Events/Trails LCDC 2019 - 5th Anniversary

[BTUMAN]

Just thinking about the trails have me wanting to be there now.

I encourage all to not be afraid of any trail...if you really don't want the underside of your bumper or running board scraped, just ask for help on any obstacle and folks can help spot and should be able to get your through it. All these trails were actual roads that the miners took so not like Moab or Rubicon or East Texas ruts and trees.

Personally, I would not be hesitant to run a brand new stock 200 on any of these- but there is a couple of places on a few trails where you might scrap the plastic...but the bumpers are remarkably flexible....i tried to rip mine off for years to have excuse to get real steel bumper, and finally had to just change it as the bumper would just pop back or flex back...the best insurance would be to take off your side running boards...easy and you can just put them back on when you get back. My thoughts...look forward to meeting so many new folks- Todd (AKA Elite Land Cruisers)

 

[JohnJB]

Speaking of comms and handheld HAM radios. Does anyone have a recommendation for a handheld outside of the basic BaoFeng UV-5R? Specifically, a unit that complies with FCC regulations. Am I stuck paying 3x more for such a radio?

 

[linuxgod]

The UV-5R is dual band, I believe. I will likely start with the tri-band version.

BTECH UV-5X3

I think Kenwood and Yaesu are highly rated but they are 5x more expensive. I have no experience outside this forum though so I'm interested in alternatives, pros/cons etc as well.

 

[Mendocino]

I strongly suggest people stay away from the "cheap" Chinese HTs. These radios have horrible frequency stability, may not be type approved, and fundamentally put amatuer radio at risk. We all have high end vehicles, don't cheap out on comms (and get a license; it matters).

 

[JohnJB]

We all have high end vehicles

Speak for yourself, I drive a jalopy!

That's why I asked though, the internet points you to the aforementioned questionable devices. I can click through Amazon with the best of 'em but reviews vary wildly and I suspect most negative reviews on any handheld are often user error.

 

[BTUMAN]

I've used the Baofeng for 4 years everyday with zero issues and with others I chat with thinking I'm a fixed station and not mobile... I have full 8w with simple high quality external antenna setup and 12v cig lighter plug. I think its a great starter and well...for me a great keeper. Simple and easy to use, great features, etc. I have CB also, both antennas mounted on front ARB bumper.

 

[Mendocino]

Speaking of comms and handheld HAM radios. Does anyone have a recommendation for a handheld outside of the basic BaoFeng UV-5R? Specifically, a unit that complies with FCC regulations. Am I stuck paying 3x more for such a radio?

If you want a cheap and cheerful solution I would go with this and an external antenna. The radio is ~$85.

 

[JohnJB]

If you want a cheap and cheerful solution I would go with this and an external antenna. The radio is ~$85.

thank you!

 

[PhuckItImDone]

Ok, so I got the Chinese HAMs, now I see these, talk of FRS, CB, this is getting to be a lot. I'm trying to plan my trip out, get all squared up. How ball busting is installing a cb going to be, for what will likely be a one time use? As well as passing a ham test, again for a one time use.

 

[Sac Cerevisiae]

The UV-5R is dual band, I believe. I will likely start with the tri-band version.
BTECH UV-5X3

I have the Baofeng / BTECH UV-5X3 and it's a great radio. I would recommend that you also purchase the programmable cable and use the freeware CHIRP software to program and customize the radio.

I also purchased a few WLN KD-C1 radios for friends who are not HAM / GMRS certified.

I strongly suggest people stay away from the "cheap" Chinese HTs. These radios have horrible frequency stability, may not be type approved, and fundamentally put amatuer radio at risk. We all have high end vehicles, don't cheap out on comms (and get a license; it matters).

Baofeng / BTech radios are actually a very good option for those who are just getting started or who will only occasionally use their comms.

 

[Mendocino]

I have the Baofeng / BTECH UV-5X3 and it's a great radio. I would recommend that you also purchase the programmable cable and use the freeware CHIRP software to program and customize the radio.

I also purchased a few WLN KD-C1 radios for friends who are not HAM / GMRS certified.



Baofeng / BTech radios are actually a very good option for those who are just getting started or who will only occasionally use their comms.

The FCC put out a notice specifically aimed at Baofeng. You can read about it here. User beware. For another $30 you can get an FCC type approved radio. Why run the risk?

 

[Sac Cerevisiae]

The FCC put out a notice specifically aimed at Baofeng. You can read about it here. User beware. For another $30 you can get an FCC type approved radio. Why run the risk?

That was related to older handsets. Anything currently on the market, including the UV-5X3 should be fine.

 

[indycole]

We'll share some companion information to my posts about trail comms and trail sign-ups very soon. I also want to clarify that there will be options across all levels of difficulty.

 

[ethernectar]

Ok, so I got the Chinese HAMs, now I see these, talk of FRS, CB, this is getting to be a lot. I'm trying to plan my trip out, get all squared up. How ball busting is installing a cb going to be, for what will likely be a one time use? As well as passing a ham test, again for a one time use.

I wouldn't do a hard install on a CB, not worth it for a one-time use. If you want a CB vs the other options then buy a handheld, a magnetic antenna mount, antenna cord and be done with it. Temporary. You may be close to a HAM Radio Outlet and they tend to be pretty helpful. If you're not set on CB, my recommendation would be to pick up a FRS/GMRS set from Amazon.

Depending on what we're doing, our setup is a Yaesu dual-head HAM (always), a Yaesu handhel HAM, FRS/GMRS Radios (including a loaner FRS set) and lastly a handheld CB.

 

[Romer]

HAM is a very useful tool. There are things called Repeaters and I when I tie into one I can talk to someone in Utah while I am Colorado in the Denver area or beyond. You can even talk to the International Space Station or people in other countries.

Even without repeaters they have a long distance for 50W units. I was in Denver starting todrive up to meet friends off roading and I got a call on the HAM from a club member who was broken down and needed a part. He was out of cell phone coverage and the HAM radio reached me. He was about 30 miles away in the mountains broken down on the trail I was going to

If you get a radio with APRS capability, then people back home can follow you real time as APRS radios sends a beacon with GPS coordinates that go to aserver folks can log into. You can also look to see where you went the entire time you were visiting someplace. Here is my APRS track from the internet site aprs.fi for my Moab trip in March for my Fins and things and the Hells Revenge trail run

If others with APRS radios are traveling with you then you can see each other on your map program in case you get seperated or are just trying to meet up

When you are in the flat lands the HAM radio has great range. I was talking to a friend who left earlier than I did who was 105 miles away (No Repeater involved)

HAMs have weather channels to understand the forecast

The other thing is the HAM is crystal clear when in range where as the CB is rough with a range of 1/4 to 1 mile depending upon range when offroading.

I lead trails a lot at the National TLCA Cruise Moab Toyota event in May, so I have a CB installed so I can communicate, but talk mostly on the HAM as it is clearer. These events require a CB or HAM, FRS isnt even an option as the trail leaders don't have them. An FRS radio will not meet the minimum requirement for these events and you wont pass tech inspection, plus none of the trail leaders will have them. You have to at least have a handheld CB.

I know that isnt the case at this event and many will have FRS. Just stating it isnt the norm. Of the National Toyota Events I have gone to for the Black Hills in So Dakota, Flat Nasty in Missouri, The Rubicon in California or Cruise Moab in Utah, it is CB or HAM

Just some information you may not have if you are getting started in this sport

I do have a CB and will use it at this event if needed, but much prefer the HAM

 

[Romer]

Most of the time having a HAM to listen is all you need as the trail leader will describe the trail and obstacles and the plan forward. You don't need to transmitt to get benefit out of the HAM and the $25 unit markson posted will be a good tool to have

 

[mrburlingame]

@Romer thank you for this education. Without the ham license can you still benefit from using APRS? Seems neat.

 

[PhuckItImDone]

Yea, driving from Maryland, living out here, I don't see much use for it. Maybe in the future, but for now I'm just tryna drive 1900 miles, see what the LC can do, enjoy.

 

[codyaustin5]

Ok, so I got the Chinese HAMs, now I see these, talk of FRS, CB, this is getting to be a lot. I'm trying to plan my trip out, get all squared up. How ball busting is installing a cb going to be, for what will likely be a one time use? As well as passing a ham test, again for a one time use.

Just to chime in here as most participants don’t have CB or ham. In years past we’ve used a combination of all 3. LCDC does not require you have any communication but would recommend to have at least FRS.

I have only had FRS for the last 4 events and will again this year. If participants would like to get their license for the event that is great but I don’t want people to feel it’s required or will be left out.... just like armor and bumpers. A stock 200 can do almost every trail and take the right lines with no damage.

I always get a kick when we are on the trails and I see a 4 door Buick sedan doing the same trails! Don’t recommend it but it can be done!

 

[JohnJB]

Recent scenery on Yankee Boy courtesy of Ouray County Road and Bridge.