Motorola makes a great radio, but A DMR radio that can only be programmed with hard to find software may not be what is easy entry into this space
Time to move on to GMRS (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ChaseTruck
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ChaseTruck
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- Thread starter
- #62
The Motorola tech of dual microphones for filtering out background noise is really interesting. But I find I’m not so much into radio tech anymore. I’ve done radio programming for my all HAM radios; I used CHIRP. Having the right cable - and the correct driver after every Apple system software update - became fairly old quickly. Right now I‘m trying to put together com solutions that work out of the box, just for our little fleet of trucks, not for something like e.g. SAR.
reddog90
SILVER Star
Anyone run the Wouxun KG-XS20G? The midland radios are definitely the easy route but I've read the wouxun radios are much higher quality and easier to program. Not sure if I really need that though.
Pskhaat
Tourer
RF and EM is weird, and does not necessarily always need DC-level continuity. It actually could and might well work just fine with said large magnet. Not sure how ultimately reliable and sturdy it would be. A fiberglass (non-conducting) sailboat with an HF radio can be configured to use the ocean as a ground plane. Radio emsissions are weird.
Granted this may sound self-serving, but why use antennas that are not tuned explicitly for GMRS? I mean:
ChaseTruck
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- Thread starter
- #66
Current equipment:
BTECH GMRS-50V2 50W mobile radio (the Wouxon unit I wanted was always out of stock when I looked)
Nagoya UT-72G GMRS antenna
BAOFENG GM-15 Pro GMRS Radio, got the 2-pack, both using the included 771 antenna
Not much trail time in the last half year, so, not much radio use. But a few observations:
At 5W, I can get very close to an SRW of 1, no problem. At 50W it is more challenging. So far the Nagoya mag-mount works best; the nitinol flexible wire units not so much.
Speaking to 50W: depending on which SWR meter I use, the 50W BTECH unit can almost reach 50W, or it's more like 28W. I have very little intention to track down why that is the case; the radio is doing its job.
I have a SignalStalk (for GMRS; seems to be a 3/4 wavelength antenna, not sure) but haven't tried it yet. I need to hard-mount the NMO base for it, but haven't gotten around to it. The K5 has a drilled fender mount that worked well with HAM, and I thought I'd try to adapt that to GMRS using the super-flexible wire that is AZ brush-resistant. Well, for the most part. Not sure I want to drill anything on the '93 or the '97.
The 5W HTs have been working fine truck-to-truck; they've seen the most use, and I find the USB-C charging via the cig lighter USB adapter very practical.
My significant other complains that they feel clunky...
The 50W unit works well; currently it can move between two vehicles (identical power & antenna plugs in the K5 and the '93), and I haven't decided where it will end up. Still haven't had a reason to find repeaters.
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reddog90
SILVER Star
I recently installed a Midland mxt275 with a Midland mxta25 on a Diamond k400CNMO mount on my truck before going to Colorado. I mounted the antenna on the drivers side of the hood up near the hinge. I was at the summit of Stony Pass and had crystal clear communication to a friend ~9.5 miles away on Hwy 550 north of Silverton who was also running a mxt275 with the included stubby magnetic antenna. That's probably not impressive to radio nerds but it was cool to us at the time given the terrain we were in.
Josie'sLandCruiser
Stop calling it a "FJ."
Just learning about GMRS comms. Have been running 2M HAM for the last 10 - 15 years, so bear with me.
From what I have read it seems that a FRS "walki talki" uses some of the same frequencies as a GMRS unit, but the FRS can only transmit at 5 watts or less power. If correct then the FRS unit could be used on a trail run with a group largely running GMRS radios, correct?
From what I have read it seems that a FRS "walki talki" uses some of the same frequencies as a GMRS unit, but the FRS can only transmit at 5 watts or less power. If correct then the FRS unit could be used on a trail run with a group largely running GMRS radios, correct?
Pskhaat
Tourer
Correct. FRS radios share some (not all) channels with GMRS. One of the benefits of FRS is the ability to have simpler, easier, (cheaper) radios to use for recce, marshalling, spotting, camp use and still be able to have local comms with a convoy's GMRS mobile radios.
ChaseTruck
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- Thread starter
- #70
This has worked well for me on HAM frequencies and has survived well on AZ trails:
So I would like to have that kind of antenna flexibility for GMRS, as well, and work at the radio’s 50W setting. But for now the HT’s have proven sufficient, more tinkering to come later.
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ChaseTruck
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- #71
Channels are the same for GMRS & FMRS, but isn’t FMRS limited to 0.5W on Ch 8-14, and 2W on the other channels?
Pskhaat
Tourer
FRS ch1-7 allow 2W. Ch8-14 are limited to 0.5W.
TreadingLight
"Overlanding is Sh*t"
I know this is an older comment but I wanted to bump it up because the quality of a good Kenwood or Motorola is light years ahead of a baofeng/midway/ (and probably a wouxon) radio.
These are commercial grade radios from back when the FCC dual certified them for commercial and GMRS use.
The challenge is programming them with the proprietary software and cables.
I have Motorola vertex and baofeng gmrs handhelds and the Vertex is a much better radio.
The other way to get a better quality radio on gmrs is to mars mod a ham radio, but that is not FCC compliant.
My son offers radio programming for a small fee on just about anything. At 14 he is a radio nutjob, got his technician HAM at 13. He can do some really cool s***, especially with Motorolas. If interested send a PM.
TreadingLight
"Overlanding is Sh*t"
Wow. That's impressive! And a great service.
I know NOTHING about radios as far as working on them or programing them. I have had Motorola radios in my service trucks back in the day when I worked as a field service mechanic for a Cat dealer. Back before cell phones and into the early days of cell phones. So I know the quality and capabilities of the Motorola commercial radios.
Saying that, I would love to have a Motorola GMRS for my truck for trail communication. But knowing nothing about the technical aspects like you radio guys do, I would probably never get one since I wouldn't be able to program, modify or even setup one of these. The mine I once worked at had a radio shop with all the experts. I would guess that most of us on here that need and use them for our trail rigs are going to buy the best radio we can that is more of a plug and play situation.
Would any of you radio savvy members be able to post up a how to or offer some type of service that would help guys like me out? A GMRS 101 or for dummies? Or maybe some links?
Saying that, I would love to have a Motorola GMRS for my truck for trail communication. But knowing nothing about the technical aspects like you radio guys do, I would probably never get one since I wouldn't be able to program, modify or even setup one of these. The mine I once worked at had a radio shop with all the experts. I would guess that most of us on here that need and use them for our trail rigs are going to buy the best radio we can that is more of a plug and play situation.
Would any of you radio savvy members be able to post up a how to or offer some type of service that would help guys like me out? A GMRS 101 or for dummies? Or maybe some links?
TreadingLight
"Overlanding is Sh*t"
I think @Wildcat Walker 's son could program a Motorola for you.
You'd have to find a used one for sale that is compatible. Most folks go to eBay I think.
If you buy one of the newer consumer gmrs radios the programming requires is pretty limited - basically you just configure tones if you want to access a repeater or tune out other users who may be on your same channel.
Anyhow point being it is way simpler than ham because there are fewer programmable options.
Edit: do a search for gmrs 101. I can't recommend a specific link but I think you'll find it isn't too complex once you start reading up or watching some vids. Dont sweat all the install details about antenna theory and grounding. You can always adapt your setup as your needs evolve.
You'd have to find a used one for sale that is compatible. Most folks go to eBay I think.
If you buy one of the newer consumer gmrs radios the programming requires is pretty limited - basically you just configure tones if you want to access a repeater or tune out other users who may be on your same channel.
Anyhow point being it is way simpler than ham because there are fewer programmable options.
Edit: do a search for gmrs 101. I can't recommend a specific link but I think you'll find it isn't too complex once you start reading up or watching some vids. Dont sweat all the install details about antenna theory and grounding. You can always adapt your setup as your needs evolve.
ChaseTruck
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- Thread starter
- #78
My limited experience with the Baofeng/Btech/whatchamacallit chinesium GMRS radios so far has been that out of the box, they did what I wanted. I, for one, have zero interest in hunting for Motorola or Kenwood programming hard- and software. I was some more into this radio stuff when I got my HAM license, but my interest has waned considerably. Probably best to start a separate thread on those Kenwood and Motorola radios and how to set them up for GMRS use?
One thing I’m still interested in is to get a flexible/difficult-to-destroy antenna mounted on my truck. I’ve scraped magnet-mounted antennas off too many times than I can count. On 2m, I’ve had good luck with antennas made from Nitinol wire. So when I get around to it I’ll try and tune one of these for GMRS. For now, the Baofeng HTs do the trick for comms in small, and relatively close groups on desert trails.
TreadingLight
"Overlanding is Sh*t"
If you want NMO, Signal Stuff makes one that could be trimmed. I have one in a box waiting for me to drill a hole in my roof.
As for radio brands, of course use what you want. My Motorola's were a gift from a buddy who did the work to learn how to program them. I have a couple baofengs I bought for the very reasons you describe. But now that I have both I use the Motorola and hand the baofeng off to others.
As for radio brands, of course use what you want. My Motorola's were a gift from a buddy who did the work to learn how to program them. I have a couple baofengs I bought for the very reasons you describe. But now that I have both I use the Motorola and hand the baofeng off to others.
Since you guys talk about reprogramming a bit, I have to ask: I do have some old commercial VHF Motorola HTs (XV2600) in the 150s MHz. Could something like that be reprogrammable to other useful frequencies?
