Long Range Radio

We've had the FRS (think Motorola), style radios with a "35 mile" range. They were useful in VERY close range around a camp ground when the kids were smaller. Recently we had them on a road trip between two cars and on a straight open highway we couldn't even make contact a mile apart.

Are there handheld radios with better range? My grandpa loved his truck mounted CB radio back in the day. I see contractors, road crews, etc use handheld radios that must have a better range than the cheep FRS radios.

What do you all use?

 

The FRS radios are very limited in range, no where near 35 miles and then when inside a metal vehicle the range is maybe front seat to bed or just a hair further. Hand held Ham radios don't even have 35 mile range. You need a radio that can accept an external antenna. GMRS would be a better radio than an FRS in this situation and a Ham radio would be even better.

 

Radio Distance Range Comparison of Ham CB FRS MURS GMRS Radios. (hflink.com)

 

Thanks for posting that. Interesting graph. My only experience with radios is with CB radios. We used them a lot when off-roading in a group and they worked well for that. I just applied and am waiting for my GMRS license. I was surprised to see the graph showing greater vehicle-to-vehicle range with a CB than with GMRS, but I’m a newbie to GMRS so still learning.

 

Also, I’m surprised there isn’t a subforum on radios and communication on here. I know cell phones dominate the communication preference when on the road and in urban areas, but when off-roading or camping/fishing/hunting in the boonies where there’s no cell service, radios can be quite useful.

 

^^^Agree with this!

 

If you want the most powerful radio without having to take a test then this is probably it
https://midlandusa.com/products/mxt...JmT4X389szyx0W-cpAOKQL4VWVjKS9vBoCpNgQAvD_BwE

You will need to get a “license” but does not require a test and is good for 10years and also covers your family. I’m pretty positive you could hit people pretty far away with that radio. Gmrs is slowly gaining traction (more repeaters/users) as folks don’t really want to have to conduct their convos per ham protocol or take a test. You could also just be a renegade like most people on here: get a ham radio and not get licensed only to use it offroad

 

Any recommendations for a ham radio?

 

This is the radio I run in my truck. A few others run it as well. The dual receive is nice because at off-road meetups you can have one band programmed to the local group of trucks you’re on the trail with and the other band programmed to the frequency the event is using (or to a local repeater if not at an event). helps to keep tabs on what’s going on around you.
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts...y9ZUBBXYSaPsruZ_RwYkOy6dHsG1jFpxoCnwwQAvD_BwE

there are lots of pros/cons to each radio. But this is a very solid choice if primary use is going to be for off-roading (ie, no digital functionality)

 

Awesome. Have any pictures where you mounted the radio?

 

I dont have a 3rd gen like you, but heres where I put mine. Keeps it out of the sun which some people seem to think can cause the screen to prematurely fail (i'm not sure about that but figured why not keep it out of sunlight if I can)

 

That's the same radio I've had for about 5 years. Excellent recommendation IMO

 

Yes, I just applied for my GMRS license last week. Don’t have a radio yet, though. I’m also reading and studying for a ham radio license I hope to get later this year.

 

Got both my GMRS and Tech license. Also got two handheld Baofeng GMRS radios and a handheld Baofeng ham radio to start learning with in the meantime.

Dittothat’s ICOM setup looks nice! One of the local ham radio club members has a Yaesu mobile ham radio that also looks good.