| We all can remember those times in our youthful | | | | radios which operate on the GMRS band as well as |
| days when we would have an inexpensive set of | | | | the FRS band. The GMRS band has an effective |
| walkie talkies and try to speak back and forth with a | | | | power output level of 1 to 5 watt while the FRS |
| friend several houses down the street. If you notice | | | | boasts a mere 1⁄2 watt. |
| I said try for most of the time the walkie talkies that | | | | If this is starting to sound good to you allow me to |
| we had available were scarcely sufficient to get from | | | | explain the potential catch here. In order to use the |
| one room to another in our home. This provided a | | | | more powerful channels of this radio you are |
| very nasty taste in my mouth towards these | | | | suppose to purchase a five-year license through the |
| electronic devices for many years afterwards. | | | | FCC at a rate of $75.00. It is unlikely however that |
| Today it is not uncommon to find that the cost has | | | | any one actually follows through on this and pays the |
| decreased on these communication devices while the | | | | registration fee. |
| effective range has been drastically extended. With | | | | The transmission range that the companies typically |
| all the positive information that has been floating | | | | promote is up to 20 miles although according to the |
| around concerning the current two way radios I | | | | terrain you would be lucky to actually reach a 2 mile |
| thought it would be best for me to reconsider my | | | | limit. Being trained previously in electronics and radio in |
| previous stance. | | | | particular I find the handhelds to be only as effective |
| As I began to search for a two way radio I quickly | | | | as a line of sight signal. If you encounter a hill or |
| found that not only are they available in a vast array | | | | mountain you can just about be assured that you will |
| of price ranges but they also have a hefty amount | | | | not be able to communicate at all. |
| of options that you could obtain as well. These | | | | When communicating with another person in the |
| options range from an interference eliminator to a | | | | immediate area the walkie talkies will work fine as |
| built in weather alert signal. Some units even have an | | | | long as you are within the two mile range of each |
| emergency button installed that would transmit an | | | | other. I will be using them on my next outing to |
| emergency SOS signal if needed. A few even sport a | | | | communicate between cars as we bug out to |
| hands free operation which is really a great safety | | | | another adventure in the great outdoors. Hopefully |
| feature. | | | | they do not disappoint me as the ones of my youth |
| When planning your purchase avoid the usual "toy" | | | | did. |
| units and make sure that you purchase a pair of | | | | |