Interesting FRS 'mobile' radio

[Lynn]

Years ago I took a path that I suspect many of you have followed: I bought some CB HTs for caravanning, and found that they couldn’t transmit out of the cab. So I bought the mag-mount antennas, and could ‘reach out’ about a quarter mile on a good day...

Then when FRS radios came along I bought a couple cheapies, and have really been happy with how they perform, vehicle to vehicle, with just the ducky antennas.

However, I’ve also suspected that an FRS mobile, with outside antenna, would be even better. No glass to attenuate, no metal to block transmissions, better antennas, etc.

Well, I did a little google ‘research*’ and it seems that the FCC rules for FRS state that the antenna must me permanently attached to the radio. Common speculation is that the rule is intended to prevent ‘mobile’ installations. Strange. Don’t know why.

However, Radio Shack offered an interesting unit, the Model 21-1850:

They evidently got around the FCC rule by encasing the entire radio INSIDE of the antenna’s magnetic base. The speaker/mic has all the controls, but the actual radio is still attached directly to the antenna. Interesting approach.

However, it doesn’t seem that the shack carries them any more. I wonder if the FCC made ‘em stop selling them?

Online reviews I found seem favorable, except for one guy who claims that the radio/antenna base isn’t sufficiently weatherproof. Maybe that can be fixed.

One shortcoming for doing a permanent vehicle mount is that the cable that runs from the 12V plug to the external unit is permanently wired. I found a note from a guy that cut and extended one, but he said that there were like 32 wires involved... Channel up, channel down, PTT, mic, ‘privacy code’ buttons, volume up, volume down, howevermany for the LCD...

I did a quick craigslist search, and bought a ‘like new’ one for $20 + $7 shipping. It should be here tomorrow or so, and I’ll give some first impressions.

Oh, and before someone comes out with the ‘get your HAM license and buy a real radio’ line, I do have my license and a real radio, but most of my traveling partners don’t. It’s nice to be able to just toss them a $10 FRS HT and hit the road.

*LAWYER JINGLE: all the above info I got from various online sources with no attempt to check credibility. I haven’t, and ain’t about to, dig into the FCC regs and see if any of this is factual. IMHO, YMMV, and all that.

 

[Scott Brady]

I used that unit back in 2002. It failed after a month or so.

However, it certainly did work much better than the handhelds.

 

[cletaco]

An alternative is a GMRS radio, which you probably know has 16 channels plus the FRS channels. Moreover, a GMRS may operate up to 50 watts. You can get a high quality UHF radio made my Icom or Motorola or any number of other "professional" radio manufacturers, have it programmed for the GMRS frequencies, stick an antenna on the bodywork of your vehicle, and have an excellent system that will easily communicate with (and receive) the feeble signals that the handheld bubblepack FRS radios emit.

 

[HenryJ]

I have one and have been using it for several years. I have the antenna sitting behind my back seat. I bought four and gave the rest to friends. They were clearanced at $9 when I bought them. These units have all been working great.
Vehicle to vehicle it works very well. I keep a pair of hand held FRS around and hand them out to those who don't have them. It keeps us all in touch.
Mine sits between the seats and I have a cheap mic attached to it that hangs from the seat back. That gives a little better reach from my power port.

You will be very happy.

 

[gary in ohio]

However, Radio Shack offered an interesting unit, the Model 21-1850:

The radio shack unit was only around a short time,. The FCC had them take it off the market, It didnt comply with the FRS rules correctly. They were also pretty poorly constructed and didnt hand the weather well.

 

[gary in ohio]

An alternative is a GMRS radio, which you probably know has 16 channels plus the FRS channels. Moreover, a GMRS may operate up to 50 watts. You can get a high quality UHF radio made my Icom or Motorola or any number of other "professional" radio manufacturers, have it programmed for the GMRS frequencies, stick an antenna on the bodywork of your vehicle, and have an excellent system that will easily communicate with (and receive) the feeble signals that the handheld bubblepack FRS radios emit.

While GMRS is an option, GMRS requires a license to operate. also the max power level depends on the channel your on. Some channels are limited to 5 watts, others to 50 watts. It also depends on where the radio is located, in a mobile 5/50 watts. In a fix station (base) your limited to 5watts or 15watts depending on the channel.

Also channels While there are technically 23 GMRS frequencies assigned you can really only use 15. There are 8 channel pairs for repeaters (16 freq). You can either talk to the repeater input for duplex communications or you can talk simplex on the output. You cant talk simplex on the iinput frequency.
This gives you 8 high power channels and you also have 7 low powered channels that are shared with FRS.

 

[chrismc]

I have one of these Radio Shack mobile FRS units, although its never been used (still in box). The FRS handy-talkies work for me and friends, and if there's more distance involved then my CB or 2m/440 will do the trick. I won the Radio Shack FRS in a gift exchange. If anyone would like this Radio Shack radio, I'd be happy to pass it along to a good home (but it'd be nice if you covered shipping from 63301, St Charles, MO). Shoot me a PM if interested.

 

[HenryJ]

I have one of these Radio Shack mobile FRS units, although its never been used (still in box). .. Shoot me a PM if interested.

PM sent. I know a Westfalia that could use one.

 

[preacherman]

I used some for many years in church vans and they where better than the hand held units. My only complaint was sometimes you had to hold down the button and wait a sec or two before talking, there was a small delay in the transmit time. I think we had 6 or so of them and used them for a few years before bumping up to business band hard mount units in each van.

 

[cletaco]

While GMRS is an option, GMRS requires a license to operate. also the max power level depends on the channel your on. Some channels are limited to 5 watts, others to 50 watts. It also depends on where the radio is located, in a mobile 5/50 watts. In a fix station (base) your limited to 5watts or 15watts depending on the channel.

Also channels While there are technically 23 GMRS frequencies assigned you can really only use 15. There are 8 channel pairs for repeaters (16 freq). You can either talk to the repeater input for duplex communications or you can talk simplex on the output. You cant talk simplex on the iinput frequency.
This gives you 8 high power channels and you also have 7 low powered channels that are shared with FRS.

Yes, good detail. Ultimately I wanted to make the point to the OP that one of the better work arounds to being able to put an antenna on the outside of the vehicle is by using GMRS. This also opens up a host of radio options. The license is a matter of filling out a form and paying a small fee.

 

[ntsqd]

The radio shack unit was only around a short time,. The FCC had them take it off the market, It didnt comply with the FRS rules correctly. They were also pretty poorly constructed and didnt hand the weather well.

They did comply with the letter of the "antenna inseparable from the radio" law, but not the spirit. First time that I've seen the "Spirit and Intent" clause invoked outside of a race track.

I have purchased 4 of them. One I gave to my Mother & Step-dad. One died from a voltage surge. The other two live in my 4WD's. They have far better range than any of the HT's that I've used.

I wouldn't mind the HT's so much if I didn't have to keep feeding them batteries. I haven't diligently searched for the feature, but none of the HT's that I've looked at had an exterior power plug option. I have contemplated making a voltage regulated "battery pack" that I can plug into a vehicle's power port.

 

[crawler#976]

The GMRS fee is $75.00 vs $14.00 for HAM. Why bother with the GMRS at all? Get a HAM licence, and a 2M HT or mobile and be doen with it.

 

[gary in ohio]

The GMRS fee is $75.00 vs $14.00 for HAM. Why bother with the GMRS at all? Get a HAM licence, and a 2M HT or mobile and be doen with it.

The GMRS fee is now $85 and it covers an entire family including extended family. The ham radio license is per person and is FREE, although if you go to a ARRL VE test session They can charge from $8 to $15, Other VEC's have different fee's.

 

[HenryJ]

...I have contemplated making a voltage regulated "battery pack" that I can plug into a vehicle's power port.

Now that is a great idea. I too struggle with even using them and continually feeding them batteries. I like them for hiking, but sometimes I feel guilty leaving them on in the vehicle. That has been the beauty of the FRS mobiles.
Let us all know if you figure out a good power adapter for a hand held with three AAA or two AA batteries.

 

[ntsqd]

Now that is a great idea. I too struggle with even using them and continually feeding them batteries. I like them for hiking, but sometimes I feel guilty leaving them on in the vehicle. That has been the beauty of the FRS mobiles.
Let us all know if you figure out a good power adapter for a hand held with three AAA or two AA batteries.

I'm not aware of anything that would work of the shelf. I figured that I'd have to carve something from E-glass (or something equally suitable) to fit the cavity, insert an IC type voltage regulator connected to appropriately placed contacts, figure out a strain relief method for the supply cord, and pot it all in epoxy. Right now that's really low on my priority list. If someone takes the idea and runs with it I'll be very interested to see & hear what you've built & learned.

BTW, my guessimation for the antenna being a fixed part of the radio is so that linear amps can't easily be placed between the two. I'm betting the FCC wanted to nip that cb phenomenon in the bud.