+o3fxstb Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Good evening, I am doing a fair amount of searching with my son, somewhat competing. I noticed many of you list "ham" radio in your hobbies. What do you think of the gps radios. If not those, then a very good quality radio to keep me in communication with my son. As we all know, the terrain can be quite severe in some cases. I'm looking for something that is way overkill before I go with too little. Does anyone else use radios to be in touch with their group ? If so, what do you recommend ? Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 (edited) If you have two (or more) of them, the Garmin Rino units are really cool. They are a GPS/GMRS/FRS but the really neat feature is that they broadcast your position to other Rino users. That way you and your son can see exactly where each of you are. Put Mapsource Topo on the units and you'll see terrain features and can tell precisely where your companion is. Edited October 17, 2006 by briansnat Quote Link to comment
+badlands Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 I have two sets but have never used them while on the trail. Where we've found them useful is in the cars when traveling in groups - so much more convenient than cell phones. Quote Link to comment
+Chuy! Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 The FRS/GMRS radios are line of sight. And stronger transmitters require an FCC license. Still a relatively affordable communication tool to have. Get one that uses AA batteries as they are more universal than the AAA that dominate the market. Here is good article on dos and donts. Quote Link to comment
senecaripple Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 what is the true talking distance on these rhino's? and can they use any garmin maps, i have a street pilot 2610. could i use their maps on this? Quote Link to comment
+GEO.JOE Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 what is the true talking distance on these rhino's? and can they use any Garmin maps, i have a street pilot 2610. could i use their maps on this? It all depends on the Terrain, just as any other FRS radio. I have had success at 1/2 mile once at Topaz Mountain in Utah with both of us on the same side of the all rock mountain. As soon as one of us would go behind a rock or beneath a rock shelf there would be no signal at as close as 200 ft. If you have a tree, rock, bend in the river etc. between you and another person the reception goes way down. I have not tried them on wide open areas but in the hills, streams and valleys of West KY, Southern IL and South East MO 1/4 mile is about the best we get. The position broadcasting only works on the FRS settings so I have never gotten an FCC license or activated the GMRS ability of the RINOs. The RINO will use any of the Garmin Mapsource Maps but the not all of them have turn by turn or auto routing capabilities. Joe Quote Link to comment
+The Jester Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 what is the true talking distance on these rhino's? and can they use any garmin maps, i have a street pilot 2610. could i use their maps on this? They are like any other FRS/GMRS radio. Distance depends on terrain and openness. I've easily gotten over 6 miles on mine, but that was open water. In a city, 1/2 mile may be pushing it. Don't know about the maps, sorry. Quote Link to comment
senecaripple Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 i like the rhino feature if it broadcasts the position of the other persons location, sort of like a homing device. does it show the location on the map? how is that possible? must have some kind of homing device! Quote Link to comment
+Chuy! Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Garmin calls it Position Reporting. Quote Link to comment
+Travelinmatt76 Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Just remember that when you buy the 22 channel FRS/GMRS radios that you need a GMRS license to use channel 15-22. Last time I renewed my GMRS license it was $90. Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 Don't forget that you can read Today's Cacher Magazine for information about many geocaching topics. Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted October 17, 2006 Share Posted October 17, 2006 i like the rhino feature if it broadcasts the position of the other persons location, sort of like a homing device. does it show the location on the map? how is that possible? must have some kind of homing device! Its just a radio receiver/transmitter. Each person needs to have a Rino for this to work. Quote Link to comment
senecaripple Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 i like the rhino feature if it broadcasts the position of the other persons location, sort of like a homing device. does it show the location on the map? how is that possible? must have some kind of homing device! Its just a radio receiver/transmitter. Each person needs to have a Rino for this to work. thanks for all of these info. Quote Link to comment
senecaripple Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 Garmin calls it Position Reporting. thanks, that was helpful! Quote Link to comment
+Lakeshore Geocachers Posted October 18, 2006 Share Posted October 18, 2006 We use a FRS/GMRS radio set a lot..we even used them for gorilla xmas shopping last year..We get 3-4 miles with the upper band and 1/2 to 1 miles with the lower...hope this helps. Quote Link to comment
+ckwhitman Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I got my Technican HAM license in college. It was pretty easy. Just get a book and study (both you and Jr.). Get a pair of used 2 m handhelds with a 5W transciever and you'll have plenty of range Quote Link to comment
+BigStick Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 I'm glad to see this topic come up. I was thinking about getting some FRS radios and was doing some research on them last night. One question I had concerns FRS vs GMRS. Can you get by with just FRS (it seems everything I find has the capability for both)? As The_Matneys posted earlier, the GMRS requires a license. Is this a worthwhile investment? Just curious, are those of you that use the upper band/5Watt/GMRS channels all licensed, or is it common to just use those channels and hope the black helicopters don't zero in on your location? . Thanks. Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 (edited) I'm glad to see this topic come up. I was thinking about getting some FRS radios and was doing some research on them last night. One question I had concerns FRS vs GMRS. Can you get by with just FRS (it seems everything I find has the capability for both)? As The_Matneys posted earlier, the GMRS requires a license. Is this a worthwhile investment? Just curious, are those of you that use the upper band/5Watt/GMRS channels all licensed, or is it common to just use those channels and hope the black helicopters don't zero in on your location? . Thanks. Don't forget that you can read Today's Cacher Magazine for information about many geocaching topics. I have my GMRS license; WPZU728 and my ham ticket W7CLC Edited October 19, 2006 by Criminal Quote Link to comment
TinyMoon & The Pumpkin King Posted October 19, 2006 Share Posted October 19, 2006 We use FRS radios once in a while, no license, but we talk on the "upper channels" and we've never seen a Black Helicopter go flying over us...but everyone knows that they fly in "whisper mode" so how could we even know they're coming after us?!? Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.