Baofeng uv5r with 50watt amp? GMRS

[Farmjeepwrangler]

Hello, I just got my GMRS license. I was wondering if you can use a Beofeng uv5r with a 50 watt amp remotely mounted in my Jeep and pair with really good antenna. Would this work? if so, Any suggestions on equipment? I have been runing a galaxy Pluto CB for years.

 

[Ubiety]

I don’t believe that it is legal to transmit GMRS with a baofeng.

Update, maybe it is legal; I had always heard it was not. If you are going to push 50 watts you should consider a higher quality radio to keep interference to a minimum. There is a reason this radio is cheap and amplifying it will accentuate any flaws it might (does) have.

 

[Farmjeepwrangler]

Good to know. How about a similar type radio? I want something that won’t take up much room.

 

[ryanorr280]

I bought this for a quick easy grab and go gmrs that can hit repeaters and allows to listen only on HAM bands.

BTECH GMRS-V1 GMRS Two-Way Radio, GMRS Repeater Capable, with Dual Band Scanning Receiver (136-174.99mhz (VHF) 400-520.99mhz (UHF))

then ended up ordering a midland mxt275 to leave in the 4Runner since it’s all controlled on the mic and I can hide the actual radio out of sight.

 

[Ubiety]

Updated my post above; may be legal but I don’t recommend it. I don’t do GMRS so I have nothing for you. If you ever plan on getting your ham ticket a cheap yaesu might be a nicer radio for a little more. Not sure what ham radios are legally able to cross over into GMRS tho...

A handheld with external antenna can be a bit of a pain with the stiff coax attached to the radio. Makes it a little trickier to grab and cable management, etc. Highly recommend a dedicated mounted mobile AND a baofeng for when you are out on foot.

 

[Farmjeepwrangler]

I bought this for a quick easy grab and go gmrs that can hit repeaters and allows to listen only on HAM bands.

BTECH GMRS-V1 GMRS Two-Way Radio, GMRS Repeater Capable, with Dual Band Scanning Receiver (136-174.99mhz (VHF) 400-520.99mhz (UHF))

then ended up ordering a midland mxt275 to leave in the 4Runner since it’s all controlled on the mic and I can hide the actual radio out of sight.

Great, I’ll look at the MXT 275 as well as the btech.

 

[ryanorr280]

Updated my post above; may be legal but I don’t recommend it. I don’t do GMRS so I have nothing for you. If you ever plan on getting your ham ticket a cheap yaesu might be a nicer radio for a little more. Not sure what ham radios are legally able to cross over into GMRS tho...

A handheld with external antenna can be a bit of a pain with the stiff coax attached to the radio. Makes it a little trickier to grab and cable management, etc. Highly recommend a dedicated mounted mobile AND a baofeng for when you are out on foot.

The inconvenience of the coax attached to the radio is exactly why i ordered my mxt275. I haven’t had much luck catching anyone in range to talk with on mine but just messing with it in the car made me want a mobile unit.

 

[JeepGuy91]

Updated my post above; may be legal but I don’t recommend it. I don’t do GMRS so I have nothing for you. If you ever plan on getting your ham ticket a cheap yaesu might be a nicer radio for a little more. Not sure what ham radios are legally able to cross over into GMRS tho...

A handheld with external antenna can be a bit of a pain with the stiff coax attached to the radio. Makes it a little trickier to grab and cable management, etc. Highly recommend a dedicated mounted mobile AND a baofeng for when you are out on foot.

GMRS radios have to be type accepted by the FCC. As of right now, Baofengs are not legal for use on GMRS in the US.

 

[Ubiety]

I bought this for a quick easy grab and go gmrs that can hit repeaters and allows to listen only on HAM bands.

BTECH GMRS-V1 GMRS Two-Way Radio, GMRS Repeater Capable, with Dual Band Scanning Receiver (136-174.99mhz (VHF) 400-520.99mhz (UHF))

then ended up ordering a midland mxt275 to leave in the 4Runner since it’s all controlled on the mic and I can hide the actual radio out of sight.

Exactly! @Farmjeepwrangler you could get a mobile capable of being a GMRS repeater then repeat for an entire group, etc. Not sure how that would work but could imagine it being handy if you had a group of GMRS users overlanding. My wrangler has a mobile and a handheld or two; I always use the mobile. Just way more convenient.

 

[Ubiety]

Looks like only about half of the GMRS channels allow 50 watts so pay attention ;)

 

[Downs]

The space occupied by a Handheld and amp combined with the extra coax running between the two is going to be fiddly and take up as much space or more than a good mobile unit. You can get a solid commercial surplus radio you can use on GMRS for less than the cost of the amp alone