The two way radio industry is full of competition. Maunfacturers are doing their best to come up with any gimmick they can to sell more radios. Most times this is at the expense of the buyer.
You see a radio advertised with a "14 mile range". In honesty, these claims are outrageous at best. Now, there is a manufacturer that is saying its radio will have a "27 mile range". This is not to be expected, except maybe over open water, or in outer space.
Maunfacturers are careful to note "you can only expect maximum range under ideal conditions". This is true.
All you can expect with any consumer-grade two way radio is an average range of about three quarters of a mile. Many people have reported ranges of a couple miles; but this is not common.
Many people equate power output to maximum range available. This is only true to a point. A 500 mW radio will have less range than a 2 watt radio. However, a 5 watt radio may not have more range than the 2 watt unit. Confusing? Yes it is.
Read on.....
The latest thing now is to tell you a radio has a "5 watt power output". What they do not tell you is this is NOT the power that actually is transmitted over the air. This is the power transmitted into the antenna. There is a difference!
There are two ways to measure radio power output:
TPO: Transmitted Power Output. This is the power measured at the output stage of the transmitter BEFORE the antenna.
ERP: Effective Radiated Power. This is the actual power transmitted FROM the antenna.
Many manufacturers now are listing the TPO power output. This is to trick the consumer into thinking they are buying a very powerful radio, when in fact, they are not. The manufacturers are certainly not lying and their power claims are correct. You just aren't being told which of the power output specification that really matters.
Fortunately, there is a way for you to find out the REAL output power of your radio! All legal radio transmitters in the United States must hav an "FCC ID Number" This number is located on the back of the radio, usually on a label with other information.
You need to get this FCC ID and look it up at the FCC web site. You can do it from here with my instructions
FCC Search Page Note: You may get a certificate error. It is ok. Our governement in action hasn't upadated its certificates.
Where it says "Grantee Code" Enter the first 3 characters of the FCC ID. On the next line, where it says "Product Code", enter the remaining characters of the FCC ID.
Go to the bottom of the page and click where it tells you to start search.
When the search completes, it will bring up a page with several columns. Find what looks to be the radio you want and click on the third item in the column "Display Grant".
A copy of the FCC Grant will appear. You will see the applicable rule parts the equipment is accepted for, as well as the power output. The commonts on the bottom of the grant will show you how power is measured. If it says power is measured in ERP, then you now know the "real" power output of your radio.
A trend for manufacturers was to actually reduce the power output, while inflating the range claims. One manufacturer actually intruduced two new models last year. The one advertised with the highest range actually has lower power output than the lower range advertised unit. Think about that one!
Fortunately, manufacturers have seen sites such as this and are aware consumers are starting to know. Performance and quality is improving!
Manufacturers may advertise "matched antenna" gimmicks, when in fact, FCC regulation prohibits any high performance antennas on any radio that transmits in the Family Radio Service. Since most consumer-grade GMRS radios also transmit on FRS, they are restricted to FRS antenna restrictions.
Fortunately, the 2008 models show more promise. They are starting to get wise to consumers and are actually starting to improve upon designs.
Until the public is fully educated and is aware of these games, manufacturers will continue to deceive the public. It is my mission to provide the public with the whole truth.
I hope this helps. It is important to be an informed consumer.
Comments?, Questions? Email: gmrspage@yahoo.com
(C) Copyright 2008 John L. Wilkerson Jr. all Rights Reserved