Convince me to get a GMRS radio

[sarguy1941]

I have no whine or noise on my 275. My antenna is on a NMO mount on the left Mopar light mount, cable goes in thru the "clutch" hole on the drivers side and is cut to length and terminated with a Mini UHF with an adapter to the SO239. I'm guess I have 8-10' of cable tops. Power is ground cable to stud on right passengers foot wheel (factory ground point) and power is using the Ignition from the factory harness inside for the switches. My FTM uses the B+ from same harness and also no issues. I run the Larsen 1/4 wave on the NMO.

Sponsored

 

[Tim]

Interesting. As I mentioned I've had several radios in and out of my JT fed from several power sources with zero alternator or spark plug noise. It could also be some radios are on the light side of input DC filtering and that radio is just more susceptible to any ripple on the DC input.

I also have a 100w police siren in the truck where I use its electronic horn sometimes and also patch my ham radio audio through it to an under hood speaker. These sirens are usually sensitive to alternator noise and I have not heard any.

If your truck were here I would stick a DC noise filter on it as a test and also temporarily swap the radio for a different type run from the same power leads. If the radio turns out to be very sensitive to DC ripple, a high current filter with choke input and a large bypass capacitance should fix it.

Anyone else on this thread with the exact same radio that can comment on alternator whine?

Thanks for all the insight. I moved my power associated ground from the battery to the main ground lug on the passenger side fender. While I was tinkering I also ran a short ground from my antenna mount to a grounding lug on the driver side fender just forward of the cowl. I wasn’t able to test it much but audio to my HT at relatively short range was perfectly crystal clear. Definitely better than before by a bit. Of course in typical bonehead fashion I changed more than 1 thing so I don’t know which one or if both changes contributed to the improvement.

 

[Radio Guy]

Thanks for all the insight. I moved my power associated ground from the battery to the main ground lug on the passenger side fender. While I was tinkering I also ran a short ground from my antenna mount to a grounding lug on the driver side fender just forward of the cowl. I wasn’t able to test it much but audio to my HT at relatively short range was perfectly crystal clear. Definitely better than before by a bit. Of course in typical bonehead fashion I changed more than 1 thing so I don’t know which one or if both changes contributed to the improvement.

The antenna will not know you made any change but the coax shield at the antenna mount does go back to the radio chassis and can influence the ground on that. I suppose you could easily disconnect the new antenna ground leaving the radio ground the only change to see which one did the trick.

 

[Terry]

I’m interested in getting a GMRS radio, but I’m not sure if I have a practical use for it. I don’t anticipate going on trails with my gladiator, except for some level B’s in the Midwest.

I do hunting and will be doing circuit racing where I think a two way radio might be a benefit. However, I’m not sure if that’s really enough to justify it.

So, what reason should I tell my wife when a GMRS radio shows up from Amazon? Or alternatively, what do you use yours for?

We overland in Death Valley and other remote locations so I had a Midland 40 Watt multi-channel Micro Mobile 2-way with radio installed on ceiling molle and an exterior ghost antenna. I also purchased a Garman mini Satellite Phone mounted near the radio. Radio is directly wired to my factory aux. switches. Install was difficult, but not impossible and is not intrusive. My problem is and remains getting licensed for the radio by the FCC. I have gone on line and obtained the FCC registration number but for the life of me, cannot get the website to a point where I can pay the lousy fee and fet a license. I turned the radio on and it receives great and I made a test broadcast and it was returned by a tow company on that channel. If you know how to navigate the FCC website let me know.

 

[AKDrifter]

If you know how to navigate the FCC website let me know.

They say that getting your GMRS license is your reward for successfully navigating the FCC website. I'd do it on an actual computer and just be ready to spend 2 hours to finally get it paid for. It's hands down the worst designed website I have ever visited.

 

[Terry]

They say that getting your GMRS license is your reward for successfully navigating the FCC website. I'd do it on an actual computer and just be ready to spend 2 hours to finally get it paid for. It's hands down the worst designed website I have ever visited.

This has been my experience. Wife has two master degrees and she finally gave the screen the finger and turned it off.

 

[mx5red]

We overland in Death Valley and other remote locations so I had a Midland 40 Watt multi-channel Micro Mobile 2-way with radio installed on ceiling molle and an exterior ghost antenna. I also purchased a Garman mini Satellite Phone mounted near the radio. Radio is directly wired to my factory aux. switches. Install was difficult, but not impossible and is not intrusive. My problem is and remains getting licensed for the radio by the FCC. I have gone on line and obtained the FCC registration number but for the life of me, cannot get the website to a point where I can pay the lousy fee and fet a license. I turned the radio on and it receives great and I made a test broadcast and it was returned by a tow company on that channel. If you know how to navigate the FCC website let me know.

It’s been a while but I followed this and don’t remember having an issue going through it, just tedious. Maybe it changed since then.
https://www.notarubicon.com/how-to-...y-guide-to-gmrs-licensing-on-the-fcc-website/

 

[antwon412]

Decided to get my license tonight. Took maybe 10 minutes. Midland has a really nice walk-through on it.

 

[Terry]

It’s been a while but I followed this and don’t remember having an issue going through it, just tedious. Maybe it changed since then.
https://www.notarubicon.com/how-to-...y-guide-to-gmrs-licensing-on-the-fcc-website/

Thanks

 

[Terry]

Decided to get my license tonight. Took maybe 10 minutes. Midland has a really nice walk-through on it.

Thanks

 

[Tommydogg]

I used the link above a couple days ago and paid for my license, now I'm waiting for it. It took me about an hour of stumbling on a PC to get it.

 

[Tommydogg]

Where do you guys grab 12 volts in the cab if you don't have switches? The back of the 12v outlet?

 

[OHJeeper]

Where do you guys grab 12 volts in the cab if you don't have switches? The back of the 12v outlet?

In the past before AUX switches, yes:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08CD6QDRC?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

 

[prerunner1982]

I used the link above a couple days ago and paid for my license, now I'm waiting for it.

First name John, Last name start with a P? You a Junior or II? If so your GMRS call sign was issued yesterday. WRPK818

 

[ArmyMP]

WRPK966

Sponsored