Hey y'all, I am looking for an inexpensive GMRS radio. Interested in what everyone is running. Been looking at Baofeng for the price but I'm new to radios so I don't know what to get. Any recommendations would be helpful. Thanks!
GMRS radio recommendations
- Thread starter apollotundra
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
I went with the Midland MXT 275. Absolutely love it.
MXT275 MicroMobile
Then added the Mini speaker cause at highway speeds I couldn't hear the radio very well, but I have an old yota with softopper so its loud on the highway.
Mini External Speaker
MXT275 MicroMobile
Then added the Mini speaker cause at highway speeds I couldn't hear the radio very well, but I have an old yota with softopper so its loud on the highway.
Mini External Speaker
This guy on YouTube is the GMRS guru. Has reviewed all of them.
youtube.com
I have the midland X-TraTalk GTX3000 handhelds. Not for any other reason other than Midland has a good rep, there was a good sale and they’re pre-programmed. I already have a ham radio mounted so I just wanted some handheld’s for other vehicles and a spotter if needed. The hard mounted ones are good like PIZZZZA said, won’t loose it on the floor and you can get more power and volume.
NotaRubicon Productions
Unemployed Hand-Model, Adventurer, Youtuber, Pot-Stirrer and GMRS & H.A.M. Radio Hobo To The Stars aka Randolpho (Randy) Cafe. This is an "Edutainment" & Satire channel - Be warned that leaving whiny comments complaining about anything I say or do will probably be used against you to...
youtube.com
I have the midland X-TraTalk GTX3000 handhelds. Not for any other reason other than Midland has a good rep, there was a good sale and they’re pre-programmed. I already have a ham radio mounted so I just wanted some handheld’s for other vehicles and a spotter if needed. The hard mounted ones are good like PIZZZZA said, won’t loose it on the floor and you can get more power and volume.
- Thread starter
- #5
Thank you, his videos seem very helpful!This guy on YouTube is the GMRS guru. Has reviewed all of them.
NotaRubicon Productions
Unemployed Hand-Model, Adventurer, Youtuber, Pot-Stirrer and GMRS & H.A.M. Radio Hobo To The Stars aka Randolpho (Randy) Cafe. This is an "Edutainment" & Satire channel - Be warned that leaving whiny comments complaining about anything I say or do will probably be used against you to...
I have the midland X-TraTalk GTX3000 handhelds. Not for any other reason other than Midland has a good rep, there was a good sale and they’re pre-programmed. I already have a ham radio mounted so I just wanted some handheld’s for other vehicles and a spotter if needed. The hard mounted ones are good like PIZZZZA said, won’t loose it on the floor and you can get more power and volume.
Are you interested in a handheld or something permanently mounted in your rig? I'm a ham guy so in my truck I have a Yaesu 2m wired in but my family has a GMRS license and we carry 5w GMRS/FRS radioshave for hiking, skiing, at campgrounds, etc. I use a Radioddity GS-5B and my other family members have Radioddity GM-30s. With the stock antennas installed and using them on flat to gently rolling terrain with typical city trees and residential homes there are legible communications for about a mile in distance. As soon as you introduce a ridge in between the two communicators you'll quickly shorten that distance.
If you go with a non-handheld, truck-mounted radio you can increase your wattage and mount a much larger external antenna. You need to stick to the GMRS channels (FRS has a 2w limit) but you'll extend that range significantly thanks to the more capable antenna.
If you go with a non-handheld, truck-mounted radio you can increase your wattage and mount a much larger external antenna. You need to stick to the GMRS channels (FRS has a 2w limit) but you'll extend that range significantly thanks to the more capable antenna.
I would encourage everyone to put in the (very minimal) effort to study for and pass the test to get a ham license. That license allows you to use much more powerful radios and opens up a lot of possibilities. However, the test has proven to be been an "impossible" barrier for lots of people. (People don't want to put in the effort to study for the test.) GMRS, while much more limited, is a reasonable second option.
Baofeng UV5R (multiple variants) Handheld
This is a dual-band (vhf and uhf) portable (handheld) radio of questionable quality. I use these radios when I'm doing tower work for communicating with my ground crew. If I drop it, I'm only out ~$20. With appropriate programming software you can program these radios with the GMRS frequencies (and even set the transmit power to make it legal-ish). The standard ~6" antenna needs to be thrown away. There are widely available 1/4 wave antennas, which are what you want. I find these radios aren't loud enough to use in my truck when I've got the windows down and I'm driving over 35 mph. They are cheap, pretty easy to program, and a good starting radio for ham.
What you really want is a reasonable quality dual-band (vhf and uhf) mobile radio. I'm a big fan of the Yaesu radios. You can get a true GMRS mobile radio, but you'll end up replacing it once you finally go ahead and get that ham radio license like you should have done right from the start. You'll still be able to communicate with GMRS users as long as you program those frequencies into the radio. (Yes, some radios have those frequencies blocked. There are work arounds for most.) You want a good antenna with a solid mount. Mag mounts for antennas work, but I've never had one that I was 100% happy with. You want a remote speaker. It's nice to be able to hear comms over wind noise, engine noise, music, dogs, kids, etc.
If you need help or have specific questions, go ahead and send me a message. I'm responsible for all of the public safety comms in Gallatin County. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make radios work in our difficult terrain.
Baofeng UV5R (multiple variants) Handheld
This is a dual-band (vhf and uhf) portable (handheld) radio of questionable quality. I use these radios when I'm doing tower work for communicating with my ground crew. If I drop it, I'm only out ~$20. With appropriate programming software you can program these radios with the GMRS frequencies (and even set the transmit power to make it legal-ish). The standard ~6" antenna needs to be thrown away. There are widely available 1/4 wave antennas, which are what you want. I find these radios aren't loud enough to use in my truck when I've got the windows down and I'm driving over 35 mph. They are cheap, pretty easy to program, and a good starting radio for ham.
What you really want is a reasonable quality dual-band (vhf and uhf) mobile radio. I'm a big fan of the Yaesu radios. You can get a true GMRS mobile radio, but you'll end up replacing it once you finally go ahead and get that ham radio license like you should have done right from the start. You'll still be able to communicate with GMRS users as long as you program those frequencies into the radio. (Yes, some radios have those frequencies blocked. There are work arounds for most.) You want a good antenna with a solid mount. Mag mounts for antennas work, but I've never had one that I was 100% happy with. You want a remote speaker. It's nice to be able to hear comms over wind noise, engine noise, music, dogs, kids, etc.
If you need help or have specific questions, go ahead and send me a message. I'm responsible for all of the public safety comms in Gallatin County. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to make radios work in our difficult terrain.
Hey Seth, don't forget about the new cb's with fm, get one with ssb then when you're on a ridge you can go to ch 38 lower and cover n america with all the skip boys. i've also heard that you can snip a wire and also have a 10 meter. the things you read about on the web lol. I have a yaesu 2 meter, btech gmrs and i believe an anytone cb in the 40. i used to use the 2 meter and cb all the time depending on what club i went with. now i find that gmrs is basically used by all. Like Seth suggests get your ham license along with the gmrs. you can get a 2 meter cheaper than a cb or gmrs if you look around. ham radio can lead to a really cool hobby with options galore
Yes, many clubs hold tests monthly. Since COVID, many clubs have been providing online testing. You can find an online test here: hamstudy.org. You can find an in-person or online test here: arrl.org
I really liked using hamexam.org when I was studying for my test. I read over the question pool a bit and then started taking the practice exams. I would do that while eating lunch. I studied for 2 weeks and then took the test.
I do think that GMRS is the new universal comms method for casual users. I've had interference or busy channels just about every time I've used it. That's why I suggest people make the effort to get the ham license.
I know that there have been two-day test prep classes put on in the past. My understanding is that they are generally a Saturday and Sunday class that culminates with a test session. I would love to have something like that in our area to encourage more people to take the test. I wonder if that's the sort of thing our friends at XOverland Ranch might host someday? It seems aligned with their mission.
