Ancestors

Toot

Written by Profoundly Nerdy on 2025-01-05 at 22:09

Can someone recommend an FRS radio that doesn't suck? I have a pair of Midland FRS radios with 10 minute battery lives and dodgy PTT buttons.

I need:

• As much battery life as possible.
• A PTT button that a child (or a boomer) can work reliably.
• USB-C charging would be a nice bonus.

[#]frs #gmrs #hamradio

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from profoundlynerdy@bitbang.social

Descendants

Written by Michael / Chgowiz 🎲🎲 on 2025-01-05 at 22:12

@profoundlynerdy The Baofeng UV-5G are FRS/GMRS transmit/receive and can receive other ham bands. They're easy to use and very inexpensive. They can let you be on FRS channels and if you get the inexpensive GMRS license, you expand the range and number of frequencies you can use.

• WSDP979

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from chgowiz@dice.camp

Written by Anonymous Freak on 2025-01-05 at 22:46

@profoundlynerdy Baofeng makes a bunch of good ones.

I'm partial to the Wouxun KG-588G (fully IP-67 waterproof, but shorter battery life) or KG-935G (not waterproof, but much longer battery life, and tons of extra features. But EXPENSIVE)

Edit: Shoot, looks like the 935G has been replaced with the 935G Plus, which better waterproofing, but SIGNIFICANTLY cuts battery life. 3200mAh to 2600mAh battery.

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from AnonymousFreak@bitbang.social

Written by Technodad on 2025-01-06 at 16:37

@profoundlynerdy Can you say a bit more about how / where they'll be used? I personally like the Baofeng UV-9G for outdoor work, as they are fairly rugged, waterproof (IP57), and come preprogrammed with GMRS, FRS, and Weather frequencies. Might be overkill for non-outdoor use. (Oh yeah, boomer here…) #gmrs

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from technodad@cunnin.me

Written by Profoundly Nerdy on 2025-01-06 at 20:07

@technodad Yeah, sure...

During power outages, most likely caused by inclement weather. Most usage would be indoors, but not all. I'm trying to get about a mile out of them in reasonably flat terrain several residential buildings apart.

I'm trying to see how difficult something like this:

https://radiorelay.org/sos/

Would be to implement in my neighborhood if it ever needed to happen.

I have a GMRS license. I don't expect all of my neighbors / friends to get one.

Make sense?

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from profoundlynerdy@bitbang.social

Written by Technodad on 2025-01-06 at 21:26

@profoundlynerdy Makes perfect sense, especially given recent examples of cellular unavailability during disasters. We are developing something similar in my town, and are looking at RRI’s “I Am Safe” program. See https://www.neighborhelpingneighbor.net . A mile should be easy for #GMRS, FRS will need testing but probably OK in flat terrain. Good luck!

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from technodad@cunnin.me

Written by AI6YR Ben on 2025-01-06 at 21:27

@technodad @profoundlynerdy The SOS Radio Network scheme is a great one, if you can get enough of your neighbors wired in. I suggest you try to find a FRS/GMRS radio with AA batteries (not easy) because recharging in an emergency is a BIG issue, but everyone always has AA's available.

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org

Written by Sean Reynolds on 2025-01-06 at 21:40

@profoundlynerdy The Motorola talkabout is a good option for FRS. They’re about as simple as radios get while still being full-featured, and in an extended power outage where you can’t charge them, the battery packs can be replaced with AAAs.

=> More informations about this toot | More toots from saltbaygull@friendsofdesoto.social