subject: Two Way Radios - An Overview [print this page] Two Way Radios - An Overview Two Way Radios - An Overview
Two way radios use radio signals to allow communication between two people. They work not unlike a telephone, but they just transmit to a specific signal that only the other radio it is paired with can hear. Walkie talkies are another name for this type of device, and they work over miles and miles, making them perfect for whatever use you see fit, including camping, work, and construction. The FRS/GMRS two way radios are by far the most familiar and well-known to everyday users and are the same ones you normally find in big-box stores. The frequency ranges or channels on which these devices can operate are FRS and GMRS. Channels 1-7 are shared by both the FRS and GMRS while channels 8-14 are FRS only and 15-22 are GMRS only. The devices being used by your group must all be set to the same channel in order for you to communicate with each other. A radio set to channel 7 will listen for and permit you to hear people talking on that channel and when you talk on that radio it will send your voice over that channel. There is zero assurance of privacy with these units as there is no way to know who is listening so caution as to what you communicate over a two way radio is strongly recommended. Make sure you get the right range for your channel, not to mention privacy. FRS only channels just broadcast at .5 watts, since there are government rules in place preventing it from going further. You can talk within a half mile to a mile of your partner with this particular type of channel, but you have far more space to work with if you use a GMRS channel, as it will work as hard as the radio can output power. However, you do need a license from the FCC in order to use GMRS frequencies to communicate. When it comes to privacy, you just have to keep switching channels until you find one that no one else is using. There are times when you might not be able to find a truly private channel, as there are people using every channel, For this there are "privacy codes," which most decent mid range radios offer. With these codes, you just divide one channel into a hundred or more subchannels, pick the privacy code you want to use, and you will be able to talk free of eavesdropping.
