Jon - the frequencies are different - more (long) (archive)

The "Spirit" radios use the business band, which is SLIGHTLY different than the FRS band. Both are about 460 MHz but they would not be able to talk to each other.

Re the license, yes technically you do need one to operate a business band radio. But keep in mind that this is the type of radio issued to every maid in a typical hotel. How many of them do you think have a license?

Don't get a case of "power envy" over the 4 watt output of the business band radios. Keep in mind that these UHF frequencies mostly propagate by line of sight. In other words, if you can't see the other person, you can't talk to him. (Actually you do get some reflections but not much.) In the typical Z3 drive scenarion you're going around corners, through the woods etc., the extra power will make little difference. It would help on the highway though.

A friend of mine has a pair of business band walkie talkies, we use them when we drive together. They work much better than our Talkabouts, not because of the power output but because they are much bigger and therefore have a big speaker. This makes it MUCH easier to understand the other person, the difference is like night & day.

Bottom line - everyone else in the Z3 community has an FRS radio, stick with that. But avoid the tiny models with itty bitty speakers, you'll never understand what's being said when the top is down.

Tom M.

Motorola's makes several good FRS radios, but any one that has the privacy codes will do quite nicely. I have a Motorola and a Cobra, they both work well. Are you getting ready for the Hill Country Run on March 31 and April 1?

I think they're called Spirit, or Freedom, or something. They look like they have the same frequencies, and boast a 4 mile range

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