Years ago I bought my kids a set of Cobra MicroTalk CTX450A radios. The reason I chose these was two(three) fold:
1: Drop in charger
2: Used rechargeable AAA batteries (NOT Proprietary NiCD/NiMH bricks*)
3: (Could be used by adults if the SHTF. *AAA can be scavenged, Bricks notsomuch)
4: OK, FOUR fold; I wasnt going to spend $30 for toys that broke quickly and ate batteries left and right and only went 100yds because they were toys.
Several years ago the factory rechargeables died and I was able to figure out the trick to how it detected whether rechargeables were installed or not and modified a new set of rechargeables to fit and work with the charger base.
Today I went to use them for my plumbing project and discovered one has died. It receives OK but as soon as you key the mic it locks up and even turning the knob to *off* doesnt change anything. It still is powered up and backlight on. (just like a liberal; lights are on but nobody is home)
So I went to find a new set of radios with the same first two points. After 30 minutes of digging I cant find either. Now its either drop in charger with proprietary battery bricks or maybe rechargeable with a cord, or Alkaline AAA only.
Anyone know of a decent set of GMRS radios that fits the bill? I dont mind spending $75 or so for the set because its worth it in the end when you figure in the cost of batteries over the life, etc.
I even tried ebay to find replacements to go with my base. None there.
If it werent against FCC regs, I would buy a couple Baofengs and and program them to only use FRS/GMRS channels and then lock the keypads. But apparently that wont quite fly if you follow the rules by the book.
Suggestions?
1: Drop in charger
2: Used rechargeable AAA batteries (NOT Proprietary NiCD/NiMH bricks*)
3: (Could be used by adults if the SHTF. *AAA can be scavenged, Bricks notsomuch)
4: OK, FOUR fold; I wasnt going to spend $30 for toys that broke quickly and ate batteries left and right and only went 100yds because they were toys.
Several years ago the factory rechargeables died and I was able to figure out the trick to how it detected whether rechargeables were installed or not and modified a new set of rechargeables to fit and work with the charger base.
Today I went to use them for my plumbing project and discovered one has died. It receives OK but as soon as you key the mic it locks up and even turning the knob to *off* doesnt change anything. It still is powered up and backlight on. (just like a liberal; lights are on but nobody is home)
So I went to find a new set of radios with the same first two points. After 30 minutes of digging I cant find either. Now its either drop in charger with proprietary battery bricks or maybe rechargeable with a cord, or Alkaline AAA only.
Anyone know of a decent set of GMRS radios that fits the bill? I dont mind spending $75 or so for the set because its worth it in the end when you figure in the cost of batteries over the life, etc.
I even tried ebay to find replacements to go with my base. None there.
If it werent against FCC regs, I would buy a couple Baofengs and and program them to only use FRS/GMRS channels and then lock the keypads. But apparently that wont quite fly if you follow the rules by the book.
Suggestions?