Radio Question
 

alright - I was reading in this thread:
http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthr...ighlight=radio

and got some info on decent/good radio sets. What I'm interested in is finding out what the lowest quality, crappy radioshack type pos radio I can buy that will function in a game.

As I am just starting out I don't want to drop $80+ on a radio yet. Will those 2-way radios from The Source be able to access the frequencies used by the higher quality brands? (yes, I know it's a pretty general question - but I know very little about radio's and frequencies :/ )

Blister pack FRS/GMRS radios share mostly the same channels and subchannels with other blister packs. They will function reasonably well for casual airsoft use, provided one's not trying to use a $40 set in extreme terrain and long distances. Their biggest shortcoming, besides limited power, is that they provide zero communication security.

I don't know what you mean by "higher quality brands". For example, Motorola's a "higher quality brand" that produces FRS, GMRS and UHF sets. I think what you're asking is whether the blister packs can share frequencies with UHF, programmable radios (over $100 *per* individual unit, not blister packed). The answer to that would be, the UHF can share frequencies with you because they be reprogrammed, whereas your blister pack is hardwired to only use the frequencies it comes with.

I gotcha - thanks. And yes, you were right in your interpretation. I suppose I should have said higher quality units?

I guess all I would be worried about is receiving comms for the first little bit - I would have to assume I'm with someone with a secure radio.

My advice is that if you can get away with not having a radio, then don't get a radio yet. Buying the cheapest one you can afford right now does yourself very little favour. Save up a bit.

Stalker recommended this in another thread:
http://gadgetinfinity.com/product.ph...cat=282&page=1

Wish I had known about it earlier.

The thread is here, great radio, can't stop playing with it (had it a couple weeks now, one game of use):

http://www.airsoftcanada.com/showthread.php?t=59722

Not having a radio is double edged, leaves you free to focus on playing the game, but makes you useless to the team overall unless you are with someone who has a radio. If you run with the group, no radio needed. If yo ugo off on your own or with a couple other guys with no radio, you won't be able to get info from your team to help you help them for objectives/reinforcement. I've gone both ways, radio and no radio, and I prefer having a radio. Helps to know when game is over too, or an objective has been captured.

What you said at the end was pretty much all I was going for; just enough to hear updates/tac info. I wasn't planning on lone wolfing in my first game :P, so I was always planning on being with a group.

Once you know the field well enough, go for lone wolf a few times. You'll be a better player by doing so, getting yourself out of shit when you run into 5 or more guys. Good rush, even if you DON'T win. And by learning to work on your own effectively and confidently, then you will be a very good team member (good teams are made up of good players, doesn't work any other way), because teams don't always last if it's an elimination match, or even having your entire patrol ambushed and you are last alive. And then a radio would help too.