(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best cb & two-way radios

There is /r/cbradio, but I pretty much just googled everything. I bought these items and I'm pretty happy with them:

Uniden 520XL - Nice, small, cheap radio

Cigarette Lighter Power Adapter

K40 Magnet Mount Antennae with wiring - it is 15 feet of wire so that should be enough to go from the trunk lid to your dash.

SWR tester - this is to test your SWR and make sure the antennae is tuned properly, it also comes with a jumper wire to connect to your radio

If you need help with anything let me know. The CB has been very helpful on I-75, but on Daniels in Fort Myers and Golden Gate Parkway in Naples I have not had any success getting traffic updates etc. which I expected, but it's definitely super helpful on the interstate.

How far away is your closest repeater according to RepeaterBook etc?

To use a 4W HT (doesn't actually emit a full 4W BTW) in your situation you may need to resort to making a Yagi beam antenna. Something like this https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/9ggxhr/2m_yagi_v2_with_improved_feed_point_and/ though I'm not sure I'd recommend my exact plan for making one. (It works but it's a bit shoddy and doesn't fold up.)

A J antenna is also good and is omnidirectional but also involves getting at least 2m of coax (it's not a handheld antenna design, though it's easy to make with twin lead "tv antenna" cable and some cutting/soldering), some twin lead cable, and some SMA connectors.

Getting a 25W or better "mobile" (car type) UHF/VHF radio like https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-Band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V/ with a reasonably well elevated J antenna is also an option that isn't too horribly expensive if you don't want to "QRP" around with 4W.

You might also want to use this http://www.hillmap.com/ as an easy way to figure out if you have any hills between you and repeaters around you. (This will show you a profile in a line between point A and B, but doesn't do radio propagation modeling. For that there's some other software called Radio Mobile.)

But basically even the best whip antenna isn't going to make it that far with a 4W HT unless you're on top of a mountain or something.

At that budget level, you're going to be looking at more budget oriented radios from the likes of Baofeng, TYT, QYT, Leixn, and the other assorted Chinese manufacturers. The one you mentioned is not a bad choice, so let's run with that...

• Radio - $128.86
  
  
• 8Ah SLA battery - $17.77
  
  -or-
  
  
• 20Ah SLA battery if you don't mind the extra size and weight - $38.00
  
  
• Battery charger - $21.85
  
  
• You'll need an antenna. I'm guessing you don't have a vehicle to attach a mobile antenna too, so I'd recommend something that attaches directly to the back of the radio, like this antenna. I actually have one and it's surprisingly decent for the price. - $12.99
  
  
• You'll need a right angle PL-259 to BNC adapter to properly attach this antenna to your radio - $7.49
  
  side note: For a mag mount antenna, the Tram 1185 is a good cheap option at $21.63
  
  additional side note: Neither one of these antennas I mentioned is tri band capable, they're dual band 2m/70cm only. Tri band 2m/1.25/70cm antennas are considerably more expensive. Unless there's regular 1.25m activity in your area, you may wish to reconsider your need for having this band.
  
  Total: $188.96 or $209.19 if you choose the 20Ah battery option.
  
  Use whatever is left over for a case. A nice Pelican will probably consume the rest of your budget. Or you could go down to your local sporting goods store and browse the handgun cases there. You'll probably be able to find something good for $15-30 and have a few bucks left over. I found this 4 pistol case at my local Sportsmans Warehouse, it's cheap, reaonably well built, and is a pretty good size. I can fit a small army of handheld radios and associated paraphernalia in mine, so it should be big enough to hold a mobile rig plus battery.
  

I need help choosing my first radio. I want to get it just after my exam in late December (after Christmas) so that I can order it right after I get my license (hopefully!). I've narrowed it down to 4 radios. I'm on a bit of a budget, so that's why I'm going really cheap.

1. [Baofeng UV-5RA] (http://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV5RA-136-174-Dual-Band-Transceiver/dp/B009MAKWC0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408887006&sr=8-)
   
   
2. [BaoFeng UV-5RE] (http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Band-Improved-Stronger-Enhanced-Features/dp/B00C83AU9S/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1408887006&sr=8-5&keywords=ham+radio)
   
   
3. [Baofeng UV5R] (http://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV5R-136-174-400-480-Dual-Band/dp/B007H4VT7A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408887006&sr=8-3&keywords=ham+radio)
   
   
4. [BaoFeng UV-5RB] (http://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-UV5RA-136-174-Dual-Band-Transceiver/dp/B009MAKWC0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408887006&sr=8-1&keywords=ham+radio)
   
   This list is in no particular order but I would prefer to get the UV-RE because I want the emergancy alerts and the flashlight (I'm not sure if any of the other ones have those).
   
   I have also found what seems to be a [good, cheap antenna] (http://www.amazon.com/NAGOYA-NA-771-Antenna-BAOFENG-KG-UVD1P/dp/B00BY3XN7E), an NA-771, but I would like to know if there are any better, cheaper ones out there that connect to the radios I stated above.
   
   My price range for everything is about $45, but I will go to $55 if I have to. I would also be open to any better radios out there that are within my price range. Thanks in advance for your help!
   
   Tl;dr - I need a $45 radio and I need you guys to help me decide on one, or lean me towards another one.

Yeah. I'll admit. I did my research about the Baofeng radios. I was going to get a couple of these. But I read somewhere that the UV-B5s were improved and much better.

I initially thought to myself, "So I'm getting an improvement on something that was a piece of junk. So I'm getting a piece of junk that is slightly better than the other piece of junk."

I was completely wrong. Sure, I use my Yeasu FT-7900 when I'm in my Jeep. But when I'm at home I use the UV-B5 exclusively to hit the repeaters nearby. I'm in Charleston, I can hit the USS Yorktown repeater, both MUSC repeaters, a 70cm repeater down the road a piece and another two meter repeater 'round the way a bit. These are great radios.

I've also used these radios helping out with hour annual bridge run, they did great.

FRS is legal for business, its basically a 'citizens band' and can be used by anyone for anything as long as they obey the legal limits of frequency and power etc.

HOWEVER, if you use it then, you can't get mad when kids in their backyard are interrupting your radios and you hear them come out of your speakers when talking to customers. They have just as much right on that frequency as anyone else so keep that in mind.

But, if you want really cheap and for just in-building use then FRS or GMRS is probably fine. Lots of businesses use them ok. Make sure you get some that have PL/privacy codes, that can help quite a bit. FRS/GMRS radios would probably be much more likely to work if you were using them in an area where there is not much in the way of housing such as a business district or downtown etc.

The Motorola MS350R/MT350R's are pretty much the best radios available these days if you go the FRS/GMRS route.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004PGM9PO
https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MT350R-FRS-Weatherproof-Two-Way/dp/B0072LAAA0
https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MR350R-35-Mile-22-Channel-Two-Way/dp/B001UE6MJ8

They also support hand-mics, ear mic's and other accessories which might be handy in a work environment like you describe.

I completely agree, I just can't justify the cost in relation to the radio especially for something so simple.

A good compromise however could be to take something like this https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-BF-S112-Two-Radio-Speaker/dp/B008RZ0EQ0/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=btech+speaker+mic&qid=1568889384&sprefix=btech+speaker&sr=8-8

And modify it. You get a decent cable with a moulded plug on one end and you can cut the speaker and mic from the PCB to add cables for a pc

If you use something like this https://www.amazon.com/noot-products-Auxiliary-Headphones-Smartphones/dp/B07HCPVG4W/ref=sxbs_sxwds-deals?keywords=3.5mm+audio+cable&pd_rd_i=B07HCPVG4W&pd_rd_r=76ea0ba8-57fd-45ad-9e37-e7f0fca4871a&pd_rd_w=LLsMg&pd_rd_wg=79o50&pf_rd_p=7958e92f-adc8-4d7f-bef4-1e7fb156ae05&pf_rd_r=B2NC2EE005TNRJGV7F3V&qid=1568889703&smid=A3FSIWTA4211F2&sprefix=3.5

You can cut it in half and use the halves for the pc side of the cable

Skills required are basic hand tools to take apart the speaker mic and cut the wires for the speaker/mic, and basic soldering to make the 4 connections for the pc cables.

You get mostly factory quality cables with only a DIY join in the middle with a bonus PTT button to debug things.

Should be roughly half the cost of the APRS cable. And if you want to be adventurous you could add switches to retain the original function. Though that would take more skill and thought into the mod.

But as you say different people will want and will do different things and that's perfectly ok.

(It's shocking how much baluns and ununs cost compared to the components, I built a balun for my dipole, probably cost about £5 total compared to £40 for one online)

I went with the very affordable Baofeng option that was brought up in a thread a couple weeks ago. You can manually program it or program it from a computer using free software (/u/theman00 has been posting .csv files for all drivers/broadcast channels that you can upload directly, all at once). This radio IS a transceiver, but you can disable the transmission capabilities. 127 programmable channels that you can assign the driver or broadcaster names to. I used mine at the Indy 500 and it was great.

CHIRP is freeware that works really well for programming this and many other radios.

Amazon links below:

radio

headphone adapter

USB Cable

Note: Programming it with the USB can be finicky because Windows will continually try to update the driver to a newer version that isn't compatible with the chip. Its an easy fix, but you'll have to go into the device manager and roll back the driver to the older one. Instructions Here

Edit: added link to CHIRP software

I don't think there are any decent dual-band mobiles in your price range. The closest I know of is the AnyTone 5888UV for around $250 that also does GMRS frequencies.

http://www.amazon.com/AnyTone-Transceiver-AT-5888UV-Amateur-Radio/dp/B00B1F7IEE

What might work and be in your budget is a better antenna for your HT and a mic. This could be a better HT antenna (also search for "tiger tail") or a mobile antenna. You're going to have problems getting a good ground-plane on your bike, so a 1/2 wave mobile antenna may work best.

It's often better to fix a transmitting problem with a better antenna versus more power because a better antenna also helps your receiving.

What's your budget? :-)


For starters I'm a big fan of the btech units. I recommend a dual band or a tri band unit. I've been using this and it's quite good:


https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-Band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V/

They're not bad for $130.


However, make sure you:

• get a triband or dualband antenna! I have a Comet dual-band vertical antenna on my roof for 2m/70cm FM operation.
  
• get a decent 13.8v power supply for home! I picked up the analog meter version of this a couple years ago and run almost everyone on my desk from it: https://www.amazon.com/TekPower-TP30SWV-Digital-Switching-Supply/dp/B00L2K263Q/ . It's $140 but it's well worth the money.
  
  • but obviously i only transmit from one at a time, purely to not burn out the power supply.
    
• get good coax! For VHF/UHF you wanna get LMR-400 to minimise loss over longer distance coax runs.
  
• get a SWR meter that'll do VHF/UHF as the output amplifier will overheat and burn out if you run it into a badly matched antenna. I er, burnt out the dual band version of the above when I got my technician ticket - I was used to more spendy radios that have mismatch protection (ie, reduce output power) but this radio doesn't.
  
• get the PC programming cable for it.
  
  Once you get more familiar with the radio-y bits you can look at the kenwood, yaesu, icom, alinco, etc VHF/UHF units. There are some very nice ones but you want to know what you're doing so you don't make them unhappy. It's better to learn that on a $130 radio.

Sounds like an HT would be a good first addition.

• Baofeng UB-82 - Dual band HT, great for local communication, repeater access, etc etc. You can also monitor other public service frequencies/weather band. $37.50
  
• Handheld mic for the Baofeng - Nice if you keep it on your desk in a charger, or if the radio is clipped to a bag or something, you can still access the mic (it's also a speaker). $6.37
  
• USB Programming Cable - Easily program memory channels with your computer. $20.46
  
• Upgraded antenna for the HT - This one is pretty big, plenty on Amazon of various size which will vary in performance, but anything should be better than the stock antenna. $16.99
  
  Well that's $81.32. Remaining could be spent on an extra battery, a power cable for the car etc etc.

TYT TH-9000 is an "OK" monoband rig, but the PA gets damaged when it overheats. OTOH, it can run 60W and it has a nifty D-sub connector that can interface with controllers and such.

I'm currently using the BTECH UV-25X4, and I've been pretty happy with it for 1.25M use.

Either of these are about half of what the Alinco rig costs, but the Alinco is a higher-quality radio than either.

Add a 3-element Yagi to an HT, and that can work pretty well on the 1.25M band, too.

Yes, that's the one. I came to this thread with the intent of recommending any UV-5R variant and someone beat me to it. I have 8 of them and use them on a weekly basis. I prefer these myself https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Band-Transceiver-400-520MHz-65-108MHz-Upgraded/dp/B00YMN0SCG/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=uv-5r5&qid=1569739224&sr=8-3 because of the choice in color but they all do the same thing.

So far my personal record for clear communication is 11.68 miles with the "stock" antenna and 14.74 miles with a longer whip antenna. People love to bash these things but for the money they simply cannot be beat. Myself and my friends use them kayaking, backpacking, rockclimbing etc and you can purchase AA battery packs, 12v 40w amplifiers for your vehicle, etc, all kinds of accessories and modifications are possible.

Edit for spelling

The Anytone mobile rigs are really good for the price, and supported by CHIRP for programming.

https://www.amazon.com/AnyTone-Transceiver-AT-5888UV-Amateur-Radio/dp/B00B1F7IEE/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1542630873&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=anytone+at-5888uv&psc=1

And the tri-band version if you have a 220 repeater in the area.

https://www.amazon.com/AT-5888UV-III-Tri-Band-136-174Mhz-400-490Mhz/dp/B07DZKH6G3/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542630913&sr=8-3&keywords=anytone+at-5888uv+iii

I have the dual band AT-5888U and I love it, it is my favorite mobile rig for the price, full featured and easy to use and program. Comes with the programming cable and a mount for the remote head.

For mobile 2m/440, I simply picked up a unity gain TRAM NMO mount mobile antenna https://www.amazon.com/Tram-140MHz-170MHz-430MHz-470MHz-Dual-Antenna/dp/B00IDTJ2KE/ with a trunk lip mount. I'm sure you could quickly find a NMO lipmount or front hood mount or fender mount. It's an unobtrusive short antenna that I easily hit repeaters with upwards of 50 miles away on 5 watts (I live in a valley so the repeaters are all line of sight on mountaintops.)

If you're looking more for HF antennas, your options grow narrower since it can't be "ugly" and HF antennas, even the loaded coil hamstick types, tend to be fairly conspicuous. A self-tuning antenna is the best compromise in those situations (e.g. a ATAS-120A). But I think you're looking for a normal VHF/UHF antenna.

I have seen antennas mounted between the cab and bed, and I cannot speak for their loss, but I imagine it's best to get it on the roof of the cab or on the edges of the vehicle somewhere for optimal performance.

There is something that these guys, who are responsible radio amateurs, aren't telling you. I myself am marginally responsible and would rather see you get interested in radio as a hobby than play it all by the book.

So, I will tell you that although everyone is right in telling you your radio is not a CB, in my opinion it's better than a CB. It's the awesomest walkie-talkie ever! By that, I mean that it can likely be programmed (or might even already be programmed) to operate on the frequencies that typical walkie-talkies operate on. That means those little Motorola/Midland/Cobra/Uniden radios that you, our friends, and everybody has, can possibly talk to that radio. They are operating on a band called GMRS, which can be good over much greater distances than typical walkie-talkie distances with real antennas and some power. The difference between your radio and the walkie-talkies is that they put out 0.5-2 watts of power, and your radio looks like it does 10 or 25 watts.

To be clear, operating on the GMRS band technically requires a GMRS license (except for a few channels it shares with FRS, where you can transmit up to half a watt bla bla bla bla), even though virtually no one who owns those walkie-talkies ever gets the license. And there may even be some additional restrictions about power level in mobile stations etc. whatever.

To get operating, you would need:

A replacement whip for your antenna, which probably originally looked like one of these. Or just a new antenna. There are much shorter ones, too. Just note that if you get the whip only, it's very important that it is "tuned" to your frequency of operation, in this case "GMRS", or 462mhz. That means the wire is exactly some fraction of that frequency's wavelength, such as 1/4 (most common), and some other electrical engineering hand-waving.
To program your radio, with
A programming cable, and
the programming software
*the service manual will be helpful I hear.

The bummer is that it seems the programming software is extremely proprietary. So it'd have to be programmed by somebody who does that stuff - a dealer of those Motorola radios, for example.

If you can't find somebody to do that but this has been intriguing for you, consider getting an inexpensive radio that's a ton more versatile and think about getting a license to talk with us amateurs!

The first one is a nice unit--probably overkill if you want something cheap. As for the second one, I'd spend a few more bucks and look at this one instead: https://www.amazon.ca/Uniden-PRO520XL-40-Channel-CB-Radio/dp/B00004VXNI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1551057210&sr=8-9&keywords=cb+radio especially if you are going mobile with it. That ANL filter makes a huge difference on the road.

I don't know about nowadays, but uniden used to make really good radios. I have one that's over 30 years old and still works great!

+1 just get a new magmount with the proper connections that can handle 50W. (If you are not yet prepared to drill a hole...which is the "best" option).

Personally a huge fan of getting an NMO magnet mount and an NMO antenna.

• Mount: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00II89A3O/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d
  
• Antenna: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IDTJ2KE/?ref=idea_lv_dp_ov_d
  
  The total cost is about $30. Why go this route?
  
  

1. You get a good NMO magnet mount capable of a larger antenna if desired (Ive used the exact mount with a beefy 40" antenna with zero issues).
   
2. You get a mount with NMO which is a standard mobile mount, compatible with many antennas.
   
3. You get a good dual band antenna, which is also an NMO mount.
   
4. If you get a permanent or lip mount in the future, you can use this antenna since it is NMO. I personally have done this very thing, and have this antenna as my primary VHF/UHF antenna on an NMO mount on the roof of my SUV.
   
5. If you get a permanent or lip mount in the future, you can keep the NMO base and use it for road trips in rental cars, the spouse's car, etc.
   
   Basically, you get many options down the road.

If it's not in your camping gear already, firestarting gear. In particular a fire steel, since they can't get waterlogged. It's late spring early summer, but if you really kill the jeep offgrid, exposure can still sneak up fast.


I'd also recommend some kind of radio. Vehicle mounted would be the best, but that requires more knowledge, time, and money to set up. Regular FRS/GMRS 'walkie-talkies' is also good to have, but range is limited. For a 'cheap insurance' option, the baofeng uv-5r variants are cheap and powerful hand sets. I'll link some gear below. Keep in mind, these are HAM radios; you need a license to use them normally, but you won't get in trouble if you have to send out an urgent mayday if you're in danger. The range is much better on these thing over CB; before you take it out, pop on some YT vids about how to program in frequencies, and lookup local freqs that are used for emergencies.


https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Band-Transceiver-400-520MHz-65-108MHz-Upgraded/dp/B00YMN0SCG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=uv5r5&qid=1556650528&s=gateway&sr=8-1


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=psdc_764460_t1_B071JR2LZK

in better news, I tried https://www.amazon.com/VICTOR-JVC-EP-FX9M-B-Spiral-Earpiece/dp/B00JSLXNOC after the comply disappointment, and the spiral dots are basically perfect. they were still a bit of a pain to install, but once I got them on, they made isine sound the best I've heard them. I'm very happy with isine now.

>JVC Spiral Dot

Does the JVC spiral dot fit the Shure SE 215? One person mentioned in the reviews for the Medium size one (red packaging) that they slide right off.

Is it possible you can share the link if none of these will work with the shure? I like the existing comply but some people mentioned that the Spiral are a bit superior in comfort and sound.

https://www.amazon.com/VICTOR-JVC-EP-FX9M-B-Spiral-Earpiece/dp/B00JSLXNOC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527276918&sr=8-1&keywords=spiral+dot+earpiece

https://www.amazon.com/JVC-EP-FX9MS-B-replacement-earpiece-spiral/dp/B00Q2I15E4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527276918&sr=8-2&keywords=spiral+dot+earpiece

https://www.amazon.com/VICTOR-JVC-EP-FX9S-B-Spiral-Earpiece/dp/B00JSLXOLE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1527276918&sr=8-3&keywords=spiral+dot+earpiece#customerReviews

You might want to look at something like a hamstick dipole then. They're pretty easy to put together and should just clamp to your balcony railing. Just populate them with a couple of fiber whips like your 3ft firefly, tune up and key up. And when the skip is rolling you can turn it sideways and you're ready to go.

Edit: Here an example of one used for pop up operating.

I have four Baofeng UV-5Rs. They use Kenwood plugs. I have one of these, and it works well, but I prefer not having my ears covered just so I can hear better, so I currently run one of these and I love it.

Radio Coaxial Mount Antenna Spring
The mounting location is actually really nice, and it was very easy to set up. If you want a more detailed explanation, I'd be happy to give one.

Hello!

Thanks for the advice! I should have posted some references to my hardware.

My current radio is base station with 50w on high.


BTECH MOBILE UV-5001 (Gen. 3) 50 Watt Dual Band Base, Mobile Radio: 136-174mhz (VHF) 400-520mhz (UHF) Amateur (Ham) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EG665FC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ScXiyb5NRNPXT

And here is my current antenna, the UT 72.


Authentic Genuine Nagoya UT-72 Super Loading Coil 19-Inch Magnetic Mount VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna PL-259 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016SIJX28/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_BdXiybMX1PMRZ

Here is the TB 320A I was having my doubts about having as an upgrade

Authentic Genuine Nagoya TB-320A Fold-Over 39-Inch PL-259 Mount Tri-band 2m/1.25m/70cm (144/220/440 MHz) Antenna, Includes NMO - UHF (SO-239) Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B8OXDJ6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oeXiyb70YG4BF


Again thanks for the help! We usually transmit between 155-160mhz at work, so taking what you just taught me about the 160mhz, i guess I should be considering a different antenna?

Since you mentioned talking with local hams while riding a bike:

Baofeng UV-5r

External mic

This antenna mounted to a metal plate on a rear bike rack, or this antenna and you can just strap the radio to a back pack or your belt.

And you'll need a programming cable.
Use Chirp to program in all of the local repeaters as well as the 2m calling frequency and any other freqs you might want to use.

I didn't do the math, but that's well under $100 (probably around $50 in fact). You can also use the mag mount antenna on your car for mobile ops, I've been doing this for a while, and it works great, but I am finally upgrading to a real mobile with a more proper mobile whip.

I posted in another thread but here's my setup. With it, I can listen to the broadcast AND flip to any of the driver's channels. Super cheap.
> You can buy a baofeng UV-5R on Amazon for $30, a programming cable for $8, a headphone adapter for $10 and just program it every year. This is my setup. It works well and I'll be posting the file you can import into this radio. I usually use over the ear protection over my headphones.
Baofeng UV5RA Ham Two Way Radio 136-174/400-480 MHz Dual-Band Transceiver (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009MAKWC0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_VtVhzbHQ6NMNG
BTECH 2 Pin to 3.5MM Adapter with Push-to-Talk Button (Adapts 2 Pin BaoFeng/Kenwood/BTECH Radios to 3.5mm Headsets with in-line Mics) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019YJMRZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_bsYAluLHSuWOJ
Baofeng Programming Cable for BAOFENG UV-5R/5RA/5R Plus/5RE, UV3R Plus, BF-888S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CP0I474/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_tvVhzbM7VNDGE
I'm not sure my link for the actual radio is the cheapest on Amazon. Also the programming doesn't let you transmit so no worries there!

https://www.reddit.com/r/INDYCAR/comments/6bmhxv/scanner_rental_questions/dhrl7wl/

I'll also add at Indy you can listen to several channels including the radio broadcast, the track PA, track officials, etc.

If you're talking about this, it's a pretty good deal.

However, I would recommend this card instead. $670 is a good price for a 1080, and the cooling on this card should be more than sufficient!

Sure thing! Sounds like a fun project.

You could pick up one of these and modify the cable, it would be a bit easier.

haha, plenty of good info out there, the link I posted before is a good start for Americans.

For Canadians, basic grab and go radios (FRS/GMRS) are common - giving a quick search on Canadian amazon gets me this: https://www.amazon.ca/Midland-LXT500VP3-22-Channel-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B007B5ZPGG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494969916&sr=8-2&keywords=gmrs+radio

Tactical black, takes headphones, very cheap (cheaper per radio than a Baofeng!). Should be perfect for airsoft IMO.

If you want more power, you'll have to get your whole team certified -
general info: http://www.eham.net/newham/howtobecome
Canadian gov: http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf01862.html http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/025.nsf/eng/h_00006.html

You'd only need the "basic" qualification, that gets you all frequencies above 30 MHz (most handhelds are between 140 MHz and 500 MHz, or higher). 50 MHz and below is how you talk to the other side of the world, but that's when you start needing antennas high up that are 3-80 meters long.

For airsoft, this certification is pointless unless you want to use your UV5R legally.

Gecko45 is that you?

You'll be the guy/girl at work that is "too good" for the standard equipment and your coworkers/boss might react badly. Do you really want to be "that guy"?

FRS frequencies are 0.5 watts from a handheld, not 2 watts. You'd be using 10 times the legal power. It also means the battery will go dead 10 times faster while transmitting.

MURS would go through walls better then FRS. CB would go through walls better then MURS, but CB needs an 8 foot tall antenna to be efficient so it isn't practical.

My suggestion, get this: https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-MURS-V1-Manufacturing-Personal-Business/dp/B075VBP9YG/

It is the only Baofeng that is type accepted by the FCC for MURS. It's also cheap.

You won't need the programming cable as these are set correctly for MURS out of the box.

Amazon has trouble keeping them in stock because they are powerful for a handheld and US-legal without a liscense.

It will only work to other MURS radios, so you'll want 2 of them.

Here are some pics of mine. I run an Icom ID-880H and Yaesu FTM-100DR and love them both. I am running the I am running the Diamond NR73BNMO antenna on the ID-880H and get great range on it. On the FTM-100DR I'm currently running the Tram dual-band because I cheaped out. Don't do that. I will be swapping it for a Diamond NR770HBNMO this weekend.

Check JVC SpiralDots too. They're amazingly comfortable. Sound great. Bit pricier tho.

Most free flight guys I know use the 2m ham band. You need to be licensed in the US to use these things.

Most frequently seen: http://www.amazon.com/Yaesu-FT-250R-Amateur-Transceiver-Desktop/dp/B004H5MSNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395337840&sr=8-1&keywords=yaesu+ft250

New champion due to price: http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-Dual-Band-Improved-Stronger-Enhanced/dp/B00C83AU9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395337899&sr=8-1&keywords=baofeng+uv-5r+plus

Most of the PPG folks use FRS radios. Something about the motor itself seems to cause interference on the 2m band.

One big thing that no one else has mentioned is that even if all of the staff did get amateur licenses, you cannot use amateur bands for commercial purposes. I would strongly consider a MURS radio in your case if a commercial license won't be considered by your employer. I use MURS radios frequently and I've had a lot of luck with them. Check out this handheld: https://smile.amazon.com/BTECH-MURS-V1-Manufacturing-Personal-Business/dp/B075VBP9YG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524595798&sr=8-3&keywords=MURS+radio

You may also have luck dealing with a local company that can sell you better radios. We use commericial Kenwoods that have been locked to MURS Blue Dot.

Getting a better antenna is well worth it. I went from only having two or three miles range to having 15 with a better antenna. I got the two antennas listed below when I ordered my Baofeng.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C4ZBM38/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTQ4A6M/

Yes, if he also gets the BNC adapter, I ended up getting the adapters for my Nagoya. much easier to change to another antenna like http://www.amazon.com/Original-Hypario-Antenna-baofeng-Sma-Female/dp/B00DTQ4A6M?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00 with this http://www.amazon.com/2pcs-coaxial-coax-adapter-female/dp/B00CVQK466?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s02 and this http://www.amazon.com/Valley-SMA-Male-BNC-Adapter/dp/B00AWELKJE?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

'inexpensive' and 'built into goggles' is not going to happen.
What is 'cheap' to you? $20/$50/$100/$200?

Hands free is the other part that jumps from cheap to expensive.

The basic answer is something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-16-Mile-Channel-Battery-Two-Way/dp/B004RG0YMM/ref=sr_1_3
but they don't meet your requirements, other than cheap.

The quality answer is something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/BCA-RL-10000-Backcountry-Access-Link/dp/B00HZLMHFS/ref=sr_1_1

US skiing? You don't happen to have an FCC license for HAM radios do you? That could be another option.

Yes. MFJ makes a thing to make it easy https://www.amazon.com/MFJ-347-HAMSTICK-DIPOLE-MOUNT-HAMSTICKS/dp/B00KGHZ2FU . Others have said efficiency drops as you fall in frequency below 14MHz; this is a function of the mobile whip's relatively short length.

Did you have that specific stock antenna on it or the older one that didn't have the tapered base? I've seen multiple measurements backing up the newer tapered base (as in OP's image) has NO difference to something like a Nagoya NA-701. The older Baofeng antenna, that looks like this, was definitely shit.

Of course if you put a longer antenna on with more gain you can do better.

If you are looking at those cheap radios its worth concidering and takeing a look at some murs radios instead. Will cost a bit more for 2 radios but have some pros over FRS walmart radios (in my opinion so many answers to whats the best radios/frequencies seem to be "it depends")

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-Use_Radio_Service

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075VBP9YG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_jJ9zDbXD08PSN

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JCTH8FB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_GO9zDb5PXQQRM

My recommendation also is licence free.. if you dont care about being licensed or want to get required licenses then there are other options

I've never used them on a bike, but why not use whatever the old Motorola talkabouts are called these days? Not voice activated, but they work great for short-medium range communication.

​

Hey, look at that, they are still called "Talkabouts":

​

https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-T100-Talkabout-Radio-Pack/dp/B01DM7AESK/

Something like that, but those don't appear to have anywhere to loop a tether through.

I have something like this

The range they list is a joke, but you'll certainly be able to hear each other at the distance of a length of rope. And some local baby monitors too.

Family Radio Service (FRS) walkie-talkies are an improvement over CB's with less interference and good range. Here's a pair on Amazon for less than $25.

To transmit without a license you need a GMRS/FRS or MURS radio.

To use the Baofeng's you'd need a Amateur Radio license since they are not certified for use on GMRS/FRS or MURS bands. Transmitting outside of those bands or with improper equipment brings big fines if you're caught. On the other hand, the Amateur Radio licenses are cheap and only require passing a fairly simple test. - basic electronics, fcc rules, etc.. It takes a up to a few weeks to actually receive your callsign. You and your friends should look into this in the future.

Well at least you won't run into any rust on it, but i'm curious, what other issues does it give you?

On the antenna front, the firestik NGP setup just relies on the quarter-wavelength of coax to be the "ground plane", though it's really more of a counterpoise at that point. This would require the coax to be straight mostly and not coiled up, a challenge with the ~9 feet of coax it will take.

Another option is to get a 3/8th stub dipole mount and two firestiks or other CB whips. One to be the hot element, the other to be its counterpoise.

Are there particular models that this would apply to?

From a comment on Hacker News:

> The trouble is this thing: "BaoFeng BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen) 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio (136-174Mhz VHF & 400-520Mhz UHF) Includes Full Kit"[1] This cheap radio is sold as a "ham radio", and requires a ham license. Large numbers of non-hams are using it in the GMRS service at higher power levels than allowed. It's popular with "preppers", even though it's not very rugged, is complicated to use, tends not to put out as much power as claimed, and the battery tends to come loose.[2] The FCC's concern is that it allows 8 watt blithering over a wide range of frequencies by people with no clue how to use it properly. There are GMRS radios made for hunters which are much more suitable for wilderness use - waterproof and easy to use.[3]
>
> [1] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MAULSOK
>
> [2] https://offgridsurvival.com/baofenguv5rv2review/
>
> [3] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004PGM9PO/

• https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18098689
  
  Should I be ordering a bunch from Amazon to stockpile them? :)
  

The sound of two doors opening at once was heard. Not from their vehicle, but the only other one in the parking lot. The sunglass wielding hikers with faces that must of been the most hardass hikers ever would begin walking towards them. One had two black dufflebags which they'd try to place in the trunk. If it was locked, he'd give it two taps.

The other had a thick, fat black suitcase. While the trunk thing was being worked on, suitcase man would gently tap on the glass of the passenger seat to get the attention of one or the other. He'd place the suitcase down on the ground next to the door before walking away without a word while removing his, 'I love Ashton' hat.

He'd get into their parked car along with his ally once they were done with the trunk.

--

Assuming Eve looked at the suitcase, they'd see there was a yellow note on it reading, 'Gift'. If the two were to open it, they'd find the following. Two AR500 Ballistic vest with one a bit smaller than the other, two smaller boxes with a surprise inside,
and lastly two more smaller packages. They'd have a pair of charge-able radios in one and a pair of ear pieces in the other. There'd be a noticeable lack of serial codes on everything...there were even two pairs of gloves. Particularly thick ones at that. If the two knew much on finger prints, such gloves would significantly lower one's fingerprint information on any given surface.

Lastly, a note was inside with the address to a warehouse with a printed picture of it. If they tried to track the printer that printed it at a later date, it wouldn't work as there was no hidden or 'invisible' serial code on the print out.

--
---
--

/u/Shimme

Sure why not! There is a little of everything in this hobby for everyone and if you find it fascinating then its already for you. Unfortunately you need a little time to learn the material to get licensed. It takes roughly 10 hours of studying to pass your technician license. As for money you can dump loads of cash or spend 50$ and get on air. What would your price range be? You can pick up a 30$ Baofeng UV-5R or a little more expensive $170 Yaesu FT-60R which from what I've heard is a tank and a very good starter radio.

Note: This was posted by a new user (/u/Stafamanos).
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Url (amazon.ca): https://www.amazon.ca/EVGA-Optimized-Baseplate-Backplate-08G-P4-6583-KR/dp/B01M4FMZYI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501447316&sr=8-1&keywords=gtx%2B1080&th=1

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What is the difference between all the different versions of the 1080? I look at this and there are ten different options with different clock speeds. How do you pick the best one?

Do you have a favorite pair of earphones or headphones with a mic? I’ll follow up based on your answer.

EDIT: Wasn’t trying to be cryptic. Just having a hard time locating the item I bought: BTECH 2 Pin (K1 Connector)

The cabling is a bit... delicate? But I only use it for events. I just like that I can use my own headphones + mic with it.

> Motorola MS350R'S, they come in a 2 pack with a base station charger for about $100 U.S.

Amazon has them for $67 and change... OP you need to be buying these, they are only a couple bucks more and way way easier to use. We do NOT!!! recommend you buy the BF-888s unless you plan to study for and earn your amateur radio license. Which admittedly does open up a lot of other cool things to do besides talking to your buddy on road trips, but I'm sticking to basics for now in this reply.

https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/wiki/comparison

What country are you in? If in the US and want license-free use, you've got three choices: CB, MURS or FRS.

MURS might be best for forest use. You can also use it mobile with a magnet-mounted antenna on a vehicle. Here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-MURS-V1-Manufacturing-Personal-Business/dp/B075VBP9YG

I think the first question you have to answer here is: do you and your wife have tech licenses? If not, then it's illegal to transmit on a UV-5R. Now, having said that, there are unlicensed two watt radios available for about $50.
https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-MURS-V1-Manufacturing-Personal-Business/dp/B075VBP9YG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536072575&sr=8-3&keywords=murs+radio&dpID=51OLUMHUYpL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
They also allow external antennas like the UV-5R. Two watts might be able to get out 30 miles if you are, as you say, transmitting from an elevated position. At any rate, it's hard to imagine 3 more watts getting you there if it doesn't.

My opinion, this is all you really need. My team made speaker mics the standard because they are cheap, effective and simple. The guys on my team who have been in the Army/Marines said this is how they used comms and it worked for them. Also My Radio is a BaoFeng Uv-5r. It's cheap and has never failed me.

Something like MURS might work but is limited to a 2-watt power limit.

http://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Alert-Wireless-Handheld-M538-HT/dp/B013XQMPSM

Edit: You could always use a simplex repeater between sites to help extend the range.

To add to this, OP is looking for FRS/GMRS radios. These(and radios like them) are typically sold alongside sporting goods, and do not require a license to operate in the US unless you plan on increasing tx power or running a repeater.

I am actually playing with APRS on my Baofeng GT3. I have had some success using this adapter to send packets.


Receiving has been hit and miss so I am creating a custom 4 pin cable with a couple 480 Ohm resistors in the Mic and Speaker lines.


I have read that this can help with reception.


Take a look at the resources I have been using:


https://willbradley.name/2015/08/09/aprs-via-rf-cable-for-connecting-aprsdroid-to-a-baofeng-radio/

http://www.qsl.net/w6dps/APRSDroid.html


http://lordkalma.ycorn.pt/baofeng-computer-interface-for-packet-aprs/


http://k6vhf.com/baofeng-and-aprsdroid/

You could also use the top of the microwave as the counterpoise.

You could also take two Tram 1185 elements (which are available without the magnetic base on Amazon I see), plus a dipole mount (there are certainly cheaper options available) and have a full dipole going.

I've been looking at the BTECH's. Have these two saved to my Amazon list:

https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525470026&sr=8-1&keywords=btech+mobile+transceiver

https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-MOBILE-UV-50X2-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XK83VRV/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1525470026&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=btech+mobile+transceiver

I have the GMRS version of this radio - it's a pretty good option for someone who wants an affordable, legal, and type-accepted MURS radio but doesn't want to mess with programming radios and all that:

https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-MURS-V1-Manufacturing-Personal-Business/dp/B075VBP9YG

https://baofengtech.com/murs-v1

I've used a couple of these for a few years now, and am happy with their performance... Less than $20.

Tram 140MHz-170MHz + 430MHz-470MHz Dual Band NMO Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IDTJ2KE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kU7VCb0262D9F

Does the headset the radio come with work?

If so make sure the adapter is seated in the radio all the way, you may need to trim some of the plastic off of the adapter if it doesn't fit.

I use this one and it works great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019YJMRZS/

What certified HTs? If you don't buy an old business band unit, there's like two on the open market, and one made exclusively for and sold exclusively to Wal-Mart. The others are the Motorola RMM2050 and the Dakota Alert M-538 HT which doesn't give me great vibes about ruggedness. They perform fine, though.

Agree.... any FRS Radio should be good for the use.

Or Part95 GMRS radio, and keep it on the FRS channels and power level down to half a watt to stay legal (Which is plenty of power for comms. within the same building).

Example: https://www.amazon.com/Midland-LXT500VP3-22-Channel-24-Mile-Range/dp/B007B5ZPGG

The pair I ordered had me initially worried as they look and feel very plastic but I have used them over a year and a half now without any problems. Looks like the price has gone up during that time.


https://www.amazon.com/Dakota-Alert-Wireless-Handheld-M538-HT/dp/B013XQMPSM/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=dakota+alert&qid=1573098937&sr=8-4

I spent about $90 total, and put this Nagoya half wave on to this 5" mag mount and it's working really well for me.

Edit: I forget to add these coax adaptors which are useful for all sorts of applications

Sweet I might try these out. These, right? https://www.amazon.com/VICTOR-JVC-EP-FX9M-B-Spiral-Earpiece/dp/B00JSLXNOC/ref=pd_bxgy_23_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=34452FMC52YD4Q5VSTHZ

First if you get a gtx 1080 from amazon or new egg, get an EVGA card, because those have international warranties.

amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M4FMZYI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

new egg:
https://www.newegg.com/global/au/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814487318

https://www.newegg.com/global/au/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814487381
(1080 ti if you want it)

For the Baofeng, I have one of these adapters (probably bought on Amazon). It works well with any TRRS headset, and comes through as mono-in-both-ears. It works reasonably well with earbud headsets up to a gaming headset.

I didn’t know where else to ask... My job has me wear a standard PTT Radio—something like this. Is there a way, through cable wizardry, I can connect audio from my phone to the headset so I can hear both the PTT radio and maybe a podcast or something? I was thinking of getting a Y splitter and one of these. Would this work?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01DM7AESK/ref=psdcmw_2230642011_t2_B007B5ZNV8

These are the ones I have I believe, they were gifts so I didn’t buy them but I’m 95% sure.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BYMKKT4/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1396099175&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40

I made the job easier for you

Uniden PRO520XL is pretty damn affordable, compact, and gets the job done well. I mounted mine below the radio.

Have you tried something like this?

BTECH 2 Pin (K1 Connector) to 3.5MM Adapter with Push-to-Talk Button (Compatible with 2 Pin BaoFeng, Kenwood, BTECH Radios to 3.5mm Headsets with in-line Mics) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019YJMRZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_znq3AbEBVW52N

If neither of you are licensed (and are in the US), then look at something that is labeled either FRS or MURS.

https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-T100-Talkabout-Radio-Pack/dp/B01DM7AESK/

Perhaps something like this.

I personally just got [these walkie-talkies] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007B5ZPGG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) from Amazon for next to nothing and they work fine for the distances at D14.

What about operation of websites? Can I host a website that advocates a specific candidate? What if there are no web servers that cost less than 50 dollars? Does that mean I have to use a third party to host my site instead of hosting it myself?

What about the operation of a CB radio? Those don't cost anything except electricity and the radio itself. If I buy this radio could I only spend $10 dollars in electricity for it? If I buy this radio does that mean I can't use it that year for candidate advocacy?

What about buying a printer to print my fliers? Do I have to limit my spending to printers under $50?

Pros:

1. Cooler GPU for overclocking, which equates to more headroom for overclocking.
   
2. Lower noise emissons.
   
3. The ability to redirect heat away from the inside of the case, preventing GPU/CPU heat contamination between the two, so it could potentially lower CPU temps.
   
   Cons:
   
4. More expansive in terms of price to next GPU up. Eg. Aircooled GTX 1070 = $460
   Liquid cooled GTX 1070 = $580
   Aircooled GTX 1080 = $600
   So in short, you would want an AIO card, the amount you would spend on a AIO 1070, you're better off getting a 1080.
   
5. Possibility of a leak.
   
6. Pump noise can be obnxious to certain people.

The Baofeng isnt type certified/capable of airband use or type certified for FRS/MURS frequencies. You first need to decide what freqencies and modes you are looking to use. If you are not a ham, you are limited to FRS, MURS and the airbands ( Part 87 Subpart B of Title 47 )

I would suggest something like what ICOM has to offer with bluetooth in the airbands, the IC-A25C or, snag a GMRS license for $70 and program your baofeng for those frequencies and get a speakermic with an earpiece port.

EDIT: If you are looking to use your Baofeng, I think i found a 3.5mm ptt adapter that will work. Snag a GMRS license and get this thing from Amazon.

Okay, hrm.

Nope, not knockoffs. They're the real deal. Cheap, only FM, and if you break it you get another one.

Check out the anytone for just under 300 dollars if you're going new. Only does VHF/UHF, so if you're asking for HF let me know instead.

http://www.amazon.com/AnyTone-Transceiver-AT-5888UV-Amateur-Radio/dp/B00B1F7IEE

If you find a radio capable of all that across the different bands and able to power itself in the mentioned price range I'd genuinely love to know what it is as I've been throwing my money away piecing it together.

My main go to radios are the Eton scorpion II which receives AM/FM/NOAA broadcasts in addition to being an extra flashlight and phone charger. I've had this for months and have not had to charge it yet(crank nor USB), the solar recharge has kept up with my usage just sitting opposite a window or on my dashboard when driving.

https://www.amazon.com/Eton-NSP101WXGR-Scorpion-Portable-Multi-Purpose/dp/B00WS6SKTM

For communication I have a cheap baofeng uv5r5 requires a ham license to use which is max $15 to test for and a few hours of study. It works on ham frequency ranges and also receives NOAA (edit: and FM) stations and has another built in flashlight.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YMN0SCG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498753670&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=baofeng+uv-5r5&dpPl=1&dpID=51Iz2MzNWNL&ref=plSrch

For truckers would think you'd want a citizens band radio with no licensing requirements. I had one of these in the early 90s which would pick up some traffic but from what I gather reading online I don't think they get nearly as much traffic and can probably glean just as much information hitting local repeaters as you travel. Hammies are always giving updates on weather and driving conditions while mobile, at least in my area.


For emergency channels (again as far as my area goes) many emergency response have switched from analog to digital broadcast which means analog sets like the baofeng can't pick up the transmissions. I think you'd need a scanner or type of radio they use whatever that is.

I have other cheaper backups but those two aforementioned radios are my go to. My eton keeps itself charged and I can charge my baofeng through other means.

Edit: and of course I'm still not finished in what I want as far as radios go. At some point down the road my next radio related purchase will probably be something with shortwave reception capabilities.

I have some of the Baofeng's for MURS. They aren't bad.

If you have an amateur radio license, it is legal to use in the amateur radio bands.

If you don’t, Motorola T100 Talkabout Radio, 2 Pack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DM7AESK

To answer your spintfit vs spiral dot questions, I just went back and forth with both and between those I would say I prefer the spiral dots. I got these ones in medium.

However, I still much prefer foam tips over both. The foam is not only more comfortable to me, but I also think it really controls and softens the treble more than both of those. With those other tips if I listen to particularly bright track or a sibilant prone track, it can still sound a little too harsh and sibilant. But with foam tips I don't hear that at all. I am now doing an A/B test using my switch with Andromedas and I can EQ the ZS6 to sound really really close.

https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-UV-25X4-Tri-band-Mobile-Radio/dp/B06XCDWT6V

[This] (http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-GMR1635-2-Channel-Battery-Two-Way/dp/B004RG0YMM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=19XIKAS79AJYG&coliid=I1ARU13LG9F5LI) would equal more road trips with more people!

Would this work for what I need?

I ended up returning my PBPs but these are the ones I tried...


VICTOR JVC EP-FX9M-B Spiral Dot Earpiece (Size M / 6 pcs) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JSLXNOC

How does $30 sound?

UV5R uses the Kenwood style connector. You can get a speaker mic that has a 3.5mm output. When you plug a headset into it the built in speaker turns off.

I use one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019YJMRZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_F3gBybGGPVN1C

​

You can plug in a set of iPhone earbuds with mic and it allows you to hear and transmit.

I just purchased this radio and this antenna for my car.

Do I need anything else? I intend on ordering the cable, CD, and chirp soon.

Any people here in the SoCal/San Diego area?

http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PHSP5-8-Inch-Outdoor-Speaker/dp/B002UL0WH8

http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-PRO520XL-40-Channel-CB-Radio/dp/B00004VXNI

http://www.amazon.com/Pyle-PFA300-90-Watt-Amplifier-Adapter/dp/B0071HZ5LE

That's a really really expensive 1080, you can get a 1080TI (or, or) for that price. Or a liquid cooled for way less.

Would this work? It appears to list the proper frequency range. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YMN0SCG?aaxitk=LrP93b.UwJoogNyzcXvbfQ&th=1&psc=1

Use a handset with a headphone jack?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008RZ0EQ0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

this one.

It's a cheap mag mount

This one > https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTQ4A6M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I had a similar situation when I leased my Honda Fit.

The Anytone AT-5888UV that I wanted came with a detachable head. I had to get the remote mount separately though.

I got a gooseneck mount. You loosen the bolt of the passenger seat, and tighten that down on the gooseneck mount.

I attached the faceplate to the remote mount. I did drill a couple holes in the flat plate that came with the remote mount so I had holes that lined up with the gooseneck mount clip. I used a normal cat5 computer cable to connect the faceplate to the actual radio.

The radio pretty much just went under the passenger seat. I meant to fasten it with velcro or cable ties, but it pretty much stayed put on its own since it was connected to all the other cables.

I used a magnet mount antenna on top of the roof. I was always paranoid that it would damage the paint, but I found that each time I took it off to get it washed that I couldn't tell where it had been.

To get power to the radio, I got a tap fuse that fit the fusebox underneath the steering wheel on the driver side. I got the fuse from a local auto parts store, so the one I have might be different than the one I linked, but it looks very similar. For ground, I just loosened a bolt near the fusebox and got an o-ring connector for the ground wire.

I wanted a convenient place for the speakermic to live. I ended up putting some velcro on the back of it, and some velcro on top of the radio faceplate. I had a very large velcro target on the radio so I could easily holster the speakermic without looking.

The audio was a bit weak on the speakermic, so I ended up getting an external speaker as well. I had that just sit in the center console.

All the cables in question pretty much stayed out of the way once I tucked them in at the edge of the carpet. The car I had was a stickshift, and the radio could be positioned in such a way that I could use the shifter no problem without encroaching on the space of the person in the passenger seat.

I don't know that I have any pictures of the setup in the car. I am hoping to sell this car soon so I've recently taken it all down. There's absolutely no evidence that there was a radio in place ever. The tap fuse just pops out, the two bolts needed to be loosened and re-tightened, and the magmount left no marks. All the wires came out no problem, and the car is still as good as new.

I'd take two approaches on this: high tech and low tech. Low tech I'd pick up a signal mirror. High tech I'd suggest this radio that I know a lot of preppers use. It's a good price and feature packed: http://amzn.com/B00C83AU9S

I dont know why you dont want your radio to have distress beacon/emergency frequency capabilities, that is a very standard feature most FRS radios will have.


I can assure you the Motorola MS350R is plenty heavy-duty enough for your needs, it is also waterproof and comes in camouflage or yellow. They're even on sale on Amazon right now.


http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MS350R-35-Mile-Talkabout-Waterproof/dp/B004PGM9PO

Are EVGA 1080 acx 3.0 -->hybrid<-- cards such as [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Support-Graphics-08G-P4-6286-KR/dp/B01M4FMZYI/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1479830404&sr=1-1&keywords=evga%2Bgtx%2B1080&th=1) affected by this issue?

I have never measured SWR. Is trim used literally? As in cut the antenna?If it matters, here is the antenna I have: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00IDTJ2KE/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Get one of the Baofeng speaker mics. They come with a normal headphone socket so you can stick a decent pair of heaphones in them. The earpieces you tend to get for these things are absolute crap.

http://www.amazon.com/BAOFENG-Speaker-MIC-UV-5R-5REPLUS/dp/B00BYMKKT4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408659661&sr=8-1&keywords=baofeng+speaker+mic

Amateur/ham radio operators monitor and participate in the SKYWARN Network of North Alabama/Southern Middle Tennessee. Here are two Huntsville frequencies I monitor during bad weather:

KB4CRG: 147.240

KB4CRG: 442.775

Here's a $24 ham radio on Amazon.

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