GME's XRS-660-U is a 5-watt handheld GMRS radio, made in Australia. GME says it's the first handheld GMRS radio with a color screen, and it has GPS and Bluetooth built in. It lists at $395.
/WHAT'S NEW ON THE XRS-660-U
Start with the screen. It's a transflective color TFT, made to stay readable in full sun.
GPS is the bigger deal. Phones die, and this radio knows where it is without one.
Bluetooth covers audio and data. Pair a headset, put GME's wireless PTT on the steering wheel, and you can talk without picking the radio up. It also runs GME's XRS Connect phone app, same as the rest of their XRS Connect range. Here's how to program zones on the XRS-660-U with the app.
/USING IT ON SHOOTS
Most of my time with it has been on production. I'm either telling people where to go, or they're telling me: stop, go, that kind of thing.
It's been fun to have a radio I can pull out of the truck and take with me. The radio in the cab stays where it is.
On a production, CrewTalk keeps the crew on its own channel. Here's how to use GME CrewTalk.
Off the set, I took it to Eighties on Edison, a trail day with about 30 trucks. That's in why switch to GME GMRS radios.
/XRS-660-U SPECS
- 5, 1 or 0.5 watts, switchable
- IP67 and MIL-STD-810G
- 2-watt speaker
- 2550mAh lithium-ion battery
- ScanSuite digital scanning
- Power saving modes
- 5-year warranty
/WHAT'S IN THE BOX
The radio, the 2550mAh battery, a desktop charger with an AC adaptor, a belt clip and a quick start guide.
/XRS-660-U ACCESSORIES
GME sells three: the XRS-PTT-U wireless PTT with a steering wheel mount, the HS017 earpiece mic and the MC013 IP67 speaker mic.
/PRICE & THE GMRS LICENSE
$395 is a lot for a handheld. You do get five years of warranty for it.
GMRS also needs an FCC license. There's no test, and one license covers your immediate family. Here's how to get a GMRS license.
/WHERE TO GET ONE
Not from me. I'm not a GME dealer, so it isn't in the shop.
GME's dealer finder shows who carries their GMRS radios near you. Full specs are on the product page.
Trail gear I do carry is under Trail.
Kingston
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