school me in 2 way radios

[yotawheeler]

alright so...im taking my truck (81 BJ42) on about a 1200km trip next week, thing is it was stolen, busted up pretty good and i have a very limited assortment of tools to go along with it, the good part. my brother in law will be driving my 87 toy pick up back as well so we are going to use some 2 way radios to keep contact between the trucks so. i picked up one of these

http://www.giantintl.com/ContentMan...es User Guide USA 11-26-08 KEM-PK14190-75.pdf

from costco and was just wondering if this is a worth while radio or if i should spend a little more and get something like this

Future Shop: Phones & Communications: 2-Way Radios: Cobra GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radio (CXR750C)

or this

Future Shop: Phones & Communications: 2-Way Radios: Cobra GMRS/FRS 2-Way Radios (CXT450C)

just looking for opinions, dont want to break the bank but....i dont want a crappy unit either...cause we will be using these for wheeling ect after this trip...thanks

 

[roalco]

Be careful if you're driving in BC, they just enacted the new hands free law for cellphones and other electronic handheld devices. I think it even impacts CB and Hams.... Very sketchy interpretation so far, but get busted and it's like $170 and three points... But this only applys to the driver using it.

 

[Corbet]

any of those radios will be fine for two trucks communicating line of sight meaning, you can see each other. They will have a little more range than that but not much.

A CB will be better but not really a whole lot on range. Advantage will be more widely used by other vehicles if you needed to call out an emergency but still a few miles is all you'll generally get out of one.

A HAM real communication device. Only disadvantage I can think of is lack of users compared to the other fore mentioned radios due to licensing requirements. Once you use a HAM you'll never want to go back to anything else.

Seeing as your leaving next week I'd get a pair of cheap CB radios. my .02

 

[BC_FJC]

Be careful if you're driving in BC, they just enacted the new hands free law for cellphones and other electronic handheld devices. I think it even impacts CB and Hams.... Very sketchy interpretation so far, but get busted and it's like $170 and three points... But this only applys to the driver using it.

http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/osmv/publications/docs/electronic-devices-while-driving-info.pdf

Top of page 4
_______

OTHER DEVICES ALLOWED

Two way radios are ½ duplex communication devices used principally
for commercial purposes and by amateur radio operators licensed
through Industry Canada under the Radiocommunication Act (Canada).
The devices consist of a microphone and receiver unit connected by a
wire that:
• Is operated by a push and hold to talk function, and
• Allows for oral communication, but not for the transmission and
receipt of oral communication at the same time; and
• The transmission of sound is over a set radio frequency.

_________

I believe CB would fall under this exception...

 

[roalco]

I think the GMRS/FRS units would be classed as "hand microphones" (page 3) and would be allowed operation, but you may not hold it in your hand while you are operating it.... not sure how that'd work?
Sigh, the trials of trying to legislate common sense to idiots...