The MURS radios we ordered came today (July 16, 2008), and here are photos of the unboxing. The radios are made by Columbia, a consumer brand I'm comfortable with. The package shows a price of $80, and we paid $30 through Amazon (a private vendor). I have been able to program them to a channel with privacy code enabled and lock them without having read the manual. We have no experience with them yet for distance and reliability. According to the test report submitted to the FCC for certification of this radio, the antenna is not removable and the two power settings yield 0.5W and 0.22W ERP.
FAIL: We took the radios to Burning Man, and carried them around a week. Our use was for emergencies only, so we needed them only the last day it turns out, when a couple needed help. The transmit button locked itself on, and the radio would not stop transmitting. The power button would not work with the push to talk button down, so the only way to turn the radio off was to remove the batteries. Another try gave the same result - PTT would not release, radio would not turn off, so remove the batteries. Burning Man is a harsh, dusty environment, so this may not be a fair test in your situation, but it's where we need to have them work.
FAIL: We took the radios to Burning Man, and carried them around a week. Our use was for emergencies only, so we needed them only the last day it turns out, when a couple needed help. The transmit button locked itself on, and the radio would not stop transmitting. The power button would not work with the push to talk button down, so the only way to turn the radio off was to remove the batteries. Another try gave the same result - PTT would not release, radio would not turn off, so remove the batteries. Burning Man is a harsh, dusty environment, so this may not be a fair test in your situation, but it's where we need to have them work.
I'm not happy with the battery section. The batteries just squeeze in there, and on one radio, it's not a good fit. I have some concern that they will jiggle and loose connections when walking or riding bikes on rough surfaces, but that will remain to be seen. There's no rattling when the battery cover is in place.
The button to turn the radio on and off is on the upper right corner of the radio, and it's recessed. A handy location where it's unlikely to get pressed inadvertently.
The button to turn the radio on and off is on the upper right corner of the radio, and it's recessed. A handy location where it's unlikely to get pressed inadvertently.
I'm not happy with the battery section. The batteries just squeeze in there, and on one radio, it's not a good fit. I have some concern that they will jiggle and loose connections when walking or riding bikes on rough surfaces, but that will remain to be seen. There's no rattling when the battery cover is in place.
The button to turn the radio on and off is on the upper right corner of the radio, and it's recessed. A handy location where it's unlikely to get pressed inadvertently.
The button to turn the radio on and off is on the upper right corner of the radio, and it's recessed. A handy location where it's unlikely to get pressed inadvertently.
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