Convince me to get a GMRS radio

[Sunbeam63]

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?

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[MMMII]

Simply trail communications with others in convoy and spotter to cab communication.

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

I carry 2 hand held, use them wheeling on a hike or fishing with buddies. There are some real inexpensive ones available if you just want to give it a shot and see if you will use them. License is pretty cheap also, and it's good for the whole fam damily.

 

[Shadowmaker]

FRS is in the same frequency band I believe. Just pickup two quality handhelds and call it good.

 

[johnparjr]

We did handheld ones first then I installed a midland MXT275 MicroMobile® Two-Way Radio and like it alot

 

[Jefe1018]

Chicks dig em.

 

[sass JT]

I did the mxt275… a lot of my buddies are getting them… kinda like drinking beer… gotta have the latest! Lol

 

[TroutFishingInAmerica]

FRS is in the same frequency band I believe. Just pickup two quality handhelds and call it good.

This is probably the way to test the water and see if you want to dive in. FRS no license required, just open the box and go.
GMRS is same freq but with the license you get to transmit a little more power, interchange antenna, and use repeaters.
@Shadowmaker this is a good idea, pick up a couple FRS and play around with them and see how much you use them. If you eventually get GMRS you can use the FRS with it.

 

[Orange01z28]

I really like my Midland handhelds, but they eat batteries. I go through 2 or 3 in a day of wheeling

I am going to get a built in soon

Now, is there any reason to only get the 15W Midland as opposed to the 40W?

 

[sarguy1941]

Been running GMRS for years. Way before FRS and GMRS merged and messed everything up. Great for short range close use. As said if you don't need a mobile use a handheld. If you use it for more than trails and other stuff and decide to grab a mobile make sure you budget the $75 license fee in also.

For me 90% of my GMRS traffic is to family on my repeater. 10% on the trails. Jeep Jamborree now requires it so I was ahead of the game.

15watts vs 50 to me is nothing to worry about unless your using it for more than trail riding. I have yet to not be able o talk to anyone on my MTX275 including my repeaters.

 

[Timoleon]

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?

Well, I would recommend that you go with the mobile. Maybe a TYT 9800 or something like that. Get CHIRP on the internet and get ready to re-program that radio with GMRS/FRS frequencies. Also grab a few Baofeng BF-F9V2+'s for hand helds with the big batteries. Also re-program them with CHIRP. You will have the ideal setup. Just make sure you tune the mag mount or lip mount antenna. With that setup you can use the mobile in the vehicle as a repeater and really get some range out if it.

The 9800 is really a 4 band transceiver that will get you capabilities if you decide to get into ham radio. Just stay off the ham bands until you get your ticket. A good place to bone up on that is: http://www.qrz.com. Just got to the practice tests on the resources pulldown.

Remember, when you set this all up, you have to observe the power levels when you set up the FRS/GMRS frequencies.

 

[sass JT]

Did you guy see the mxt500 is supposed to be released here this January and the mxt575 in summer. Both are 50 watts… and expensive. I’m sure there’s other options too

 

[Radio Guy]

Well, I would recommend that you go with the mobile. Maybe a TYT 9800 or something like that. Get CHIRP on the internet and get ready to re-program that radio with GMRS/FRS frequencies. Also grab a few Baofeng BF-F9V2+'s for hand helds with the big batteries. Also re-program them with CHIRP. You will have the ideal setup. Just make sure you tune the mag mount or lip mount antenna. With that setup you can use the mobile in the vehicle as a repeater and really get some range out if it.

The 9800 is really a 4 band transceiver that will get you capabilities if you decide to get into ham radio. Just stay off the ham bands until you get your ticket. A good place to bone up on that is: http://www.qrz.com. Just got to the practice tests on the resources pulldown.

Remember, when you set this all up, you have to observe the power levels when you set up the FRS/GMRS frequencies.

The TYT 9800 is not FCC type accepted for GMRS, its an amateur radio only.

 

[Dakotaz]

Just got these from Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T9BCXVB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Two GMRS/FRS pre-programmed radios for $60 plus tax. The newer Baofeng radios are now locked out of the GMRS frequencies. The UV-5G above is FCC approved. Baofeng and Rugged Radios both got in trouble with the FCC on being able to program their old radios for GMRS.

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