Boafeng advice

[Mx5red]

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

I bought This from Etsy. I already had ball so didn’t buy mount, so I had to go buy appropriate bolts/nuts to fit. Not sure if those would be included if you bought it with the ball mount ($25 vs 12).
Then RAM arm to my ram dash base, same difference arm to bar.

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[roaniecowpony]

^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.

The whole radio thing is way overblown IMO. We had two jeeps on the Rubicon for two days. We used my handheld GMRS-Pro radios. Came in handy maybe a couple times a day. There's more useless bantar than anything elseg.

If you want to spend some money on a useful electronic comm, buy this set of short-range wireless headsets. They are "open mic" which allows both parties to talk at the same time while you both can hear each other, just like standing next to each other. It may seem pricey, but they have paid for themselves for the spotter having good clear comm to the driver, even hiking over a hill to look further up the trail. It makes it so easy to clearly communicate with your spotter that there's no yelling, etc.. Best electronic purchase. I've tried others like the Walker Razor walkie talkie headset. But they were crappie and clipped the first word or you had to PTT. https://www.amazon.com/Eartec-UL2S-...Z2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1&smid=A3DMYIN9K0RYXC

 

[ArmyRN]

In my TJ I started out with a CB. Then folks were wanting to require GMRS (and one group once was wanting to use Ham). So I got both my Ham (KI7TSP) and GMRS license. Since the CB was already mounted in the Jeep, I put a 25W BTECH UV-25X2 Ham radio on top of the CB using a CB mount I had sitting around. This UV-25X2 also covers the GMRS frequencies. It is a small compact unit that could be plugged into a cigarette socket (although mine is hard wired).

BaoFeng or BTECH haters need not respond.

Amazon.com: BTECH UV-25X2 (Second Gen.) Mini Mobile 25 Watt Dual Band Base, Mobile Radio: VHF, UHF Amateur (Ham) : Electronics

I made a simple mount for the mike, and bolted it to the roof using an existing bolt for the roof rack (I didn't like it mounted on the dash as shown in the picture above). This set-up worked nicely. If using GMRS, you need to know the frequency for the specific GMRS channel. I usually had two or three GMRS frequencies programmed in case we needed to switch from one to another.

For my JLU, I'm thinking of going with a tranny tunnel mount (passenger side) with a 50W BTECH UV-50X2 Ham Radio (that again, also covers GMRS frequencies).

Amazon.com: BTECH UV-50X2 (Second Gen.) Mobile 50 Watt Dual Band Base, Mobile Radio: VHF, UHF Amateur (Ham) : Electronics

Mount I'll be using (you can get essentially the same thing from Rugged Radios for more than twice the cost of this one linked below):

Amazon.com: Passenger Side Quick Disconnect Universal CB Radio Mount Mobile Radio Mount for Jeep Wrangler JL & Gladiator JT 2018-2023 : Automotive

Wiring harness I'll be using (I think it will save you/me a lot of hassle when wiring in a radio):

Rugged Radios Jeep Gladiator Power and Antenna Cable Harness PHC-JL-JT (20-23 Jeep Gladiator JT) - Free Shipping (extremeterrain.com)

Install video (should be the same for whatever radio you get using the above wiring harness and tranny tunnel mount):

Installs Just Got Easier: Jeep JL, JT Installation GMRS Radio Kit - GMR45 Rugged Radios - YouTube

Till then, I've got a handheld radio mount thingy set-up ordered from Bulletpoint to put the BF-F8HP radio up near the top of the dash within easy reach, and I'll reuse the battery delete thingy again (seems like I'm going backward full circle). I'll post a picture when the parts come in and I get it mounted up. This'll work till I can justify spending the $400+ for the UV-50X2, mount, cable, antenna mount, and antenna.

Handheld Radio Holder with 20mm Ball - Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions (getting two of the 7cm arms)

Edit 8 Nov. Swapped out one of the 7cm arms for a shorter 4cm arm. Brings the radio closer to the dash. Works out better. Pics in a later post (#74 next page). So I recommend one 7cm and one 4cm arm.

Mounting Base for 2018-2023 Jeep Wrangler JL + 2020-2023 Jeep Gladiato - Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions (two balls mounted on the left-hand side of the dash top glasses holder - one for the radio, and the other for the mike)

CB Radio Holder with 20MM ball - Bulletpoint Mounting Solutions (mike holder)

At one time (before I got the UV-25X2) I had my BaoFeng UV-5R (and later a BF-F8HP) clipped on a mount on the dash, had a battery delete in the radio (12V port this thing is plugged into below is always on), and connected to an antenna mounted outside the Jeep. The sound came out of the hand-held mike. This set-up actually worked pretty well, and was convenient to use. It got me into the Ham/GMRS game.

 

[zouch]

the Red Rock Wheelers present a position that is ignorant about radio. they make this pretty evident in their EJS publication, where they continue to recycle the same foolishness they've been spouting for years.

last time i did EJS they required CBs for everyone on the trail, but the leaders were actually communicating in the background over GMRS. a pretty significant percentage of the folks there also had their Amateur licenses, too, even if they weren't into Radio for the sake of Radio. (this seemed particually evident with the people that were there from Colorado.)

it's just a matter of time before EJS comes into the modern world and goes FRS/GMRS. (frankly, probably just a matter of waiting for some of the dinosaurs in the group to fade away.)

my advice to anyone new to J**ping and Communications would be to have at least 1 quality handheld FRS/GMRS (good for spotting and other tasks while outside of the vehicle), and mount something in the vehicle with a true Mobile antenna. the difference between handhelds and any Mobile radio with a real antenna is significant.
i would not put "top-of-the-line" and "Boafeng" together for a variety of reasons, primarily quality related to hardware lifespan and transmission and reception performance; i'd look for something from Motorola, Midland, or Kenwood (a TK-3101 if you can still find them).
and pay for the dang license. you bought a J**p; you can afford the license.

I went on a Moab Jeep trip with the Red Rock Easter safari. About 10-20% had GMRS, the rest had CBs. I think we are at a point in the evolution of this tech that you probably need both. Sorry, not a great answer but I think truth. I use a handheld Midland GMRS but the battery life is not great. Looks like a walkie-talkie. Pretty easy to use. I think I might go with a direct wired GMRS next. It would be nice if you could get one unit with both. Not sure if that exists.

 

[tomk62]

my advice to anyone new to J**ping and Communications would be to have at least 1 quality handheld FRS/GMRS (good for spotting and other tasks while outside of the vehicle), and mount something in the vehicle with a true Mobile antenna. the difference between handhelds and any Mobile radio with a real antenna is significant.
i would not put "top-of-the-line" and "Boafeng" together for a variety of reasons, primarily quality related to hardware lifespan and transmission and reception performance; i'd look for something from Motorola, Midland, or Kenwood (a TK-3101 if you can still find them).
and pay for the dang license. you bought a J**p; you can afford the license.

It's just like anything else, what's "good enough" for you and your radio comm needs. For some a <$30 Baofeng is more than adequate, for others they require a more substantial investment where they need to ensure higher quality, ruggendness, and/or reliability.

At a minimum, FRS can get it done. For me GMRS is a no-brainer.

(Full disclosure: I have my GMRS license and a UV-5R, and am planning a Midland MXT575J mobile.)

 

[zouch]

sure, some people may be OK with a radio that may or may not work when they want it to. i know some people laugh about their “disposable radios”.

ignoring that, my biggest beef with the junk radios is how they’ve been interfering with other radios (look up Spurious Transmissions); there’s no excuse for that.

It's just like anything else, what's "good enough" for you and your radio comm needs. For some a <$30 Baofeng is more than adequate, for others they require a more substantial investment where they need to ensure higher quality, ruggendness, and/or reliability.

At a minimum, FRS can get it done. For me GMRS is a no-brainer.

(Full disclosure: I have my GMRS license and a UV-5R, and am planning a Midland MXT575J mobile.)

 

[tomk62]

sure, some people may be OK with a radio that may or may not work when they want it to. i know some people laugh about their “disposable radios”.

ignoring that, my biggest beef with the junk radios is how they’ve been interfering with other radios (look up Spurious Transmissions); there’s no excuse for that.

"some people"

Here's something I found when I searched for UV-5R and spurious emissions:

 

[Rustynail11]

I have the Baofeng UV-9G and it works great. I have used it about half a dozen times when off-roading with groups. I have a ball mount for the passenger grab bar and I bought the handheld mic for it. No complaints at all.

 

[tomk62]

@Flip Some additional videos that you and others may find helpful, presented for your viewing pleasure (YMMV, his humor and style is not appreciated by everyone):

(this one is a little dated, they have since come out with a GMRS certified version)

 

[rcadden]

I'm constantly amazed at how few people at the local parks in Texas even have a radio - handheld or otherwise. Maybe it's cause I tend to stick with the easy/medium difficulty groups, but still.

I started with a Midland handheld kit (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001WMFYH4) that have been pretty great. Having a pair makes it easy to share with a noob on the trail, or keep one in the Jeep with the driver while my passenger hops out and spots/assesses the trail ahead, etc.

However, their batteries are starting to fade, I think, so I may move up to a mounted solution in the future, as budget allows.

 

[av8or]

Way back in the day, a license was required for CB radio. After years of collecting money for licenses the FCC finally decided it wasn’t necessary. Same will most likely happen with gmrs. I know I’ll get some hate for saying it but the government already has enough of your money, don’t bother with the license…….in a few more years it won’t be “required“ anyway.

 

[cosmokenney]

With HAM you need to take an exam and everyone in your group needs their own HAM license.
With GMRS, only one person in the group needs a license. And the license is easy to get, and free not free, but only $35 for 10 years and can only be used with family.

The Baofeng radios like the UV-5R can do HAM frequencies along with FRS and GMRS. They are a little over-powered for FRS and GMRS, though.

There are mountable radios sold under the QYT brand that are basically a large UV-5R. They can be hard-wired into your electrical and take a standard external antenna that you mount to the outside of the jeep.

I think most people are moving to the Baofen or similar vs CB which is pretty much dead in the USA, anyway. Its not like you'll be able to find anyone to communicate with on CB if you are in an emergency situation like you might be able to on a HAM radio. First no one uses CB for the most part, and the range is not as good as HAM as far as I know.

 

[tomk62]

With GMRS, only one person in the group needs a license. And the license is easy to get, and free.

This is not correct. The GMRS license is $35 for 10 years, and only covers you and your direct family members.

https://www.fcc.gov/wireless/bureau-divisions/mobility-division/general-mobile-radio-service-gmrs

The GMRS is available to an individual (one man or one woman) for short-distance two-way communications to facilitate the activities of licensees and their immediate family members....

You may apply for a GMRS license if you are 18 years or older and not a representative of a foreign government. If you receive a license, any family member, regardless of age, can operate GMRS stations and units within the licensed system.

https://www.fcc.gov/personal-service-and-amateur-application-fees

 

[cosmokenney]

This is not correct. The GMRS license is $35 for 10 years, and only covers you and your direct family members.

Ah, I couldn't remember paying for mine. I'll edit.

 

[Ratbert]

Ah, I couldn't remember paying for mine. I'll edit.

You might want to edit the "per year" part too. It's good for 10 years.

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