Opinions on GMRS radios?

[WoodSheddin]

Finally gonna take a vacation in the boonies and want to get a couple of handheld radios for the trip. Just finished the GMRS license application and am looking to pick up some radios.

Anyone here have any recommendations?

[Tubaryan12]

Anyone here have any recommendations?

Only that you not go cheap. I did just to try them out and ended up with a glorifed set of walkie talkies They couldn't even make it a quarter mile down the street.

[SplatterTone]

I got a pair of Midland LXT420. The audio output is very good for radios this size -- vastly superior to the pair of Cobra FRS120 that I have and rivaling my good 2-meter talkies. The LXT420 is a "hybrid" (I guess that's what you call it) that covers both FRS and the repeater output frequencies of GMRS and can be set to 1/2 watt or 5 watt output on the GMRS frequencies. It does not do the repeater input frequencies or offset transmit/receive (i.e. it only does simplex). It uses 4 AAA batteries and comes with a battery pack that is essentially 4 AAA NiMh wrapped up in plastic. This pack is intended to be charged inside the radio with the radio sitting in the optional drop-in charger; or you can buy a wall wart charger and plug it into the charger input on the radio. However, you can use 4 individual AAA batteries -- alkaline or rechargable. I got a pair of the LXT420 recently when Staples office supply (and probably others) had them on special for $30 with the drop-in charge thrown in for free.

It can scan the GMRS/FRS frequencies. It receives NOAA weather frequencies.

I'll add that getting a ham radio license has been made so ridiculously easy now, that you might put that in your long term radio-ing plans. And the ham radio license is free.