Boafeng advice

[Flip]

I haven't installed any form of communication in my jeep yet. I ran into some fellow jeepers recently on the trail who let me use one of their Boafeng handheld radios. Even though I still have full intentions of hooking a CB for traveling purposes I think I'm going to purchase a handheld Boafeng as well. I basically know nothing about these radios. I'm not necessarily looking for a top-of-the-line boafeng as I mostly wheel solo. Any versions of these radios that require an FCC license is out of the question. Any advice would be appreciated.

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[rk911]

Supply the model number for a more precise answer. The Boafeng radios I am familiar with are amateur radios which require a license (exam required). There may be models that operate on GMRS frequencies which also requires a license (no exam).

 

[Flip]

Supply the model number for a more precise answer. The Boafeng radios I am familiar with are amateur radios which require a license (exam required). There may be models that operate on GMRS frequencies which also requires a license (no exam).

I was looking at this one for starters.

Amazon.com: Baofeng UV-5R Two Way Radio Handheld Ham Radio Dual Band Walkie Talkie(2PACK, Black) : Electronics

 

[grimmjeeper]

Ham radios require a license. Those baofengs can be programmed to operate on the FRS (no license) or GMRS (license required depending on a couple of things) frequencies.

All of the other nearby frequencies require a license.

That being said, a lot of people use those radios and frequencies without bothering to get a license. Enforcement of the rules is lax at best.

 

[Flip]

Ham radios require a license. Those baofengs can be programmed to operate on the FRS (no license) or GMRS (license required depending on a couple of things) frequencies.

All of the other nearby frequencies require a license.

That being said, a lot of people use those radios and frequencies without bothering to get a license. Enforcement of the rules is lax at best.

That seems to be very common especially on a jeep trail. I was just reading Amazon reviews.

"Yes, technically you are supposed to have an FCC license, however…. I was with an off-road group and we’re 100 miles from civilization, out of 15 people, I was the only person who had a license."

 

[rk911]

I was looking at this one for starters.

Amazon.com: Baofeng UV-5R Two Way Radio Handheld Ham Radio Dual Band Walkie Talkie(2PACK, Black) : Electronics

That model is for ham radio (amateur radio) which requires a license (exam).

 

[rk911]

That seems to be very common especially on a jeep trail. I was just reading Amazon reviews.

"Yes, technically you are supposed to have an FCC license, however…. I was with an off-road group and we’re 100 miles from civilization, out of 15 people, I was the only person who had a license."

Nothing "technical" about it. Can you bootleg comms on that radio? Sure, but if you get caught it's a federal beef with pretty hefty fines. It'd be a LOT simpler to just fill out the form, pay the fee and obtain a GMRS license (no exam). Then buy a proper GMRS radio. As a group, hams are very protective of their privleges and take bootlegging very seriously.

 

[vetygud]

I installed a CB and antenna in my 2022 Willys because I had one. The Jeep Rallies now require a GMRS radio. I got a FCC GMRS license which was filling out a form and sending the small fee. It covers close family members. GMRS radios have better coverage than CBs and also include FRS frequencies. They come in handhelds and mobile mounted. IMO GMRS are a good upgrade from CBs. I went with Midland equipment.

 

[rk911]

I installed a CB and antenna in my 2022 Willys because I had one. The Jeep Rallies now require a GMRS radios. I got a FCC GMRS license which was filling out a form and sending the small fee. It covers close family members. GMRS radios have better coverage than CBs and also include FRS frequencies. They come in handhelds and mobile mounted. IMO GMRS are a good upgrade from CBs. I went with Midland equipment.

?????

 

[grimmjeeper]

Nothing "technical" about ig. Can you bootleg comms on that radio? Sure, but if you get caught it's a federal beef with pretty hefty fines. It'd be a LOT simpler to just fill out the form, pay the fee and obtain a GMRS license (no exam). Then buy a proper GMRS radio. As a group, hams are very protective of their privleges and take bootlegging very seriously.

Even with the hams being protective, all they can do is report violations. They may do some triangulation to pinpoint a violator in a static location and things like that. But it's extremely rare that the FCC actually pursues a charge against anyone. You have to do some pretty flagrant things for the FCC to get involved. That's just the reality of the world we live in.

For those who follow the rules, GMRS is your best bet. $35 to the FCC and you get a license for like 10 years. Most people use FRS/GMRS frequencies so that's probably the best route to go.

Ham is a good setup but the license requires a test and $35. But then the only people to talk to on the ham frequencies are ham radio enthusiasts. And they're a pretty boring lot. They only want to talk about ham radios.

I have both licenses. I have ham mostly because ham radio repeater networks are the best bet for getting through to call for help in the mountains in Colorado. I have a 50W GMRS radio in the Jeep because most people use that on the trails. I have a CB because it's not quite dead tech yet. But it's dying fast.

 

[AC77]

I haven't installed any form of communication in my jeep yet. I ran into some fellow jeepers recently on the trail who let me use one of their Boafeng handheld radios. Even though I still have full intentions of hooking a CB for traveling purposes I think I'm going to purchase a handheld Boafeng as well. I basically know nothing about these radios. I'm not necessarily looking for a top-of-the-line boafeng as I mostly wheel solo. Any versions of these radios that require an FCC license is out of the question. Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi. You’re thinking ahead. For emergency like myself. I’m very interested. And have been for years ! Let me / us know what you decide. I’m interested das well ?

 

[grimmjeeper]

Hi. You’re thinking ahead. For emergency like myself. I’m very interested. And have been for years ! Let me / us know what you decide. I’m interested das well ?

The law allows people to use any radio band for emergency purposes. Having a baofeng and knowing how to program in a ham repeater (along with knowing the local repeaters) is a good idea, license or not.

 

[rk911]

The law allows people to use any radio band for emergency purposes. Having a baofeng and knowing how to program in a ham repeater (along with knowing the local repeaters) is a good idea, license or not.

Quite true. The key word is EMERGENCY.

 

[Flip]

Hi. You’re thinking ahead. For emergency like myself. I’m very interested. And have been for years ! Let me / us know what you decide. I’m interested das well ?

It won't be a ham radio so I guess if I have to fill out a form and pay $35 to legally use a glorified walkie talkie on a Jeep trail in the middle of nowhere then maybe I'll go that route. Regardless, eventually I'll install a CB radio.

There are all kinds of GMRS radios on amazon. GIGO - geez I'm getting old.

 

[Ratbert]

Get a CB only if you run with old timers people that insist on using them. Nearly all of the groups that I've run trails with use GMRS.

Boafengs are slick radios, but do you really want to be out of communication due to accidently clicking one of those obscure options? I love tech, but consider getting something like an idiot-proof Midland MXT275. It fits nicely behind the knee panel under the steering wheel and works well.

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