First Impressions of the FR-465
By:Jose R. Camara
Taken from a post to:
alt.radio.family
I bought a pair of Chereokee FR-465 FRS radios last Saturday, and
thought I'd post some extra info and first impressions over here.
BASIC: FRS radio, 500mW, 14 channels, 47 CTCSS tones, 4.1"
x 2.3" x 1.1", 4.7 oz (plus 3.0" antenna, plus 1.9
oz for 5 AAA renewals).
FEATURES:
1. LOCK - prevents children or technologically challenged from
changing channels, codes, etc.
2. Frequency/Channel display modes - Will display channels either
as ' CH 12 ' or as '467.6625 12' (two tiny digits still show the
channel number, if you have good near vision). In frequency mode
the CTCSS tones are also identified by their frequencies.
3. 47 CTCSS - 38 standard plus 9. The major drawback is that they
are numbered in order, so tone 29 of Cherokee is 26 of Kenwood or
Motorola. They should use 1-38 with the same frequencies, then
give 39-47 for the non-standard.
4. Separate RX/TX CTCSS - you can set tone 17 to transmit and 32
to receive. Generates some possibilities not given by other radios,
but on the other takes twice as many keystrokes to set tones.
5. Separate CTCSS per channel - settings for CTCSS tones are
individual per channel, and kept in memory.
6. 4 segment battery meter
7. 10-segment signal strength meter - good for RX, but unnecessary
for TX (always lights 10 segments...)
8. Transmit delay - Keeps transmitting for a half second or so
without a CTCSS tone so receiver cuts off clean, eliminating the
'squelch tail'. Can be turned on or off.
9. Memory - 10 channels can be stored, retrieved and scanned.
10. Scan - Scans all channels in either direction (9 channels/s),
pausing on any used ones for 5s (this time also can be set from 1
to 30s). Channels can be temporarily deleted from the scan, or
permanently marked to be skipped. Scan of channels in memory only
is also possible, as well as a simple two-channel 'scan'.
11. Call channel - a 'C' button jumps to a pre-programmed
preferred channel.
12. Monitor - a separate button will defeat squelch and monitor
the channel. Holding it for 5 seconds or more will turn it on
continuosly. Another touch to the button will turn it back off.
13. Ringer - Turning the radio on with the backlight switch
pressed sets it in 'ringer' mode, where a series of beeps warns
of an incoming, CTCSS-qualified signal. Once you talk it goes
back to normal.
14. Power Save - Microprocessor goes into 'sleep', monitoring for
buttons or signal only a few ms every 1/2s. Can be defeated.
15. Busy TX lockout - will prevent you from talking while the
channel is in use by others. Factory set to OFF.
16. TX timeout - can be set to 10-990s, or no limit
17. Screw mounted antenna
18. Backlit display
Only range tests so far were from home to a car, which gave only
0.2 miles. House is at a low location, road goes up to cross
highway, then down, when I lost contact. Will do further tests
and report later.
The MAJOR flaw is the manual, a 24-page photocopy that frequently
makes fun of the radio, features (and consequenty the sucker that
bought it) and has incorrect instructions.
Bottom line, it is compact, full FCC power, tone squelch, lock
button. Everything else (as the manual states) is marketing bull,
features that are neat the first day or two, unnecessary afterwards.
Some range tests will really tell how good it is.
In time: bought at Bill's 2 Way, $109 each. Very friendly folks,
great prices!
Jose R. Camara
To reply by e-mail, camara@quantacorp.com