Whether used outdoors or indoors, the Uniden GMR1838-2CK 2-Way 18 Miles 2 Pack GMRS FRS Radio provides a dependable means of communications with it’s up to 18 miles range. The two palm-sized GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) radios in this package are not only compact and lightweight, state-of-the-art devices but also reliable with two NiMH rechargeable batteries along with a dual-bay charging cradle.
While mobile phones might be today’s main means of keeping in touch, you will also rack up a hefty bill in airtime charges and overall usage. In some cases, cellular signals might be weak, making them unreliable. With GMRS radios like the Uniden GMR1838-2CK, users don’t need to fear high phone charges or rely on cellular phone signals. Instead, users will get the freedom to communicate all at the list price of $29.99.
Users will find some automatic power-saving functions very useful especially if you are in situations where you can’t quickly charge up. This model’s unique circuitry automatically switches the radio to Power Save if there is no transmission of incoming calls for three seconds. The built-in battery strength meter is also easy to read—quickly telling you when you need to charge up.
Users will also find the large LCD display (with bright backlighting) indispensible for updates on any conditions, selecting channels, setting privacy codes, and of course, battery life. They will also like some practical features they might not necessarily understand such as CTCSS (tone) and DCS (code). The advantage these features bring is you won’t hear other people’s conversations even minutely, which can be quite annoying (if not awkward).
Some drawbacks include no adjustable output power and squelch. With the prior, the power is preset for GMRS (high) and FRS (low) only. With no adjustable squelch, users might find some noise breaking in. Finally, the antenna on this model seems larger than usual in other radios in this band (GMRS/FRS 460 MHz). It is not a big deal but users might want something more proportionate to this model’s truly compact size.
Overall, the Uniden GMR1838-2CK is a great budget buy that doesn’t skimp on the features. At its low price, you can cheaply expand depending on the size of your party.
Quick Technical Specifications
- 22 channels with 99 privacy codes
- Range of use up to 18 miles
- Backlit LCD Display
- Battery strength meter
- Charger included
