FRS Radios on sale at Radio Shack

Just picked up the Mobile model for 62% off. The web site still says $79.99 but I got it in the store for $29.99. looks like most of their FRS models are on sale until 5/26.

it says 79.99 on that link. Is that better than a handheld FRS?

The link states the normal price (don't know why), but I got mine in the store today for $29.99. The shelf tag said it was on sale until 5/26. I don't know if this is a national sale or not, but I would assume so.

I have never used FRS before, but the potential benefits I see with the mobile unit:

No batteries
Possibly better antenna
Possibly better range due to antenna location
Full transmit power, 500mW
External mic and speaker jacks
It's cool

Someone here did a permanent install with one of these, as I recall they were happy with it. I'll be getting a handheld FRS as well, and probably a CB in the future. This was one of those "It's too cheap to pass up" purchases.

I just nabbed one. Pretty nice. No more dropping the handheld in the seat behind me or in the floor etc. No more batteries. Plus I finally have one with the subcodes.

Me likes,
Brent

I personally have done 6 mile transmissions with theese radios. I have heard of some people getting up to 10 miles out of them though. That is far better than any handheld. With the amount you save on batteries it will pay for itself shortly too.

I use NiMH batteries in my handhelds...

Brent

Thanks for the heads up on this sale. I also ran out and bought a unit for 29.99.
Rock on!
Look at that Radio Shack stock climb!

I grabbed one too. The guy at Radio Shack didn't even know the thing was on sale. He was stunned when the $29.99 price came up on his tube.

X Guys and Gals,

We used this FRS model on our Mohave Road trip last month and they were GREAT!

The external antenna really helped the range and no worry about eating up batteries was a big plus. :p

This IS the best FRS set I have ever used.

See ya on the trail (on your FRS),
Doc

I picked one up last night.

Has anyone split the antenna cable to install a connector? I would like to install a connector so that I can disconnect the cord from the unit on the roof.

What all is in the cable, before I cut it?

Help is appreciated.

Todd

I'm not familiar with these, does it get CB channels and you can use it with a walkie talkie on a private channel? How are people using these?

FRS is not compatible with CB.

Most FRS are the handheld "walkie talkie" style. This one is designed to be mounted in a vehicle.

FRS has 14 channels, and many offer 38 interference eliminator codes that you can enable to screen out others not on the same channel/code pair. Anyone can hear you, but you won't hear them. Useful in areas with a lot of FRS users, you have 532 different combinations to choose from.

Brent

While you will get better distance than the hand held unit I seriously doubt that you are getting more then 3 miles with only 500mw @ 460mhz.
UNLESS you are in complete line of site.

My moble Ham rig without line of site can only do about 15-20 miles on a full 50W (and that is at a more optimal 144mhz frequency). However with line of site I can get some crazy distance.

Glad some folks were able to take advantage of this deal.

If anyone has experience making a disconnect plug for this critter I would like to hear about it.

I don't know about any disconnect plugs for the thing...but do know there are a whole lot of wires running in the insulation. I think it may have up to eleven wires in the cable. The base of the antenna is actually the radio itself. The handset is just that...a microphone.

I have used mine for months now and it does far surpass handhelds in distance. I have now become the "message transmitter" on long caravans because I can clearly hear all members in the line. An example is on this last OBX trip, I was back at the house and heard the some of the other X folks talking about one member who had stopped at a parts store for a bulb, who they saw as they passed by. That parts store was 4.25 mile from where I was at, according to my GPS.

Here's some info on the custom installation of this FRS:

http://www.xterraownersclub.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=38;t=000601

Hey Snoopy any chance we can see those pics again? Or did photopoint destroy them like everything else?

Cool think I'll Pick one up thanks!! Now where will I plug it in? Hmm can I add a 3rd spliter on that outlet? hehe

While I was at Radio Shack I got one of these :



Brent

I connected one of those a while ago, behind my console, tapped power from the spare fuse, and added a kill switch.. got my laptop specific invertor and GPS plugged into it, so only power it when needed.

Snoopy / others-
It appears that all the cables between power point and base are low power, would a "molex" connector 12 pin work? I have seen these used in audio cabinets between equipment and a patch panel, so I think this might work. Just a little solder work.

Intention:
I would like to have a short cable off of the base/radio that can pass through sunroof, and run the cables up through the pillar/roof.

Thoughts?

Todd

Tested the radio last night. From across town, 19,000 feet (horizontally) the call signal works. I checked this morning with the GIS system at work. I bet between 2 of the same, the range could be this large.

I think I'll be happy with this radio.

Todd

I've got this model installed too.
It far surpasses the reach of the hand held and it looks good.

Seamonkey and or Snoopy, can you give a little bit more detailed instructions on how you did your custom installations?

This is how I did mine. I had to pull down some of the headliner, remove interior panels and remove weather stripping. The ant. exited the truck via sunroof. The power plug is under the drivers seat where I installed another 12v outlet. It wasn't too diffucult, just required a lot of thinking before hand since you cant just snake a wire around. I had to put the mic in a sock and insert it where I needed it to go, since it is smaller than the ant.
Dont bother waiting for a different design. The FCC rules state that the FRS radio's antenna cannot be removable from the radio itself. The "radio" is actually in the ant. outside, the mic is technically just the controls. I thought about cutting and splicing if I couldn't have got it to work this way.
I know somebody here cut the cable to install it and then spliced it back together. I just cant remember who.

I finally picked one of these up at our local RadioShit. No manual, no mic clip, no hardware, just the radio, no wonder they are in financial trouble.

Since no one at RadioShit has any clue about how water restant this thing is, I mounted it internally.
I mounted a small metal shelf in the back of the Xterra, and stuck the base on it. It has a clear view out the windows (except for the pillars), and is higher than if it was stuck on the roof of a car. Range seems fine, and we'll test it this weekend.

I'll post pictures next week.

Here ya go, Ian... Have a Nice Day! :p

RadioShack 14-Channel FRS Radio Mobile/Marine Use (210-1850)

Sounds like they sold you one that was the store display unit. Mine came with everything listed on the box.

HAHAA!! Around these parts they are referred to as 'RadioShaft' or 'RadioScheist'(sp). I did however pick this unit up today. It took two salesmen three trips to locate it among the back room inventory. I'm not only very patient but very happy now!! BTW: Lifeboat, A big thanks for the initial post!!

yup, went out and bought a set today. so far so good.

Went out and picked one up myself. The salesperson thought that the price was a mistake. Told her I heard about it on the internet.
When I got home my wife said that since I was at radio shack getting one for her, I should have gotten one for me. So I had to make another trip to get one for my X.

Here's another option...

Got one to test with our business radio and found out the other frequencies are license-free and more 1watt. I think the price is still $70 on sale instead of the $120 price tag. Check the link..

Excerpt....Begin........

Operate license-free on the following frequencies:
151.820 MHz
151.880 MHz
151.940 MHz
154.570 MHz
154.600 MHz

FCC license required for the following frequencies:
151.625 MHz
151.700 MHz
151.760 MHz

Power is automatically reduced to 1 watt on channels specified by FCC. Can be set by user to any two of these VHF color dot business frequencies: 151.625, 151.700, 151.760, 151.820, 151.880, 151.940, 151.955, 154.570 or 154.600MHz.

.......snip......

Hei DeepSIX,

Those bandwidths don't correspond with my current 14 channel FSR. Are those lic.-free freq's simply non-FCC business channels? 1 Watt is great but would I be just talking to myself on the trail??

Miikkaa,

No, they are not FRS and you're right about talking to yourself if no one in the/your group have the same radio.

It's an option... I see a use if a group go wheeling and you have a 'base' camp. Let say the better half don't want to go and stay at the base camp, using this, more wattage, can make it when FRS can not...(You need one in the camp)

I use one channel for business(5watt) and the other for home(1watt)... It does come with the stubby rubber antenna and need to be connected to the battery or wire it for lighter plug...It also have the 38 sub-codes... Simplex only.

I use it around the city to call home... It's clean and clear using the stubby rubber antenna externally!

Cheers!

Ian, I dont have the instructions anymore, but they did say that the base was weather proof. The way I have mine installed, it has to stay outside all the time. I haven't had any problems in the ~6mo. I've had it, including car washes etc.

DeepSIX,

Understood man. They still seem pretty cool!!

Add me to the list.... I just picked mine up from Radio Shack today. I think the 29.99 price is good through today. Pretty neat!

See ya

Got mine yesterday (surprisingly with no problems). For me, it would be ideal to have the antenna separate from the base unit. I'd like to mount the base unit inside and only have the antenna outside. For one thing, it's ugly as hell, and I'd rather not have that wire going across my roof. Damn FCC rules.

Ian...I'm with Seamonkey. My base has been riding on my roof for about 7 months without a problem. That's in snow, rain, sun, salty beach air, car washes...you name it. You should be fine mounting it outside. Just take it off every now and then to clean under it as recommended.

Just got mine too! Hope to hook it up tomorrow. ANyone tried to hardwire it?
John

Picked on up on Thursday, I went in and asked the lady for “the FRS on sale for $30” she looked at me and said they didn't have any on sale for $30. I looked up and did a quick scan of the shelf behind the counter and spotted it with “$29.99” in front of it. Pointed it out and she went to the back and brought out one and said it was the only one she had and it had been returned. We opened up the box and it had all kinds of gunk on it. I asked to see the display at that point. It was fine, just a little dusty. So I bought the display and took the hardware and paper work from the returned one. I rant the wire through the weather striping on the bottom of the left side back door and made a little extension cord for under the drivers seat. Works great! Makes a nice addition, and no more wasted batteries from forgetting to turn off the FRS.

Got enough toys in there Brian?

Gadget Central! I like it!