Trail Communication (1 Viewer)

[girupb]

What are you guys using these days?

 

[jynx]

Beofang handheld. Technically supposed to have your Ham license to use, but we have found that if we stay off the repeater channels and just use as a point to point kind of com, you kinda fly under the radar. We have one, mostly just listen to direction when in a larger group. Handheld Range seems to better than a standard walkie and a non-boosted CB.

 

[bamabrock]

This is all my stuff listed out because I'm bored

GMRS: (the easiest to use IMO):
https://midlandusa.com/goodbye-cb-radio-hello-micromobile/
40W for the cab (I have a GMRS license)
https://midlandusa.com/product/mxt400-micromobile-2-way-radio/
hooked up to a 6db antenna
https://midlandusa.com/product/micromobile-mxta11-6db-gain-antenna/
mounted on the rear hatch using a clamp style mount.
Amazon product ASIN B00S71R4HG
and I have four handhelds to pass out (no license needed for the lower powered channels)
https://midlandusa.com/product/gxt1000vp4/


HAM: I have a baofeng UV-5R (the stock antenna sucks, the batteries burn up and the accessory quality is iffy but it does okay for listening. I dont have a license either)
Amazon product ASIN B007H4VT7A
w/ two way speaker
Amazon.com: Baofeng BF-S112 Two Way Radio Speaker: Cell Phones & Accessories

and w/ battery eliminator
Amazon.com: Battery Eliminator Car Charger For BAOFENG UV-5R UV-5R+ UV-5RA UV-5RA+ UV-5RB UV-5RC UV-5RD UV-5RE UV-5RE PLUS: Cell Phones & Accessories

hooked up to an antenna adapter
SMA Female to UHF
Amazon.com: DHT Electronics Handheld Antenna Cable for Wouxun Baofeng Quasheng Linton - Adapter for UHF Base and Mobile Antennas - SMA Female to UHF SO-239 Female Connectors 6'' Pack of 2: Computers & Accessories

to a Browning cable
Amazon.com: Browning WSPBR1015 Enclosed Nmo 3/4 Hole Mount: BROWNING: Camera & Photo

to a Comet flexible ant
Comet SS-460SBNMO DualBand 2M/70cm 144-148/440-450Mhz Ham Radio Antenna 18" NMO | eBay

mounted on a gamiviti fender mount
Antenna Brackets — Gamiviti

and
CB: Cobra 75
https://www.amazon.com/Cobra-C75WXS...744A4EEXYHF&psc=1&refRID=2Y2JZZXPX744A4EEXYHF

with a K30 antenna that stays hooked up and slapped on top when needed. (I have a SWR meter if anyone needs to tune their CB)
Amazon.com: K40 K-30 35" 300 Watts Stainless Steel Magnet Mount CB Antenna: Electronics

the uniden pro520xl is rock solid bargain CB that I used in several offroad rigs and have one in my wrangler
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004VXNI/ref=psdc_2230642011_t3_B00005N5WW?th=1

 

[Land Speeder]

I just bought the baufeng UV-5RHD
for whatever reason it can’t talk back but it can hear all other baufeng’s
Maybe because I ain’t got a license?!

 

[Land Speeder]

HAM: I have a baofeng UV-5R (the stock antenna sucks, the batteries burn up and the accessory quality is iffy but it does okay for listening. I dont have a license either)
https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5...8&qid=1545861544&sr=1-4-acs&keywords=baofeng&
w/ two way speaker
https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-BF-S...F981CBP86MY&psc=1&refRID=C0DMHADPAF981CBP86MY
and w/ battery eliminator
https://www.amazon.com/Original-Bat...F981CBP86MY&psc=1&refRID=C0DMHADPAF981CBP86MY
hooked up to an antenna adapter
SMA Female to UHF
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00COKNKS8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
to a Browning cable
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BLCLUJ6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
to a Comet flexible ant
Comet SS-460SBNMO DualBand 2M/70cm 144-148/440-450Mhz Ham Radio Antenna 18" NMO | eBay
mounted on a gamiviti fender mount
Antenna Brackets — Gamiviti

I gotta but all this?! Is that why mines ain’t working???

 

[bamabrock]

I just bought the baufeng UV-5RHD
for whatever reason it can’t talk back but it can hear all other baufeng’s
Maybe because I ain’t got a license?!

The stock antenna is the problem with transmission. There are upgraded antennas for the unit or better yet, external antennas

 

[jynx]

I put a Nagoya whip on mine. Seems to send and receive pretty well. Been thinking about getting a magnetic base external for it.

 

[bamabrock]

I was talking with someone today about this topic and a big benefit we both saw with GMRS is the ability to use the walkie talkies away from the vehicles at camp without having to add antennas or carry extra batteries as well as the ability to use privacy codes on the midland units. Their durability is significantly better than the baofeng HAM units in my experience. I now carry a spare of everything for the UV5R after having multiple failures of batteries, radios and adapters for them in our group over several weeklong CO trips. The quality control on the cheap chinese stuff isn't there.

 

[girupb]

@bamabrock are there any one and done solutions or do you have to have a different radio for each? That’s a lot to keep up with.

 

[bamabrock]

@bamabrock are there any one and done solutions or do you have to have a different radio for each? That’s a lot to keep up with.

It depends on what everyone you're talking to uses, but there isn't one radio that will communicate with CB, HAM and FRS/GMRS. The simplest and legal way is either CB (which sucks) or the FRS/GMRS radios (FRS is lower 2w channels; GMRS is 5w+; Just 22 channels combined for both you go to like a cb; see attached). You have to take a test to get a HAM license while you can just buy a GMRS license online to use the GMRS radios higher than the 2W limit. A lot of guys illegally use HAM radios without licenses, but I wont encourage that.

It's a bit confusing still since the FCC changed the rules effective 9/17 for FRS/GMRS usage. Midland does a good good of breaking down the FCC's changes
https://midlandusa.com/buying-a-walkie-talkie/
https://midlandusa.com/why-gmrs-for-two-way-radio-communication/
https://midlandusa.com/why-do-i-need-a-gmrs-license-how-do-i-get-it/
https://midlandusa.com/goodbye-cb-radio-hello-micromobile/

Clarence and I used these handhelds I have as spares in Arkansas and they were crystal clear even at distance. We were using them on the higher wattage 5W GMRS channels.
https://midlandusa.com/product/gxt1000vp4/

It'd be nice to have a consensus of preferred form of communication for the club, be it FRS/GMRS and/or HAM. Nothing wrong with running both too.

I say we skip CB entirely. I use CB twice a year at HIH and its terrible.

 

[Land Speeder]

Well, dang, I just bought an antenna for the baefung too.
About to give it all up.

 

[girupb]

I’m good with whatever y’all decide. I don’t own anything yet.

 

[fletch301]

@bamabrock is CB the only option at HIH?

 

[bamabrock]

@bamabrock is CB the only option at HIH?

No, but in the past they were required. HAM and GMRS are also used and far better in the mountains. There was some talk of moving on from CB to GMRS last year. Midland did offer a 25% discount code for event attendees beforehand (they're really pushing GMRS).

 

[Bama4door]

Well, dang, I just bought an antenna for the baefung too.
About to give it all up.

I’ve got an aftermarket antenna on my Baofeng and it works great, no complaints.

 

[bhmmapping]

FWIW the baefeng can work with FRS/GMRS

 

[girupb]

FWIW the baefeng can work with FRS/GMRS

What does it require to do this? That would be nice.

 

[ufg8r]

Believe you can tune the baofeng to the frs/gmrs channels easily, it’s just not an FCC approved use of the baofeng...

 

[Land Speeder]

Got my aftermarket antenna over the weekend. They sent me two so I have an extra if anyone needs kne

 

[booradley]

We discussed this at the meeting tonight. After looking it over a bit I vote we go the GMRS route. Easy to get legal (license is $ only, no test), clarity was very good in Arkansas, radios relatively cheap.