GMRS Radios Now Availble!

[subterfuge]

GMRS radios are now availble in Canada!!

FRS radios typicaly top out at about 3km of range. The newer GMRS radio's extend that to over 10km!!

For any of you that are involved in outdoor sporting activities, or come out regularly to crusing events these are not so much a toy but a nessesity.

http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/category.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=RadioShack&category=GMRSRadios&pagenum=1

[Syn]

Are FRS and GMRS compatible with one another? Or do they use different bands/frequencies?

[brandon6976]

thats pretty cool. However I already own 2 FRS ones :sad:

[subterfuge]

Are FRS and GMRS compatible with one another? Or do they use different bands/frequencies?

Most of the ones I've seen listed do BOTH..

I 'will' be getting a set..

[Mobil]

Don't you need some special CRTC Permit to use the GMRS frequencies??...Did they abolish that or something??...

[ieatglue]

damn. how much do they run?

I've hardly used my frs. I'd hate to drop another 40-60 bucks

[Mobil]

Don't you need some special CRTC Permit to use the GMRS frequencies??...Did they abolish that or something??...


Just researched it...

As of September 8, 2004, GMRS radios are legal in Canada...

[Burrcold]

Don't you need some special CRTC Permit to use the GMRS frequencies??...Did they abolish that or something??...


Just researched it...

As of September 8, 2004, GMRS radios are legal in Canada...very nice!

[Sir Charles]

How much????

[subterfuge]

How much????

Psssst...

Click the link.. :wink:

[Sir Charles]

Psssst...

I can't!!! They installed an intranet at work so we don't have acces to all the web site that we want!!! It has to be car related!!!

[subterfuge]

OOOOH!!! Well why didn't you say so!! :lol:

About the same price as a regular FRS was about 2 months ago (ie a premium pair for under $200)

[Sir Charles]

it always come as a pair I supposed??

I'm thinking of buying something for the tour!

[subterfuge]

They seem to come as singles also. That's a REALY good idea Charles!!

It's amazing how useful they are for convoys.

[subterfuge]

... 'course the police montitor them also..

I still remember on the last fall tour..

Driver: "Hey guys, there's a cop coming up behind you.."
Cop: "Yes I am....."

[Sir Charles]

:lol: :lol: Really??? :lol: :lol:

[DONTPULLMEOVER]

I didn't even see this post, Barry told me last night that he wanted to buy a pair for the two of us in the pits and for the tour... etc.

I have frs too but they are crap! For some reason I never remember to charge them lol... right Mark!

[Syn]

CostCo is selling GMRS/FRS Cobra radios with an advertised range of 13kms for $89.99. They come in pairs, and include a charging station.

[ieatglue]

Saw them in the Canadian Tire flyer this weekend.

Be careful when you buy them! I noticed they had two. An one watt and a two watt. The one watt had the same range as the original frs's. The two watt had the 13 km range.

The one watt motorolla's were 100 bucks for 2.

the nonamed two watt were 80 bucks for 2.

Keep in mind the no named ones had another 10km range!

----

And YES it's a true story about police. Remember they have scanners that pick up all radio traffic. I don't know how it works.

But the cop waived at me after I mad that frs call ;)

[Syn]

Quote from a GMRS website forum.


The package's claims of range are usually overstated. Range with a typical FRS/GMRS hybrid radio will normally not be much greater than a plain old FRS-only radio.
The real gain in distance will be realized with a base station, repeater and/or higher powered GMRS mobiles. At this point in time, these are not options available to you in Canada.

From what I've found so far, the general consensus has been these new GMRS radios won't do jack for us right now. There are no spec-approved radios available to consumers yet, so what you buy now may not meet a certain standard later. The most important aspect isn't the range, but the length of the antenna, and whether or not it's upgradeable (antenna, receiver module, etc...).

Of course, good GMRS radios are going to cost a pretty penny, I don't see anyone on the club forking over that kind of money ($200+ for a single radio). But it sure would be useful to us, you can cover a lot of distance in a car in a short period of time :wink: