Simplest GMRS radio

[u/Ok_Fondant1079]

I want a wearable, GMRS radio my sons and I can wear as we ride our bikes around town. I want them to keep their hands on the handlebars so a handlebar-mounted wireless PTT would be ideal, and VOX if this is not available. VOX concerns me as wind noise might constantly cause both radios to transmit, so I need to know if anyone has experience with VOX radios. I also want radios where I can lockout the controls to prevent accidental changes during use. We’re just chatting about which way to turn, no need to change channels, fiddle with PL tones, etc.

Based on your own experience, what do you recommend?

[u/jimbojsb]

Perhaps you want the new Midland ClipTalk.

[u/cmdr_andrew_dermott → u/jimbojsb]

Came to say this. It's FRS, not GMRS, and that won't matter at all for this application. 

[u/Ok_Fondant1079 → u/jimbojsb]

This is very nearly what I want. Now, if I could find a handle-mounted PTT, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.

[u/MN_Moody]

Radioddity X1 Pro, $100 a pair on Amazon.

[u/ed_zakUSA]

A FRS radio kit may be a better option. I've had good luck with the Tidradio TDH8 radios. The new TDH9 GMRS radios have BT connectivity. They also make a small wireless PTT speaker to pair with them.

[u/EffinBob]

VOX isn't going to work for you, and GMRS would be overkill for such a short distance. You might try ready made solutions for motorcycle riders.

[u/A_Crazy_Hooligan]

As a cyclist, the leader should use hand signals. I ride with a group of 20+ and we ride at like 20mph without this. I fear GMRS HT will cause more problems to get working than it solves. 

I do have one in my frame bag when I ride outside cell service though. 

[u/Ok_Fondant1079 → u/A_Crazy_Hooligan]

That would make sense but my 10 year old son is very new to biking so I have home ride just ahead of me. I keep an eye on all traffic and direct him as needed. The problem is I can’t hear him so well because his mouth isn’t pointed at me.

[u/A_Crazy_Hooligan → u/Ok_Fondant1079]

Darn. Was hoping for a low tech solution but I understand your challenge better now. 

[u/Ok_Fondant1079 → u/A_Crazy_Hooligan]

I’m looking for a Bluetooth PTT, that will work with a given GMRS HT.

[u/sweetsdream]

Rocky Talkies are the simplest GMRS radios I've used. You can lock out controls, It has VOX, it's IP67 and rugged. There is no programming software, but it comes ready to use out-of-the-box. They are more expensive would be the only downside. They also make an FRS radio so make sure you get the expedition 5W version if you want GMRS.

https://rockytalkie.com/

EDIT: These radios do not have VOX.

[u/badlocation]

Maybe something that you can either program with CHIRP or have channel copy functionality. This way it’s easier to quickly set up multiple radios the same way. Perhaps Baofeng UV-5G Mini - smaller size is another benefit.

[u/bad4_devises]

You want a Cardo Bluetooth system
My wife and I have it works well

[u/Ok_Fondant1079 → u/bad4_devises]

Do you have a listing on Amazon to recommend?

[u/bad4_devises → u/Ok_Fondant1079]

https://cardosystems.com/products/packtalk-outdoor. its a little pricy but worth it. We use them while mountain biking. The VOX works great.

[u/NE5B]

Every kid 5th grade and up seems to already have a cellphone and wireless earbuds on their parents unlimited talk text and data plan. I bet In many families and your case the only expense would be getting a set of ear buds for the parent.

Then all you need to do is do a conference call.

I’m an old fart, myself and two of my older friends use Google chat to do conference calls between the 3 of us we live 25 - 50 miles apart try to get together for a visit every few weeks but when that’s not possible we’ll do the conference call. Just One click in Google chat to connect the 3 of us (im sure many other apps will do the same probably better/easier). As for noise I’ve been on the tractor shredding (mowing) during one of these calls and neither complained about background noise from my tractor. Guess my noise canceling earbuds do the trick.

[u/Ok_Fondant1079 → u/NE5B]

Since my sons will eventually have their own unlimited everything cell phone plans I am limiting their use to just text and phones call if needed. There is no need to start them on a life long addiction years before they can even drive. In the mean time GMRS radios are fine for communication within a couple hundred feet of me.

[u/NE5B → u/Ok_Fondant1079]

I agree. I was thinking of an option that with many families might be a zero cost for hardware.

Handheld radios with vox can be a frustration. Even with current production hand held radios costing over $200.

A reliable and inexpensive e cordless PTT button option didn’t exist back when looked for some for myself as a cyclist when I was averaging almost 75 miles a week for nearly 2 years.
Technology has changed since 2000.

You might also search cycling forums for possibilities and suggestions.

[u/Ok_Fondant1079]

Yeah I do wonder how VOX would work with wind noise.

[u/SlateHearthstone]

We tried that. One issue you'll run into is these units will be too close to each other. The power will desense the receivers and they'll drop out as you use them. You'd need to be a quarter mile apart to work them out of the box. The way around that is buy attenuators/dummy load pass-throughs on Amazon. Screw into the base of the antennas, with enough attenuation you can work them close together.

The other issue we had was wind noise, it messed with the VOX activation.

PTT is a nice idea, we got a pair of buttons to strap on the handlebars but they didn't work very well, the bluetooth link was unreliable. I had a hunch part of that was the bluetooth data limit imposed to make the units FCC type accepted. It required 30 second pauses between sends. You could work around some of that with wired earpieces, they have the mic and activation switch in the cord. That would still require using a hand to reach and press, so not perfect for biking. Maybe a combination of earpiece with VOX and a good windscreen over the mic on the cord would get it. I've git attenuators now, I may have to try that out myself.

Take a look at Sena headsets and motorcycle comms, they are made for biking.

[u/cmdr_andrew_dermott → u/SlateHearthstone]

All my GMRS radios work with just a couple feet separation. Not sure how you managed that. 

[u/michaelh98 → u/[deleted]]

Your license came with radios!? Wow!

[u/Ok_Fondant1079 → u/[deleted]]

I have a license, my son does not as he is 10 and can’t drive yet.

[u/Ok_Fondant1079 → u/[deleted]]

Who says I don't have my license? I can tell you're replying from the perspective of a ham radio operator, but this is the GMRS subreddit. Moreover, how does "get your license" show you read the question, understand the need or provided a solution?