FRS/GMRS Audio Quality Issues?/Recommendations?
By kioner - usenet poster
Can anyone out there recommend a FRS or GMRS radio with truly good
audio quality? I have three pairs now, an early ALNICO DJ-S46 FRS,
Cobra PR900DX FRS/GMRS, and now Motorla Talkabout T5710 FRS/GMRS. Our
primary use is car to car and we find that the audio quality is so
poor that 80% of transmissions have to be repeated as you simply
cannot understand what is being said, especially in a moving vehicle.
We've tried using them with and without earbuds, with no improvement.
Does anyone else have this problem, and can a recommend a FRS or GMRS
radio with truly good audio quality?? Appreciate your
comments/inputs.
audio quality? I have three pairs now, an early ALNICO DJ-S46 FRS,
Cobra PR900DX FRS/GMRS, and now Motorla Talkabout T5710 FRS/GMRS. Our
primary use is car to car and we find that the audio quality is so
poor that 80% of transmissions have to be repeated as you simply
cannot understand what is being said, especially in a moving vehicle.
We've tried using them with and without earbuds, with no improvement.
Does anyone else have this problem, and can a recommend a FRS or GMRS
radio with truly good audio quality?? Appreciate your
comments/inputs.
Solution #1
posted on Aug 01, 2007
paulrmc - usenet poster
Rank:
Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
: Can anyone out there recommend a FRS or GMRS radio with truly good
: audio quality?
(snip)
So far all the answers have focused on different service radios, or
inproving the receive audio .. however just improving the receive audio
may not be enough. It is *possible* that the internal mikes on these
radios are so sensitive that they are picking up "road noise" from the
moving vehicle (I didn't see an answer to the question of "How do they
sound when you're not in the car" .. it's a valid question)
Using a headset mike or a "noise cancelling" headset mike may (or may not)
improve the transmit audio significantly.
I don't know about the current Motorla models, but early versions used a
companding algorhythm that other radios did not. Becuase of this
communications at extreme distances between a Motorola and another radio
was poor (or non-existant) compared to Moto to Moto (or non-Moto to
non-Moto) This also may have something to do with his problem.
Richard in Boston, MA, USA
N1JDU
: audio quality?
(snip)
So far all the answers have focused on different service radios, or
inproving the receive audio .. however just improving the receive audio
may not be enough. It is *possible* that the internal mikes on these
radios are so sensitive that they are picking up "road noise" from the
moving vehicle (I didn't see an answer to the question of "How do they
sound when you're not in the car" .. it's a valid question)
Using a headset mike or a "noise cancelling" headset mike may (or may not)
improve the transmit audio significantly.
I don't know about the current Motorla models, but early versions used a
companding algorhythm that other radios did not. Becuase of this
communications at extreme distances between a Motorola and another radio
was poor (or non-existant) compared to Moto to Moto (or non-Moto to
non-Moto) This also may have something to do with his problem.
Richard in Boston, MA, USA
N1JDU
Solution #3
posted on Aug 01, 2007
Pasty - usenet poster
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
I will agree with the person who said to ditch the cheap FRS/GMRS combos and
get a "real" radio, however one thing that you might try which will probably
make a considerable difference is simply an external speaker on the radio.
If you are normally in the same vehicle, you can look into a true UHF
commercial mobile radio (GMRS only, not FRS), with an outside antenna and a
much better audio quality and quantity. If you are constantly changing
vehicles, a high quality UHF commercial handheld programmed for GMRS will
serve you better than the bubble pack radios (and if you add an outside
mobile antenna, you will get much greater range). Of course, these options
are somewhat more costly than the cheapo radios.
Carl.
...
get a "real" radio, however one thing that you might try which will probably
make a considerable difference is simply an external speaker on the radio.
If you are normally in the same vehicle, you can look into a true UHF
commercial mobile radio (GMRS only, not FRS), with an outside antenna and a
much better audio quality and quantity. If you are constantly changing
vehicles, a high quality UHF commercial handheld programmed for GMRS will
serve you better than the bubble pack radios (and if you add an outside
mobile antenna, you will get much greater range). Of course, these options
are somewhat more costly than the cheapo radios.
Carl.
...
Solution #4
posted on Aug 01, 2007
Melissa - usenet poster
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
In all liklihood, your problem is not simply "audio quality", but more
likely poor received signal quality, due to the lack of communication
range of FRS and psuedo-GMRS (FRS/GMRS combo radios with integral
antennas).
If you insist on using cheap radios with integral antennas, you will
not be able to communicate between vehicles for more than about 1/4
mile.
If you ditch those radios in favor of "real" GMRS or MURS radios with
replacable antenna provisions allowing you to run an external roof
5/8-wave mag-mounted antennas (which can be aquired for a reasonable
price), you will see your communication range improve 10 to 20 fold.
- Stewart
#
likely poor received signal quality, due to the lack of communication
range of FRS and psuedo-GMRS (FRS/GMRS combo radios with integral
antennas).
If you insist on using cheap radios with integral antennas, you will
not be able to communicate between vehicles for more than about 1/4
mile.
If you ditch those radios in favor of "real" GMRS or MURS radios with
replacable antenna provisions allowing you to run an external roof
5/8-wave mag-mounted antennas (which can be aquired for a reasonable
price), you will see your communication range improve 10 to 20 fold.
- Stewart
#
Solution #5
posted on Aug 01, 2007
Cato - usenet poster
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
I have a suggestion that greatly helps ANY 2-way radio while in the
car. Get one of the cassette adapters to let you use your portable CD
player with the car stereo. Attach a mono-stereo adapter to it. Plug
it into the radio's earphone jack. Use your stereo for the receiving
end of the transmission. I do this all the time and it is GREAT!
Randy
#
#
car. Get one of the cassette adapters to let you use your portable CD
player with the car stereo. Attach a mono-stereo adapter to it. Plug
it into the radio's earphone jack. Use your stereo for the receiving
end of the transmission. I do this all the time and it is GREAT!
Randy
#
#
Solution #6
posted on Aug 01, 2007
Joey2 - usenet poster
Rank: Apprentice
Rating: 0%, 0 votes
ApprenticeRating: 0%, 0 votes
So how do they sound when you're _not_ in a car?
--
Philip Stripling | email to the replyto address is presumed
Legal Assistance on the Web | spam and read later. email to philip@
# | civex.com is read daily.
--
Philip Stripling | email to the replyto address is presumed
Legal Assistance on the Web | spam and read later. email to philip@
# | civex.com is read daily.
Can you Help with these 2 Way Radios problems?
2 Way Radios
We are interested in purchasing a pair of two-way...
2 Way Radios
Hi I have the IDEAS system and for the moment i am testeng...
2 Way Radios
Hi, Kat, Meow. My problem is that the LG PC suite doesnt...
2 Way Radios
This gps stopped working about a week ago. I was traveling...
2 Way Radios
I have a rather old Marconi 2951 radio test set which I...
Wiz
Repair Service
Find 2 Way Radio Repair Service Provider Near You:
Prescreened Contractors
About | News
| Contact
| Find Products
| Find Cars
| Terms
| Privacy Policy
| FAQ
Advertisers | Tags | Blog | Repair Service Directory | Partners | Careers |
Advertisers | Tags | Blog | Repair Service Directory | Partners | Careers |
