2-way radio ????
 

We have a pair of the cheap Cobra micro talk walkie-talkies. When we go out boatin' we leave one at the trailer and take the other on the boat so if someone shows up to join us they can give us a shout and we can go pick them up. (no cell service where we boat, and that aint a bad thing) This works pretty good on our usual lake, but when we are on vacation on the 1st Conn lake they don't have the range to always reach us. We are thinking of getting a 2-way for the boat, to hopefully pick up the walkie at the greater distance.

First would this accomplish what we want?

Second, I think what I want is a marine CB, but the terms VHF, UHF, FRS, GMRS are confusing me as to what would be compatible with our walkies we already have.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

There are walkie talkies at Best Buy and other stores with a range of up to 10 miles. They are pretty inexpensive, too. I have an older set that only goes up to 2 miles, and it is spotty at best.
Hope that helps even though it doesn't answer your question completely.

You could get a marine VHF in the boat and a handheld marine VHF but:

1) They have line of sight range, so at best a few miles for a small, low boat and a person on the ground.

2) It's illegal for the person to use it on land. They would have to be in the water to use.

Just a little help
 

Hi Grandpa,

I tried to see exactly what you had. Cobra microtalk could be one of several radios in different services. The model number or better yet, the frequency they use would help.

VHF = Very High frequency. in this case probably in the 150 - 160 MHz range. (There are more frequencies called VHF, but we're talking about your needs)
UHF = Ultra High Frequency. up in the 450 - 460 MHz frequency range.
FRS = Family Radio Service. Operating one of 14 frequencies in the 462 - 467 MHz range with 1/2 watt maximum power and the built in rubber antenna with no license required.

YOu can see a FRS and GMRS frequency and channel chart here: http://ba-marc.org/writeups/gmrs-frs-freq.htm but it may make it complicated for you.

GMRS = General Mobile Radio Service. Also in the 450 - 460 frequency range. 16 channels. 8 for talking direct from one radio to another and 8 channels for talking using a GMRS repeater (enhances distance). Power 5 watts when talking to an unlicensed FRS radio (if the radio is capable of such) but up to 50 watts on GMRS systems (license IS required).
CB or Citizens Band (Class D) - operates in the 27 MHz area, 5 watts max.
Marine Radio (VHF) group of channels around 156 MHz used for Marine communications. specific channels for calling, Coast Guard, boat-boat, boat to shore, communicating with bridges and a special Digital mode. up to 25 watts. Licensed or unlicensed.

That's a general overview. My guess is that your microtrack radios are in the FRS. If that is the case, you are limited to the 1/2 watt power with built on antenna. The only way to talk further is to get in the car and drive to a HIGHER location with the land based walkie talkie. The higher the antenna is the further you can talk/listen.

Even if you had a higher power radio on the boat the walkie talkie at your trailer might hear it further than you can now but the boat may not hear the 1/2 watt microtrack much further than you can now (results will vary with an improved antenna on the boat but ideally you want both radios to be of equal power and antenna arrangement to help establish reliable 2-way communications.

I tried to keep this short and I hope it helps a little.

Good luck.

Skipper of the Sea Queen, Thanks the radios we have are Cobra Microtalk model cxr875. They are supposed to have a "up to" 30 mile range, I am guessing 30 miles range is at absolute best possible conditions. Guess we will have to stick with what we are using and when we are in Pittsburg have our guests give us a clear time of arival so we can pick them up or at least be in a reasonable range of the dock to hear the radio call.

Thanks Again

up to 30 mile range on those radios mean: if one person is on top of a mountain or very high hill, and the other person is in the valley, or on another hill top, with nothing between you, you may get 30 miles (in reality, probably half that).

But on flat ground, or over water, or over water with an island between you and the other person... not anywhere close to 30 miles.