Radio days

PRODUCT EVALUATION

NEW TECHNOLOGY IN TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS KEEPS YOU IN THE KNOW

Two-way radios have come a long way since the CB-radio days, and the new generation of communicators can be highly useful for RVers. For example, Flo Anderson has no sense of direction, and her husband, Dick, acknowledges this.

"Flo doesn't get lost around a campground because Halle, our cocker spaniel, always leads the way back to the coach," he says. Large stores were a problem, however, and Dick often found himself searching the aisles for a small woman pushing a big basket, guided only by whatever caught her attention.

Nowadays when they go into a Super WalMart, Dick just gives Flo one of their portable two-way radios and heads off with the other one to do his shopping. When he's finished, he calls to ask where she is, and then proceeds to lead her to the checkout. Problem solved.

You may wonder why the Andersons don't just call each other on their cell phones. Depending on their calling plan, that could be somewhat-to-extremely expensive, and they might not always be able to receive a signal from a cell-phone tower. The two-way radios talk to each other directly, without intermediary. The radios carry short information exchanges, so it's not a problem that they don't support simultaneous conversation.

The advent of Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) has added a new dimension to communication via new channels assigned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1997. No more bulky and heavy CBs or walkie-talkies; these short-range two-way radios are smaller, lighter, more reliable and more user-friendly than their predecessors.

They can be used on land and on water indoors and outdoors, and can be fine-tuned to allow more-private communications.

What's the difference between FRS and GMRS? Range and price. By FCC regulation, FRS radios' output cannot exceed watt, which limits their range. Most cannot transmit intelligibly beyond one mile, especially if any obstacles such as buildings or hills intervene. They're OK for around the RV park or at the megastore, and at $30 to $70 each, they won't break the bank.

The range of quality GMRS units is greater due to their higher power (up to 5 watts). That power means fewer obstacles hinder them. You must add the cost of an FCC-required license ($75 for a five-year license, which also covers immediate family) to the initial price range of $75 to $200 each, but it may be a comforting safety buffer to have the GMRS radio's increased communication range.

USES

The number of uses for hand-held radios is limited only by your imagination. The obvious ones -- keeping track of each other and the youngsters at the RV park, the tourist attractions, and the shopping megaplaces - are only the beginning. Wouldn't you rather speak calmly into a radio than shout instructions to the driver while helping him back into a tight campsite? How about scouting ahead in the dinghy in unfamiliar areas for a restaurant or parking space? Or, you can finally feel comfortable about going off to the flea market while your better half paws through the goodies at the swap meet. If you find a deal, you can radio for more money.

FEATURE

GMRS units have many basic features in common. Most have paging capabilities along the lines of a tone signal, such as when your telephone rings, and some provide multiple programmable tones to inform the "pagee" who is trying to make contact.

Most have subchannels that fine-tune each of a radio's allotted channels into as many as 38 private lines, to keep group members in communication while tuning out others' transmissions. Most offer power-saver features to reduce the draw on batteries, and many accept either disposable alkaline batteries or rechargeable battery packs of nickel-cadmium (NiCd) or nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-MH).

Most also feature a keypad lock to keep channel/subchannel settings from being accidentally reset. This literally keeps you on the same wavelength as your group.

An important new feature is the ability of GMRS and a few FRS radios to receive weather information transmitted from one of seven National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) frequencies nationwide. This could prove to be a lifesaver if weather conditions change while you're out hiking, boating, fishing or even strolling through the swap meet. You may be the only one with access to these weather warnings.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

When shopping for your radios, consider antenna length and design. Communications range is affected more by antenna height than by transmitter power Look for interchangeable-battery options, a lighted display for use after dark, keypad lock, those NOAA weather channels and VOX capability-- voice-activated, often handsfree use with appropriate accessories.

We tested three GMRS units' performance from coach to dinghy, and from inside a megastore to the dinghy. We compared range and voice quality of the Cobra Microtalk PR 900-- 2 DX, Kenwood Freetalk XL (TK3101), and the Uniden EcoTerra. Background static and fuzzy-- voice quality characterized the Cobra radio, indoors and out, and its signal trailed off after one mile of distance between coach and dinghy. The Kenwood provided great voice tone, the in-store signal was uniformly strong and the coach-to-- dinghy signal was intelligible up to 14 % miles. The Uniden supplied good voice quality throughout both tests, and its coach-to-dinghy signal strength remained strong to 1 1/2 miles.

The Uniden EcoTerra also came packaged with a VOX headset and was the only model we tested that has an ambient-temperature readout - nice standard features for a nice $ 76 price.

Whether you're directionally challenged or just want to keep in touch, GMRS radios offer convenience and safety- at the right price - when you travel.

Copyright T L Enterprises, Inc. Jan 2003
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