Walkie Talkies

[redbaron]

Makes a lot of sense, thank you. Since you mentioned HAM, are certain freqs preferred for RVs? (I am KK4CIF).

I am WD4LOW

I have not found many rv hams, and even fewer on the road. I run 2m/70cm in the rv and jeep.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I know quite a few Hams. guess it depends on your clan.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

I know quite a few Hams. guess it depends on your clan.

I only run HF in the travel trailer. I have several antenna configurations which I choose to use. Mostly a single wire tossed in a nearby tree. If I'm desperate and have no trees around, I'll put up the HF6V vertical.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Makes a lot of sense, thank you. Since you mentioned HAM, are certain freqs preferred for RVs? (I am KK4CIF).

I only run HF in the travel trailer. I have several antenna configurations which I choose to use. Mostly a single wire tossed in a nearby tree. If I'm desperate and have no trees around, I'll put up the HF6V vertical. Not aware of any specific frequencies used by RV'ers.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

As @Bob K4TAX posted, the hardware matters.

I too am a ham operator, and have both a ham and gmrs in my jeep. When traveling with others that are not ham operators, gmrs is a good alternative. The gmrs allows use of repeaters, and be up to 50w of power for sight to sight communication and many hardware options.

Frs is only 1-3watts, and often has too cheap of hardware. If you are just communicating around the coach for parking, frs is fine. If vehicle to vehicle, you will want gmrs and external antenna.

Most of the less expensive radios have a speaker the size of a nickel and only about 1/4 watt of distorted audio. And it gets worse the louder the volume. The better quality radios will have a larger speaker and better quality audio. With FRS radios, using them in the campground for less than 1/4 mile communications 1 watt is adequate for line-of-site communications. Otherwise, don't be concerned about the "sales pitch" of a 5-watt radio. It will just suck the battery down faster. If you believe you need more power and distance then go with the GMRS radios. One pays for what one gets.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I don't remember what I have to be quite frank. I think though mine has both. Can't say that for sure. I know some of the channels require licence/registration, others don't. I have had FSR radios in the past that found their way into the donation bin. As you Hams know(had a novice in the early 80's and let it laps) the rule is use the power necessary to communicate.
For me it is about the quality, reliability, and how well the toy picks up a signal. Yes antenna pre-amp is better when you spend the money, you do get what you pay for.

 

[redbaron]

All gmrs radios include frs frequency

 

[FL-JOE]

We have always used our iphones when backing into a site. I simply put mine on speaker mode while the DW stays outside and makes sure no kids or anything else gets in my way. We can communicate in calm quiet voices when needed and no goofy hand signals. In 11 years of being on the road we have never arrived at a site were we didn't have a cell signal (Verizon).

 

[redbaron]

We have always used our iphones when backing into a site. I simply put mine on speaker mode while the DW stays outside and makes sure no kids or anything else gets in my way. We can communicate in calm quiet voices when needed and no goofy hand signals. In 11 years of being on the road we have never arrived at a site were we didn't have a cell signal (Verizon).

Cell phones are very simple.

Far too often we camp where there are no signals.

 

[ManlyMan]

There are a number of state parks in MO that don't receive a cell signal.

 

[FL-JOE]

That would be good to know going in. I'm not a huge fan of not having a way to contact emergency services at 1am.