Long Range Two Way Radio

[burkhall1]

I will be caravanning across the US to remote national parks with friends and venturing into areas with low/no cell coverage. Does anyone here have experience with good long range two way radios with extended range? I'm willing to spend some decent money to ensure good communication. I've read good things about Motorola Motorola RDU4100 12.5kHz 4 Watt 10-Channel Two-Way Radio 2 and the Motorola MM2050 2Two-Way Business Radio. Any suggestions?

[azdryheat]

Check out satellite radios, they operate anywhere.

[ktmrfs]

I've used various handheld radios on GMRS, FRS, MURS frequencies. Unless you are at the top of a hill looking directly downward to the other phone with nothing else in the way for clear line of site, don't expect more than 1/2 mile. figure 1/4 mile in dense trees, buildings etc.

We use some high end rugged models for off road motorcycle riding along with push to talk headsets in the helmets. work great, but only for 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Yes, on occasion in flat land we have reached further than that, but don't expect it as anything routine.

Nice thing about the high end units is the ability to use tone controlled squelch so you don't have bursts of noise.

And we use them constantly when parking the trailer in campgrounds since many of our campgrounds are out of cell service range.

Or between vehicles when caravaning to campgrounds.

FCC has also cracked down on a bunch of the units that don't meet type qualification and/or were tuneable or able to work on frequencies outside the type spec's.

[enblethen]

Midland and Cobra radios will work together. I never tested my older ones. Worked great for grandkids in parks and the like.

[Lwiddis]

Land said it…remember it’s line of sight cheap to expensive.

[Land_Yachters]

I bought the Midland GXT series 1000 for basic use. Relatively cheap, I think around $70 for pair. Good features, came with earphone/mic etc. I have tested a few times for range as I ride my bike away from coach and try to check in with wife as I get farther away. Despite 30 mile hope, it is line of sight and even in small, flat town with just houses between us, I have only gotten about 1.5 miles. Still works for us for most communications. We use it constantly when parking etc.

[rk911]

ANY 2-way radio-to-radio service will have degraded range due to terrain...hills, trees, etc. what is your expectation for range? 1-mi, 5-mi? what sort of terrain?

[agesilaus]

Look at BaoFeng radios on Amazon

[bgum]

Research GMRS. Need a $70 license but that covers the whole family. Flat terrain with houses trees etc blocking signal gets you 6-7 miles. Check Midland radio. It is FM so much less static. Many times have heard 25 mile transmission. Those blister pack radios never deliver what they advertise.

[wa8yxm]

Just remember there are different radio services
CB; 5 watts in 4 out (to the final) 27 MHz decent range antenna 9' for best resluts

FRS: Low power 400+MHz short range
GMRS: Several optionas Higher power longer range License required

--... ...--
I'm an Extra Class Ham Radio operator. I can run up to 1000 watts DC in (It gets confusing when we talk power out) from just above the broadcast band to just short of.. well actually above visible light (though I don't have the hardware to do it) Though power limits exist in some bands and there are "Bands". Farthest i have ever talked was Michigan to Hong Cong (Half way around the world) but I kind of "Cheated" on that

Radio to Radio I've talked to about half the country and typed to about half the world (Same radio, Same antenna, 100 watts talk 30 typing. Yes Digital IS better than analog)

Though when I got my license you needed to learn Morse Code. That requirement is history.

[enblethen]

We have used ones like this for some time. They have changed since we got ours. Ours were more basic and do not have range as indicated for these.
Cobra FRS