Talkabouts

[uphillklimber]

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[Charlie Schuessler]

We've had our pair of Motorola Radio's for at least six or seven years. We use them for hiking, skiing, equestrian events and anywhere we will cover some terrain and may be separated. Our friends have the same or similar models and the channels are standard FCC frequencies so they communicate. Be advised that they are low wattage and really are LINE-of-SITE communicators. For our intended use they have come in handy and believe the money has been well spent.

Things I watch for are keeping them dry and shut them off when not needed. I replace the batteries regularly and remove them entirely if I know I’m not going to use them for more than a few weeks.

Along with a long hiking boot lace as a lanyard, we use Duluth Trading Small Cell Phone Holsters to keep them attached, dry & protected from harms way. Go to http://www.duluthtrading.com/items/97755+BLK.asp to view the product.

They sure beat waiting around when the time could be spent being productive.

 

[dmc]

These are Midland GMRS. They have a 7 mile range and an auto battery save. I think I like those features, but what I really want is compatibilty. Is anyone familiar enough with these units to be able to tell me if they are indeed compatible with the motorolas?

GMRS radios are copletely compatable with FRS radios... they just have more channels to choose from and operate at a higher wattage...
Technically - you need a liscnse... My liscense # is 0010316669.. Like I'm suppose to remember that...

 

[dmc]

I just chatted with my Dad. He tells me that "all" the talkabouts are given a certain set of frequencies they can use and they all are pretty much using the whole alotted spectrum. Of course some use more and some use less. Looks like I'll be getting these from LL Bean, so if it turns out that they are not compatible for some reason, a return will not be hard to do. And with the LL Bean rewards "cash", they won't cost me anything out of pocket!!! Next get together, I'll find out if they work!

If they are FRS radios they are compatable with all other FRS radios.. The only difference between FRS radios is some have subchannels and some dont.. Most now ones use subchannels...
They are also compatable with GMRS radios - but FRS does not get all the subchannels that GMRS gets..

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

All FRS radios are on the same channels. They also share some channels with GMRS. GMRS (which requires a licence) allows you to operate at higher power (also, the GMRS radios do not have some of the design restrictions that FRS does, such as the "Non-removable antenna." Range is always going to be limited by terrain. "7-mile" is a meaningless term. Friday, I was talking on a Commercial grade Kenwood handheld (5 watts), from the base of Killington into a system on Mount Washington, NH (100+ miles). The same radio can bearly make it from the Middle section of Wizard (at Magic) to Vertigo. (Less than 1/2 mile). It has to be line of site.

The compatability issue is that each manufacturer uses different names for the CTCSS tones. ("Privacy codes", "Sub-channels", "PL's",whatever.) A great reference is on http://www.qsl.net/k5eph/GMRS.htm Maintained by the Athens (Texas) Amatuer Radio Club which has a chart of many manufacturers' numbering systems. All makes use the same 14 channels (or some of them) and all use at least some of the Standard CTCSS squelch tones. You just need to which tone is called what by which manufacturer.

Most of these radios are not very rugged. None, that I know of have any kind of a metal chassis. One drop or fall and they're done. Communication certainly makes the logistics of meeting up a lot easier.

 

[Talisman]

I believe the sub channels are the same based on using Motorola and Uniden products to communicate with each other in the field. The line of sight limitations of these devices cannot be over stated. I have communicated from Wizard on Magic with people on Stratton using a 'talk about'.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

The 14 channels are all the same (although some radios may not have all of them and/or may number them differently.)

The Subchannels, privacy codes, PL tones, whatever the manufacturer chooses to call them are something different. Technically, these are CTCSS tones (Continous tone Code Selective Squelch). This is a standardized set of low frequency tones from 67.0Hz to about 250Hz. I believe there are 38 in total. Say you have a Cobra Radio. You put it on Channel 1 and set it to code 8, which is 88.5 Hz. When you transmit, a tone of 88.5 Hz is also tranmitted. This is normally in the range of human hearing, but the recievers filter out everything below 250Hz, so you never hear it. Your friend also has a Cobra radio, set to channel one, code 8. The receriver has a circuit in it that is tuned to 88.5 Hz. If it doesn't receive that tone, the audio circuit is shut down. So say someone else transmits on Channel one, but with Code 1 (67.0Hz), neither of you hear them. If you transmit on channel one code 8 at the same time as the other person transmits on channel one, code 1, all your friend will hear is garbage, because the two signals are on the same channel. All these codes do is keep you from hearing other traffic on the same channel.

Now lets say you and your friend with the two Cobra radios on Channel 1, Code 8 want to talk with another friend who uses a Motorola Sport, go to the chart and you'd see that he'd go to channel one, Code B and you could all communicate. If then a fourth friend showed up with a Motorola Talkabout, go to the chart and you'd see that he'd need to go to Channel one, code 8.

There are 14 FRS channels, the first 7 overlap with FRS channels. You can operate on all 14 channels with FRS, but one at the lower power. You can operate on Ch 1 -7 at higher power with a GMRS radio, but you need a licence. (These are listed on the AARC page in the second table.)

In addition, with a GMRS radio and licence, you can operate on the 8channels listed in the first table, which includes use of repeaters (Fixed systems that rebroadcast your signal to extend the range significantly), but I believe there are restrictions on these channels. I have a licence, so I should know the restrictions, but where I have access to more sophisticated systems, I've never bothered looking into it further.

Hope this helps.

Sled

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

If you have problems getting them to match up, I have a sweep receiver that can identify the channels and tones. Long and the short of it, no one's equipment is proproprietary, they just name things differently.

 

[Vortex]

Sledhaulingmedic great info. Where do I get that frequency chart info? I bought Cobra Radio's 3 years ago, I added 2 motorola's found they did not communicate, so I bought 2 more Motorolla's. I would love to get the Cobra's to work when we have guets up so they can communicate also. I thought it was just good marketing by motorolla, ( Guess the salesman in me came out.)

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

I posted the link above, but it got lost in my long winded post above:

http://www.qsl.net/k5eph/GMRS.htm

"Motorola: You can buy better, but you can't buy more expensive."

 

[ftrain]

cell phones and radios

I go skiing to relax and get away from technology. Besides dealing with people talking on the phone while driving now I got to deal with people talking on their cell and walky talkies while going up the ski lift. Go out and enjoy nature and leave the electronics at home or in your poctet for a real emergancy. :beer:

 

[Vortex]

Thankx for the linc. Radio's help alot with kids. I started without them many years ago. I am glad I have them know. I'm sorry if I offend anyone with them. I don't over use them. Ski areas really are not that quiet and private these days, but I got the point.

 

[dmc]

Ski areas really are not that quiet and private these days, but I got the point.

If people really want peace and quiet... Take 'em off and hike... Or skin... whatever...

 

[skijay]

I have a pair of the older Motorola Sport 7 models (pre talk about) and they are rated at a 2 mile range. We have talked between summits of Bromley & Stratton.

Last season, we used our Verizon cell phones at Jiminy Peak. Most of my friends are on the mobile to mobile (In-Network) and Verizon is just about everywhere and the calls are free! Plus the battery life on a cell is longer than the 2 way radios.

Jay Peak is also Verizon, but you have to be careful as the phones roam to a Canadian signal.