On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:09:47 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:00:39 -0400,
wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:03:40 -0400, wrote:

Anyone know anything about these? I picked up a pair for about $20 and
we are playing with them. This set says they are good for 5 miles but
I have seen some that say 30 miles. I assume that is on 3 mountains
across a valley but who knows?
It does sound like something campers might like tho and if you really
can get out some number of miles in the woods hikers and hunters might
like them.
I know everyone just uses their phone these days but there is some
facility in having simple PTT. My wife says it is like her old NexTel.

So far around here it sounds like I may be the only one using it. I
put the radio on scan last night and I never heard a thing all night.
This is like CB in the 60s I think.


===

We've used them on and off for 20 years or so. They can be handy as
an intercom device on the boat if one of us is on the flybridge and
the other below. We've also used them a few times as a way of keeping
in touch with another car that we were traveling with. We'd usually
get a mile or two of range on typical roads but hills can reduce that.
Talk of 30 miles is just nonsesnse for every-day, reliable usage, even
over open water. Our 1 watt marine VHF handhelds are good for no more
than 2 or 3 miles over water in most conditions, and they are far more
capable than the cheapo FRS units.


These were $20 for 2 so I am sure they are not much (probably 500mw)
but you can get a 5 watt for around $70 a pair.
I wasn't sure If I really wanted them at all but I put a $40 set in my
Amazon Cart and a few days later they offered them to me for $20. I
would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger.
So far we are using them for the same thing. My wife is a little under
the weather and she can talk to me if I am at the other end of the
house in the shop or working outside. Next time I get out taking Deuce
for a cart ride I will see what they really do. I can't find any specs
on these things about radiated power.
Realistically if they get to the other end of the neighborhood it
should do all I need.
I just want to see how much we really use them.
This is the 3d set I have had and the first time we used them at all.
I gave the other 2 pairs to the kids.


Greg. Something about this does not sound right:

" I would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger.
So far we are using them for the same thing."

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:29:26 -0400 (EDT), Justan Ohlphart wrote:

True North Wrote in message:
I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

Why don't you educate her on where to stand and how to signal. A
good spotter is worth his/her weight in gold.

We now have a good system. She stands where she wants the driver's side rear corner of the rig. I
aim for her. Simple. No yelling, no waving, only a fist when it's time to stop. If she leaves the
spot to check the passenger side, I stop until she returns a few seconds later.

Works well.

On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:29:26 -0400 (EDT), Justan Ohlphart wrote:

True North Wrote in message:
I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

Why don't you educate her on where to stand and how to signal. A
good spotter is worth his/her weight in gold.

We now have a good system. She stands where she wants the driver's side rear corner of the rig. I
aim for her. Simple. No yelling, no waving, only a fist when it's time to stop. If she leaves the
spot to check the passenger side, I stop until she returns a few seconds later.

Works well.



I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story:

When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was
attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house.
The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side.
Justan will remember it.

Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked
her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the
trees on the side.

As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head
from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped.

She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did
but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped.

Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started
shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck
and asked, "What's the problem?"

She said, "Nothing, you are doing good".

"Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked.

She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything".



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On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:27:04 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:29:26 -0400 (EDT), Justan Ohlphart wrote:

True North Wrote in message:
I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

Why don't you educate her on where to stand and how to signal. A
good spotter is worth his/her weight in gold.

We now have a good system. She stands where she wants the driver's side rear corner of the rig. I
aim for her. Simple. No yelling, no waving, only a fist when it's time to stop. If she leaves the
spot to check the passenger side, I stop until she returns a few seconds later.

Works well.



I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story:

When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was
attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house.
The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side.
Justan will remember it.

Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked
her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the
trees on the side.

As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head
from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped.

She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did
but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped.

Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started
shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck
and asked, "What's the problem?"

She said, "Nothing, you are doing good".

"Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked.

She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything".



---
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https://www.avg.com

Yes, that was funny!! Female logic at its finest!

Good understandable hand signals can be handy on the water too. Last time I went sailing on a friends 40' Irwin he had a mooring at the Wagwaltic Club on the North West Arm. The wind was quite heavy from the North as we returned trying to pick up the bridle line. It ended up being more of an effort than it should have been with the helmsman trying to deceifer our signals of how much further to motor and in what direction. Way to windy to hear properly.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:16:41 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/15/2019 7:48 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:18:08 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:03:40 -0400, wrote:

Anyone know anything about these? I picked up a pair for about $20 and
we are playing with them. This set says they are good for 5 miles but
I have seen some that say 30 miles. I assume that is on 3 mountains
across a valley but who knows?
It does sound like something campers might like tho and if you really
can get out some number of miles in the woods hikers and hunters might
like them.
I know everyone just uses their phone these days but there is some
facility in having simple PTT. My wife says it is like her old NexTel.

So far around here it sounds like I may be the only one using it. I
put the radio on scan last night and I never heard a thing all night.
This is like CB in the 60s I think.

We've used those at Disney World and on cruises, several years ago - before we all had cell phones.
They worked OK, but often other folks with the same radios or on the same freq stepped all over us.
I like cell phones better.

We are just playing with them now but the PTT thing is pretty cool. I
imagine cell phones have made them pretty unpopular because I still
have not heard another soul. It sort of makes me wonder how much you
could get away with if there is nobody around to complain. With a
decent high gain antenna on the roof, I bet these things would get out
to virtually everywhere I ever go. They are allowed to pump out 5
watts now without a license and if you get the $70 GMRS license I
think you can go up to 50 watts with an outside antenna.



You may be confusing FRS "walkie-talkies" with GMRS radios.
FRS stands for "Family Radio Service" and output power is
2 watts as of 2017. Before that they were 500 milliwatts.
They now have 22 channels however channels 8 – 14 must still
be limited to half a watt output.

GMRS is "General Mobile Radio Service". GMRS still requires
a FCC license and, as a base station, can use a power amp
to output 50 watts.



I understand the difference but $7 a year is not much of a big deal to
get the GMRS. It does look like it is just money. I don't have to tune
up my 55 year old Morse skill.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:18:39 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

On 4/15/2019 9:04 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 16:58:47 -0700 (PDT), True North
wrote:

I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

The range claims jumped when the upped the allowable power to 5 watts.
Five watts and a decent antenna should get you to the horizon in open
country.



FRS radio output power was "upped" from half a watt to two (2) watts
(not 5 watts) in 2017. Some channels are still limited to half a watt
though.

I finally found the chart that explained all of that. It is
interesting that I still haven't heard anyone else on these radios and
they are on all day.

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:58:58 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:09:47 -0400, wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 18:00:39 -0400,
wrote:

On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 13:03:40 -0400, wrote:

Anyone know anything about these? I picked up a pair for about $20 and
we are playing with them. This set says they are good for 5 miles but
I have seen some that say 30 miles. I assume that is on 3 mountains
across a valley but who knows?
It does sound like something campers might like tho and if you really
can get out some number of miles in the woods hikers and hunters might
like them.
I know everyone just uses their phone these days but there is some
facility in having simple PTT. My wife says it is like her old NexTel.

So far around here it sounds like I may be the only one using it. I
put the radio on scan last night and I never heard a thing all night.
This is like CB in the 60s I think.


===

We've used them on and off for 20 years or so. They can be handy as
an intercom device on the boat if one of us is on the flybridge and
the other below. We've also used them a few times as a way of keeping
in touch with another car that we were traveling with. We'd usually
get a mile or two of range on typical roads but hills can reduce that.
Talk of 30 miles is just nonsesnse for every-day, reliable usage, even
over open water. Our 1 watt marine VHF handhelds are good for no more
than 2 or 3 miles over water in most conditions, and they are far more
capable than the cheapo FRS units.


These were $20 for 2 so I am sure they are not much (probably 500mw)
but you can get a 5 watt for around $70 a pair.
I wasn't sure If I really wanted them at all but I put a $40 set in my
Amazon Cart and a few days later they offered them to me for $20. I
would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger.
So far we are using them for the same thing. My wife is a little under
the weather and she can talk to me if I am at the other end of the
house in the shop or working outside. Next time I get out taking Deuce
for a cart ride I will see what they really do. I can't find any specs
on these things about radiated power.
Realistically if they get to the other end of the neighborhood it
should do all I need.
I just want to see how much we really use them.
This is the 3d set I have had and the first time we used them at all.
I gave the other 2 pairs to the kids.


Greg. Something about this does not sound right:

" I would pay $20 to watch a monkey **** so I pulled the trigger.
So far we are using them for the same thing."

I guess I should have separated those thoughts ;-)

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:30:30 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:27:04 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:29:26 -0400 (EDT), Justan Ohlphart wrote:

True North Wrote in message:
I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

Why don't you educate her on where to stand and how to signal. A
good spotter is worth his/her weight in gold.

We now have a good system. She stands where she wants the driver's side rear corner of the rig. I
aim for her. Simple. No yelling, no waving, only a fist when it's time to stop. If she leaves the
spot to check the passenger side, I stop until she returns a few seconds later.

Works well.



I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story:

When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was
attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house.
The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side.
Justan will remember it.

Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked
her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the
trees on the side.

As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head
from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped.

She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did
but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped.

Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started
shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck
and asked, "What's the problem?"

She said, "Nothing, you are doing good".

"Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked.

She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything".



Yes, that was funny!! Female logic at its finest!

===

Female logic?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron

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On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 08:30:30 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Tue, 16 Apr 2019 07:27:04 -0400, "Mr. Luddite" wrote:

On 4/16/2019 6:03 AM, John H. wrote:
On Mon, 15 Apr 2019 20:29:26 -0400 (EDT), Justan Ohlphart wrote:

True North Wrote in message:
I was thinking of getting a set off and on for the last 15 or more years. They started off with modest range claims but seemed to get more powerful maybe up to or so kilometers. Even wondered if they would help communicating with the wife while backing the boat into the driveway. She likes to hide in my blind spot while directing me.

Why don't you educate her on where to stand and how to signal. A
good spotter is worth his/her weight in gold.

We now have a good system. She stands where she wants the driver's side rear corner of the rig. I
aim for her. Simple. No yelling, no waving, only a fist when it's time to stop. If she leaves the
spot to check the passenger side, I stop until she returns a few seconds later.

Works well.



I've posted this before but it's worth repeating. True story:

When we had the 5th wheel (it was a 37' Raptor Toy Hauler) I was
attempting to back it down a narrow, stone driveway at our house.
The driveway was curved and lined with trees on one side.
Justan will remember it.

Anyway, I was backing it in with Mrs.E. as my spotter. I asked
her to let me know if I was going to hit anything ... mainly the
trees on the side.

As I started backing up, she suddenly started shaking her head
from side to side so I jammed on the brake and stopped.

She started motioning me to continue backing again, which I did
but she immediately started shaking her head again, so I stopped.

Again, she motioned me to start backing up but again she started
shaking her head from side to side. I stopped, hopped out of the truck
and asked, "What's the problem?"

She said, "Nothing, you are doing good".

"Then why are you shaking your head every time I start backing up", I asked.

She replied, "I am saying *No*, you aren't going to hit anything".



---
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG.
https://www.avg.com

Yes, that was funny!! Female logic at its finest!

That is one area where Judy and I don't have a problem. With all of
her work experience in the various male dominated fields she knows the
hand signals for truckers, crane operators and heavy equipment. It is
that mundane stuff we have trouble with like "I thought you said you
wanted to go out to dinner".