Convince me to get a GMRS radio

[Timoleon]

I'm not advocating this, but with a simple mod the 857 will go on GMRS. Not legal, but neither is the Baofeng.

I didn't want to get into that one. There are those Part 97 Nazi's that would have hopped all over it. The (ham radio) hobby is all about experimentation, so I am experimenting.....

Either way, I have comms that will come in handy to any off roader that may need help. I have moved away from So Cal (former member of SARC, Ridgecrest now in Las Cruces, DM62pj), so you will have to fend for yourself there.

Best 73
NH2BV

Sponsored

 

[hjdca]

I'm fighting interference on my MXT-275

After bout 30 min I start getting 19-22 unusable. Reran the ground to the battery but still there. Will do a power line next but really liked having it off the aux acc on line. Oh well. Hopefully that solves it or I'll have to see if it's the head unit it's self.

I am using the 12 volt constant power instead of the switched power from the aux switches. That power seems cleaner. Might want to try that.

 

[Josh00333]

Looks like I got it solved by going to that constant power line.

I am using the 12 volt constant power instead of the switched power from the aux switches. That power seems cleaner. Might want to try that.

 

[Art1]

I mounted antenna and radio today.
the radio is under passenger seat on a little bracket I made, we will see if it stays there.
I located the mic connection port near glove box and it appears to be an OK location.
The mic holder is right above it.
when the mic is detached and stored in the glovebox it is hard to tell that there is a mic port.

Nice Job with Mic, would like to know how the radio under passenger seat is working out? ( Pics if you have them)
Im in the market for a radio now and want to avoid cluttering my front dashboard so your idea is fantastic.

 

[Onefin]

Nice Job with Mic, would like to know how the radio under passenger seat is working out? ( Pics if you have them)
Im in the market for a radio now and want to avoid cluttering my front dashboard so your idea is fantastic.

I used the jeep last weekend and had a chance the test out the GMRS in a group setting, and I had no issues at all with the midland. I used the IGN on power supply wire that is in the aux switch wiring bundle under dash on passenger side For power. No interference or ground loop issues, etc. radio under seat seems good and I see no reason to relocate it. I’ll try and grab you photos. The little Ethernet cable I used as a bulkhead fitting is here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P88DKXH?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

 

[Josh00333]

Oh I like that thing! Thx. I’ll use it vs taping mine to the panel, keeps popping off.

 

[Art1]

I used the jeep last weekend and had a chance the test out the GMRS in a group setting, and I had no issues at all with the midland. I used the IGN on power supply wire that is in the aux switch wiring bundle under dash on passenger side For power. No interference or ground loop issues, etc. radio under seat seems good and I see no reason to relocate it. I’ll try and grab you photos. The little Ethernet cable I used as a bulkhead fitting is here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P88DKXH?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

Thanks for the link, I’ll check out the photos once you post them, and yeah most reviews are pointing to Midland GMRS radio for myself as well.

 

[ShastaJT6]

I mounted antenna and radio today.
the radio is under passenger seat on a little bracket I made, we will see if it stays there.
I located the mic connection port near glove box and it appears to be an OK location.
The mic holder is right above it.
when the mic is detached and stored in the glovebox it is hard to tell that there is a mic port.

I did this last night, and I love it. I removed the mount from the center console and tucked the unit into the dash, did the panel mount CAT6 with a 1.5ft cable, worked out great.

Question - Im noticing that when I turn my headlights on, I instantly get a ton of static on my radio. From some googling, it sounds like a lot of people have this as a result of interference caused by cheap led bulbs (which I totally have). Have you experienced any issues like this with your setup? If so, what did you do to address it?

Next time I have a chance to wrench, Im probably going to unplug my foglights and headlights and see if that fixes it. If I can confirm its the LED bulbs, I may go back to halogen until I have a chance to purchase some proper lights.

 

[Onefin]

My Jeep has factory LED, but I haven't used the GMRS with the headlights on.
I'll try and see if it happens to me.

 

[ShastaJT6]

My Jeep has factory LED, but I haven't used the GMRS with the headlights on.
I'll try and see if it happens to me.

Thanks! There's a lot of variables at play here, but I figured I'd ask.

Last time I used the GMRS I did use it at night and didn't have this issue, but I had a different antenna with the cable routed differently, and I had the unit mounted to the center console instead of in the dash.

I'm using the same power supply, and I don't think moving the unit ~18 inches threw it out of whack. My gut tells me that it's from the new antenna cable being routed along the firewall and thus being closer to the electronics in the engine bay (I used to just connect the magnetic antenna from Midland and route it out the back window).

Lots of google results of people having issues with LEDs causing interference on cb / gmrs. Will be a process of elimination when I have time to mess with it again, bunch my hunch is that the cheap LED lights are the source.

... That or I just want to buy new headlights...

 

[Radio Guy]

Thanks! There's a lot of variables at play here, but I figured I'd ask.

Last time I used the GMRS I did use it at night and didn't have this issue, but I had a different antenna with the cable routed differently, and I had the unit mounted to the center console instead of in the dash.

I'm using the same power supply, and I don't think moving the unit ~18 inches threw it out of whack. My gut tells me that it's from the new antenna cable being routed along the firewall and thus being closer to the electronics in the engine bay (I used to just connect the magnetic antenna from Midland and route it out the back window).

Lots of google results of people having issues with LEDs causing interference on cb / gmrs. Will be a process of elimination when I have time to mess with it again, bunch my hunch is that the cheap LED lights are the source.

... That or I just want to buy new headlights...

Its not the LEDs that make noise but high frequency switching power supplies that feed them. There is some RF radiation from the power supply circuit but much of the interference travels down the power cable to the LEDs and back to the battery and that becomes the antenna which radiates it.

I've had good success snuffing out VHF/UHF noise from home LED lightning using snap on ferrites, the little roughly 1 1/2" long by about 3/4" wide jobs in a #43 mix or Laird 26 mix. You need about three in series over the power wire to the power supply as close as you can get to it and if there is any cable between the power supply and LED you probably need some ferrite on that side also. If you have enough slack in the wire you may get by with one ferrite if you can wrap two or three turns of wire around it before snapping the lid shut.

 

[Free2roam]

https://rockytalkie.com/
https://backcountryaccess.com/en-us/p/bc-link-two-way-radio-2-0
I have the BCA ones for snowboarding in the backcountry. Thinking about getting the Rocky Talkies.

 

[ShastaJT6]

Its not the LEDs that make noise but high frequency switching power supplies that feed them. There is some RF radiation from the power supply circuit but much of the interference travels down the power cable to the LEDs and back to the battery and that becomes the antenna which radiates it.

I've had good success snuffing out VHF/UHF noise from home LED lightning using snap on ferrites, the little roughly 1 1/2" long by about 3/4" wide jobs in a #43 mix or Laird 26 mix. You need about three in series over the power wire to the power supply as close as you can get to it and if there is any cable between the power supply and LED you probably need some ferrite on that side also. If you have enough slack in the wire you may get by with one ferrite if you can wrap two or three turns of wire around it before snapping the lid shut.

Lots of useful info here, thank you!

 

[willhonkforparts]

Chicks dig em.

You sonofabitch, I'm in.

 

[OHJeeper]

Question for the group: does placing a GMRS antenna (or any antenna, I guess) near the AM/FM antenna cause any issues? I saw a pic of an antenna mount on the cowl on the passenger side near the stock location and it made me think there may be some kind of feedback, EMR or some other reason why you should not do that.

I am considering mounting mine there, but wanted to make sure one way or the other!

Sponsored