Search the Community

To kick off this brand-new forum, I wanted to bring POCLINK radios to everyone's attention, as they have a pretty unique offering that drew me in. POCLINK doesn't sponsor this; I found them through their Facebook ads and decided to try them out on my own. Long story short, I bought a couple of the POC-1 Ultra radios and liked them enough to buy more for family members (particularly one who lives on an island in Florida and may need to call for help if cell is down). They are pretty basic radios, but they have some unique features apart from the analog FRS channels feature. You can share groups by 6-digit code or by Bluetooth if the other radio(s) are nearby, so you don't have to play around with programming them. Ad-hoc groups are dead simple to create. There's a relay mode that lets you use PoC and FRS like a cross-band repeater. Anything heard on the FRS channel is broadcast to the PoC group, and vice versa. There's a mobile app, so you don't need to keep the physical radio nearby; you can join a group from your app. They advertise the FRS channels as being up to 2W. The thing that may jump out at you is the price: $399/pair, but larger bundles are available for more savings. This initially sounds very expensive, but the other big draw with these radios is that there are no monthly or annual fees for the 4G SIM card or for the radio groups themselves. So essentially, the lifetime costs of the SIM card data plan and the use of their PoC network are prepaid into the device cost. For that reason, these are an excellent option for people who don't want to pay $30 or more per radio to keep it active. There are now public groups as well that anyone can join with the 6-digit code, so you can use them like a Zello channel or like people used to enjoy linking via GMRS radios in the past. Has anyone else seen these or used these? If anyone is interested in them, be sure you select the newer Ultra model if you want the analog radio feature as well. I believe the free lifetime data offer applies only to the Ultra model, based on what I could tell. I think the non-Ultra model has 1 year of service for free. Product link: POC-1 Ultra 4G and FRS Radio Tech Specs Battery: 3000mAh 4G Band: B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/66/38/40/41 (SIM card can use multiple carriers, so you're not fixed to just one carrier) Analog Channels: 16 Power: ≤2 Watt Off-grid Range: "Up to 35+ miles" (Range varies depends on location) Charging Method: Type-C charging, optional drop-in charger available Screen Size: 1.44 inches Headset Port: Kenwood-style 2-pin cable or Bluetooth headset Product Material: ABS Input Power: 5V 1A Operating Temperature: -20°~+60°C Charging Temperature: +10°~+50°C Waterproofing: IPX4 Size: 3.43 x 1.14 x 2.17 inches Weight: 136g Accessories: SIM Card, Battery, Lanyard, USB-C Charger, Cable, Belt Clip

Clicked on an ad on Facebook out of curiosity. Click technical specs and it indicates FRS, 1 watt ERP. Pretty expensive for FRS radios that look similar in profile to smart phones. https://preparedhero.com/pages/powertalkiex?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=powertalkiex&fbclid=IwAR3z2I8DTeTDVxnL1VA8LoACQK2P63anEZa6T_Bey9NnOKjZYuEfeWmb39E

Hi I'm new here, I recently received my GMRS license and purchased a pair of Midland FRS 2 way radios. In the near future, I would like to get a MicroMobile GMRS unit. I understand that I am able to communicate with FRS on certain channels. What I am wondering is, am I allowed to use FRS radio in conjuction with the MicroMobile unit in the same room or vehicle, since I have a GMRS license? WRHW452

if I am listening to an FRS channel and I hear my neighbors talking, but they are using a "tone" so that they dont hear me, is that a Transmit tone, or a Receiving tone that is blocking them from hearing me? So.. if I am listening to them and I want to use my radio to scan for their tone to program it into my radio so they can hear me, what am i scanning for? R-CTSS or T-CTSS ?

A friend brought me these radios and I more of a Baofeng guy. Does anyone know where I can get the software and what the cable model is to rewrite the program?

So, just from browsing the conversations here on the forums, I know this topic is going to open a can of worms... :-) So, why did the FCC grant the ability for companies to manufacture, package, and sell combination FRS/GMRS radios - especially given the limitations of the broadcast wattage, fixed antenna, etc... From my perspective, all the grant allows is for said companies to make money off of misinformation regarding their product. It is completely true that if the devices are used in a completely clear and open space with no obstructions that you could potentially broadcast at the maximum range possible, however, there is no documentation that is provided to the "reality" of the actual operating parameters and expected range of the devices. I'm not looking to make $ here, but isn't the advertising of products (such as the Uniden ones I have purchased) misleading which could be considered false advertising and as such warrant legal correction? Not to mention the fact that the advertising also does not indicate that GMRS licensing is required for utilization of the GMRS frequencies and the sale of of such devices simply propegates the "illegal use" of such frequencies without a license? Of course, you have to throw into play here the 2010 proposal to license GMRS by rule, which essentially negates all of the above, but it has been 3 years with no action on such proposal. Then what? Say they accept the proposal next year to license by rule, do I get a partial refund of my license fee? Highly doubt it. I guess I would lose my call sign as, there would be no need for them any longer. If licensed by rule would repeaters still be allowed, or would those require a license? Thoughts?