Originally Posted By: Colt45ws
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I've never understood the ratings of walk-in talkies. I've got some that are good for like 50? miles and when driving on the flat interstate, if the other person that's following me gets back about 1/2 a mile to a mile, they don't work.
Because you're inside of a car, or more importantly, the antenna is. Unfortunately bubble pack radios have fixed antennas per FCC mandate to prevent external mag mount antennas being attached. Its actually to prevent external amplifiers, but, the effect is the same. They are trying to prevent CB 2.0 where people plug their 4W CB radio into a 1000W amplifier, bucking FCC rules, and blow everyone within 100 miles off the air.
I bought bubble packs once, and they are so pitiful they turned me off radio tech by many years.
When I bought my Motorola CP200d radios, which are a commercial 4W handhelds, is when I realized I was missing out.
I can literally get into a repeater, and sound OK/Readable with that 4W Moto from inside my house. Oh, yeah, said repeater is 55 miles away, as the crow flies. I recently purchased a magmount and antenna for it. I set that magmount on my bookshelf and get into that same repeater perfectly fine, just a little white noise.
What I would do, is get the license so you can use higher power radios, buy some 4 or 5W Baofeng radios, and program them to GMRS. They have detachable anteannas so you can add a mag mount or larger antenna. Youll also be able to program repeater frequencies into them, if you have any locally.
Sounds interesting, but more than i'm looking for. I just want to communicate vehicle to vehicle while traveling, coordinating lane changes stops etc among 4 other campers. One guy already has a pair of frs/gms radios, so i need pair so all four of us can talk on the same channel.