The GE 35840 is the latest in the line of FRS radios marketed by General Electric.  These radios are actually made by Atlinks USA, Inc.  I must say that the GE 35840 is one of the best FRS radios I have used.  It has all the features I look for in an FRS radio.

As with most FRS radios today the GE 35840 has 14 channels and 38 sub codes (CTCSS).  Microphone and headphone jacks are included. The power output is 500mW, the maximum allowed by the FCC. 

It is the advanced features that puts the GE 35840 in a very small group of exceptional FRS radios.  You can receive all NOAA weather transmissions.  You can choose from five different call tones.  There is a temperature display, two scan options (all channel scan and memory channel scan) and memory storage.

The memory storage feature is the best feature of all.  You can set up to 10 channel and sub code combinations.  This in and of itself is great, but the undocumented feature that the memory storage creates is what really makes this a great FRS radio.  I have set both of my GE 35840 radios with four memory channels/code combinations.  4/8, 6/12, 10/20 and 14/28.  Now I set my radio to memory channel scan.  When I press the PTT (push-to-talk) button, which ever channel happens to be scanned at the moment will be selected for transmission.  The other unit will sync to that transmission in one-half second or less.  The other unit will transmit on the same channel if they press the PTT before scanning resumes and if the scan does resume, the other radio will sync to the new channel.  When the next conversation takes place, it will be on a different channel/code combination.  What this does is make it very difficult for anyone not in your group to monitor your conversation!  If you put more channel/code combinations in memory, it takes longer for the radios to sync to the transmitted channel.  I find that four gives a good amount of security while keeping the sync time to a minimum.

When you are scanning all channels, the GE 35840 does something very unusual.  When a transmission is detected it immediately displays the sub code assigned to that transmission.  This saves time trying to find the sub code manually or initiating a second scan of the sub codes.  If you want to keep that channel/code combination simply press the "MEM" button to send it to channel memory. 

The GE 35840 uses three AA batteries which is a must for those long days of radio usage.  Don't worry about loosing your stored memory during battery changes.  You have 10 minutes to make the change before your memory is lost.  There is an automatic power save feature that reduces power usage after five seconds of inactivity, but you can still receive transmissions while in power save mode.  If your radio has been in power save mode for eight hours, the radio will sound a warning.  If you don't touch any buttons, the radio will automatically power down. 

The GE 35840 FRS radio seems to be very well built.  If they are anything like their older brother, the GE 35810, they are built like a tank!  In case something goes wrong, it comes with a one year warranty.  You can call customer service at 1-800-448-0329 or refer inquiries to:

ATLINKS USA, Inc.

Manager, Consumer Relations

P.O. Box 1976

Indianapolis, IN 46206

Everything considered, I think the GE 35840 is one of the best FRS radios on the market.  You can buy them at the "Mart" stores for around $35, but you can find them on eBay for a lot less.  Happy FRSing!

GE 35840 Owner's Manual

• Cover
  

• Page 1 (Buttons and controls)
  

• Page 2 (Display, belt clip)
  

• Page 3 (Battery installation, transmit, receive)
  

• Page 4 (Page, changing channels, auto squelch, auto power save, auto power off, temperature display)
  

• Page 5 (NOAA radio operation, weather frequencies, key lock, display menu)
  

• Page 6 (Sub codes [CTCSS], memory)
  

• Page 7 (Saving channel/CTCSS combinations to memory)
  

• Page 8 (Deleting saved channels or CTCSS/channel combination from memory)
  

• Page 9 (Automatic memory scan, all channel scan)
  

• Page 10 (All channel scan [cont.], selecting a call tone, selecting the temperature display setting)
  

• Page 11 (CTCSS frequencies, hearing comfort, traffic safety)
  

• Page 12 (Important battery information, service)
  

• Page 13 (FCC Information)
  

• Page 14 (Limited warranty)
  

GE 35840

GE 35840 Display

1. Transmit/Receive icon - Indicates when the radio is transmitting or receiving
   

2. Subcode CTCSS icon - Shows the current sub code number.
   

3. Temperature icon - Displays the temperature in degrees F or C.
   

4. Volume icon - Displays the current volume level.
   

5. Channel number - Shows the current channel (1 - 14).
   

6. Keypad lock icon - Indicates when the current channel and sub cod (CTCSS) are locked.
   

7. Battery icon - Indicates the battery level.  When the batteries are nearly drained, the icon will start to blink and the unit beeps continuously.
   

8. Weather mode icon - Indicates when the radio is in Weather Radio Mode.
   

9. Memory icon - Indicates if a channel/CTCSS conbination is saved to memory.
   

10. SCAN icon - Indicates if radio is in the Automatic Memory Scan or All Channels Scan mode.
    

11. Call icon - Indicates the call tone currently in use.
    

12. FULL SAVED icon - Indicates memory is full and 10 channels are saved to memory.