For caravanning, I think the CB with external antenna is clearly the best.
For trying to re-assemble all of the Airstream rally group spread all over the 300 acre balloon field then most any radio will do. You know, the important announcements like happy hour is starting early, etc.
Be aware that FRS radios are restricted to a max. power of 1/2 watt. The CB and GMRS radios go up to 4 watts for better range.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken J
Good point - I have both CB and FRS radios - it might be handy to have as we go into the park....
No. Just tell me when and where to show up for the parade into the Balloon Fiesta and I'll be there with my '64 19' Globe Trotter. Changing plans mid-stream or at the last moment may screw me up.
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Fred Coldwell, WBCCI #1510, AIR #2675
Denver, Colorado - WBCCI Unit 24
Charter Associate Member FCU
Vintage Airstream Club Historian
Airstream Life "Old Aluminum Adventures"
These letters are the initials for Family Radio Service.
Likewise CB is Citizen Band
and GMRS is General Mobile Radio Service.
FRS (Family Radio Service) is an unlicensed service.
FRS (Family Radio Service) consists of 14 UHF channels on FM. FRS Channel 1 is unofficially used as a common call channel.
FRS (Family Radio Service) shares channels 1 through 7 with GMRS, and many FRS radios are also GMRS radios.
The maximum allowable power for a FRS (Family Radio Service) radio is .5 watts. GMRS radios are allowed to transmit on the channels they share with FRS at 5 watts, ten times the power of FRS radios.
Unlike GMRS, repeaters are not allowed on FRS (Family Radio Service).
FRS and GMRS radios are sold for about $50 a pair. The FRS can be found a bit cheaper. The higher power GMRS are a bit more. The only models I have seen are battery powered.
They are sold in drug stores, electronics stores, chinamart, etc.
CB radios with an external magnetic base antenna for your vehicle roof go for about $100. Battery powered models are available with a cigarette lighter socket power adapter.
The are sold at Radio Shack, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScrapIrony-2
I hate to be dumb, but it's so much easier than pretending to be smart...What is FRS?.....John
The maximum allowable power for a FRS (Family Radio Service) radio is .5 watts. GMRS radios are allowed to transmit on the channels they share with FRS at 5 watts, ten times the power of FRS radios.
Airstream25, you left out a couple aspect of GMRS radios. 1. Like CB or Citizen Band Radios in the 1970's and earier, the user by law is supposed to buy a five year GMRS license ($75 or $80) if they transmit using GMRS frequencies. 2. The cheap combination FRS/GMRS radios don't typically include the repeater capability. I believe that you have to go to a much higher priced radio from one of the amateur or commercial radio manufacturers at a price near $150 each (ICOM). If you know of a pair with repeat capabilities at a lower price please let me know by this tread, priivate post or email.
We have permanent mount CB, plus several CB handhelds, plus a pair of FRS "Walkie Talkie's", plus a pair of cell phones, a laptop, printer and WiFi.. It's the Silicon Valley High Tech thing... I'll assume Channel 14 for CB for now... I'll also propose "Four Corners Airstreams" as the call sign, so people will know who's calling whom..
What we'd like is a last-minute meeting site and time for those arriving from the west, especially for those who can't make the more relaxed SoCal caravan coming from Grants Friday morning.. If it is Camping World, at 9 or noon or ??, we'll just get up earlier and drive to get there.. Fiesta people sugest arriving after noon.. Confirm the exit and location and the time. I'd rather not arrive solo and have to find Ken by cell phone and talk my way past the security folks at the entrance with: "But I paid someone to be here..."
John McG
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Condoluminum
In Theory, there's no difference between Theory and Practice, but in Practice, there is usually a difference...
cheap combination FRS/GMRS radios don't typically include the repeater capability
Don,
Thanks for the additional info.
I know that there are a lot of radio buffs out there. I am surprised that more Airstreamers don't have radios. They obviously are good for communications, but also the two way conversations keep you awake on a long drive better than listening to music on your truck longwave broadcast radio.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Motoman
Airstream25, you left out a couple aspect of GMRS radios. 1. Like CB or Citizen Band Radios in the 1970's and earier, the user by law is supposed to buy a five year GMRS license ($75 or $80) if they transmit using GMRS frequencies. 2. The cheap combination FRS/GMRS radios don't typically include the repeater capability. I believe that you have to go to a much higher priced radio from one of the amateur or commercial radio manufacturers at a price near $150 each (ICOM). If you know of a pair with repeat capabilities at a lower price please let me know by this tread, priivate post or email.
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It's the Silicon Valley High Tech thing... I'll assume Channel 14 for CB for now... I'll also propose "Four Corners Airstreams" as the call sign, so people will know who's calling whom..
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