2 way radios ...... which one ?

[Luckybeer]

We have two Baofeng UV-5RTP (Tri-Power 8/4/1 Watt) up at our cabin we use all the time at full wattage. I programmed all and use the GMRS freq only and never run into problems. I run the stubby antennas and can get 2 km easily in our 215 acre forest private land. Flat no tree interference and I can reach just over 4 km with the stubbies. Comes with ear piece as well.

Best $120 off e-Bay I've spent so far

Big Fine if caught with these in the bush.. i wouldn't advise these and surprised they made it through the border..lol

 

[The ROC]

Big Fine if caught with these in the bush.. i wouldn't advise these and surprised they made it through the border..lol

LOL!

Bahahahahahahaha.... always a armchair police hanging around.

I knew someone will critisize.

 

[ironsighter]

For the price a couple UV-5Rs, 1/2 wave antennas, and the time to watch a video on youtube to put the FRS/GMRS frequencies in it probably worth a try, like I said it could very well work just fine where you are. Even if it does not, you will have 2 very good radios
If Canada ever gets around to authorizing the MURS frequencies in the VHF band for general use then we will have some very good thick bush radios as that band tends to get through the woods better.

Someone may have just gone ahead and looked up the MURS frequencies (back when it was announced that the MURS frequencies were supposed to be opened up in Canada) and programmed their UV-5Rs with Green Dot, Blue Dot, etc. for bush use. That same person might come on here and report that the bush performance is actually pretty decent compared to FRS/GMRS.

But if you are on one side of a mountain and the other guy is on the other side, nothing works except for repeaters (if there are any in the area). And repeaters are really something you have no business using without a HAM license (despite the fact that these radios can do all this, and more).

Note: Repeaters are legal for anyone to use in case of emergency, so it might be a good idea to study how they work, how to program your radio for repeater use, and have a map/list of repeaters in the areas of bush you will be in. As a "last resort", this could save someone's life. If you get fined for not having a license for your handheld, it will be a small price to pay. ONLY use them in an EMERGENCY, and study how to do a broadcast SOS.

 

[ironsighter]

They should be, they can broadcast on any frequency between 136 - 174MHz and 400 - 520MHz.

Most of those ####ty cobras/midlands etc, operate on FRS or GMRS bands, both of which the baofeng will transmit on.

Yes. Definitely. What I did a while back was look up some of the precise frequencies that the FRS/GMRS channels use, and some of the corresponding "security tones" (so-called sub-channels) and then programmed my Baofengs so I can switch to "7-42" and put the Motorolas on 7-42 (for example) and they all work together. Since then I have purchased more Baofengs and don't use the Motorolas much at all any more.

 

[ironsighter]

Well s**t... I was kind of hoping I had stumbled onto a real gem here that would allow comms in the bush where cell phones have no signal and Motorollas fail after 500m.

Thanks for your reply.

These are WAY better than the Motorolas, but they can't change the laws of physics.

It is best to think of any of these radios as a convenience, rather than something you need to rely on 100%. The Baofengs (esp. for the money!) are incredibly convenient compared to the junk blister-pack stuff. (Anyone who bad-mouths these Baofengs because they are made in China, has never used one. The build quality reminds me of a solid Japanese brand such as Panasonic or Sony. Seriously. The Cobras and Motorolas literally feel like toys in comparison.)

I always have my InReach, just in case.