|
GMRS Reviews
FRS Radio Reviews
While you can't test each FRS
radio brand and model to see how they perform under typical conditions, our
reviews provide the results of our hands-on tests of the features you want and
need. We offer our opinions of which radios really deliver and which
ones offer basic services. We test the 2-mile maximum ranges that
typically are advertised to see if their claims are true.
| Midland 75-515 FRS Radio |
|
| Range
Criteria: Flat land sending and
receiving, suburb setting. |
| Clear |
2.4 miles |
| Faint/Static yet usable |
2.7 miles |
| Signals lost |
>3.0 miles |
|
| Clarity |
Very clear speaker.
Excellent volume range from super soft to quite loud. Even though this is a 2
mile radio, it has the farthest transmission/reception capabilities of any
FRS radio I have tested so far. Wow. |
| Features |
Has all the
essential basics and advanced features you could want in a radio. Scan
feature works fine especially as you can scan channels 1-14, or any of
the 38 subchannels. Potential of volume know being bumped higher or
lower, but due to position of knob, is very unlikely. 3 AA batteries.
Multiple call tones compliment a true-sounding speaker. Radio has
the standard call button, monitor button, all purpose Function
button. Also runs on 3 AA batteries so run time is significantly longer
than others that use AAA's. |
| Ergonomics
Ease of use, and general feel |
Radio feels good in the
hand. It is medium sized, not too big to carry/use and not too
small to comfortably hold in a large hand. Push-to-talk button is
on side in-between smaller call button on side top, and smaller monitor
button on side bottom. Buttons are well placed, although the
analog volume-on-off button on the top could change the volume if
bumped. Button features are fairly logical but the manual
comes in handy. Talk button is placed perfectly to click with index finger
exactly where index finger falls. Rubber covering for microphone on
top difficult to reposition if pulled up. |
| Quality |
Radio has a solid weighty
feel. Case and buttons appear to be manufactured from sturdy
materials. Case feels very solid and is slightly heavier
(read solid) than average radio. |
| Overall Impressions |
The Midland 75-515 is a super
high quality radio with a standard set of FRS radio features.
When I pick out a FRS radio to use, this is the one I consistently pick.
I
truly enjoy using this radio and give it my highest recommendations. Great radio
with a full set of well-designed features, great sound quality. For what all it does, I've yet
to find a FRS radio that does it better. |
| Rating (1 worst, 10 best) |
10 |
|
