Best Radio for Talking with Others in ORV Areas

[mbush91]

Looking for advice on a handheld radio that will let me communicate with the most others in ORV Parks / areas.

The wife and I are planning a few trips to test out the gladiator this summer and we are looking for suggestions on radios that would be good for communicating with others. Mostly just to say hi or ask for help if we run out of talent.

Cheers!

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[Gvsukids]

Looking for advice on a handheld radio that will let me communicate with the most others in ORV Parks / areas.

The wife and I are planning a few trips to test out the gladiator this summer and we are looking for suggestions on radios that would be good for communicating with others. Mostly just to say hi or ask for help if we run out of talent.

Cheers!

Doesn't matter, as long as you find out what channel people are on. We usually run a channel just for our own group

 

[I_Reckn]

GMRS radios are the direction everyone seems to be going. There are plenty of handheld models that will work for what you are planning to do.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

GMRS are certainly becoming more popular as they don't sound like shit. Good for carrying around if you just want a handheld. Good if you want to talk to a spotter outside the vehicle. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but super short range, at least from a handheld.

In my experience in the northeast/midwest the overwhelming majority of people wheeling still run CBs. That's as a hard mount setup, of course. Not as a handheld.

Best? 2m amateur radio. But it's only good if others have it too... And also, not hand held.

tldr GMRS. Technically need a license.

 

[IanNubbit]

GMRS are certainly becoming more popular as they don't sound like shit. Good for carrying around if you just want a handheld. Good if you want to talk to a spotter outside the vehicle. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but super short range, at least from a handheld.

In my experience the overwhelming majority of people wheeling still run CBs. That's as a hard mount setup, of course. Not as a handheld.

Best? 2m amateur radio. But it's only good if others have it too... And also, not hand held.

tldr GMRS. Technically need a license.

Someone can correct me too, but I thought GMRS was just the opposite and had massive range depending not the power of the radio itself?

 

[BlueScapegoat]

Someone can correct me too, but I thought GMRS was just the opposite and had massive range depending not the power of the radio itself?

That makes sense to me. CB is lower frequency, it should carry further and through obstructions better, was my reasoning. GMRS has a 50w max I think and CB something really low like 4 or 5 watts. I would guess most handheld GMRS radios are in that lower end.

I'm not an expert, and never used GMRS.

edit: I'm not advocating for CB either. I hate CB lol. It's just common.

 

[bleda2002]

Midland gmrs are really popular. Like 36 mile range on the hand helds depending on terrain.

 

[DocMike]

I like my GMRS. I can chat with @FR33DOM from 10 miles away. Most Jeep Jamborees are requiring GMRS. Yes you need a license, but it's $35 for 10 years.
I have mine mounted in cab and may pick up a few handhelds for spotting etc.
It's great for rounding up people when they come in from all over for a trip. Agree to a channel before. Then people can pick each other up and coordinate. Also great for wheeling in a group.
People chat on them and issue alerts to incoming traffic, bikes, hikers, horses....etc....
I went on my first off road trip in a group. Borrowed a handheld and then bought a GMRS that night.
It was one of my first mods.

 

[BlueScapegoat]

I like my GMRS. I can chat with @FR33DOM from 10 miles away. Most Jeep Jamborees are requiring GMRS. Yes you need a license, but it's $35 for 10 years.
I have mine mounted in cab and may pick up a few handhelds for spotting etc.
It's great for rounding up people when they come in from all over for a trip. Agree to a channel before. Then people can pick each other up and coordinate. Also great for wheeling in a group.
People chat on them and issue alerts to incoming traffic, bikes, hikers, horses....etc....
I went on my first off road trip in a group. Borrowed a handheld and then bought a GMRS that night.
It was one of my first mods.

That's a glowing endorsement for one. I have a Yaesu FT2900R ham and Midland CB in my TJ and I was going to get a FTM400XD ham for the Gladiator and maybe just skip the CB...

You've got me thinking I should get a GMRS too.

 

[DocMike]

I have even used mine when I was solo on Imogene.. Came across a group of vintage Toyotas.
25+ spread out all over Imogene. Jumped on their channel just so I knew when they were coming up. Got to hear about a punctured fuel tank and some other drama.

That's a glowing endorsement for one. I have a Yaesu FT2900R ham and Midland CB in my TJ and I was going to get a FTM400XD ham for the Gladiator and maybe just skip the CB...

You've got me thinking I should get a GMRS too.

 

[JTR178]

GMRS is the future but a lot of people are slow to adapt. Out of probably 15 rigs in my club at River Rock last weekend I was the only one running GMRS. Luckily I also had two handhelds so I was able to pass those out for spotting and relaying information everyone else was talking about on CB.

The sound quality and ease of handhelds may have caused a few people to consider them. Truckers have absolutely not switched over and will probably be the last to do so. I ran my vehicle mounted radio on scan for the 4 hour trip and never picked up any regular radio traffic.

 

[Dougstdig]

I also run a cb with the kit from Quadratec. I have a hard mount GMRS but haven’t hooked it up yet.

Which Kit are you referring to?

 

[Rattydude77]

Baofeng uv-5r is a great radio its a cb a scanner plus a radio I got the 2 pack on Amazon for the wife and I and they work pretty good but like anything do you own research

 

[sarguy1941]

So you mention talking to others then asking for help. I will say if you think you need help most radios will do nothing for you. A SPOT or other satellite communicator is what you need if your out of cell areas. they are cheap and monthly plans are cheap for emergency use. I run the Garmin Inreach and can send a text to a friend or call for help with the SOS.

As for radio, GMRS, CB, Ham are all dependent on what others have. Ask around your area. GMRS is becoming the go to but many areas are still firmly on CB. GMRS requires a license as soon as you put a mobile radio in. Thats $35 but not the end of the world.

In my area I have all 3 in my truck and it varies who is out on what radio they are using.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

That's a glowing endorsement for one. I have a Yaesu FT2900R ham and Midland CB in my TJ and I was going to get a FTM400XD ham for the Gladiator and maybe just skip the CB...

You've got me thinking I should get a GMRS too.

Why not just program the frequencies and codes for GMRS into the HAM and only carry 1 radio?

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