eXRS Radios (Digital Walkie Talkies)

[Cruise-Crazy]

Okay, I know there have been a million questions on here about using walkie talkies on the ship. I have used a bunch of different radios with varying results so I have a pretty good idea what works best with FRS/GMRS radios.

 

My question is about the new eXRS digital radios. Has anyone tried these on a ship? If so how do they compare to the old standard GMRS radios? They claim better range but I just don't see 900 MHz working well on a ship.

[crule]

Hopefully you can have technical responses to your thread and it be devoid of the political commentary on whether or not 2-way radios should be on a boat.

 

With that said, here's my technical response:

 

900 mhz digital - I think you're going to find too much steel to attenuate the signal. Plus it's very-low-power digital - which means that you either have 'great signals' or "nothing" - there's no copying your partner out of the static and at least getting partial copy of his radio traffic.

 

I've not used 900mhz on board, but I have used 440mhz ham frequencies (close to 460 mhz FRS/GMRS frequencies) on board. I found that I can generally communicate thru most decks of the ship - but it all depends on how many decks I am away from the other radio. If I'm on the same deck as the other, I can talk from stem-to-stern. Put 5 decks inbetween, and it's a no go unless I'm pretty close up-down wise to the other radio.

 

Hopefully someone will chime in that's actually used these exrs technologies on board and can give you some direct feedback.

[Cruise-Crazy]

Yeah, I really doubt 900 MHZ at 1 watt will do much especially being digital. I was just wondering if anyone had tried it. I always like to try out new stuff. :)

 

I have used pretty much everything from my ham radios to commercial stuff and everything in between.

 

On the political side of the issue I am pretty discrete when using the radios.

[Livin4Real]

I'd like to hear back on this as well. I just picked up another pair of gmrs for our upcoming cruise. We have a 12yr old and 8yr old that we keep in touch with onboard with them (vibrate, no screaming speaker) and like you, I'm curious how the new ones size up.

[Smokeyham]

I'm involved with radios through work, and personal interest (Ham radio, etc.).

 

I would have the same concerns:

 

(1) the complaint about digital being that it is an all or nothing proposition, i.e. you either get a good signal or no signal; no degraded but still readable signal like you do with analog. This has been the concern raised about digital systesm in the emergency services world.

 

(2) One watt just doesn't seem to be enough power. Both Ham portables and public service portables use five watts.

 

Given the above, I would probably stick with the GMRS.

 

However, since text sometimes can get through where voice can't, I wonder if the text feature might be effective enough to be useful on board? But...... If the message doesn't get through (and you don't get a response) would you need to retype the message? That would be frustrating!

 

 

I too am curious to hear if anyone has actual experience with these radios on board.

[4cats1house]

Any new information/input on this?

[Smokeyham]

Any new information/input on this?

 

I haven't heard much about these radios, even outside of the cruising world, so I wonder how much they have caught on? I see they are selling around $70/pair, so this is about what GMRS radios go for.

 

I would also like to hear from anyone who has tried these aboard ship.

[izodlacoste]

I'm interested in them too. I'm cruising with an 11 yo and 13 yo on Allure. I'd like them to have walkie to text me with. The ship is huge and I want to let them wander but keep tabs on them a few times a day. Are these good for texting on a ship? I hate the squawking of walkie talkies

[Smokeyham]

I'm interested in them too. I'm cruising with an 11 yo and 13 yo on Allure. I'd like them to have walkie to text me with. The ship is huge and I want to let them wander but keep tabs on them a few times a day. Are these good for texting on a ship? I hate the squawking of walkie talkies

 

 

The concept of offering both a text and a talk option is a great idea. If you were watching a show you could send a quick text, without disturbing others, but if you were in a situation that needed more discussion, you could have a conversation.

 

I wonder if they'll come out with something for cell phones where they can function like a radio (unit to unit, without cell towers) when those aren't available. That would be nice, so you wouldn't have to have two devices.

 

Back to the eXRS Radios, we're still hoping to hear from someone who has actually used them on board.

[jwilkers]

Any new information/input on this?

 

Yes.. I do. Just got back from a cruise on the Carnival Sensation...

 

I will tell you, that these radios were phenominal!

 

We were on Riviera deck forward, and could communicate perfectly on all forward decks. We could communicate effectively on mid ship, and 75 percent aft. On the pool deck, clear signal. I told my wife about my casino winnings :) when at the casino.

 

Honestly, I could not believe how good these radios worked!

 

I have found in indoor environments, the eXRS radios are superior to FRS/GMRS radios. This is plausible, as the higher frequencies tend to allow the signal to "bounce" off the metal structures to find a path.

 

I have used them in hotels with superior results several times. The signals are definitely absorbed in heavy foliage areas outdoors. They are a far superior indoor radio.

[scottbee]

And of course, they're likely illegal in countries outside of the USA. Remember just because a walkie-talkie is OK in the USA: it may not be in another country. Example; FRS/GMRS walkie talkies from the USA use the same freqencies as Firefighters in England; and are 100% illegal.

[jwilkers]

And of course, they're likely illegal in countries outside of the USA. Remember just because a walkie-talkie is OK in the USA: it may not be in another country. Example; FRS/GMRS walkie talkies from the USA use the same freqencies as Firefighters in England; and are 100% illegal.

 

Very good point! I used mine in USA waters and international waters only! While in Nassau, we did not carry our radios. Also, they were not used while docked there. At any rate, we were all together while docked... sightseeing by day and at night dropped the kids off at the Club Carnival sitters and went clubbing :)

 

I did pop by a store and saw 20 channel radios there. Definitely not the FRS/GMRS radios used in the USA.

 

I did some looking on the net.. could not find any info on the Bahamas 2 way radio rules.

[Smokeyham]

Yes.. I do. Just got back from a cruise on the Carnival Sensation...

 

I will tell you, that these radios were phenominal!

 

We were on Riviera deck forward, and could communicate perfectly on all forward decks. We could communicate effectively on mid ship, and 75 percent aft. On the pool deck, clear signal. I told my wife about my casino winnings :) when at the casino.

 

Honestly, I could not believe how good these radios worked!

 

I have found in indoor environments, the eXRS radios are superior to FRS/GMRS radios. This is plausible, as the higher frequencies tend to allow the signal to "bounce" off the metal structures to find a path.

 

I have used them in hotels with superior results several times. The signals are definitely absorbed in heavy foliage areas outdoors. They are a far superior indoor radio.

 

Great to get feedback from someone who has used these! Glad to hear that they worked well, even with just the one-watt power.

 

As you note, higher frequencies tend to penetrate better through metal, while lower frequencies tend to do better over longer distances.

 

Thanks again for the feedback!

[Smokeyham]

Yes.. I do. Just got back from a cruise on the Carnival Sensation...

 

I will tell you, that these radios were phenominal!

 

Honestly, I could not believe how good these radios worked!

 

.

 

BTW.... Did you try the texting feature; if so, did it work well?

[jwilkers]

BTW.... Did you try the texting feature; if so, did it work well?

 

Didn't text. The reason being was that I had the radios locked, so that the wife, or myself, couldnt't accidentally bump the radios unknowingly and cause a lack of communication.

 

Having a 4 yr old and a 6 yr old with us can cause problems.. and we needed reliable communications.... without paying out the backside for the shipboard cell rates.

 

The radios were a bit of a lifesaver at times :)

[Smokeyham]

Thanks for posting the information. It is great to hear directly about your experiences using these radios.

[donaldsc]

The concept of offering both a text and a talk option is a great idea. If you were watching a show you could send a quick text, without disturbing others, but if you were in a situation that needed more discussion, you could have a conversation.

 

I wonder if they'll come out with something for cell phones where they can function like a radio (unit to unit, without cell towers) when those aren't available. That would be nice, so you wouldn't have to have two devices.

 

Back to the eXRS Radios, we're still hoping to hear from someone who has actually used them on board.

 

Why would you want to send a text message while watching a show?

 

DON

[Smokeyham]

Why would you want to send a text message while watching a show?

 

DON

 

It could be helpful to let your frirends or family know where you are. Of course, you'd do it discreetly, to avoid disturbing others.

[Monica Cor]

I read that you need to get a license from the FCC to use FRS/GMRS radios.  Is that accurate?

Also which eXRS Radio did you use?  And where did you buy it, since if you do need a license for the GMRS, we will go with the eXRS

 

Thank so much for any help you can offer

[chengkp75]

17 minutes ago, Monica Cor said:

I read that you need to get a license from the FCC to use FRS/GMRS radios.  Is that accurate?

Also which eXRS Radio did you use?  And where did you buy it, since if you do need a license for the GMRS, we will go with the eXRS

 

Thank so much for any help you can offer

eXRS radios were a proprietary concept of TriSquare, who went out of business in 2012 (shortly after this thread was started), so I don't believe the equipment is available any longer.  While I had no experience with this limited experiment in radios, and I don't dispute the anecdotal evidence of the one poster who said they had good results with them, I will repeat what I've always said about consumer walkie talkies on ships:  reception can vary on different days, or from hour to hour on the same day, from the same locations on the same ship.  Know that the radios the crew use are 5 watt radios, at about $500/unit, and still need repeater antennas around the ship to boost the signal and ensure reception.

 

The FCC says you are "supposed" to get a license for FRS/GMRS radios, but it is not enforced, and you don't need to have the license to purchase.

[ldubs]

If you really want radios that will work on board, you need to get a communicator like the one shown below: 

 

  

[Capt_BJ]

resurrection from a thread that died in 2011 .......

[Smokeyham]

Since the thread has been resurrected....  I was at a presentation recently about cell phone services that are being provided to emergency first responders.  A feature that they are rolling out will be the ability to communicate directly from one mobile phone to another, without the need for the signal to be relayed through a cell tower.  Of course, this will have limited range, but it will be interesting to see if that becomes available in the future to consumers.

[MicCanberra]

I like the texting ability along with the other functions of phones, tends to work better than walkie talkies ever did

[Capt_BJ]

wasn't it NEXTEL that had a phone to phone direct connect system back in the 2006 timeframe?????

 

In my professional life at the time their use was driving me crazy - as we had security issues to contend with.