Radio Guy
Well-Known Member
The Baofeng UV-5R and similar radios work just fine on GMRS and FRS but they can be a PIA to learn how to get them programmed. I've had dozens of them dropped off here for me to program because the owners just can't do it. Once you do they are not legal by FCC rules to use on GMRS or FRS. But they are popular due to the cost (nearly free) and lots of people use them on GMRS.
OK, so I hardmounted a CB in my Gladiator because that was what everyone had 20 years ago, when I was last into wheeling. Come to find out, no one uses CB anymore, they all use GMRS. Fast forward 20 years, get my Gladiator, getting back into fourwheeling, but no one uses CB anymore. OK, so I poke around in this subforum and it seems like most guys are using these Baofeng radios, so I got two, a UV-5R and a BF-F8HP. Well, one group I wheel with uses FRS radios. I tune the Baofengs to their freqs and I can listen but I can't TX.
So to make a long story short, the Baofengs won't talk to FRS. I thought they were GMRS, they're not. I guess they're actually HAM, which in reality requires ANOTHER license, a different one, that requires a test.
How in the hell are you guys using these Baofengs? And since I have now bought THREE radios (including the CB) that are WRONG, how do I know the next radio I get will actually allow me to talk to someone when I go out fourwheeling?
Here's the noext one I'm looking at, will this work?:
https://www.amazon.com/Firmware-Radioddity-Digital-Transceiver-Contacts/dp/B096Q52LX9/ref=sr_1_34?crid=3TJWZJZSSPBMC&keywords=gmrs+radio+base+station&qid=1674511465&sprefix=gmrs+base+radio,aps,91&sr=8-34
Frustrated,
Darel
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