Two way radios

[markiver54]

Do any of you use hand held two way radios for hunting, or just around the homestead?
I'm thinking of getting a quality set for use up at our cabin. We get no cell phone service unless we're right at the cabin off the WIFI. I'm thinking in terms of emergency/safety when I go up the mountain on my 4wheeler so that I can contact Carol should something happen to me or the quad. Because of the mountain terrain and many switchbacks, I know I would need a good quality set. Even then I might lose signal as there are many hollows that I travel through. I have a couple old, good quality CB radios and the 4wheeler came with a place on the rear rack to mount an antenna, but I don't want to have to buy and set up a base unit in the cabin. Any recommendations based on experience or just general knowledge would be appreciated.

[daytime dave]

Mark, I have had CB radios for many years. I have old portable radios. I also have a GMRS radio license. I'd say that is the way to go. I use them hunting and they are great. I have the cheaper Beufang UV-5R radios that I programmed myslef. They give a few miles of range and are good. I'd stay away from the Family radios sold many places.

Good luck.

[markiver54]

Thanks Dave. I have a Vertex VX-150 that I used when I was bear hunting, but, I only have one. It was not cheap, and I had to have a local guy program it to the channels that the club used. IT, worked great, even on the mountain. Don't know where to find another now that would pair properly with the old Vertex, or how to get it programmed to talk to the existing one.
Thanks for the advice on the Family radios. I WAS looking at a couple sets on Amazon. Maybe not a good idea though. Even though one of them boasted a 35 mile range, that is under perfect straight line conditions with no interference I'm sure.

[markiver54]

This is what I currently have.

20230210_100240.jpg (3.4 MiB) Viewed 7986 times

[Hatchdog]

My cousin and I used the inexpensive family radios (Magavox?) for years and generally had good success. Occasionally we would not be able to communicate due to a deep canyon or such but mostly they worked great. I haven’t’ looked at them for a while but when I did they were inexpensive enough that you could consider just giving them a try. Mine had a charging dock which was very handy in between hunts.

[markiver54]

Thanks Hatch. Those are the type units I was considering and looking at on Amazon. Gosh, they have a lot of them. For the money, like you said, they might be worth a try. Your input is appreciated!

[markiver54]

Dave, is it totally necessary to get a GMRS license ?...or anyone else that knows?

[Mags]

Dave, is it totally necessary to get a GMRS license ?...or anyone else that knows?

Yes. FCC website
https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-div ... rvice-gmrs "Licensing" tab.

An FCC license is required to operate GMRS system."

[daytime dave]

Mark, the license is required, but if I remember correctly, it's just filling out the form and sending back the fee. It's worth it in my opinion. The license is good for your immediate family when using the GMRS. That way you can use it hunting with your "brothers" and "sisters" as I do. I have the license and five radios. I mostly use them with my step son when we hunt.

[markiver54]

Thanks Dave. It's looking like that is the way I might go. Once again, your input is appreciated.

[Mike_S]

The key to FM radio communications is antenna height. You can be in a valley, and the same radio that talks back 5 miles to home from a hill top, can't hear or get to squat. That VX-150 is an elderly workhorse, I have three. I have other more versatile hand held radios, but these are the incaseofextreamemergencylookatthestickynoteontheback for my wife or visiting daughters to pick up and find me if I'm out and about. The VX is an amateur class radio, transmitting out of band (into public freqs) is not recommended, for its own health. And they are robust tools for sure.

As said above, GMRS is the way to go - it's not a license you have to test for, and the use is at your discretion. The transmit power factor is also much greater than FRS.

For real though - if you can manage it, an antenna 35' at its base off the ground does wonders for the home being able to hear rovers, and if necessary act as go between (repeater) for rovers.

[daytime dave]

Mark, I don't want to dredge up an old topic, but I think this one is ok to ask about.

What did you ever decide on? Did you get any radios?

I have since renewed my GMRS license and still use mine. The Baufang radios are pretty cheap on Amazon and you can get a programming cord and "do the programming yourself". As Mike states, getting a decent base radio antenna for your home does wonders. No, I don't have one as I use mine for hunting and I"m not too far from my hunting partners. GMRS is pretty popular among folks who might have had a CB years ago. The car to car radios seem to range from 15 to 50 watts. I'm not 100% clear on what is legal for the GMRS, but 25 watts is ok I think.

I have a CB in my truck. I mount a magnetic antenna on the back bed area. My F150 is all aluminum above the frame, so I have a large washer to hold the antenna on at "highway speed". So far I can't go fast enough for it to come loose. I rarely engage in conversation on the CB as there are so many potty mouthed s.o.b.s that I only turn it on when I'm on main interstate roadways to listen for traffic problems ahead.

[markiver54]

Dave,
I never did get a set of radios. What I really wanted a set for was for safety comunication when I would go solo up the mountain on the 4Wheeler. I've had limited activity up on the mountain since our last discussion for a variety of reasons. The original interest has faded as a result of less time spent up there. Simply put; priorities have changed. Thanks for asking though. Much appreciated.