Car to Car communication

Osiris · 12-21-2010, 02:56 PM

Looking for a method to communicate with other cars other than a cell phone. Either walkie talkie or cb radio. So, the goal is to be heard across multiple radios (like if you're doing a drive with many cars). So my requirments are this:

-Decent range
-multiple channel
-can utilize AC adapter plug for power (if it were portable also, that would be a plus but not necessary)
-and the tricky part: affordable

Can anyone recommend any such device that meets the above requirements? Something maybe you've used in the past or currently.

m4a1mustang · 12-21-2010, 02:59 PM

Any two-way handheld radio should be fine. They have enough battery life to last the entire day. We run a variety of different brands on the usual 2-way radios you can find at Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, wherever, when my Z group goes on cruises. They work great. Range usually turns out to be line-of-sight for the most part. You can get a set of two for under $50.

Just get everyone on the same channel and you're good.

daisuke149 · 12-21-2010, 03:05 PM

every mountain cruise we use 2 way radio's but sometimes you just cannot understand other people. even if your the car right behind them. Ive been wondering of a better option so hopefully someone can chime in on this thread.

Osiris · 12-21-2010, 03:08 PM

Yea, i've seen those two way radios....but would everyone have to have the same brand/model of radio in order to be heard? Or could everyone just have a mix of different radios? If so, is there a frequency in which they should all use in order to communicate with each other?

also...instead of paying $50 for 2 half-decent radios...i think i'd rather spend $50 on 1 decent radio. Do they sell any as just one radio or are they always sold in pairs?

m4a1mustang · 12-21-2010, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osiris

Yea, i've seen those two way radios....but would everyone have to have the same brand/model of radio in order to be heard? Or could everyone just have a mix of different radios? If so, is there a frequency in which they should all use in order to communicate with each other?

also...instead of paying $50 for 2 half-decent radios...i think i'd rather spend $50 on 1 decent radio. Do they sell any as just one radio or are they always sold in pairs?

You can have a mix of radio brands. Everyone just has to be on the same channel.

Usually they are sold in pairs, but you can look around. I mean, if you really want, you can get them in the $100+ range.

spearfish25 · 12-21-2010, 03:36 PM

I just bought these for a trip we're taking. So far they seem great. I'll have more info after the holidays.

Amazon.com: Motorola MR350 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair): Electronics

Osiris · 12-21-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I just bought these for a trip we're taking. So far they seem great. I'll have more info after the holidays.

Amazon.com: Motorola MR350 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair): Electronics

curious, couldn't see from the product page, but did those come with a cigarette lighter adapter for charging?

But definitely report back on the performance, i'm curious about the battery life and range.

spearfish25 · 12-21-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osiris

curious, couldn't see from the product page, but did those come with a cigarette lighter adapter for charging?

But definitely report back on the performance, i'm curious about the battery life and range.

No cigarette adapter. To solve that problem once and for all, I bought a little power transformer from Pep Boys. It was money well spent as I use it for my tire inflator and any other odd power needs that may come up.

FWIW, they can use either the included battery packs or you can put AAs in them.

wafflesarefun · 05-04-2011, 03:13 AM

anyword? in my research i've found a lot of users complaining about the short range and LOS only for FRS/GMRS radios (<1mi)... i've been contemplating a CB radio but i don't want to mount an antenna to my car so i don't know how big of a difference this would be sigh

krUnizZLE · 05-04-2011, 05:00 AM

Lol, No offense (and im not a redneck), just get a CB installed.... it may not be portable but it it goes pretty far....

12-21-2010, 02:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Osiris A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: http://www.cfzclub.com/ Posts: 1,524 Drives: Angry Rep Power: 19	Car to Car communication Looking for a method to communicate with other cars other than a cell phone. Either walkie talkie or cb radio. So, the goal is to be heard across multiple radios (like if you're doing a drive with many cars). So my requirments are this: -Decent range -multiple channel -can utilize AC adapter plug for power (if it were portable also, that would be a plus but not necessary) -and the tricky part: affordable Can anyone recommend any such device that meets the above requirements? Something maybe you've used in the past or currently. __________________ ^^^^^^^^^Like our Facebook!^^^^^^^^^

12-21-2010, 02:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6963	Any two-way handheld radio should be fine. They have enough battery life to last the entire day. We run a variety of different brands on the usual 2-way radios you can find at Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart, wherever, when my Z group goes on cruises. They work great. Range usually turns out to be line-of-sight for the most part. You can get a set of two for under $50. Just get everyone on the same channel and you're good. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

12-21-2010, 03:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Osiris A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: http://www.cfzclub.com/ Posts: 1,524 Drives: Angry Rep Power: 19	Yea, i've seen those two way radios....but would everyone have to have the same brand/model of radio in order to be heard? Or could everyone just have a mix of different radios? If so, is there a frequency in which they should all use in order to communicate with each other? also...instead of paying $50 for 2 half-decent radios...i think i'd rather spend $50 on 1 decent radio. Do they sell any as just one radio or are they always sold in pairs? __________________ ^^^^^^^^^Like our Facebook!^^^^^^^^^

12-21-2010, 03:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I just bought these for a trip we're taking. So far they seem great. I'll have more info after the holidays. Amazon.com: Motorola MR350 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair): Electronics __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

12-21-2010, 03:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
daisuke149 My *** is famous! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alpharetta, GA Posts: 4,849 Drives: 2013 Boss 302 PW Rep Power: 31	every mountain cruise we use 2 way radio's but sometimes you just cannot understand other people. even if your the car right behind them. Ive been wondering of a better option so hopefully someone can chime in on this thread.

05-04-2011, 03:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
wafflesarefun Base Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Francisco Posts: 61 Drives: 09 370z PW 6MT Rep Power: 15	anyword? in my research i've found a lot of users complaining about the short range and LOS only for FRS/GMRS radios (<1mi)... i've been contemplating a CB radio but i don't want to mount an antenna to my car so i don't know how big of a difference this would be sigh

05-04-2011, 05:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
krUnizZLE Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Parsons, Kansas Posts: 10 Drives: BicycLe Rep Power: 14	Lol, No offense (and im not a redneck), just get a CB installed.... it may not be portable but it it goes pretty far....