GMRS or HAM radio?

[Insanoflexathf]

I’m curious to know what form of communication people are using on the trails? I know if the past CB was the way to go, but that seems to be as gone as Smokey and the Bandit. Is a standard two way radio enough for a couple of travelers, or do you need a GMRS or HAM radio setup. Share your thoughts and pictures of your setup. I’d also love to know why you chose what you chose.

 

[24LC]

I have been using a handheld GMRS from rugged radios for a while now and its been a good radio. Does everything I need it to and works well in the mountains.

 

[No15]

Gmrs is probably the best solution right now

 

[mav]

Gmrs TIDRADIO TD-H3 GMRS Radio... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQ4P91DF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[ultane]

Gmrs TIDRADIO TD-H3 GMRS Radio... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQ4P91DF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Broken link?

 

[derek]

Both

 

[modbox149]

I'm new to this world of things so take all this with a grain of salt... But I've also been looking into this too for a bit. The short answer from me would be to have both possible with handhelds til you see firsthand if you need up upgrade your system with anything and if you want to hone in on one or another system or even both.

This is what I'm doing with a couple Midland GMRS radios and the TIDRADIO TD-H3 Radio (set to HAM configuration) to keep things inexpensive and flexible for now.

 

[Insanoflexathf]

I'm new to this world of things so take all this with a grain of salt... But I've also been looking into this too for a bit. The short answer from me would be to have both possible with handhelds til you see firsthand if you need up upgrade your system with anything and if you want to hone in on one or another system or even both.

This is what I'm doing with a couple Midland GMRS radios and the TIDRADIO TD-H3 Radio (set to HAM configuration) to keep things inexpensive and flexible for now.

That’s interesting. I haven’t considered having both. In my mind it was one or the other. I like the handheld idea, I was just worried about the range, but can always start there and upgrade.
I was looking at one of these for inside the LC. HERE

 

[JordanJ]

I always used GMRS, and maybe I just don’t know enough about it, but I found that on popular trails it can be difficult to find a channel not in use, and it always doesn’t push out very far. I know a bunch of guys who use CB, and have their own dedicated channel but they wheel and overland far more than I ever did so I couldn’t really justify the switch. I always used a couple regular two way radios for guiding through something long and technical or for recovery’s.

 

[No15]

Here are 2 vendors I have used with no issues.

When the SHTF, BetterSafeRadio than Sorry!™ – BetterSafeRadio

Discounted • KG-UV9PX HAM – $169 – Flagship HAM SHTF Prepper EDCThe HAM Prepper's Choice! – Pre-Programmed 10 Watt True Dual Receive Superhet

bettersaferadio.com

Rugged Backcountry Radios | Rocky Talkie

Designed & tested in the Colorado Rocky Mountains to give adventurers confidence to push their limits through improved communication. Shop the award winning FRS Mountain Radio and new GMRS 5 Watt Radio - the best long range walkie talkies for backcountry sports.

rockytalkie.com

 

[modbox149]

That’s interesting. I haven’t considered having both. In my mind it was one or the other. I like the handheld idea, I was just worried about the range, but can always start there and upgrade.
I was looking at one of these for inside the LC. HERE

That's actually the same one I was looking at for GMRS.

Yeah I figure at this point the (handheld) price of entry is so little (IMO), where for about $80-$110 you can have both basis covered for near-range things. Then, when you decide to upgrade for the range, etc, you'll have 1-2 handhelds to stash in case someone doesn't have one in your group, someone has a dead battery or broken unit, quick spotting, etc. Super curious how long it will take 'til I realize, "ugh, yep, I need the range". We'll see!

 

[modbox149]

I always used GMRS, and maybe I just don’t know enough about it, but I found that on popular trails it can be difficult to find a channel not in use, and it always doesn’t push out very far. I know a bunch of guys who use CB, and have their own dedicated channel but they wheel and overland far more than I ever did so I couldn’t really justify the switch. I always used a couple regular two way radios for guiding through something long and technical or for recovery’s.

Forgive me if this is common knowledge for GMRS as I genuinely don't know if it is (and please someone correct me if I'm off here)... If you switch to say channel 8 and hear a ton of people on it, you should be able to set a privacy / tone squelch codes to act as a filter so you're essentially filtering out everyone else using the same channel who's not using the same privacy code as you.

EG:
Channel 8: You hear everyone with and without codes talking

Channel 8, DCS 073: You will only hear anyone talking on Channel 8 DCS 073. If I transmit on channel 8, you won't hear me. If i transmit on Channel 8 DCS 049, you won't hear me.

Same concept for CTCSS.

 

[JordanJ]

Forgive me if this is common knowledge for GMRS as I genuinely don't know if it is (and please someone correct me if I'm off here)... If you switch to say channel 8 and hear a ton of people on it, you should be able to set a privacy / tone squelch codes to act as a filter so you're essentially filtering out everyone else using the same channel who's not using the same privacy code as you.

EG:
Channel 8: You hear everyone with and without codes talking

Channel 8, DCS 073: You will only hear anyone talking on Channel 8 DCS 073. If I transmit on channel 8, you won't hear me. If i transmit on Channel 8 DCS 049, you won't hear me.

Same concept for CTCSS.

That may be true, and if it is, well then I’ve spent way too much channeling surfing with my groups trying to find an open net and/or putting some space between us and another group on that channel

 

[highsmith]

Forgive me if this is common knowledge for GMRS as I genuinely don't know if it is (and please someone correct me if I'm off here)... If you switch to say channel 8 and hear a ton of people on it, you should be able to set a privacy / tone squelch codes to act as a filter so you're essentially filtering out everyone else using the same channel who's not using the same privacy code as you.

EG:
Channel 8: You hear everyone with and without codes talking

Channel 8, DCS 073: You will only hear anyone talking on Channel 8 DCS 073. If I transmit on channel 8, you won't hear me. If i transmit on Channel 8 DCS 049, you won't hear me.

Same concept for CTCSS.

You have it right, anyone not transmitting with the correct DCS code will not open the squelch of a radio set to only open when that code is transmitted. Same goes if you are using CTCSS.

The problem arises when you are close enough to another group using the same channel, even if they are not using the same DCS or CTCSS code. You can still get co-channel interference from them (and vice-versa) when users from different groups are transmitting at the same time thanks to the FM capture effect.

If you can't find a totally open channel, best thing to do is find one where the transmissions from other groups are very weak and then set a different squelch code/tone and you'll probably be OK.

 

[derek]

I always used GMRS, and maybe I just don’t know enough about it, but I found that on popular trails it can be difficult to find a channel not in use, and it always doesn’t push out very far. I know a bunch of guys who use CB, and have their own dedicated channel but they wheel and overland far more than I ever did so I couldn’t really justify the switch. I always used a couple regular two way radios for guiding through something long and technical or for recovery’s.

Use privacy codes to only hear people in your party. Note that everyone can hear your transmissions, but you are filtering everything to only hear people using the same code.