Radios
If your child received a radio from us, it is theirs to keep, the radios are relatively inexpensive. If you would like to purchase more to use for your family, I will be happy to program them so that they have all the same settings as the provided radios with the correct privacy codes. For the kids, I suggest either the Baofeng MP31 ($22 for a set of 2) or Retevis NR30 ($60 for a set of 2). Each of these are simple to use and waterproof. The MP31s are 2 watt so the range is limited but we have hit the repeater from the back of the neighborhood, to Indiantown Road and JF road to 130th. The NR30s are much more powerful and we have hit the repeater from the Sunoco plaza.
Understanding Repeaters
We live in a central location in Jupiter Farms. We have erected a 50 ft antenna mast which is connected to a radio repeater. This allows the handhelds to send a signal to our antenna which is up above the trees, then amplify that signal and send it out for others to hear at a higher wattage output. When You are on simplex channels you will be speaking directly radio to radio without this advantage. When on the repeater channel, no matter how close you are to the other party, you will still be communicating directly with the repeater which will retransmit your signal to the receiving party.
The repeater channel should not be used for prolonged conversations when or if a simplex channel will work. Instead, the repeater channel should be the standard channel which is monitored and to make contact with whom you wish to speak. Once you have made contact, advise the other party to switch to a simplex channel (so long as you are in range). If there is no simplex channel which you can get good communications on, then you may have your conversation on the repeater channel.