If you go with two way radios (walkie talkies) then don't be cheap. The cheaper ones do not work well and fail after only a couple years. Nick Russell of Gypsy Journal eventually went with Midland GXT models for his rallies and found they lasted a long time on battery and his originals are still going. After being frustrated with cheap ones we also bought some Midland GXT's on Nick's recommendation and it has been about 5 years and they are still working well. If you use the higher distance channels (GMRS), you are supposed to get a US radio license for $85, but I don't know anyone who does. In Canada you do not need a license for GMRS for 2 watts and below, but the GXT's are 5 watt units. I stay with the FRS channels just to be sure, but we don't try to use them for really long distances.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Sunday 4th of August 2013 10:16:45 AM
NWescapee said
03:42 PM Aug 4, 2013
We have decided we will continue to have a second vehicle due to the amount of "stuff" we need for Dale's art show biz. We need to buy something to aid us in communication as we're going down the road. Cell phones just didn't work well yesterday through the mountains of Montana.
We've had walkie talkies before and their range seemed pretty limited.
Any suggestions?
Workinrvers said
04:57 PM Aug 4, 2013
we use the old CB radios in ours. Their range is also limited, like the handhelds, but they are easy to use. We have handhelds as well but found they are hard to hear each other clearly and we hate trying to use them while driving, the CB's just seem so much easier. Should we get out of range of each other we can hook back up via our cell phones, but that rarely (if ever) happens.
Phil
laears said
01:26 AM Aug 5, 2013
I don't know a lot about this, BUT we have bought 3 sets of walkie talking over the years. Each one more than the next and each time disappoint in how long each charge on the battery last, but even more important how long the barratry's last over all, and how much they cost to replace.
Just my 2 cents
Terry and Jo said
02:02 AM Aug 5, 2013
Back in the day, I used to be a user of CB radios and later, a manager of a store for a major electronics retailer. I've since gotten away from that business, but back then, business band radios were better for distance and clarity.
Having said that, I have no idea if that is still true, but business band radios were usable over longer distances than CB. It might be interesting to do some research along that line of thinking. Some of those do not require a license. I also found a website that may help with getting that process of research started. At the following site, the far left blue button under their logo has a title of "Which Radios are Right for Me." You may have to use the little pull-down arrow to select either "family" or "business," but all I had to do was click on the down arrow and let go and the next page came up. That page seems to have some pretty good information.
Now, in all honesty, I did not go to looking at prices, because the more one wants a "guarantee" of success with the radios, that may require a more expensive option. This site does sell Motorola radios, and Motorola is known for quality.
Terry
LoupGarou said
02:53 AM Aug 5, 2013
I'd go with a Walkie-Talkie. A model that has VOX capability that will give you hands-free communication with headsets would be handy.
-- Edited by LoupGarou on Monday 5th of August 2013 02:53:58 AM
-- Edited by LoupGarou on Monday 5th of August 2013 03:02:09 AM
MarkS said
05:12 PM Aug 5, 2013
It sounds like you are looking for range of less than a mile or two. $ for $ your best solution is CB. You can get radios and antennas for under $50. Nowadays you can always find a clear channel to use. If one breaks you can get a replacement at any truck stop and throw the old one away without guilt.
Defiant said
12:03 AM Aug 6, 2013
We are installing a CB in the truck , yes its "old Technology" and yes its range is somewhat limited but the advantage is there is still many people on the highways using them so getting traffic reports for accidents and other info is easy. we also have the GMRS radios ,we have had 2 of the Midlands die on us and they weren't the cheap ones , they worked well for us , we are just frustrated that they fail with such light use, so I guess it really doesn't matter which way you go .... get what works for you
NWescapee said
03:40 AM Aug 6, 2013
Thanks for the suggestions! Love this forum and all the knowledge everyone is so willing to share.
MarkS said
08:03 PM Aug 6, 2013
I like my CB for short range communications. Typical range for me is four to five miles depending on conditions. A while back I modified mine to give me about 90 channels. I was near tucumcari, NM when I realized something just wasn't right. So I broke into a conversation and asked if he would mind telling me what frequency we were on. Turned out I was on the equivalent of about channel 52. He ask what my location was and I told him. He said I sounded pretty good in West Virginia. On the out of band channels sometimes you can't tell when skip is rolling because they are so quiet. Anyway, one of the switches I bought at radio shack was faulty and I had to replace it.
TXRVr said
12:09 AM Aug 8, 2013
The ultimate solution to this problem is Ham Radio. The wife and I are licensed radio operators and use two way, hand held radios to aid us in situations where we need reliable, interference free communication. http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio
socoguy said
02:18 AM Aug 23, 2013
CB also does not require batteries or chargers.
Alie and Jims Carrilite said
11:09 PM Aug 23, 2013
socoguy wrote:
CB also does not require batteries or chargers.
I thought most CB's were 12 volt?
Terry and Jo said
12:16 AM Aug 24, 2013
Some "walkie-talkies" in the past were on CB channels. As such, those would need batteries and/or chargers. However, I'm not sure whether anyone still makes the hand-helds that operate on those bands, but then, I haven't looked at hand-helds in a long time.
If you go with two way radios (walkie talkies) then don't be cheap. The cheaper ones do not work well and fail after only a couple years. Nick Russell of Gypsy Journal eventually went with Midland GXT models for his rallies and found they lasted a long time on battery and his originals are still going. After being frustrated with cheap ones we also bought some Midland GXT's on Nick's recommendation and it has been about 5 years and they are still working well. If you use the higher distance channels (GMRS), you are supposed to get a US radio license for $85, but I don't know anyone who does. In Canada you do not need a license for GMRS for 2 watts and below, but the GXT's are 5 watt units. I stay with the FRS channels just to be sure, but we don't try to use them for really long distances.
Amazon sells the GXT1050's for just under $70 for a pair with chargers and other accessories. http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT1050VP4-36-Mile-50-Channel-Two-Way/dp/B001WM73P0.
-- Edited by bjoyce on Sunday 4th of August 2013 10:16:45 AM
We have decided we will continue to have a second vehicle due to the amount of "stuff" we need for Dale's art show biz. We need to buy something to aid us in communication as we're going down the road. Cell phones just didn't work well yesterday through the mountains of Montana.
We've had walkie talkies before and their range seemed pretty limited.
Any suggestions?
Phil
I don't know a lot about this, BUT we have bought 3 sets of walkie talking over the years. Each one more than the next and each time disappoint in how long each charge on the battery last, but even more important how long the barratry's last over all, and how much they cost to replace.
Just my 2 cents
Back in the day, I used to be a user of CB radios and later, a manager of a store for a major electronics retailer. I've since gotten away from that business, but back then, business band radios were better for distance and clarity.
Having said that, I have no idea if that is still true, but business band radios were usable over longer distances than CB. It might be interesting to do some research along that line of thinking. Some of those do not require a license. I also found a website that may help with getting that process of research started. At the following site, the far left blue button under their logo has a title of "Which Radios are Right for Me." You may have to use the little pull-down arrow to select either "family" or "business," but all I had to do was click on the down arrow and let go and the next page came up. That page seems to have some pretty good information.
Tech Wholesale
Should the "arrow trick" not work, then try this link for the same information:
Which Radios Are Right For Me
Now, in all honesty, I did not go to looking at prices, because the more one wants a "guarantee" of success with the radios, that may require a more expensive option. This site does sell Motorola radios, and Motorola is known for quality.
Terry
I'd go with a Walkie-Talkie. A model that has VOX capability that will give you hands-free communication with headsets would be handy.
-- Edited by LoupGarou on Monday 5th of August 2013 02:53:58 AM
-- Edited by LoupGarou on Monday 5th of August 2013 03:02:09 AM
The ultimate solution to this problem is Ham Radio. The wife and I are licensed radio operators and use two way, hand held radios to aid us in situations where we need reliable, interference free communication. http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio
CB also does not require batteries or chargers.
I thought most CB's were 12 volt?
Some "walkie-talkies" in the past were on CB channels. As such, those would need batteries and/or chargers. However, I'm not sure whether anyone still makes the hand-helds that operate on those bands, but then, I haven't looked at hand-helds in a long time.
Terry