I was one of the lucky ones to be in the first pre-order batch (15 people, if I recall) for the Clearview Goggle Receiver. It arrived today, I got it installed, and just got back from flying Tiny Whoops indoors.

Some more info:

• Installed on Fatshark HD V2 Goggles
  
• The install was pretty easy, but I ran into some issues with the adhesive as it stuck to my fingers a little. I used some shoe goo which is why you see some gunk on the goggles if you look closely. I was in a hurry when I installed it.
  
• They give you an extra adhesive strip (and ribbon) which I probably should have used.
  
• I am running two Lumenier antennas with some simple SMA right angle adapters.
  
• I used these antennas because they recommend using the same antenna type. I may also try using two directional antennas. But these seemed to work really well.
  
• There is also a controller that goes in the head tracker bay. I'm not really sure what it does, but that's why you need the ribbon.
  
  Positives:
  
  
• Wow, the image quality is fantastic. It seemed tons better than my diversity. I will get some video up hopefully today from flying that shows the difference between my True-D, the ClearView goggle receiver, and another guy I flied with using the ClearView ground station. I think it beats them all.
  
• Easy install. The cover fit my goggles perfectly
  
• Easy to use. I didn't have any instructions going into this, but it was easy to figure out the menus. They have some videos up on the Youtube channel that I should probably watch more of.
  
• Tons of features. Band Scanner, lost quad finder, etc. I can see the lost quad finder really useful. They just made a video on how it works, which is really cool. You need a directional antenna, and it makes sounds that help you find it.
  
• The module seems to run cool. I had it on for a good hour today, and I notice any heat at all. It seems to run cooler than my True-D.
  
  Negatives:
  
  
• The price isn't fantastic. A little over $300 if memory serves correctly. Comparable to the pricing on the ground station, so not a big surprise.
  
• The fan is a bit loud.
  
• No external interface. I got used to using the screen on the True-D receiver.
  
• Pushing the button on the antenna to use the menus is a little awkward but I got used to it. Fortunately, the menus aren't too hard to navigate.
  
  Video will be coming soon! I am going to fly in a soccer dome on Tuesday night, which had even worse conditions than what I flew today. That will also be a good test.
  
  Edit: I just made a crude video and published. Enjoy!
  
  

Ok, First, you should read. There's a lot of information available online, but this is a good physical reference:

https://www.amazon.com/ARRL-Radio-License-Manual-Spiral/dp/1625950829/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541695126&sr=8-1&keywords=ham+radio+license+manual+2018

Second, a repeater is a station that takes in a signal and rebroadcasts it. Usually it's at a much higher power or better elevation. Elevation, power, and quality of antenna can all make a difference in average distance. Frequency can also make a difference. The radio you're looking at is a 2 meter band / 440 meter band radio. It broadcasts in the VHF (Very High Frequency) range and has a lower range than something in the HF (High Frequency) range. That probably means nothing to you right this moment because you don't have any context to base your knowledge on. But that should give you a couple terms to google.
The next thing you have to know is what repeaters are in your general area. That's a tough one. I am lucky enough to have some awesome ones in my area maintained by some really knowledgeable people. A good reference for what repeaters are in your area is here:

https://www.repeaterbook.com/

Third, the antenna. I got this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541695485&sr=8-3&keywords=nagoya+na-771

It works well.

The way I get that much range is that one of the better repeaters is within 30 miles of my house and is both line of sight and I'm in it's range pretty much all day. Line of sight to the repeater can also make a difference. I'm sure others can suggest various other reading material for you about radio wave propagation and online study guides.

Feel free to PM me with any questions. I'm always happy to help!

Honestly if you are on a stock UV-5R, you may want to consider a few things.

Getting a better antenna for the HT itself.. the UV-5R's stock antenna is pretty lacking. Most people seem to end up with a Nagoya antenna such as:
http://amzn.to/1Y1CcbJ (shorter)
or
http://amzn.to/1Y1Clfg (longer)

Going with a rooftop antenna... Depending on the height of your roof and the risks involved getting up there you could try a simple JPole antenna that you could build (http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Public%20Service/TrainingModules/jpole-dual-band.pdf or http://www.n7qvc.com/copper-cactus-dual-band-super-j-pole-antenna-project/) or buy (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dual-Band-VHF-UHF-Base-Antenna-Ham-Commercial-MURS-GMRS-FRS-DBJ-1-/111884204187) or you could do a commercial antenna if like in my initial case, climbing to the top of the roof involves risking life and limb. I'll defer to others for suggestions on antennas, the Diamond X-30 and X-50's appear to be very popular.

In my early days as a ham I got a commercial dual band vertical which served me very well, but it was also up an insanely high pitch roof so I wasn't going to go up there again anytime soon. In my current setup, I'm quite happy with a simple Ed Fong Modified Jpole design in some PVC pipe on top of a 1 story roof.

Sometimes its a fun project to start building one even if you go commercial, its good to know your base antenna is of good quality and will last, but there is some joy in building it yourself and getting on the air knowing your handwork is the cause of your good signal :)

>I have a Baofeng UV-5R, and I really liked the learning curve of it all: CHIRP, the miklor.com site, discovering I can't do IRLP (stupid "D" tone doesn't work on the new Baofeng firmware).

I'm new too, passed my test on 5 July, got my callsign less than a week later. I got the BF-F8+ (which is supposedly the same as a UV-5R).

On my local repeaters there is IRLP, but it isn't set up so that just anyone can use it. You have to have permission. That said, the most popular repeater in my area is connected to the reflector in Denver all the time pretty much.

My community is pretty lively and active in the ARES and other emergency services. I'm listening to how they run nets every week, and actually last night there was a forest fire and they ran a standby net. I'm thinking of volunteering for that too. We have events that the local emergency organizations help with, like recently the Eppie's Great Race. All that you need to volunteer for stuff like that is a HT and a license.

Another thing I did was make an antenna following this tutorial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkmD3Sgz7Q0

I haven't been able to try it over simplex yet. I did try it with my local repeater (N6ICW) but I guess I'm close to one of the receivers because I get reports that I'm full quieting with even with my Nagoya NA-771, so my home made antenna didn't sound any different for better or worse.

It looks like you have a fair number of 2M repeaters in and around Atlanta (I'm guessing that's where you're near). Maybe try listening on a few different ones. http://www.levinecentral.com/repeaters/google_mapping.php

Also I found this: http://www.nfarl.org/repeaters/Atlanta_Area_Repeaters.pdf

On the second page it list a bunch of nets, more than one every day of the week, try listening to some of those to see if there is something that piques your interest.

Also if you are still using the duck antenna, get rid of it and get one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Nagoya-Updated-Antenna-BaoFeng/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/

If you're just looking into radio to see if it's right for you, which it seems like you are, your first port of call should be finding a radio club. It's easy, just go to this page from the ARRL. They'll help you get your license (seriously, wives of hams often have licenses they never thought they'd get), they're some of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, you can go over to their house and they'll let you try their radios out (you can operate a radio even if you're unlicensed, there just has to be a licensed operator with you), and in my experience, they're really generous and will let you borrow radios or just straight up give old ones to you that they don't use anymore. If you find out that radio isn't really for you, they're usually great friends overall and you'll probably be glad to have met them. They're also really great question-answerers.

___

Now, if you're already licensed and are looking into getting on 2 meters with a Baofeng, here's what I'd buy:

• This Baofeng UV-5R.
  
  
• This programming cable (Baofengs are notoriously hard to program from the keypad).
  
  
• This improved rubber duck antenna, since the stock one is a piece-o-shite.
  
  
• And finally, this cable that will allow you to connect the uncommon (in the ham radio world) SMA connector on the top of the baofeng to the infinitely more common PL-259 connector.
  
  All in all, you're looking at spending about a Benjamin or less on a proper Baofeng setup.
  
  Hope this helps!
  

I've been playing with 2m antennas for my UV5-R so I'll list some options I've played with starting from cheapest on up.

First get the antenna outside and as high as you can. Seems like a no brainer but it really increases your range. More so than a better antenna.

Add a counterpoise (aka tiger tail, rat tail, etc). Really just a piece of wire connected to the ground of your existing rubber duck and will cost almost nothing. If you search you'll probably find mixed reviews. I've noticed a marginal increase in range and reception.

Nagoya NA-771 is an inexpensive ($17) whip that is definitely better than the stock antenna you're using. No guarantees but it may have the extra gain you need to hit that repeater.

N9TAX roll up slim jim is portable antenna that you can throw in a back pack and deploy anywhere you can hang it - in your bedroom, from a balcony, etc. I've taken fishing line and a weight thrown them over a tree branch and hoisted it 10 feet in the air. Way better than your rubber duck and only $30 delivered with 16ft of feedline.

Building your own j pole will probably run you more than any of the previous options unless you have all the tools (torch, solder) and have scrap copper pipe laying around. That being said you might be able to make the slim jim yourself for a bit less (but not much). Building your own is lots of fun and you can learn a lot. It isnt always cheaper though. Try(http://www.hamuniverse.com/ke4nu450slimjim.html)[this] if it you're interested.

We use the Baofeng BF-F9 V2+ with Nagoya 701c antenna and QHM22 waterproof speaker/mic.

While inexpensive, these are full fledged HAM radio transceivers, not toys. You can't just take them out of the box and turn them on like walkie-talkies you buy at Walmart. They have to be properly programmed to talk to each other on the right frequency, including any tone coded squelch you wish to use.

Not that I'm a HAM radio expert or anything, but you do have to kind of know what you are doing to use these. They are capable of transmitting on frequencies you absolutely should not be using, like police, fire, ems, s&r, government, commercial, etc. It's also worth noting that unless you have an FCC license, you can't actually use these radios legally. However if you are just using them for occasionally dirt bike chit chat, using them responsibly, on the correct frequencies, and not pissing off other users, the chances of being caught are basically zero.

Bottom line is that these cheap Chinese HAM radios work great for dirt biking I have had great success, they have much better range and performance than cheap 'bubble-pack' FRS radios. But they do take a little research and effort to learn how to use them.

Here's how I started:

Boafeng radio

Better antenna

Local repeaters, you're gonna have to search your area.

Find your local club and get involved. Find an Elmer. Join the local nets (radio jargon for organized, over-the-airwave, get together)

Once yo've done that, assuming you have your tech license, you want to upgrade to the General. Then find a decent HF rig, a wire antenna, some trees to hang it in, and party on. Obviously the more you spend the better you'll be but you don't have to break the bank. I got a Yaesu 857d which does all bands, plus the accompanying tuner, a G5RV antenna and some feed line for about $1100 and I can do everything my club's shack can do. I've worked Antarctica and South Africa on that gear plus some 60+ other countries so I'm pleased.

The misconception is that you need a 1000' tower to get out but really a simple wire antenna can do you wonders. Though if you gotta choose where to spend the money go for better antennas as they can really make the difference.

Best money spent though will likely be the club membership. You'll meet people, get good deals on stuff people are selling, advice, even free stuff periodically.

Welcome!

The link you posted doesn't work. It got truncated somehow. Try pasting that again in the comments.

I always recommend the Baofeng UV-5R to the budget-minded. It costs $27 and is pretty good in performance (from my use and from what I've heard from others). With the stock antenna on this radio, you should be able to get a few miles of range in open spaces. You can upgrade the antenna to a "quarter wave" antenna to better that range. The higher up your antenna is in the air, the farther out you will be able to reach with your radio -- UHF/VHF radios are all 'line of sight'.

You will also be able to use local ham radio repeaters in your area to talk to people around you. Repeaters will greatly enhance your range as they are typically built on tall towers or hill tops. You can look for repeaters in your area on RepeaterBook. Under "band", select 2m or 70cm (the UV-5R supports both bands)

However, you're going to need a ham radio license (at least a Technician class) to transmit. Also, your family is going to need ham radio licenses to transmit. If this does not work for you, I would recommend FRS/GMRS radios or CB radios which can be used without a license.

Eh. I have the maldol version and the diamond SRH-805. They probably all have equally poor performance, comet also has a similar model, the MH-209.

The reality is none of these antennas are going to be signifigantly different from each other, they are designed for convenience.

They are great for when you are close range in a group or getting into a local repeter with good coverage in your area. I love them for a compact digital HT setup when using hotspots.

I would say pick one that fits your HT well and has the native connector for your radio. Beware of knockoffs for all these antennas all over Amazon and eBay though.

I use a Chinese import antenna on my anytone 868 for local repeaters and hotspots at home that has had surprisingly good performance. I like that it fits snug on my radio and fills out the antenna recess.

NKTECH NK-761M https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071P7LQ3D/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cfoSCb6SBX0PJ

Assuming your coax has a PL-259 connector, you will need something like this. It's an adapter with female 3/8-24 and SO-239 jacks on it. There are others like it on Amazon and other sites, so may want to look for the best deal.

If you need a way to attach the whole thing to the flagpole, you could use something like this mount.

You might even be able to find a mount like that which comes with the SO-239 / 3/8-24 adapter.

Hopefully that helps.

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.

I hope you enjoy the radio Buddy, I have the original UV-5R and love it. I strongly recommend you upgrade the antenna as the stock one isn't optimal for range.

The most oft-recommended antenna is the Nagoya 771: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KC4PWQQ?psc=1

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.

I always get the Baofeng BF-F8HD. Awesome battery life, really durable for trainhopping, and awesome signal strength. I also highly recommend upgrading the antennae to the Nagoya NA-771 15.6inch Whip, as it increases your signal range by several miles.


​

Radio:

https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-BF-F8HP-Two-Way-136-174Mhz-400-520Mhz/dp/B00MAULSOK

Antennae:

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=pd_bxgy_107_img_3/142-7386824-8226412?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00KC4PWQQ&pd_rd_r=ee84ff36-27e8-11e9-bd5b-dfbc5f26256b&pd_rd_w=L5Vcb&pd_rd_wg=s6MTU&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=HYP4G85P8185BF2PNMEV&psc=1&refRID=HYP4G85P8185BF2PNMEV

+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.

UHF is pretty easy to work with for stealth antennae, especially if you have a balcony.
I put a three-element Yagi inside a plastic box and pointed it in the general direction of several repeaters. So there's a plastic box on my balcony...who cares?
http://centerfireantenna.com/antenna-menu/uhf-yagi-beams/

The UHF Sirio GP-430 ground-plane is also nice. I covered it with nylon cloth to look like an umbrella. Yeah, it looks stupid, but there's no rule against stupid-looking umbrellas, either. It's not high-gain, but it's very wide-band. It can handle amateur UHF and GMRS repeaters without re-tuning.
https://www.amazon.com/Sirio-GP-430-LB-380/dp/B008NRU5CK/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1413735155&sr=8-6&keywords=sirio+uhf+antenna

A mag-mount 1/4-wave is also pretty small, and a plastic flowerpot can be placed over it. You can glue LEDs to a roll-up J-pole and call it Christmas lights (that never are turned on, because you're energy-conscious, right?).

Indoor antennae are also practical for UHF. I use a three-element Yagi on a lighting tripod set in front of a window for DMR.
When I first got my licence, I set up a (mag-mount) dual-band Tram 1150 on my balcony and told the Board that it was a cell-phone antenna. They believed it. Hey, I need reliable cell-phone coverage for my "home business", don't I? You're not dealing with particularly "savvy" people on a Board, after all.

Ultimately, though, I just went to the Board and showed them a dual-band mobile whip. They agreed to allow me to mount it on the balcony. One person complained after it went up, but they were told that it was acceptable. Mostly, HOAs are concerned about "looks", the potential for damage if it blows down, and the potential for lightning strikes. A small whip mag-mounted on the balcony wasn't a concern, but a large ground-plane or beam would have been. Being up-front is the safest way to proceed, and then use stealth methods when the reaction is unreasonable. It's unlikely that a lot of people will want to put whips on their balconies, so it's a relatively safe exception. Multiple large TV antennae are more of a concern, so they won't see a whip as the "thin edge of the wedge". If they do turn you down, act reasonably good-natured, and begin planning your stealth solutions. Ask again the following year.

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

Gotcha! Thanks for the help! Just based off this I've got quite a bit better understanding. Based off your advice it sounds like i should be shooting for something like this.

Tram Browning 1121 18 INCH NMO quarter wave VHF 150-162 MHz antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S982K58/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_37Xiyb7EWPYEE

First things first, That SWR meter is for 27 MHz. That's the 11 meter (CB Radio) band. Your radio is a dual band VHF/UHF. That'd be the 2 meter and 70 cm band. Those are around 144 and 440 MHz respectively.

The cable you've posted is an NMO mount, it REQUIRES drilling.

Return both of those items.


You can try for a magnetic mount

You can also try a trunk mount on the edge of the tailgate.

Do you have a roof rack on that Tahoe? This might do the trick. (You add a standard NMO cable like the one you originally ordered.)

Often people drill the body because a perfectly circular hole is very easy to plug up with rubber hole plugs

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 three of them and they're great.

Get the USB programming cable.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008RZJHJU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Don't bother with the software that comes with it. Just get CHiRP which is free and works well. I set all three of mine up with a basic configuration with FRS/GMRS stations programmed, all my local 2-meter stations, weather, etc. all sharing the same channel numbers so they can be used more or less as emergency radios.

I've swapped the antennas for this one. Im not sure which model you have, but they were a definite improvement over the stock rubber duck on my UV5R
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've also got a couple of these extended batteries:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ATTVKFQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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.

This is a knockoff?. It's sold by "Baofeng Tech." Seems legit.

I have bought and checked with meters and it seems to be good. I'm pretty sure a diamond antenna I've bought in the past was a knockoff, actually.

Try out this mount https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/cma-fo3antncg

Then you just need an NMO mount (either change the mini-UHF to a PL259 or get an adapter) and an antenna. I'm a fan of the Comet SBB5NMO myself.

You should read through K0BG's website as well. Although it is primarily aimed at HF operation and I find his writing style to be rather irksome he has some good information.

Edit: in case you haven't checked out products yet, heres a better amazon list: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015QC7IO2/ + https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GN94FOE/

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.

I'd get a cobra 29 Ltd and a 4' firestik 2 with a good bracket and coax. That's what I run in my pickup. I get 4 to 5 miles with it. I have it on a 96 f150 with a hood mount.

Depending on where you mount it, you may want a longer antenna, maybe a mid load. But firestik has always served me well, and the 2 has an easy to tune tip, for a moderate price. And the 29 Ltd has a built in meter that works well enough to tune without having to go buy an external one.

Cobra 29LTD Professional CB Radio - Instant Channel 9, 4 Watt Output, Full 40 Channels, SWR Calibration https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JPF3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UbiPCbZA96AM6

Firestik 4ft Firestik ® II FS Series Tunable Tip CB Antenna 900 Watts Red - Firestik FS-4RD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SB6SDE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OciPCbM9XH2JY

FireStik Antenna Company K8R9 9ft. W/pl259 & Firering Conn https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X39TFG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sdiPCb7S2T3HN

Get a BF-F9 V2+. There's a lot you can do with it. Get another antenna and a bigger battery for it. You now have a really versatile analog HT. You can reliably hit repeaters 15-ish miles away with it, depending on terrain, and in narrowband mode, probably a bit more. It has a DTMF keypad (DTMF = touch-tone phone keypad), so you can do some fun things with repeaters that have internet links and other little oddities. Get a programming cable and CHIRP, and you can do lots of fun and convenient things like program all your local repeaters and simplex calling freqs into it, and train it to swear.

Get a 12-volt power kit, a headset, and a mag-mount antenna, and now you have a halfway-respectable mobile rig. With that antenna, you'd be VERY surprised how far that little radio can reach out. I've talked to repeaters 25 miles away with my little BF-F9 and a mag-mount, and had no complaints about sound quality.

The point is, don't go crazy with expensive-ass kit right now (cue bot appearance in 3... 2... 1...). You're still very new to the hobby (I'm at the point where I'm kinda new), and you don't quite know what you like. I didn't think I'd care very much for longwave DXing and all that, and for the most part, the idea of having a "shack" doesn't appeal all that much to me, but I'm getting more and more interested in mobile HF. Just noodle around, talk to people, go to field days, etc.

Thanks a ton for the advise, I didn't even think about possible counterfeits on Amazon. Are the NA-771s from NAGOYA on Amazon also possible counterfeits or should they be fine? If there's a risk I can go with the BaoFeng but is almost twice as much (which also makes me wonder about a fake...).

I looked into the programming cables some more as well and will likely go with the more expensive one to avoid any hassle.

Thanks again!

Sorry about the shopping list, but I also have this radio, so I just wanted to explain my setup.

First I removed the original antenna and added this SMA to BNC adapter.

Now with it being BNC I can switch between my stubby, my big whip, and magmout (with an adapter.)

In my mind, I am happy I am not constantly spinning the SMA connector. If the BNC starts getting flakey I can replace it.

Edit: Here's a picture of it with the orange antenna on it.

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

• I use a Comet CA-2x4SR it is a dual band wide receive antenna, high gain in UHF. https://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/comet-ca-2x4sr-1593.html?zenid=ff6309ba9a6159107077e525f2cf9d76
  
  
• It is attached to a Tram 1465 ground plane kit. https://www.amazon.com/TRAM-1465-Mobile-Ground-Plane/dp/B004PGMFGM
  
  
• It is pretty low profile considering the height of the antenna element. I live in South Florida & it can tend to be pretty windy at times. Going on 3-4 years with it up and no issues, I cannot comment on the ice though ;)

I would add this flexible antenna

And if you want a magmount, this.

I have the second one(ut-72), and the 771r which is retractable but not flexible. If you want to hold it on your belt, a flexible antenna is better.

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.

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.

I think the flightaware dongles block everything that isn't 1090mhz.

You could try buying a nagoya antenna with a suitable sma cable which would be pretty good for public safety, ametuer, business, aircraft and broadcast fm. You could also get something like this where you can adjust the antenna for the target frequency.

If you get poor results try taping to antenna to the side of your apartment and run the coax through a window. That or put it on your balcony, (if you have one).

Check out the Nagoya NA-771 antenna, its a direct screw on replacement. It will pick up weaker signals the standard antenna more clearly.

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ


If you're referring to transmitting with more power, the best option is to get a repeater. GMRS licensing allows up to 50 watts on a repeater.

Nice setup. I'd suggest a whip antenna for that Baofeng radio, it makes a huge difference. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-701C (Commercial Frequency Tuned) 8-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (155/455Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AX3AYOK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bb9PBbJ916DPC

Or

Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-717 8.5-Inch Super Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XQAY7WI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9a9PBbJC50SVF

I recently got a Baofeng BF-F8HP. Its my first ham radio and it is serving me very well.

I also got the Nagoya NA-771 Antenna, and this programming cable.

The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual is the book I bought to study.

I am using CHIRP to program my BF-F8HP.

I am new to ham radio and I would like to get my license too.

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

my uv82 is programmed for 469.550mhz, if i get this nagoya 701c thats tuned for 155/455, would that affect my tx/rx? im trying to replace my stock antenna for better signal. does 155/455 mean just those two frequency or frequencies around them?

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BaoFeng/dp/B01AX3AYOK/ref=pd_rhf_sc_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=D6SBZ6PC67ZVTZRQ7612&th=1

I have had good luck with this Tram 703-HC. Absolutely no issue with stability of mag mount and antenna itself is sturdy.

TRAM 703-HC Center Load CB Antenna Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002IP3WV4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.IaKDbCBM2M2P

MIC / Microphone for 4 pin Cobra / Uniden CB Radio - Workman DM507-4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004T4180O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_PKaKDb08KJJ5B


TruckSpec TSPSCBH-3CP Platinum Series 3-Pin Plug and 12-Volt Plug Fused Replacement CB Power Cord (3 Wire) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0169LNN7K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sNaKDb6DG1TZB



This will get ya started. You can upgrade later if you enjoy it.

Certainly can get out the door for under $100. Here are two examples from Cobra alone. Here's one for $30, even. Factoring in installation by a pro, I'm not sure. I don't know what that would cost. It's incredibly easy to just do yourself, though, particularly if you're going with a cig lighter as your power source and a mag mount antenna.

That was my intro and I still use it all the time. Look into upgrading the antenna and you will be very pleased.

Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-771 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_w7kmDbMCTQR9G

the stock antenna,

i'm planning to buy either this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AA3MGRC7F9EI2&psc=1

or this, maybe both,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AX3AYOK/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=AA3MGRC7F9EI2

this, (including a large battery pack) might accomplish what i need it to.

For the UV-5R a Nagoya 771 as it is good and has the Female SMA that Boefengs require.

Be careful of counterfeits however. You should pay over 15-20 dollars for a real one.

Also this is good for the BF-F8HP as it has a maximum of 10 watts and the F8 puts out 8 watts.

https://smile.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g1405964225?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8

> http://www.amazon.com/TRAM-1465-Mobile-Ground-Plane/dp/B004PGMFGM

Thanks for the reply, can you give me the ELI5 of this ground plane it?

Yep. Nagoya 771.

Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-771 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ezTYDb743RPVG

I have an extra programming cable for that radio that you can HAVE. In fact, I have an extra UV-82X that you can have if you promise to pay it forward later when you upgrade. It is 2m/1.25m, not 2m/440. But it's yours if you want it. Find me on QRZ and send me a message and I will mail it to you.

I use a Nagoya 771 with my Baofengs. It makes a big difference.

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BaoFeng/dp/B00KC4PWQQ

Get the Nagoya NA-771, a dual-band 70cm/2m whip antenna which will greatly increase your transmit once you are licensed:
http://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BaoFeng/dp/B00KC4PWQQ

Check out RepeaterBook.com and add in all your local first responders (police, fire, etc.). You can add in a ton of other things to monitor as well that CHIRP has available, like the weather channels, FRS, GMRS, Marine bands, etc. While you cannot legally transmit on any of them (this radio isn't certified for those bands), if it were a life or death situation, you can use a local repeater, FRS, GMRS, or Marine band to call for assistance, and you can monitor them as well to provide assistance.

Anything sold by BaoFeng Tech on Amazon is genuine.

Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-771 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for AnyTone, BaoFeng, and Yaesu https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/

I have one of these. https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1517706255&sr=1-3&keywords=na771

I also have a 19 inch copper wire with a ring terminal on one end attached to one of the screws that holds the belt clip on. Full wave length. sort of. Works great though.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KC4PWQQ/ is where i got mine

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 have this antenna for my mag mount will it work?

Alternatively... https://smile.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

17$ delivered to your door.

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?

These already exist?

Also I highly suggest upgrading the antenna to either the Nagoya 8", or 15" antenna and a relocator cable.

8" antenna
Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-701 8-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBZLOHC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_n-ABCbED2D68M

15.6" antenna
Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-771 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_f9ABCb8JQJ3EQ

Relocator cable
YOTENKO 6.5ft Extensional Cable SMA Male to SMA Female Coax Adapter WiFi FPV Antenna Connector SMA Extension Cable RG174 2M https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0744FZ93R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_O8ABCbT4RTSTM

The manual doesn't mention anything about CTCSS or DCS. I'm using an external antenna similar to this one: https://www.amazon.com/TRAM-703-HC-Center-Load-Antenna/dp/B002IP3WV4 (mine looks a bit taller). I wanted to rule-out the scanner being too old to receive APRS packets since it's analog.

> NA-771

This one is the real deal
https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ?keywords=NA-771&qid=1540780225&sr=8-3&ref=sr_1_3

NA771 is for sale right now for $12
There will be Baofeng UV5R and UV82 on sale later

I bought this one. It is genuine if bought from Baofeng Tech.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ

Authentic Genuine Nagoya NA-771 15.6-Inch Whip VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna SMA-Female for BTECH and BaoFeng Radios https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8NRlDbBZFA4ZW

Can't speak for IMS, as I've never been there, sadly. But I can hear them all the way around Phoenix.

The stock antenna is useless. It might as well be a 50 ohm resistor soldered to an SMA connector. I use a Nagoya 771.

Get one of these: SO-239 to 3/8", drill the appropriate hole in the bucket, and screw it on.

> I have made a 12 mile contact though the forest.

Yeah, what antenna you using?

Cause I head out to the forest all the time (I'm in Oregon), and I own all 3 of these and I just did another series of radio testing this week.

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-NA-771-15-6-Inch-SMA-Female-BTECH/dp/B00KC4PWQQ/

https://www.amazon.com/HYS-Tactical-Foldable-SMA-Female-Connector/dp/B07NN5XTB8/

https://www.amazon.com/Authentic-Genuine-Nagoya-UT-72-Magnetic/dp/B016SIJX28/

They're all kinda dog shit unless you tone down the unrealistic expectations from online forums.

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

Saw post on the other sub. Thought you would be here. This one is the one everyone seems to go with. Short of a hard mount and an adapter. There are fakes so be sure to get the real one. Be aware the comments cover all the antennas listed.

Having owned the 771 with their spectacular 0dBd of gain, I've been singing the praises of the Diamond RH770 recently having recently got one and been completely blown away by its performance. :)

The city I live in is very hilly and hence full of RF dead spots. S0 to my shack at home, 3mi away, in one of these dead spots with the stock ant, a very weak S1-2 with the 771... S8 collapsed and S9+ fully extended with the 770.

It is heavy in comparison though, weighing almost as much as the radio; and a bit more expensive than the 771, but worth every single last penny.

Amazon is also a terrible place to pick up the 771, it's difficult to find a genuine one on there. Of 64 results returned from a search only one was selling the real deal...