BigGameHoundsmen.com

was noticing that the little motorolla two ways that you can buy at cabela's and such have a 25 mile range. Sure not getting that from the programmed uhf two ways. Anybody using the little ones compared to the programmable? Any input on which seems to be a better choice when you damn sure wanna get ahold of one of your buddies to get a ride out of the mountains?????

If you read the boxes, they say that is line of site with perfect conditions. Boy, they aren't kiddding. I've found the Midlands to have a little better range then any of the others but they still are limited to about a mile or two when in steep terrain and heavy tree cover and you are on the other side of the mountain.

10-4 BEEN THERE DONE THAT.. WE CAN ONLY MAYBE GET A MILE OUT OF OUR 26 MILE RANGE MIDLANDS

get yourself some low-band radios--they have pretty good range.

Basically they are all the same they are only aloud a couple of watts output. So no matter what FRS radio you buy it won't reach very far. If you go with a low band you will get more range usually but what I mean by that is you could be a hundred yards away line of sight and not be able to talk to each other. If you want more range and be legal you have to get a license and so would everybody you hunt with. What a pain in the butt if the FCC would just allow at least five watts you wouldn't have this problem.

Just get yourself some 5 watt marine handhelds.

My Icom 5w hanheld recently shot craps on me. I was searching craigslist and ebay for a replacement. NEw ones are just to expensive for me, but I found these and they work very well. I have no idea how durable they are and tey are made in communist China, but they do work very good. Plus they are only around 50 bucks. That's pretty good considering that they are a true 5 watt 2 meter radio. Here a link to them on Ebay.

http://search.ebay.com/fd-150a_W0QQfkrZ ... 2QQfsopZ32

DesertDweler,

Whats the range with these 5 watt marine handhelds? In sight range and out of sight range????

thanks.

I've never tested them just for the fact of knowing, they just seem to work about anytime I use them. Last week elk hunting was probably the farthest handheld-handheld I have talked and still did'nt need to adjust the squelch any, that was probably 3 miles. I have talked to my buddy at a tree off my handheld to his mobile at probably 10+ miles and I have talked mobile to mobile(25 watt) around 30+ miles.All these were basically being on top the mnt and the other in the same drainage line of sight. They offer good range yet still economical.

where did you purchase yours??

I bought a couple VHF radios from Walmart last year and wasn't too impressed.. I used Walmart Return policy after My Hunt! Gotta love Walmart!

It Could have been because they were cheap and from Walmart??

Best radios I ever had were some UHF, Professional Motorola's that I bought in a Garage sale, But those were 800 dollar Radios. Same stuff that we use here at work for the Emergency Team and the Same radios that the Police often use.. Eventually the Rain and everything else Took it's toll on them Radios and one by one they started to Fail.. Could have/Should have taken them in for Repair.

Ever since it's been a fight to get back to good radios.

Bar none those were the Best.. I've thought about Doing it leagal and Buying a Frequency License with the FCC and getting back to those radios, and then I could Put nice radio in my truck and have some privacy over CB..

Maybe one day I'll get rich..

Too bad those FCC Licenses are not a Nationwide deal or we could all Pool together and buy a BigGameHoundsmen Frequency and all share it across the US.

Between the Cost for the License.. And since they were expensive radios to maintain.. I've just never done it.

I would assume a Good VHF, or Ham radio should perform about the Same.. just never have the Money for a couple "good" radios.