Why is it that when my daughter and I use the radios, the range doesnt go past 1/4 mile? It says they have a 35 mile range. Can someone answer this?
209447
A lot of wrong information here. First of all, on the MT350R radio, channels 1-7 are allocated to shared FRS/GMRS use. Channels 8-14 are exclusively for FRS and 15-22 are exclusively for GMRS use. GMRS requires a license, though you wouldn't know that reading the Motorola documentation. This means, technically, channels 15-22 require a GMRS license to use legally. Channels 8-14 can be used by anyone. There is also confusion over the "power boost" feature. Again Motorola does not explain this well, and I'd guess is deliberately obscuring the facts. As near as I can tell the low power PTT is 0.5 watts and the high power is 2 watts. I couldn't find any direct documentation about this from motorola, but the numbers sound right. The point is, it is illegal to transmit on FRS above 0.5 watts. If you transmit using the "power boost" PTT on the shared FRS/GMRS or the GMRS channels you need a license. Summary: it is illegal for a non-licensed user to transmit on channels 15-22 under any circumstances (barring dire emergency). It is also illegal to use the "power boost" function without a license. Frankly these rules are a bit silly to say the least. And the FCC seems not to be too interested in enforcing them. With any luck the FCC will revise the rules at some point to better reflect the reality of the situation. In the mean time, if you want to break the law, fine. But at least you should *know* that you're doing so. As a practical matter, the best thing you can do to increase your range is not to mindlessly press the "power boost" button, but instead find a high place, like the top of the hill, and preferably some place with not too much in the way of obstructions. Your mileage will vary.
209448
We use these for camping with out kids at a huge 900 acre camping area. They work great for up to about 2 miles then they get weak. You have to know going into it that they will never transmit the true 35 mile range unless it is the exact perfect conditions and weather, barometric pressure, terrain etc.
209449
Be sure you and the person on other radio are holding the radios perfectly straight up and down, antennae up. It has been proven that when held at even a slight angle as in the natural way it lays in the hand frequency range is greatly reduced. It convinced me.
209450
Environment is everything. If you have a lot of metal or tree interference it tends to drag your range to nothing, on any radio. Short antennas work best for these area. I know that's counter intuitive but that's the way it works.
209451
not a pro on this but my understanding is the higher to number chosen the stronger the frequency will be, so you might want to try that for starters. If you have mountains or large city that will affect it as well. just remember at it's strongest frequency when used a lot they will want you to get an fcc license think that's $35 a year but google that if needed. hope some of this helps, contact motorolla customer service, just google their number and ask them directly if this didn't solve your problem and have fun.
209452
The Push To Talk button is actually two buttons. Pressing the top half of the button will actually transmit at full power, but if you press the bottom half it transmits in a low power setting. This is used if you know your party is close and you want to preserve battery life. Try again making sure you are both pressing the top of the Push To Talk button. Edit: I forgot to add that Channels 1, 2, and 3, are FRS channels and will only transmit in low power no matter which half of the button is pressed. Make sure you are on a GMRS channel (4 or higher).
95737
Good evening could be few things one being the batteries in the transmitter are weak, depending the frequency your boat is running there could be interference jaming the signal which is a good method to turn on transmitter than turn on your boat thus turning on the receiver. This boat also uses the boats battery to power the receiver which in some other RCs the receiver has a stand alone power supply and finally could be a defective receiver yet most likely you shouldnt get any response. Another thing is to check your antenna wire making sure its connected and not tampered damaged with. I actually have two EP777 one 27mhz and one 49mhz ive easily gotten range distance of 200ft being im retired disabled vet. I not willing or able to try further test the full 300ft range in case id have to go retrieve it.
1210088
Figure if you're sitting in a kayak with both radios about 3' above the waterline, you can expect about 4 miles (ideal). If one radio is on the desk at the waterline and the other is about 3' above the waterline, about 2 miles. If you're standing on the deck of a boat, 6' above the waterline and the other radio is also about that high, you'll get about 6 miles. Over open water, the usable distance is mainly calculated by radio horizon. The higher your antenna, the longer your range. If there's land between your boats, your range will be greatly reduced.
376480
I believe the gxt895vp4 radios have about 5 watts of power. About a 35 mile range give or take &#6462;depending on your location. Lots of buildings or heavy wooded areas can effect the range capabilitys of the radios but its nothing to worry about.
51920
If you have a Ham license, you know they are line of sight. Mine will easily go 100 miles if I'm hitting someone or a repeater on a mountain top. They are 5 watts and they behave like any other 5 watt radio. I have a 50 watt transmitter I can hook it up to in the car. They are great radios.
1062790
In urban areas, don't count on more than a couple of blocks. These are line of sight, if you cannot "see" the person, your range will degrade significantly. The 36-mile claim assumes you are using the GMRS frequencies over a perfectly clear terrain (such as calm water) and under perfect atmospheric conditions. You will never realistically achieve this range or anywhere close to it. Plus, the antennas on these radios are not that good nor were they designed to be. People expect more out of these radios than was designed. They are useful for somewhat limited purposes and in relatively close-in situations. In urban areas, don't count on more than a couple of blocks. These are line of sight, if you cannot "see" the person, your range will degrade significantly. The 36-mile claim assumes you are using the GMRS frequencies over a perfectly clear terrain (such as calm water) and under perfect atmospheric conditions. You will never realistically achieve this range or anywhere close to it. Plus, the antennas on these radios are not that good nor were they designed to be. People expect more out of these radios than was designed. They are useful for somewhat limited purposes and in... » Read More In urban areas, don't count on more than a couple of blocks. These are line of sight, if you cannot "see" the person, your range will degrade significantly. The 36-mile claim assumes you are using the GMRS frequencies over a perfectly clear terrain (such as calm water) and under perfect atmospheric conditions. You will never realistically achieve this range or anywhere close to it. Plus, the antennas on these radios are not that good nor were they designed to be. People expect more out of these radios than was designed. They are useful for somewhat limited purposes and in relatively close-in situations. « Show Less
811017
I agree with everything Ray Austin said...my 3 year old daughter loves them, although she doesn't always hold the button down while talking, and trained her into turning them off when done playing. Range is very good, claims to be a mile but haven't checked that far yet.
2250061
I can't really answer that since I've not tried to figure out the max range; I didn't buy these to talk to people 36 miles away. The fields I attend range anywhere from a half mile to a few miles in length one way or another, with dense tree coverage; so the people I talk to are always within a mile. I've had no comm issues at these fields.
1159979
I guess it must be (like most regular radios) based on line-of-sight; because I can't even get as far as a mile with it in the city. I'm actually looking into HAM radio now and getting my license so we can actually get more distance than just a mile or so. It's a great little radio, but only good for a very short distance for every day use.
1087648
Yes, it is very misleading. Radio frequencies work best on line of sight, so as long as there is nothing blocking such as buildings or high hills, 30 miles is quite possible if you have the elevation and no interference from buildings or other obstructions. Buyer beware.Regards Brian
2250058
I have had 2 different sets, both midland, both over "advertised" 20 mile ranges and we have gotten just about 2 miles. Wife/son at home, me in car to work. So no straight lines, no line of sight, etc. This is in traffic, in the city. It is a gimmick. Now, maybe if you buy a license to use one of the regulated channels... maybe there you can get further, I don't know. We don't use those channels. I don't want any officers showing up at my door! So, experience says... 1 - 2 miles, TOPS.
968078
The ones I received had a pretty good range on it. 50 feet-ish. It could be that the batteries were fresh in mine. It wouldn't hurt to try. Please let me know.
679273
Yes,I'm not sure of range limit!I've done it from about 1.5 blocks !I'd say it would probably be good up to 1/4 mile tops!But I can't verify that!
1483739
I have not tested the distance of these radios as of yet. The furthest apart has been about a mile so far.
364443
The answer for any handheld VHF/UHF radio is highly dependent on terrain and other barriers to the signal, like buildings. On flat land or on the water, I think you could expect a maximum 4 or 5 miles between handhelds. Heavy woods, hills, or urban environments can reduce the range to half a mile or less.
1073898
Well, if you live on the edge of a cliff on a very tall mountain and your friends are 15-20 miles away across the lake (with nothing between you but air), then yes you probably could have that conversation (I have on several occasions worked over 100 miles on UHF simplex with my handheld and the standard rubber duck antenna, but I was 9,500 feet up a mountain looking down at flat farm land in AZ). Otherwise, the other folks are correct. In "normal" conditions (and this is just a rough estimate), every watt on VHF/UHF FM equals approximately 1 mile in range, so your 1/2 watt FRS radios really only work about 1/2 mile, not the outlandish claim of 35 miles the manufacturers mark on their boxes. Well, if you live on the edge of a cliff on a very tall mountain and your friends are 15-20 miles away across the lake (with nothing between you but air), then yes you probably could have that conversation (I have on several occasions worked over 100 miles on UHF simplex with my handheld and the standard rubber duck antenna, but I was 9,500 feet up a mountain looking down at flat farm land in AZ). Otherwise, the other folks are correct. In "normal" conditions (and this is just a rough estimate), every watt on VHF/UHF FM equals approximately 1 mile in range, so your 1/2 watt FRS... » Read More Well, if you live on the edge of a cliff on a very tall mountain and your friends are 15-20 miles away across the lake (with nothing between you but air), then yes you probably could have that conversation (I have on several occasions worked over 100 miles on UHF simplex with my handheld and the standard rubber duck antenna, but I was 9,500 feet up a mountain looking down at flat farm land in AZ). Otherwise, the other folks are correct. In "normal" conditions (and this is just a rough estimate), every watt on VHF/UHF FM equals approximately 1 mile in range, so your 1/2 watt FRS radios really only work about 1/2 mile, not the outlandish claim of 35 miles the manufacturers mark on their boxes. « Show Less
1054944
Hey. I really wish I could help you but I have no idea on an ACCURATE frequency range. I remember reading some stuff when I bought them, but that was only what the company or Amazon claimed about them. I don't know if there's a way to measure, but I don't have any tools for that kind of thing.