GMRS Radios?

[Nokones]

understood; it's much easier to buy a license than to become a licensed Amateur.

if you really want to get into Emergency Services, i'll bet that you'll find that most of associated with the Offices of Emergency Services and the like are still Ham (Amateur) based. GMRS is making some inroads due to the lower barrier to entry, but it's still slow coming up. using a Service that is easier for Joe Average to get into has it's good and bad points.

i don't find the use of VHF on trail unusual at all; it works great for that. (Hams have been doing it that way for a long time.) oddly, everyone in a group i used to travel with had their Amateur license; i didn't have a CB in a J**p until i went to Moab, because the dinosaurs in the Red Rock Wheelers still insisted on using it (and oddly, still do!). even then i prefer a Sideband rig, since that works so much better than AM or FM.

I heard that the Moab group recently switched to GMRS.

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[jellis4148]

I have the radio. It has a lot of good reviews. I've used it at Moab, Rubicon trail, and many others. It's very clear, which I need with my hearing aids. I've never had a problem talking with anyone. Battery life is great.
https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wou...jvQ8ystBZZKT4u3YRxLGn_l08FYUF2XBoC5RYQAvD_BwE

 

[zouch]

really?
if that’s true, it’s about time!

long overdue.

I heard that the Moab group recently switched to GMRS.

 

[daroutergod]

First what to say I am a licensed amateur and GMRS. I was looking for a radio that was FCC compliant for both Amateur and GMRS. Only one I could find was the TIDRADIO TD-H8. I got two of them, one for me and one for my son who is also a HAM. Two things that make them unique; first is if you get the HAM version you can change modes from HAM to GMRS and back. TIDRADIO has them FCC legal for both uses. Second is programing. You can program them using chirp and a usb radio program cable, but... They have software that you load on your android phone and you can program them via BLUE TOOTH... The software will also list repeaters for either HAM or GMRS that are within a selected distance. Another programing feature is that they have a "cloud" web site that is linked to your android app that you can get your saved configurations and modify, save and then load via the phone app. This radio has a very good receiver and transmits at 10 watts. I got ours as a kit with two radios, two hand mics, 4 batteries (two for each radio) and two antennas for each radio, short and longer range for $75.99 on amazon. The batteries are USB C rechargeable and do not have to be on the radio to recharge. Testing inside our vehicles we have range tested on both ham frequencies and GMRS. In the city we typically could get about a 2 mile range, but could hit the GMRS and HAM repeaters out about 9-10 miles. Out on the open highway we got about 3.5 mile range car to car and could hit ham repeaters well over 15 miles away. Switching to external mounted antenna, range was greatly improved, being able to talk car to car 4 miles in city and an astonishing 8-9 miles out in the open country. I have lots of hand held radios, both HAM and GMRS only, as well as some BF radios, these are very high quality and perform as well as some of my "name brand" ham radios. For the price you can't go wrong. It may take some experimenting to get the programing down, but the android app makes it pretty easy once you figure it out. if you search on Amazon for TD-H8 you will find alot of various packages, some with mic's and some with drop-in chargers as well. Amazon link to where I got ours from Amazon.com: TIDRADIO TD-H8 10W Ham Radio Handheld, APP Wireless Programming, NOAA Weather Long Range Walkie Talkies 2500mAh Battery (4 pcs), Portable Two-Way Radios with Programming Cable& Speaker Mic-2pack : Electronics

 

[ArmyRN]

First what to say I am a licensed amateur and GMRS. I was looking for a radio that was FCC compliant for both Amateur and GMRS. Only one I could find was the TIDRADIO TD-H8. I got two of them, one for me and one for my son who is also a HAM. Two things that make them unique; first is if you get the HAM version you can change modes from HAM to GMRS and back. TIDRADIO has them FCC legal for both uses. Second is programing. You can program them using chirp and a usb radio program cable, but... They have software that you load on your android phone and you can program them via BLUE TOOTH... The software will also list repeaters for either HAM or GMRS that are within a selected distance. Another programing feature is that they have a "cloud" web site that is linked to your android app that you can get your saved configurations and modify, save and then load via the phone app. This radio has a very good receiver and transmits at 10 watts. I got ours as a kit with two radios, two hand mics, 4 batteries (two for each radio) and two antennas for each radio, short and longer range for $75.99 on amazon. The batteries are USB C rechargeable and do not have to be on the radio to recharge. Testing inside our vehicles we have range tested on both ham frequencies and GMRS. In the city we typically could get about a 2 mile range, but could hit the GMRS and HAM repeaters out about 9-10 miles. Out on the open highway we got about 3.5 mile range car to car and could hit ham repeaters well over 15 miles away. Switching to external mounted antenna, range was greatly improved, being able to talk car to car 4 miles in city and an astonishing 8-9 miles out in the open country. I have lots of hand held radios, both HAM and GMRS only, as well as some BF radios, these are very high quality and perform as well as some of my "name brand" ham radios. For the price you can't go wrong. It may take some experimenting to get the programing down, but the android app makes it pretty easy once you figure it out. if you search on Amazon for TD-H8 you will find alot of various packages, some with mic's and some with drop-in chargers as well. Amazon link to where I got ours from Amazon.com: TIDRADIO TD-H8 10W Ham Radio Handheld, APP Wireless Programming, NOAA Weather Long Range Walkie Talkies 2500mAh Battery (4 pcs), Portable Two-Way Radios with Programming Cable& Speaker Mic-2pack : Electronics

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like it won't transmit on GMRS frequencies, only receive.

My Baofeng 8W (and 25W and 50W mounted) will transmit and receive on GMRS frequencies.

 

[daroutergod]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like it won't transmit on GMRS frequencies, only receive.

My Baofeng 8W (and 25W and 50W mounted) will transmit and receive on GMRS frequencies.

No, it does, it has 3 modes that you can change, HAM, GMRS, and Unlock all. I own some Baofeng as well and has way better recieve and transmit than any Baofeng I have used. See following blog post on how to change the modes. Blog 17: Unlocking a TIDRADIO H8 – PARTISAN COMMS GROUP, LLC. I use this mostly when out of my Jeep,. I have a Yaesu 50 watt mobile in my Jeep that does HAM, MURS, and GMRS.

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