Cobra/Midland CB radio (why don't we do GMRS?)

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I have the midland and it's ok. The reason I got it is flexibility. I don't use CB's frequently so it's tucked away most of the time.
You can use it as a handheld with the rubber stick and battery pack. The entire bottom slides off and you attatch the cig lighter/ext ant as pictured in the link above.

SO it's good for someone like me that runs a mag mount antenna and added flexibility of using it as a handheld.

edit: I got the Wilson 1000 magmount and works awesome w/ the Midland. No SWR tuning needed, it's a gem. Really happy with this setup.
 
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Ranger rci 2950 ,cobra 148gtlf++, Galaxy dx 88 or dx99, connex 8800, I was at the truck stop the other day and they had a 10 meter connex with freq counter 360 chanel radio for 159.00 thats a deal.
 
I'm studying up for my tech license. The way I see it is it's not necessarily for talking with your buddies on the trail or in the area, it's for primarily emergency situations. You can hit a repeater and most likely get another person on the 2m band. You can also get on the repeater and make local calls, if you subscribe to that service and it's available. This could be from the bottom of a valley with no cell service. What's the price for something like that?

Granted I like to do things more oriented at being far away from population centers, so YMMV.

I have a simple Uniden CB for trails, and with a centrally mounted and tuned antenna, I have gotten around a 3 mile useable range (talk and receive) in optimal conditions. I never expect more than 100 yards, because there's ALWAYS someone with a crappy radio that is flaking out and doesn't have a tuned antenna.

For the HAM, I'm looking at the Yaesu VX-7R, a tri-band (6m/2m/440) handheld that is one of the only water-resistant rigs out there. It conforms to the same standard as the water-resistant GPS units. Nice for a wet environment (rain forest and rivers for me), but there are much cheaper radios with more power and less features out there.

If HAM isn't common, help make it common. We have a loose offroad group in the area that has made an effort to run mobile HAM radios. When there are large events, groups split up and there's usually one HAM radio in the group to relay if people need parts or help, or just keep up with where everyone is. Most have a 5w handheld and they seem to do very well over large areas.
 
eshelbyk said:
You can hit a repeater and most likely get another person on the 2m band.
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You would be also suprised how well covered 70 cm bands are now too. As many new repeaters are linked in UHF. I can hit repeaters 100+ miles away with not even 5 watts on UHF, but then again VHF/UHF is all about line-of-sight.


I'm looking at the Yaesu VX-7R
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Good HT. Double think however the tri-bander as 6m is a little too HF-y to be in an HT, I know that my buddy's Yaesu VX-5R w/ 6m does not perform to what you may expect.


If HAM isn't common, help make it common.
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Good man. I had brough up this point earlier, and thus the title of the thread saying why not AT LEAST GMRS, but I'm digressing...
 
As usual, I agree that a few amateur radio operators in a club (four in ours right now) make a huge difference in being able to talk over a very long range using a single repeater or a linked repeater system. I've used it to cover ~100KM with no worries and am currently tracking some members of the offroad group I belong to as they travel to the arctic using internet linked repeaters.

As an interesting example - one ofthe guys in my club ended up doing a 'camping trip' with a friend along a dirt road/trail (not really off-roading). After the weekend, they are driving out and found that a culvert had washed out on the road leaving a 20' hole about 10-12 feet deep. No cell coverage. CB - no use at all. If he had a 2M radio = no problem connecting to someone to get help.

In the end he did a long hike out to a highway, flagged a truck down and used the drivers cell to call for some help from our group and then spent a huge amount of time winching himself through a forest to a second highway.

I have a Kenwood tri-bander (2M, 70CM and 220) that I like, but I really only use 2 bands. If you are in far away places and want something rugged, consider the 75W Icom V8000. If this was a dual band, remote head I would have it in my truck - I just can't figure out where to put it and I'd like the 70cm band as well. I literally (today!) just passed my morse code requirement, so now I guess I should buy an HF!

Cheers, Hugh
 
It was a bit of a fluke - I've been taking lessons for the last 4 weeks, 1X per week (more as an excuse to get me to practice) the real training is with whatever computer program you like best (NuMOrse is what I used). We were doing a practice and then they asked us to turn the papers in and I actually passed - amazing! I took a couple of shots on the send side and finally managed to pass that as well.

I think I'm going to buy the $27 'Rock Mite' - amazing that for $27 I can talk around the world!

Keep it up, you'll get it - if i can, you can. Does the US only require 5WPM or is it still higher?

Cheers, Hugh
 
You got it ! My personal setup is a Cobra 148gtlf,expo 100 kit,to a Texas Star 125 mod v plus,to a 350 high drive Texas Star. Dead key 200 swings to 725. When ya key up that pig the lights in the city dim...............................
 
I guess with this though do you not out-talk your ears? How many people actually have similar setups to get a contact? That was one of the big things about really going out on 11 meter, not that many people can respond even if they do hear you in Belize. Can they?

What kind of antenna (or is it listed up there) are you running?
 
3fj40 said:
For access to many HF bands (10+ meters) then yes 5wpm. What was the rate you guys need? Didn't Canada also recently decide to get rid of it's CW requirement next year? There was a rumor...
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Same here - VHF to 6M is a written test (100 questions) and then 5WPM for rest of HF. With changes internationally, there is talk of removing the CW test in favor of a 2nd written test. I decided that I actually wanted to try and learn CW - with about 20 min of practice (2x10min) ~4 days a week it looks like it is doable!

Cheers, Hugh
 
This has been a very interesting thread. There doesn't seem to be much disagreement that communications of some type is all but mandatory in an offroad rig. The question has always been: Which one?

To use the often quoted expression, "your milage may vary." Folks traveling on the open highway have one need, others who wheel in groups in rough terrian have another. Those who prefer expeditionary style wheeling - often in pairs, or even a single truck - have their own specific requirements.

I put a summary together on personal communications a while back; thought it might be helpful since many of these services have been mentioned in this thread.

http://www.journalone.com/tlc/comm_pers.html

With the exception of a small group on this forum, there has not been much interest in going the Amateur Radio route. If there are folks who would like more info, I would happy to do an introductory FAQ to answer a few of the basic questions.

Cheers, R -
 
oh yes!
the one above is good,
but a bit more of a summary of what the various systems are good for in laymen's terms would be great! more on range, popularity etc
maybe not so much the tech stuff, but what's good for what...
:cheers:
 
OK, so if I want a higher powered handheld GMRS, say 4 or 5 W, what do I buy?

and would something like that be able to use repeaters or do you need special hardware?

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edit: just found this on costco.com - is it a good buy? :

2 Midland GMRS 4 W for $50 with mikes

The Midland radio offers 22 channels and 38 privacy codes for a variety of uses. Water resistant, with up to 10+mile range, the Midland radio is perfect for use out on the water or in the woods. Keep in touch with base camp or a partner for communication and safety.

Bundle includes 2 radios and 2 VOX headsets
22 channels (7 FRS/GMRS, 7 FRS, 8 GMRS)
Easy button access
4W of power with High/Medium/Low settings
NOAA weather radio
Water resistant
38 privacy codes
Up to 10+ mile range
Vibrating alert
3-setting hands-free operation
5-call tones
Auto stealth squelch
Keypad lock
External jacks for charging and speaker/mic
Auto battery save
Requires 4 “AA” batteries or rechargeable battery pack (not included)
Belt clips
Works with other FRS/GMRS radios
FCC license required
Dimensions: 3 x 8 x 1.5 in.
[Model GXT400VP1C]
 
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