Oct 18-20: Anza Borrego Trip

For the newer folks, please get/borrow one of these:

 

garbage. Those radios always have problems. A good radio costs the same as a tank of gas...

 

Which do u recommend

 

I like the kenwood handheld. Its like $120 or something like that. Battery lasts 3 days on the trail, its rugged, and I've been using it for years with no issues.

There are other good brands too. But I've lost count of how many failed baofeng I've seen on the trail. One guy kept getting his hand shocked every time he transmitted Most guys have charging problems or battery takes a sht and doesn't recover. Some guys keyboard stops working

 

I bought same one @Sunnier recommended it has been used at all yet

 

which one is that?

 

The baofeng

 

well if you already have it then run wut u brung homie LOL

 

I guess I'll try it once and if it is shit I'll buy the one you said

 

Alex is right, there are far better options out there, but this one is good enough for 90% of us. The hand shocking thing...well, you get used to it.

 

I got the Kenwood like Alex, and I like the ruggedness, but it's not dual-band like the Baofeng and so it can't hit the race frequencies that are "legal" to use. If anyone in the group can't hit the race freqs, then the whole group has to use frequencies that require a HAM license.

Some of us will say "catch me if you can" but it's important for everyone to be aware of the situation when operating on licensed frequencies.

Also, if you want to buy one of those Baofengs, better get on it before September 30th - the FCC is banning their sales because they've become so popular among off roaders and other outdoor enthusiasts, and people don't know or don't care about the licensing aspect of their use. Basically the FCC is banning devices that can operate on both licensed and unlicensed frequencies in a single form factor.

https://survivalblog.com/baofeng-sales-ban-countdown-continues/

 

Lol! Yeah, I tell anyone wanting to join a Shenanigans day run to get Boefang because they’re cheap, and any comm is better than no comm. I know a few that come out will get hooked (@Challenger1 ), but most will keep their pre-dirt life priorities intact... and appreciate not spending extra money, plus they could resell it to the next new guy or gal. These are about to be a black market item.

Also, I’ve bought 4 and lost 2, one in the sands of Anza-Ocatillo, another loaned out and didn't get back. Easier to get over losing these than 2 more expensive.

All said though, I know Alex is right. I plan to get a Kenwood to mount in the Hulk, another Kenwood handheld at some point... and now that I have only 2 Boefang, I keep ‘em with me and my front seat sidekick. So I don’t care how y’all spend your money, but to do a trip like this with a lot of trucks, everyone having comms will make it go best.

 

if you really wanna nerd out on it, here's pages 41,096 through 41,144 of the federal register - https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2017-08-29/pdf/2017-17395.pdf

 

What are you talking about??? I can hit the race freqs with my kenwood

 

I've wheeled with guys that had to go the entire trip with no comms because their radio took a sht. What good is saving a few buck on tech that is not reliable??? I've never understood that mentality

 

It's like buying 5100s, then coilovers, then long travel instead of jumping straight into LT.

Think back to being new to wheeling - "ah idk if I'll like it, I just want to see what it's all about" - for $25 to get a radio that'll talk to like 2-3 trucks ahead and 2-3 trucks behind and work for 1-3 trips is a fine price to pay.
Then once you know you're in this and enjoy it upgrade to something better.

$100 bucks for a quality radio isn't a bad price at all, but there's sticker shock for someone who doesn't even have an air compressor to air back up at the end of the day. A LOT of new things are needed for the first timer/beginner.

 

You're absolutely right. Which is why I'm here trying to preach. Hopefully I can sway one or two guys into buying proper gear.

There really no excuse for being a n00b if you have someone with experience trying to help you.

Also, there a list of mandatory equipment for driving in remote areas. If you can afford or are not willing to get the minimums then stay home. I know I sound like a preachy old fart, but the trails are becoming littered with bad decisions...

I will say this though. When I bought my truck in 2013 I spent an entire year wheeling Anza solo with just my gf. But guess what??? I didn't hit the dirt until I was equipped with the following:

good tires
full size spare
air compressor
coilovers
shovel
sand boards (homemade 2x10 with diamond pattern routered in)
radios
paper maps
5 ga jugs for spare water and fuel


I had never done extended off roading in my life. But I approached this hobby like I do any other hobby, I did a little research and bought the proper gear. A good mtb helmet cost about the same as a good radio, but I wouldnt do my "hobby" without either of them..

 

are you talking about your mobile rig mounted in the truck, or your handheld? Our mobile rig can hit the race freqs because we modded them, but our handlhelds can't. Unless you did the MURS hack on the handheld too?

 

both. They both hit all freqs within their bands.

dash radio does all 2m and 10cm, handheld does all 2m and you can always buy the 10cm handheld and get the other freqs

 

All good points, Alex.

Thanks for the heads-up @KevinK ! I guess I'm out of excuses to put off getting a proper HAM license and radio.

 

Our handhelds (and all Kenwood handhelds as far as I know) can only receive in the race frequency range (151-154MHz). We can't transmit on them the same way the Baofeng do. I imagine the Kenwood handhelds can be hacked just like the dash mount rigs, but I haven't done it.

Specifically a lot of people use the Weatherman station at 151.625 since it's got a grey license for business use and everyone just jumped on it because it doesn't require a private HAM license. The Baofeng and PCI and Race Radios all hit that range without mods.

 

takes literally two min to hack the kenwood handheld kevin damn

 

took you longer to write that

 

Guess I'll have to look it up whenever I get my Kenwood handheld back from whoever I lent it to in AZ...

 

NON EXISTENT
The only bug problem might be a scorpion crawling into your sleeping bag at night if you are laying directly on the ground.

 

Fun fact: digging my buddy out of the sand on the diablo drop off I dug a scorpion out of the sand. Suckers are quick too! So be careful where you're walking (and sleeping).

 

that's why I don't sleep on the ground!

 

Uuuuuuhhhhmmmmm....

Where’s your RTT at traitor?

 

I heard you sleep in a box in the back of @osidepunker 's truck...