way.
shlishi – Exactly, but the ones with the most distance outdoors, without obstructions, will still have the most distance with obstructions in the way.
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