new radio discussion

[Native]

continued from parts of this thread: http://www.kickflop.net/autocrossbb/vie" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... =6772#6772


yah, I've done a little research too, looking at consumer reviews on CNET and some other sites. The Motorolas are getting fair reveiws, probably not the best.

I'm only thinking out loud when I wonder if we should just get 2 or 4 more compatible Motorolas (Ebay, Amazon), and see if they dont' fair better not roasting in the trailer heat for weeks, and with the batteries out, before we spend $$$ replacing them all...We're already mix-n-match with the models we have, they're compatible, fwiw.

I put the radios in the reg. box with the batteries out - you commented earlier that burst batteries killed at least one. Maybe if we baby these just a little they'll last longer?

[impalanut]

While the barn is not air conditioned, it rarely is hotter than the outdoor temps, so I don't think you will see a huge difference. I know the group in Ft Myers uses motorola radios similar to what was posted in the early part of the thread.

[Native]

^^^ maybe it's a humidity issue??

Not that they are any great authority, and still just brainstorming, I stopped by RadioShack. Upshot is that they say while there may be numerous choices in brands and expense, all the guts of the radios in a given brand are the same - the price goes up for more wattage and more bells and whistles, not necessarily reliability. They suggested, based on what I described as our needs, just an entry level radio but of a reliable brand (RS, of course... ) Their cheapest pair was $40. 5$ more buys free replacement of one for a year, no questions asked.

[Solar]

This is the way I look at it:

We can keep replacing cheap radios every year or so, which means this discussion comes up every year, and finding compatible fequencies isn't as easy as some have said. Then we'll have to deal with them going bad on race day (like what happend at Lakeland); because who can forsee a radio going bad?

Or we can bite the bullet, where the budget allows, and spend some money, and get real radios that work everytime. Not everything has to be a "deal" but some time taken comparing prices should be done. Because communication is very important for our events, we should look at the radios as a safety issue and not as a luxury. Just my 2¢ 8)

[Solar]

I've done a little research too, looking at consumer reviews on CNET and some other sites. The Motorolas are getting fair reveiws, probably not the best.

I know how you feel about Motorola products.

Maybe if we baby these just a little they'll last longer?

While babying them might help, the biggest issue with most of them was the buttons and switches wearing out.

We might want to look at a extended warrenty on the new ones.

[Native]

decisions, decisions...

do you have time to look into "real" radios a little more? or is the one you linked to previously your vote?

[Solar]

decisions, decisions...

do you have time to look into "real" radios a little more? or is the one you linked to previously your vote?

Yeah, I can do some more research this week. The one I linked was a example of whats out there and seems like a good radio for the price, but I haven't searched for any reviews or comments yet. I figured we would want to stay under $100 per radio (yes/no?).

[Solar]

Did some research at lunch time and see that the radio I linked is a really good deal for $75, every other site that carried the same model radio was at least twice as much.

I did find something interesting though, some of these radios require a license from the FCC to legally operate.

EDIT: the one linked earlier is no longer avalaible, I found another one that doesn't require a license for about the same price and includes all the assesories. Their website shows them in stock, but I can't find any reviews yet.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2MV91" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Native]

It was suggested to me in a email to just buy a mess of the same type of cheap radio we already have. Points offered included less likely to be stolen, not as big a loss if dropped and broken, and will run on regular batteries, not only rechargeables.

just passing the thoughts along.



edit: you only need the license on certain frequencies. The FRS radios we have now are supposed to be "licensed" on certain channels, too.

[Solar]

It was suggested to me in a email to just buy a mess of the same type of cheap radio we already have. Points offered included less likely to be stolen, not as big a loss if dropped and broken, and will run on regular batteries, not only rechargeables.

That's a good idea, and probably the easiest solution, and if we end up blowing through them quickly, then we can always look at better ones again.

edit: you only need the license on certain frequencies. The FRS radios we have now are supposed to be "licensed" on certain channels, too.

True, but without a license, the radios will only transmit at ½ watt instead of a full watt, not that has ever been an issue with what we use them for, just throwing out what I've learned in the last couple days. 8)