CB Vs GMRS Question

[Pismo61]

This antenna also has a chassis ground using a grounding strap.

Nice,mine is the same ,but the grounding strap is about half as wide.

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[ArmyRN]

Just throwing this out there if you want a CB but don't want a hard mount showing:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cobra-75...CBYreIh-GaDqYVKPkFNFLbHP4swa8saRoCBm8QAvD_BwE

 

[4Lo2Yolo]

The radio I was giving was FRS and the group used channel 16. I don't know if others were using GMRS. I would guess the more experienced leaders were.

I liked the simple handheld FRS radio they gave me because the battery could be swapped out. Most GMRS radios I've looked at appeared to have fixed batteries.

Given my circumstances any recommendations for handheld GMRS radio with replaceable batteries?

The TD-H3 Plus I mentioned has a USB C charging port on the bottom of it's removable batteries. It also has a USB C port on the side of the radio, which is for firmware updates and programming. You can buy them with a charging dock for the radio, and that dock itself is powered by a USB C port.

The plus has bluetooth, so you can pair it with a wireless speaker mic, headset, phone, bluetooth speaker, etc. It can be used to program the radio too.

One thing I like about radios like the H3 is that it has two PTT buttons so you can use two frequencies. Which is useful if you are leading a group and want a separate channel to communicate with your tail gunner. Or your spouse.

You can also use one as a repeater. Another cool feature is the spectrum analyzer which allows you to see what RF channels are actively transmitting around you so you can use a clear channel.

You can also push one button and clone a radio, meaning that if you have one radio setup with custom settings and frequencies, you can push a button and clone those settings to a second radio. Which can be useful if you're using privacy codes or repeaters.

You can also match frequencies with a button press, meaning that if you or someone else has a channel you want to copy to another radio, you can just key up the first radio, and push a button on the second radio to copy that frequency.

Add me to the people that find a handheld more useful if don't require the higher transmit wattage of a mobile radio. There might be times when you're outside of your vehicle and the group is ready to move out. Like when you find yourself behind the nearest tree taking care of nature and suddenly hear a bunch engines startup.

Like others I keep a spare loaner with me.

They have SMS text messaging.

Oh yeah, it can work as an internet walkie talky. You can create a group in OD Master and add anyone to the group. When key up your H3 it will send audio to everyone in the group. Not transmit audio like a radio transmission, rather send it through your phone internet as a data packet. Anyone in the group will receive it on their phones no matter where they are in the world. They can key up on their phone in the OD Master app, and it will send audio packets back to your radio. You can look at the app and see who transmitted, then tap of one of them to play it back in case you missed it.

I have no idea how it compares to it's peers, but I like mine.

 

[Ratbert]

The TD-H3 Plus I mentioned has a USB C charging port on the bottom of it's removable batteries. It also has a USB C port on the side of the radio, which is for firmware updates and programming. You can buy them with a charging dock for the radio, and that dock itself is powered by a USB C port.

The plus has bluetooth, so you can pair it with a wireless speaker mic, headset, phone, bluetooth speaker, etc. It can be used to program the radio too.

One thing I like about radios like the H3 is that it has two PTT buttons so you can use two frequencies. Which is useful if you are leading a group and want a separate channel to communicate with your tail gunner. Or your spouse.

You can also use one as a repeater. Another cool feature is the spectrum analyzer which allows you to see what RF channels are actively transmitting around you so you can use a clear channel.

You can also push one button and clone a radio, meaning that if you have one radio setup with custom settings and frequencies, you can push a button and clone those settings to a second radio. Which can be useful if you're using privacy codes or repeaters.

You can also match frequencies with a button press, meaning that if you or someone else has a channel you want to copy to another radio, you can just key up the first radio, and push a button on the second radio to copy that frequency.

Add me to the people that find a handheld more useful if don't require the higher transmit wattage of a mobile radio. There might be times when you're outside of your vehicle and the group is ready to move out. Like when you find yourself behind the nearest tree taking care of nature and suddenly hear a bunch engines startup.

Like others I keep a spare loaner with me.

They have SMS text messaging.

Oh yeah, it can work as an internet walkie talky. You can create a group in OD Master and add anyone to the group. When key up your H3 it will send audio to everyone in the group. Not transmit audio like a radio transmission, rather send it through your phone internet as a data packet. Anyone in the group will receive it on their phones no matter where they are in the world. They can key up on their phone in the OD Master app, and it will send audio packets back to your radio. You can look at the app and see who transmitted, then tap of one of them to play it back in case you missed it.

I have no idea how it compares to it's peers, but I like mine.

He liked the simplicity of an FRS radio, and you're suggesting that?

 

[Killed by Death]

The TD-H3 Plus I mentioned has a USB C charging port on the bottom of it's removable batteries. It also has a USB C port on the side of the radio, which is for firmware updates and programming. You can buy them with a charging dock for the radio, and that dock itself is powered by a USB C port.

The plus has bluetooth, so you can pair it with a wireless speaker mic, headset, phone, bluetooth speaker, etc. It can be used to program the radio too.

One thing I like about radios like the H3 is that it has two PTT buttons so you can use two frequencies. Which is useful if you are leading a group and want a separate channel to communicate with your tail gunner. Or your spouse.

You can also use one as a repeater. Another cool feature is the spectrum analyzer which allows you to see what RF channels are actively transmitting around you so you can use a clear channel.

You can also push one button and clone a radio, meaning that if you have one radio setup with custom settings and frequencies, you can push a button and clone those settings to a second radio. Which can be useful if you're using privacy codes or repeaters.

You can also match frequencies with a button press, meaning that if you or someone else has a channel you want to copy to another radio, you can just key up the first radio, and push a button on the second radio to copy that frequency.

Add me to the people that find a handheld more useful if don't require the higher transmit wattage of a mobile radio. There might be times when you're outside of your vehicle and the group is ready to move out. Like when you find yourself behind the nearest tree taking care of nature and suddenly hear a bunch engines startup.

Like others I keep a spare loaner with me.

They have SMS text messaging.

Oh yeah, it can work as an internet walkie talky. You can create a group in OD Master and add anyone to the group. When key up your H3 it will send audio to everyone in the group. Not transmit audio like a radio transmission, rather send it through your phone internet as a data packet. Anyone in the group will receive it on their phones no matter where they are in the world. They can key up on their phone in the OD Master app, and it will send audio packets back to your radio. You can look at the app and see who transmitted, then tap of one of them to play it back in case you missed it.

I have no idea how it compares to it's peers, but I like mine.

holy smokes!!! thanks for the suggestion but that might be a bit much for my limited skill set.

 

[Killed by Death]

He liked the simplicity of an FRS radio, and you're suggesting that?

Got my license today. Think I'll be going with the Midland 6XT67 Pro unless someone has a better suggestion?

It's getting close to Black Friday but I can't find it on sale anywhere. That seems to happen to me a lot. Find something I want, wait months for BF, and same price

 

[Nokones]

If you intend to use a handheld inside a Jeep, keep in mind your effective farz will be very limited to about a 1/4 mile to about a 1/2 mile on the average.

I would install a permanent mount radio with an external antenna for better farz and keep the GXT67 Pro for the passenger to use for spotting or as a spare radio.

As for a simple mobile radio, the Midland MXT500 or the MXT575 are great Trail Comm. Radios.

The Midland MXTA26 6dB Gain antenna or the MXTA25 Phantom Antenna are great GMRS tuned antennae.

 

[4Lo2Yolo]

holy smokes!!! thanks for the suggestion but that might be a bit much for my limited skill set.

He liked the simplicity of an FRS radio, and you're suggesting that?

Those features are present, but nobody is forcing anyone to use them. A person could just rotate the volume knob to turn it on, select a frequency, and ignore everything else. I myself don't use those features, but they are present if they become useful.

 

[Ratbert]

Got my license today. Think I'll be going with the Midland 6XT67 Pro unless someone has a better suggestion?

It's getting close to Black Friday but I can't find it on sale anywhere. That seems to happen to me a lot. Find something I want, wait months for BF, and same price

You should consider something like the Midland mxt275. Mount it behind the kick panel under the steering wheel where it takes up almost no space. Extremely easy to use so you don't get into those aggravating scenarios where you accidentally clicked something that's making it impossible to talk to the group.

Or step up in power to the 575, but it's much larger (don't think it fits in that spot) and much more expenses.

 

[Killed by Death]

If you intend to use a handheld inside a Jeep, keep in mind your effective farz will be very limited to about a 1/4 mile to about a 1/2 mile on the average.

I would install a permanent mount radio with an external antenna for better farz and keep the GXT67 Pro for the passenger to use for spotting or as a spare radio.

As for a simple mobile radio, the Midland MXT500 or the MXT575 are great Trail Comm. Radios.

The Midland MXTA26 6dB Gain antenna or the MXTA25 Phantom Antenna are great GMRS tuned antennae.

I'm a complete newbie having only went off-road twice with group. I probably won't wheel by myself or be out of site while on the small trails here. There is not a lot or any wide open spaces to get lost or in trouble here. I'll be good with a handheld for a good while. But I do appreciate your advice!!!

 

[Ratbert]

I'm a complete newbie having only went off-road twice with group. I probably won't wheel by myself or be out of site while on the small trails here. There is not a lot or any wide open spaces to get lost or in trouble here. I'll be good with a handheld for a good while. But I do appreciate your advice!!!

Consider a ~$40 Midland handheld as your starter. If you subsequently do more trails you can use it when spotting or as a loaner when others don't have anything.

 

[cj7ox]

If you decide to mount a mobile GMRS in the Jeep down the line, take a look at Rugged Radios. They have a great kit specifically for the JL that is a clean and simple install, without extra coax to coil and secure behind the dash (or wherever). I installed the GMR45 kit a couple years ago, and it was a breeze for my dumb@$$.

 

[Mifsuud]

You should consider something like the Midland mxt275. Mount it behind the kick panel under the steering wheel where it takes up almost no space. Extremely easy to use so you don't get into those aggravating scenarios where you accidentally clicked something that's making it impossible to talk to the group.

Or step up in power to the 575, but it's much larger (don't think it fits in that spot) and much more expenses.

The Midland 575 will install under the dash, above the steering column. Get the ethernet extension cable too and you can plug the mic in most anywhere. Keeping the radio hidden was key for me. That said I used Midland hand held with groups for 2 years. They simply work.

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