Boafeng advice

[MikeS]

Boafengs aren’t built very well, hence the low price. A few countries have made the UV-5R illegal to operate because they can cause interference across multiple frequencies do to poor filtering and drifting oscillator's. Don’t be that person who accidentally tunes their Boafeng to the wrong frequency and stomps all over a search and rescue team, that is the risk and why they require an Amateur Radio License. As others have said, GMRS is the way to go these days and the licensing is easy. The licensing fee helps pay for the administration of the frequencies to make them available for us to use. Midland makes a good GMRS radio that’s affordable and easy to use.

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[NAZJeeper]

I like using a Baofeng when trailing in a group.....first person/last person check in at turns, it allows people to go way ahead to avid dust clouds to the rear vehicles, etc, etc....very handy whether there are 2 Jeeps or 20. Probably should get the basic license, but really it's way down the list of important things to do (in my life right now at least)

More importantly - where do you get a good mount for them? Preferably one that would attach to one bar like this: https://www.amazon.com/Linskip-Dash...-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

 

[Beachcomber72]

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.

My honest advice is that if you’re serious about trail communication, then be serious about getting something that’s good and something that does require a license. Get the BaoFeng UV-5G radios. They are GMRS and do require a license but you literally get it online without any test or other BS. They work like a champ and stay charged for a long while. Also once you do get the instant online license it covers everyone in your immediate family/household.
You can grab a 2 pack of the radios and their extended capacity batteries on amazon for about $75.

 

[NAZJeeper]

My honest advice is that if you’re serious about trail communication, then be serious about getting something that’s good and something that does require a license. Get the BaoFeng UV-5G radios. They are GMRS and do require a license but you literally get it online without any test or other BS. They work like a champ and stay charged for a long while. Also once you do get the instant online license it covers everyone in your immediate family/household.
You can grab a 2 pack of the radios and their extended capacity batteries on amazon for about $75.

That is the package that I bought. They are indeed an excellent choice for trail use and work up to 5 miles away in my experience. DO you by chance have a link for that test/license? Thnx!

 

[Ahre]

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."

The license is only $35 and good for 10 years. It's simply a registration and you receive a unique callsign.

 

[roaniecowpony]

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.

If you are looking to communicate with other jeepers, the most common band is GMRS. Ham might be used by a very specific group or club. But it will be much more rare, mainly because it's a hobby all by itself, requires a test, etc.. GMRS will be the band you'll want for major jeep events (Jeep Jamboree, Jeeper's Jamboree, EJS, etc.) I bought a couple B-Tech GMRS-Pro radios and they are all I'll likely need. Get the GMRS (no test) license. The big events require GMRS and a license (although I don't know if they check the license).

If you want a rescue radio, look at the Garmin InReach systems. They are satellite comms and have text message capability to any cellphone number. So, you can text your wife that you're running late or text a friend to come with tools to help or you can SOS direct to the Garmin rescue center and then they will communicate with you through your device. My particular device is a GPS system for tracking hunting dogs and navigating, and includes the InReach system built-in.

 

[Flip]

My honest advice is that if you’re serious about trail communication, then be serious about getting something that’s good and something that does require a license. Get the BaoFeng UV-5G radios. They are GMRS and do require a license but you literally get it online without any test or other BS. They work like a champ and stay charged for a long while. Also once you do get the instant online license it covers everyone in your immediate family/household.
You can grab a 2 pack of the radios and their extended capacity batteries on amazon for about $75.

Yeah, that looks like the route I'm going to take. Do you know if they are (UV-5G) pre-programmed, or how difficult it is to program them?

 

[tomk62]

Yeah, that looks like the route I'm going to take. Do you know if they are (UV-5G) pre-programmed, or how difficult it is to program them?

Yes they are pre-programmed. Go watch NotaRubicon!

 

[azjl#3]

If you really want to go down the rabbit hole, dial this guy up.

That video is worthless, lost me at which radio makes you look better, and the constant weird hand movements, with zero comparison on performance, yeah, performance.

 

[LKG]

That video is worthless, lost me at which radio makes you look better, and the constant weird hand movements, with zero comparison on performance, yeah, performance.

Got it. I guess my point was he has videos on licensees, ham, GMRS, frs programing radios etc.

 

[Flip]

That video is worthless, lost me at which radio makes you look better, and the constant weird hand movements, with zero comparison on performance, yeah, performance.

I just finished watching this one, I thought it was pretty good, informative. I feel more comfortable with the boafeng then I did 14:10 minutes ago. Seems straight forward enough to get started anyways.

Baofeng UV-5R For Beginners - Quick Start Guide & UV5R Basics: Buttons, Menus, & Saving A Channel - YouTube

 

[Maverick909]

Check out NotaRubicon on YouTube. He has a couple dozen videos on how to setup and use it legally. Love my baofeng hand radios

 

[Maverick909]

Also quick cheat. If your wheeling and getting alot of static from other users out in the distance pull the antenna off. It’s a life saver from static and bs

 

[Beachcomber72]

Yeah, that looks like the route I'm going to take. Do you know if they are (UV-5G) pre-programmed, or how difficult it is to program them?

The radios are specifically set for GMRS, so the channels are pre programmed.

 

[Mx5red]

If you are looking to communicate with other jeepers, the most common band is GMRS. Ham might be used by a very specific group or club. But it will be much more rare, mainly because it's a hobby all by itself, requires a test, etc.. GMRS will be the band you'll want for major jeep events (Jeep Jamboree, Jeeper's Jamboree, EJS, etc.) I bought a couple B-Tech GMRS-Pro radios and they are all I'll likely need. Get the GMRS (no test) license. The big events require GMRS and a license (although I don't know if they check the license).

If you want a rescue radio, look at the Garmin InReach systems. They are satellite comms and have text message capability to any cellphone number. So, you can text your wife that you're running late or text a friend to come with tools to help or you can SOS direct to the Garmin rescue center and then they will communicate with you through your device. My particular device is a GPS system for tracking hunting dogs and navigating, and includes the InReach system built-in.

^this.
I’d start with where/who you wheel with and go from there. Most people are using GMRS and they are super easy. If you’re not using repeaters, I don’t think you even need to pay for the license… also if do tours not sure if they check for license.
Maybe your local groups use ham or cb, fine go for it.

I had plans to use hard wired gmrs and/or ham for long range comms and safety. What’s actually been useful are cheap gmrs handhelds that work fine. And I’d trust a satellite device for true safety/emergency than a HAM radio, so I’m gonna skip that whole test and not bother with ham.

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