By Alice Hill
RealTechNews
I got my nephew some walkie talkies I saw at Costco thinking something must have changed from my own set of “talkies” as a child. And yes, they were more durable and didn’t have a massive telescoping antenna, but the range as always was a bit of a disappointment. Here’s a set of talkies from Frontgate that may be the ultimate:
* Ultra-compact
* GMRS/FRS two-way communication
* Range of up to 27 miles
* Runs on rechargeable ultra-high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, included
* Battery Saver circuitry maximizes battery effectiveness
cost: $89.50
Product Page
Source: Frontgate
We Say: Sounds good but do you get brain cancer using something like this?
UPDATE: Looks like you need a license to get more than 2 miles. BOO. Thanks to smart RTN readers for getting me up to speed!
Not always what you see! says:
These radios require an FCC license to use the 27 mile range, otherwise you are limited to the standard 2 mile range of the unlicensed channels, just like all the other GMRS/FRS radios on the market.
Last I looked the FCC licenses cost $75 per year to use them….
These radios require an FCC license to use the 27 mile range, otherwise you are limited to the standard 2 mile range of the unlicensed channels, just like all the other GMRS/FRS radios on the market.
Last I looked the FCC licenses cost $75 per year to use them….
Damn it!!! I knew this was to good to be true…
Can’t get wireless internet to go more then a few miles without a license.
Can’t broadcast your mp3’s more then a few hunderd feet… So a 27 mile walkie talkie was just to good to be true.
They make transmitters so you can cue up a bunch of mp3’s on your computer then listen to them like on a radio in the kithen… I’d like to do that, then drive to work (about a mile away) then tune them in… The only thing I’ve seen that can do that is a pirate FM transmitter! (The FCC will confiscate it as soon as they catch you using it)
Yeah, the GMRS licenses are quite high and you can’t just get the license and use the radios. You must follow the rules when using them such as stating your registered call sign every few minutes. So you can’t buy them and just give them to your kids.
Although, ONE license will cover your whole family’s usage of them so if you have you, a wife, 5 kids, you only need one license. But you must all follow the rules when using them.
These radios are made by Cobra, not Frontgate. Frontgate is just a store.
Thanks so much for this extra info and catching the Cobra part. You rule!!!
What they ^ said, and the fact of the matter is you’ll likely never see the advertised range. It’s 27 miles *theoretically* with LoS. So, say if you were on the peak of a mountain, looking down at someone 27 miles away in a valley, then you *might* communicate, but even then, i would bet the range is a bit less than that. (Everything affects it, including weather, competing signals, etc) Basically, the 27 mile range is marketing mumbo jumbo.
I have a 5 mile radio similar to this. In suburban setting, I was able to use it for a range of approximately 1 mile (without visibility between the radios). Not too bad but not much better than a toy either…
there is always something ruining the fun!
We use a similar set from Motorola when camping. Last year along the beaches and dunes of the outer Banks we could routinely get 2 miles. There were times, though, that I couldn’t understand what the wife was saying while she was guiding the trailer into a parking spot!
TANSTAAFL…
The GMRS license is good for 5 years.
These will not do 27 miles. Maybe 2 – 5 max.
My “pet peeve!”
I’ve had face-offs with these manufacturers for years. It’s just irritating when they make these claims with nothing but possibly incredible luck to back them up.
Rather than educate the consumer about how they can actually get the 27+ mile range, they just make these ad-friendly claims.
When Midland put up big posters at CES a while back claiming “15-Mile Range” I walked up and said, “Wow, that’s pretty good. How did you do it?”
Their answer, “They just do.”
“Are you using a repeater?”
(Now they know I’m clued-in), “Please go away.”
I use a GMRS system that will talk about 80 miles from one end of the Bay Area to the other. It’s possible, but not this way.
Here are the facts you need to know.
There are 14 channels in the license-free FRS rules. They are located in between the licensed GMRS frequencies.
If you see a radio that has more than 14 channels, start looking for the fine print. The “extra” channels require a GMRS license.
A GMRS license is now $85 but the license process at fcc.gov is pretty easy. It covers your whole family for 5 years. (Their definition of family is in the part 95 rules but is pretty generous, including in-laws but stopping short of cousins.)
If you do have a license you’re actually allowed to transmit up to 50 watts of output power and there’s lots of surplus full-power UHF radio gear in places like ebay. Just take it to a local radio shop to have it programmed for the GMRS frequencies.
If you’re really into it, you can look for someone with a high-level repeater that will share it with you. Repeater operators can control who is allowed to access their systems. They cannot charge an access fee, but they may ask that you contribute something to the operation (Do you live on top of a good hill?)
If you live in a more remote area, you may need to establish your own repeater, but if there’s no cell-phone coverage, this could work well for you. There’s lots of resources available to help you.
I’m happy to help if you have any questions. Just search me on Facebook or google..
Cheers to Alice and the RTN! Still my favorite!
DC
While it may be true you need a license to operate them at maximum range Lets be clear.
the radios as you buy them out of the box will operate for you at maximum range and power.
You don’t have to “unlock” anything.
I tested some “15 mile ranges radios “with my girlfriend and she was able to get about 2 miles away in her car before we lost signal in heavy downtown buildings which I though was great.
I can listen to radio traffic from many miles away if they are located in the hills.
I think they are a great emergency device.
I doubt anyone is going to come after you for using them if you are trying to stay in touch with your kid during some possible safety hazard or if you use them in an emergency when the phones are down etc.
My girlfreind and I each keep on in our cars.
TITLE 47–TELECOMMUNICATION
CHAPTER I–FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (CONTINUED)
PART 95_PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES–Table of Contents
Subpart A_General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)
Sec. 95.3 License required.
Before any station transmits on any channel authorized in the GMRS
from any point (a geographical location) within or over the territorial
limits of any area where radio services are regulated by the FCC, the
responsible party must obtain a license (a written authorization from
the FCC for a GMRS system).
[53 FR 47714, Nov. 25, 1988]
Ah….. well. I see things are about the same as 20-odd years ago when I had a pair of walkies. Except! the ones I had couldn’t even do their advertised range of two miles. Even in the house, they sounded like ****.
Keep up the posts, Alice! I always find this kind of tech amusing. Gizmodo has spoiled brats for contributers, and engadget looks about the same to me.
Everytime you see these consumer radios that say they talk 27 miles, 20 miles, 10 miles – it’s all wrong. Truth is no radio can talk more than 2-4 miles with 4-5 watts of power. UNLESS YOU ARE ON THE TOP OF TWO MOUNTAIN TOPS TALKING TO EACHOTHER WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS IN-BETWEEN. The marketing is really bad. We always let you know the reality with these radios. Truth be told the way the police do it, the way the forest service does it, is that they have repeaters that are on mountain tops which all allows then with a handheld radio to talk those distances. But radios on their own… forget it. Mobiles will talk much farther because they are higher power. It all has to do with power, mobile radios come in 25, 50 and even 110 watts… that is a big difference in your distance, but you need a car battery or a power supply that plugs into the wall to make that work.
Total BS with the 27 mile range.
Short of living atop Mt. Everest and your pal at base station, most you’ll see in the civilized world is 2 miles max……
I can’t believe it.
1. Since the Cobra radio is GMRS/FRS two-way communication, then it has its limit,like 0.5 W output, fixed frequencies channels.
2.Even HF handheld with 5 W output can hardly reach about 30KM, how can a Cobra GMRS/FRS two-way radio reach 27 Mile???