walkie talkie help

kapitans said:
Legalities aside... you can get handheld CB radios like Realistic TRC-216 on fleebay for next to nothing these days. Heavier, but you probably get most km/range per dollar.
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Update: Just came back from a moose trip where I compared my TRC-216 with a pair of Midland GXT1000 ("36 Mile Range").
Midland worked good within less than 1km in a hilly landscape. At 1.0 km with a hill in between, Midland set on HI power would be able to receive only some cracks and a calling sound, but no spoken communication was possible - not one word came thru. Then I pulled my CB radios and they worked loud and clear while set on LOW power. Nuff said.

I also watched the Baofeng UV-5R short Youtube presentation. Assuming the range is there, the radio offers tons of options with programming and third party programming tools involved. If you are up to it the radio looks like a winner. However I doubt if you would be able to explain the radio features to your non-HAM buddy hunter, while out in the field, and do it successfully under 10 second as I did yesterday with the CB.

Cheers
 
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So you would recommend the trc-216 ? I have CB's in my trucks and an old cobra base station at home. I'd like to get a couple/few handhelds
 
kapitans said:
Update: Just came back from a moose trip where I compared my TRC-216 with a pair of Midland GXT1000 ("36 Mile Range").
Midland worked good within less than 1km in a hilly landscape. At 1.0 km with a hill in between, Midland set on HI power would be able to receive only some cracks and a calling sound, but no spoken communication was possible - not one word came thru. Then I pulled my CB radios and they worked loud and clear while set on LOW power. Nuff said.

I also watched the Baofeng UV-5R short Youtube presentation. Assuming the range is there, the radio offers tons of options with programming and third party programming tools involved. If you are up to it the radio looks like a winner. However I doubt if you would be able to explain the radio features to your non-HAM buddy hunter, while out in the field, and do it successfully under 10 second as I did yesterday with the CB.

Cheers
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CB radio is on HF- 27Mhz and is of course AM.
Boafeng is an FM radio and is on VHF or UHF and that is strictly line of sight,so I can see that a CB radio will have better range in hilly country,the lower frequency waves will still follow the ground contour somewhat.
Also,the CB radio has the advantage of a longer antenna,at least the old ones I still have are equipped with telescoping center loaded antennas.

H-VE5HFD
 
DanDontask said:
So you would recommend the trc-216 ? I have CB's in my trucks and an old cobra base station at home. I'd like to get a couple/few handhelds
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Many handheld Realistic TRC-### models will do the job. Make sure it has the telescopic (undamaged) antenna and 4W or 5W output. Check the size as they all look the same on pictures but sizes vary (TRC-209 is huge). My favorites are 216 and 217. I paid $50 (incl shipping) for a pair of minty TRC-216's
 
There is no handheld that will give you that kind of range without an external antenna. Most hanheld radios with the lossy antenna are god for about 3-5 miles tops
 
ratherbefishin said:
What is the rationale for Canada limiting the wattage to 2 ?
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Because you don't need a license or any real knowledge of radio etiquette to buy them.

Out in the middle of no where it's less of a concern, but in populated areas the noise pollution from kids lost at the mall and other annoying chatter would be an issue.
 
I have a couple sets of Baofeng UV-82 and they work very well. Get a programming cable and download CHIRP and they are easy to program. I programmed mine with all the FRS/GMRS, NOAA, and MURS. I am also going to put in the marine frequencies as well. If using the FRS/GMRS you will need to set the proper tone/squelch if you want to use the privacy channels, otherwise you will be transmitting and receiving anyone else that happens to be using the same channel.
 
Joe549 said:
I have a couple sets of Baofeng UV-82 and they work very well. Get a programming cable and download CHIRP and they are easy to program. I programmed mine with all the FRS/GMRS, NOAA, and MURS. I am also going to put in the marine frequencies as well. If using the FRS/GMRS you will need to set the proper tone/squelch if you want to use the privacy channels, otherwise you will be transmitting and receiving anyone else that happens to be using the same channel.
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Just don't mistake tone as a privacy setting. They can still hear all of your conversation if they don't have a tone set in their radio you just won't be able to hear them talk/answer back.
 
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