Best FRS/GMRS Radio for Bike to Bike

[Tim4255]

I am in the market for a FRS/GMRS radio for bike to bike use, and I wondered what everyone else doing bike to bike is using. What is the best on the market? I would like to be able to use it to talk to as many other bikes as possible.

Tim :03biker:

[sandman]

Tim,

Haven't seen you guys since EaSTOC hope all's well.

I don't know much about them but I was looking at the Garmin Rino series FRS/GMRS radios. They're not cheap but look at all the features.

http://www.radioworld.ca/frs/frs_garmin.php

Gordon

[crazykz]

Because FRS/GMRS shares standard channels so any FRS/GMRS radio will get you what you need. There is a small caveot in there but for the most part you would be set with any standard FRS/GMRS radio.

I bought some cheapos from Audiovox and even though they work just fine and interface with my intercom I wouldn't recommend them because they don't have a recharger or rechargable batteries. However they are full featured. The batteries are the only draw back to them.

Do you have an intercom now on the bike or will this be an investment in that also?

Curt

[trickSTer]

Tim from Calgary....... Look no further then the platinum 900.... beats them all hands down. here is the link....... http://www.collett.mb.ca/ Enjoy....I know I do... Oh yeah....a little info....I get 2 miles range line of sight....plug your cell in, or mp3 and voice prompts from a gps....does it all as well as bike to bike and driver to passenger.

Tim From (close to) Red Deer :04biker:

[Fastraveller]

I'm thinking about getting a GMRS radio and here is what I've learned so far. If you use an intercom, or plan to, you should refer to the mfr of the intercom to determine if there are certain brands of radios that are proprietary/preferrable to that intercom system. Autocom strongly recommends Kenwood but you can use others such as Motorola, Yeasu, Icom, Cobra, Uniden and others. However, Autocom seems to make their money on selling high-dollar cables, so you might have to confirm that the mfr of your intercom (if you plan to use one) makes a cable that is appropriate for the radio that you plan to buy. Also, ask the intercom mfr if a separate push-to-talk cable will be needed. Push-To-Talk basically allows you and your passenger some privacy from other riders. Otherwise, price of the unit seems to be most directly related to brand name and advertised range. The greatest advertised range that I have seen from the cheap models is approximately 12 miles from a $79.00 Motorola GMRS/FRS at Best Buy. I don't think that ANYONE believes that these cheaper radios will actually reach 12 miles in 90-99% of conditions and locations either. Range seems to be related to "wattage" of the unit and 2-2.5 watts seems to be the higher end of the GMRS/FRS radios. GMRS does require an FCC license that I've heard costs about $40.00 every few years but I haven't really looked into that well enough. FRS requires no FCC license. Another factor in your decision may depend on who you ride with. I know you said bike-to-bike communications and GMRS and FRS are growing in popularity, but I'm told that the majority of riders still use CB (especially tourers) even for bike-to-bike communications but again it depends on who you ride with. You get a LOT of chatter and trucker-speak on CB which I'm not sure I want to deal with, but the ability to find out about speed-traps, traffic conditions and sometimes weather might make it worth contending with the "bubba truckers".

David

[Tor]

If you don't have to have a CB setup, I'd go with a FRS/GMRS setup. CB's are more sensitive to noise IMO due to the operating frq (HF). You might also have to erect a bigger antenna on a CB to make perform reasonably. With FRS or GMRS you get a smaller setup, you're uperating VHF or UHF depending on the type of radio, and noise is virtually nonexistent. I personally use a Motorola Talkabout mounted on a RAM mount, hooked up to an Autocomm 7-Smart.

[stoc445]

I have both CB and GMRS. In most situations I use the CB. Guys I ride with have CB's for bike to bike. When on the road, I turn the squelch up and blank out the distant chatter. This way it's a lot easier to keep an ear on traffic situations and still listen to music or be happy with your own thoughts.

Both radios are Cobra, the same cable from the com system will apply. I do have an external antenna for the CB, where the GMRS is more self contained and a bit cleaner with one cable exposed. I use the same RAM mount and PTT switch for both.

[mhscriven]

I'm a little confused re: PTT buttons. At this point i'm planning on putting together a system using the MIT-100 w/ a Midland GXT500. Owners manual for the radio doesn't mention anything re: an auxiliar PTT button. Isn't that what i would need to operate radio w/o having to push talk button on the radio? Or does the MIT-100 take care of that somehow? Mongo confused.

[STeve1300]

PM Crazykz (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/private.php?do=newpm&u=1822) with any MIT-100 related questions...He is very helpful.

[BruceP]

There are many systems depending on the radio.
Try this
http://www.coffeepower.net/ham/pin_ham.htm

Bruce

[STnAV8R]

I got two of the Nady MRC-11X for about $60 each, bike to bike communicator with driver/passenger intercom. Comes with PTT button and helmet mic and phones. Like them fine. Use them with rechargable NiMH AAA's which run it all day, and charge them at the end of the day.

http://www.nadywireless.com/products/product_pgs/mrc11_pg.html

[mhscriven]

Have you tried the stereo hookup? Curious how well it works. Sounds like a good, inexpensive rig.

edit: after looking into the MRC-11X a little i've decided against it. Lots of bad reviews. STnAV8r, you must be in the minority w/ your luck w/ this unit.

[Schavlan]

mh---

The system you describe is exactly what I have. I got it through Sierra Electronics.

One advantage to the Midland radio is the battery.

It comes with a rechargable battery, but in a pinch you can replace it with 4 AAA batteries.

Here's how the system works. You have a rider/pillion full duplex intercom that is always on. You talk to your passenger and they talk to you. If you have a radio or MP3 player connected, the music volume is lowered when you talk. It stays lowered until you both stop talking for about 30 seconds, then it returns to full volume.

Same with incoming phone calls. The music volume is lowered until 30 seconds after the call is completed.

With the GMRS, you have a PTT button. When you hit the PTT button, you are transmitting bike to bike. The MIT comes with a two prong adapter to the Midland radio. The PTT button is connected when you plug the radio into the MIT system. When you receive an incoming radio transmission, again, the music is muted until 30 seconds after all traffic has stopped.

The cell phone calls are full duplex, so either you or your passenger can talk and all parties hear everything.

The same with the GMRS radio, except the rider is the only one with a PTT button, so the rider controls when the GMRS radio transmits. If necessary, I'm sure you could make up a connection to give the passenger their own PTT button.

I'm real pleased with the setup, I think you will be also.

[mhscriven]

Is the 30 sec delay after talking adjustable? I would think that would be annoying after a while. Do you find it annoying?

Thx.

[SteveST1300]

I just got a pair of Motorola 6500 model FRS/GMRS from Amazon $45.00 for the pair with batteries and drop in charger. Autocom reccomends Motorola model 6400 or up but say the ICOM or Kenwood freetalks work best with their system.:03biker:

[Schavlan]

The delay is not adjustable.
I don't find it terribly annoying.

[STnAV8R]

Have you tried the stereo hookup? Curious how well it works. Sounds like a good, inexpensive rig.

edit: after looking into the MRC-11X a little i've decided against it. Lots of bad reviews. STnAV8r, you must be in the minority w/ your luck w/ this unit.

No I have not tried the stereo hookup.

Where are the reviews... I'm curious what they say. The only complaint I have is at freeway speed it's hard to hear with the wind noise, but I bought some Koss ear phones to address that... have not tried them yet.

[mhscriven]

http://www.motorcyclegearreview.com/reviews.php?prodID=750

I'm dissappointed. That unit would work well for me.