newbie walkie-talkie questions
 

Hi, I'm thinking about getting a walkie-talkie pair for emergency
communication between my elderly parents and me when I'm building my
house nearby. It's mountainous. A local told me his cell phone
works only 70% of the time. I'd rather not pay for service anyway.
The site is about 1000 feet through the woods from my parents house.
I can't see their house from my site but I'm guessing it's blocked
more by trees than hills. Assume I get 2W GMRS/FRS motorola type
units.

Will they work?

Is there a better alternative? How about CB? Shortwave?

Is getting that GMRS licence difficult --assuming I already know basic
radio electronics?

If this doesn't work out I'll just get them a nice loud canned air
horn!

--zeb

Borrow a pair of FRS or GMRS units and try them out.
FRS can get congested if you have many nearby neighbors with kids.
External antennas are forbidden for FRS
No license fee or test is required for FRS
Some FRS radios feature subtone access and will reduce local chatter.

GMRS may work better in this regard and allows external antennas.
GMRS requires a license fee (about $70) but no test.

CB may be full of junk and obscenities but the units are cheap and external
antennas are allowed.
No license fee or test is required for CB
Best listen to the local bunch before getting into CB

See FAQ's on CB, FRS, and GMRS at URL's
http://ac6v.com/rstore.htm
There are discussions there on transmitted range, repeaters, etc.
--
Red Noise
===========================================
"Zeb Kagloonpop" wrote in message
om...
Hi, I'm thinking about getting a walkie-talkie pair for emergency
communication between my elderly parents and me when I'm building my
house nearby. It's mountainous. A local told me his cell phone
works only 70% of the time. I'd rather not pay for service anyway.
The site is about 1000 feet through the woods from my parents house.
I can't see their house from my site but I'm guessing it's blocked
more by trees than hills. Assume I get 2W GMRS/FRS motorola type
units.

Will they work?

Is there a better alternative? How about CB? Shortwave?

Is getting that GMRS licence difficult --assuming I already know basic
radio electronics?

If this doesn't work out I'll just get them a nice loud canned air
horn!

--zeb