HAM vs GMRS radio question (which radios?)

[Medical_Bartender]

I know radio talk can get deep quickly so will try to keep it simple. I've had my HAM license for about 8 years and never used it much since where I lived in Louisiana was relatively dead. I recently picked up my GMRS license for use on wheeling trips but am getting back into HAM now (still very much a novice) and the locals seem fairly active near where I'm located in Colorado currently. I have a Yaesu FT60 handheld but am wanting to step up to a mobile unit in the jeep and am trying to decide which route to go.

I have narrowed it down to a few options and could use some advice..

I can try to find a used Yaesu FT-857D for a decent price (not likely) and have access to all stations.

OR

I can get the Yaesu FT-891 and Wouxun KG1000G+ and have access to the full spectrum.

OR

Yaesu FTM-500DR

What would those in the know regarding radios suggest?

Sponsored

 

[jav_eee]

Do you really need HF in the jeep? If so I’d just go with the 857 and mars mod it for GMRS (booooo I know “it’s not part 95”)

You could also go with a vhf/uhf and mars mod it to save a bit of money if HF is not that important to you.

either way I’d get one with a detachable face/head to make installing it easier.

 

[GWolgamott]

Depends what's used where you are at really. When I was young it was CB radios in my area now almost no one uses that here. Now GMRS but only use it for private channels really when with other people.

 

[Dickster]

Depends on where you go. If you are a guy thelat goes off by yourself way off grid HAM with a mobile tower. If just using it to talk with people on the trails GSMR.

 

[Medical_Bartender]

Realistically, no, I do not need HF in the jeep at all. I mostly want it because I like to tinker, enjoy monitoring chatter, and having the ability to talk with whomever is out there.

I'm thinking get the KG1000G+ now to cover GMRS for offloading and just use my FT-60 handheld for HF with a ball mount. If I find I want to use HF more then maybe consider a dedicated HF rig.

I think that makes the most sense after talking It out. Would be easy to get the 857D but unfortunately they are hard to come by with most in the 600-700 dollar range having the lines in the display issues which I don't want to deal with.

 

[Josh00333]

GMRS is probably the best for Jeeps or general off road. Then I would say 10m.

CB is still widely used depending on your area.

So GMRS dedicated and dedicated 10m set to work on 11m (cb) is probably your best bet. At least that's what I can filter out in all the noise (and there is a LOT of noise in the HAM/CB/GMRS world).

@Radio Guy

 

[Figmo]

I'm not a Ham - but I've got that Wouxun and it works fine for what I use it for (vehicle to vehicle communication when in a group). I don't connect to repeaters or anything advanced like that.

Though lately, I'm considering adding a ol' fashioned CB (either mobile or a hand-held).

I was recently stuck in mile-long traffic on the interstate due to a semi hauling bee hives that flipped and released about a million bees onto the highway. Before learning that, I tried to use the GMRS to see if I could find any info on what the delay was. Scanned all my channels, nothing. Broadcast requesting info on a few common frequencies, nothing.

With a CB I would have just used channel 19 and almost certainly would have caught some chatter about the accident. So I'm not sure CB is "dead" quite yet. But certainly less commonplace.

 

[GI Grandpa]

Do you really need HF in the jeep? If so I’d just go with the 857 and mars mod it for GMRS (booooo I know “it’s not part 95”)

You could also go with a vhf/uhf and mars mod it to save a bit of money if HF is not that important to you.

either way I’d get one with a detachable face/head to make installing it easier.

Here in Colorado, GMRS works well on the trail if you're only trying to talk to other vehicles you're wheeling with. However if you wheel alone, not recommended by the way, HAM will allow you to hit repeaters, send a message if you're in trouble, etc. Some trails have monitored GMRS frequencies, mostly down in the San Juans, but otherwise, once your out of cell phone coverage, HAM or a personal satellite communications device like a Garmin InReach or SPOT is your best bet. Also, here in Colorado, Colorado 4x4 Rescue and Recovery use amateur radio. Colorado 4×4 Rescue & Recovery – We Recover the Rockies

 

[Tx Trail Runner]

I'm in Dallas and had a HAM license for over 10 years. I have been on and off with 2m & 440 activity. I've got several HT's of FRS and Bofwrong radios.
But, I just took the bullet this Last Black Friday and got a Yaesu FTM-500. I love it!!! It's a hugh upgrade from my Kenwood TM-D700.
I love the SD card option to program the radio (or backup) without buying additional programing cables, however I did buy the RT Systems software to enter in all the frequency's that I want to use.
I love the 20 channel scanning ability on the 2nd band, while maintaining a main frequency.
I also like the GPS receiver in the headunit so I can hide the radio body out of sight. My head unit is Velcro mounted to my dash.
I did pair the FTM-500 with Comet CA-2x4SR Vertical antenna, I went NMO with a side lip mount on the hood.
I recommend the FTM-500 for your ride!! you can't go wrong with it, IMO.
Happy Trails,

73,
W5DJK

 

[K7WWA]

I installed both the FTM-500 and the FT-891 in my Gladiator. I used a LIDO mount that bolts to the passenger seat front left mounting bolt. The LIDO mount is designed to hold both the FTM-500 and the FT-891 control heads.
i mounted the radio assemblies to the black material that is the wall behind rear drivers side seat. Where the storage pouch is located. Behind that area you will find a multi hole air vent. I was able to fish two coax cables out of the vent. My VHF/UHF antenna is mounted on top of the metal frame that is over the bed. If you don’t have one of those then you can run the FTM-500 coax along with the DC power cables through the drivers side firewall grommet. Assuming you are driving an automatic, the clutch pedal rod uses that hole. There are several companies that sell NMO antenna mounts that use the existing bolt on the side of the cowl to mount a VHF/UHF or GMRS antenna. Speaking of the DC power wires, I was able to pry back the plastic cover that is right next to the doors, it’s kind of an arch and I ran the DC power wires in that area, the wires are fully protected. HF antenna, well that depends on how your Gladiator is configured. I’m using a Screwdriver antenna that is bolted to front drivers side frame that goes over the bed. For clearance reasons the tall HF antenna needs to be mounted on the drivers side.
Good luck with your installation, I’ve been in this business for many years, both in the industry and in the military.
George
K7wwa

 

[Radio Guy]

I would avoid the Yaesu FT-857, they worked ok in their day but its a pretty old radio now. If you just want 2m/70cm on amateur plus GMRS and are willing to break some rules the FTM-500 will work well for both services and its nice having a single radio do it all with the limited space in the truck. With that said I have three radios in my JT with a two control heads on a RAM mount and the third radio has a hand held control head. Its very busy in the cab.

If you want HF that's a bit more complicated for antenna placement to get good efficiency. A newer radio like the Yaesu FT-891 or equivalent will do everything, 2m/70cm/HF/CB/GMRS in one package but of course you have to consider anything outside the amateur bands is breaking some rules. Another thing I've found with one multiband radio for everything is it can only do one thing at a time, that's why I have so many radios in my truck.

 

[msiminoff]

Hey there @Medical_Bartender

Lots of great advice so far.... Here's my 2¢:
I'm a long time HAM and live in an area with an active HAM repeater & talk network, and I also participate in several off-road groups that exclusively use GMRS on the trail; so I want to have easy access to multiple bands (70cm/2M/GMRS). That said, I have never once needed to use both HAM and GMRS at the same time, and for me it doesn't seem practical to have multiple radios installed in my JT. It's my preference to have one radio that covers all of the bands.

IMO, the FT-857D is not worth what they're currently selling for, and the FT-891/Wouxun KG1000G combo means owning/installing two radios, so... no.

My suggestion would be to choose one of the following:
1) The FTM-500DR is a great radio. So if you've decided that you want a proper, hi-power mobile radio, and you have the budget for it, then go for it! Another benefit of getting the 500 is that you can then use your FT-60 as a HT at camp when the Jeep is turned off and/or you can hand it to your spotter when they step out of the vehicle to guide you on the trail.

2) On the other hand, since you already own the FT-60, the most economical option would be to pick up an external mic' and antenna, a DC power cord, and maybe a dash mount (I use the stuff from Anvil) and treat it like a mobile radio.

Of course you would never ever want to do the MARS mod to either of these radios , because that would not be FCC compliant. So whatever you do, don't watch THIS VIDEO about the FT-60 or THIS VIDEO about the FTM-500DR There is is I warned you Don't do it

Seventy-three!

 

[cranbiz]

I run a FTM-200 in my JT. It works really well and is a 50W radio and is a System Fusion radio.

I will neither confirm or deny that my FTM-200 might have had a MARS mod done to it.

 

[Radio Guy]

I run a FTM-200 in my JT. It works really well and is a 50W radio and is a System Fusion radio.

I will neither confirm or deny that my FTM-200 might have had a MARS mod done to it.

I have a Yaesu FTM-400DR, Icom 706MKIIG and a Harris XG-100M in my JT. The Yaesu is dual band, Icom is HF through 70cm and the Harris is 30-870MHz. I can monitor four freqs simultaneously if needed and drive the wifee insane.

 

[jav_eee]

drive the wifee insane.

this is the fun part, in my opinion. Now I need more radios.

Sponsored