Jeep Wrangler GMRS

[JeepersForVets]

I will be doing a review of the 40w unit I've been testing. It's a beast, and I've been blown away.

I'm eagerly awaiting the review. :) I'm trying to decide whether to pull a small CB from one of my other vehicles or try and cram a never used full size Cobra 29LTD into the Liberty. Reading through some of these comments, I'm wondering whether to skip the CB and go with the Midland GMRS base radio instead.

 

[Big110]

I'm eagerly awaiting the review. :) I'm trying to decide whether to pull a small CB from one of my other vehicles or try and cram a never used full size Cobra 29LTD into the Liberty. Reading through some of these comments, I'm wondering whether to skip the CB and go with the Midland GMRS base radio instead.

CB is a thing of the past. For the same money/hardware investment ones capabilities are miles apart (literally!) from CB to GMRS. Having 40 watts is incomprehensible until you have it- and the price point in my opinion is a no Brainer.


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[Prerunner1982]

I'm eagerly awaiting the review. :) I'm trying to decide whether to pull a small CB from one of my other vehicles or try and cram a never used full size Cobra 29LTD into the Liberty. Reading through some of these comments, I'm wondering whether to skip the CB and go with the Midland GMRS base radio instead.

While GMRS is better in many ways it is really going to depend on who you are wheeling with. In most cases they are still going to be using CB. However you could go GMRS and have some handheld radios handy to throw at your buddies and say here lets try this, (dislcaimer: this is not legal as they would not be licensed). Maybe they will see the benefits and also drop CB in favor of GMRS.

CB is a thing of the past. For the same money/hardware investment ones capabilities are miles apart (literally!) from CB to GMRS. Having 40 watts is incomprehensible until you have it- and the price point in my opinion is a no Brainer.
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In the interest of staying legal on GMRS the 40 watt Midland MXT-400 may be the way to go but that is a high priced radio with few channels. For the same price I could buy a name brand dual band ham radio and for half the price I could buy a name brand 2m ham radio. I would rather buy a Luiton LT-590 or Baofeng BF-9500 for $110 and program the GMRS frequencies. The radios look virtually identical, the average Joe wouldn't know the difference.

While it's nice to see mobile GMRS radio options the price point is a little much IMO. Granted there aren't many other plug and play mobile GMRS radios out there so they may have the market a bit cornered but for the price there are better options.

 

[aearles]

It actually would be legal to hand out handhelds as long as you used a FRS/GMRS combined channel (1 thru 7).

The "value" in the Midland over the cheap chinese radios (even though the 400W version is the same hardware) is in the FCC part 95 type acceptance. But still I'd go with the 15W version over the 40W version every time, not much value in the additional tx power. Especially when using the combined channels since you're limited to 5W anyway.

Also, you can't program a 2M mobile with GMRS frequencies, you'd need 70CM for that.

 

[Randy P]

Years ago I was on a trail ride and met a guy with a radio he claimed was ham and cb.

Newbie question, is there a radio that will do ham, gmrs and CB?

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[aearles]

Some of the all-band/all-mode ham radios can be modified to transmit out of band, including 11M/CB and the GMRS frequencies. The Yaesu FT-857D for instance. These would be technically illegal to use to transmit out of the amateur bands they're type-accepted for but it's no different than using a Bafoeng for FRS/GMRS.

 

[JeepersForVets]

1GNES13H882209713

While GMRS is better in many ways it is really going to depend on who you are wheeling with. In most cases they are still going to be using CB. However you could go GMRS and have some handheld radios handy to throw at your buddies and say here lets try this, (dislcaimer: this is not legal as they would not be licensed). Maybe they will see the benefits and also drop CB in favor of GMRS.

Up here in the Great White North you don't need a license to use GMRS. I have some older Motorola FRS handhelds that have been really useful, but just added a couple of the Motorola T400 GMRS/FRS handhelds as well. I haven't had a chance to check out their "real" range and compare them to the FRS (or CB).

 

[Prerunner1982]

No license... even better. Sorry I missed that.

 

[aearles]

Up here in the Great White North you don't need a license to use GMRS. I have some older Motorola FRS handhelds that have been really useful, but just added a couple of the Motorola T400 GMRS/FRS handhelds as well. I haven't had a chance to check out their "real" range and compare them to the FRS (or CB).

To be fair, no license is required but you're not allowed to have mobile radios or repeaters, and limited to 2W transmit... it's basically FRS.

 

[Big110]

License is worth the ability to have 40 watts and repeater capability right out of the box , IMHO

 

[Prerunner1982]

Also, you can't program a 2M mobile with GMRS frequencies, you'd need 70CM for that.

Never said you could program GMRS freqs on a 2m radio, was just using it to compare price and capability.

 

[Randy P]

Some of the all-band/all-mode ham radios can be modified to transmit out of band, including 11M/CB and the GMRS frequencies. The Yaesu FT-857D for instance. These would be technically illegal to use to transmit out of the amateur bands they're type-accepted for but it's no different than using a Bafoeng for FRS/GMRS.

I thought ham operators could build and use their own antennas and radios? What the difference between building and modifying as far as the regs go?


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[dstock]

To be compliant in the US the GMRS radio has to be FCC certified part 95A and the HAM radios are certified part 97 I believe. It's a very short list when it comes to detachable antenna GMRS radios that are actually Part 95a compliant.

 

[aearles]

I thought ham operators could build and use their own antennas and radios? What the difference between building and modifying as far as the regs go?


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They can, but only within the frequency ranges allocated for amateur service. FRS, GMRS, MURS, and CB, etc. are not within those ranges. You could certainly (legally) take a commercial radio or GMRS radio and modify it to transmit within the amateur bands.

 

[JeepNamedSarge]

It actually would be legal to hand out handhelds as long as you used a FRS/GMRS combined channel (1 thru 7).

The "value" in the Midland over the cheap chinese radios (even though the 400W version is the same hardware) is in the FCC part 95 type acceptance. But still I'd go with the 15W version over the 40W version every time, not much value in the additional tx power. Especially when using the combined channels since you're limited to 5W anyway.

Also, you can't program a 2M mobile with GMRS frequencies, you'd need 70CM for that.

Thank you. I was trying to decide b/t the 15w and 40w, and I think you talked me into the 15w and saving $100 in the process! Cheers.

 

[Downs]

I like the profile of those... But do the work? Do they provide good reception/transmit capabilities?

Yes the Phantom antennas work quite well as long as you have a ground plane. If you could cowl mount it on a JK or JL or have a decent elevated rear mount you'd be good.

The Tram (same as Browning) 1128 is a short UHF antenna that seems to work on GMRS fine per the reviews.

1128 is a 800mhz antenna, the area where Cell Phones typically operate in. I personally wouldn't use it for GMRS as a proper 1/4 wave antenna for GMRS is only about 6 inches but if it's working for you go for it.

 

[JeepNamedSarge]

Yes the Phantom antennas work quite well as long as you have a ground plane. If you could cowl mount it on a JK or JL or have a decent elevated rear mount you'd be good.



1128 is a 800mhz antenna, the area where Cell Phones typically operate in. I personally wouldn't use it for GMRS as a proper 1/4 wave antenna for GMRS is only about 6 inches but if it's working for you go for it.

Pardon this dumb, question, but I have a CB in my rig and want to switch to a GMRS mobile unit. Would the CB antenna work on the GMRS radio?

 

[J.W.]

Pardon this dumb, question, but I have a CB in my rig and want to switch to a GMRS mobile unit. Would the CB antenna work on the GMRS radio?

Unfortunately, no. CB and GMRS are very different frequency ranges. The good news, however, is that you MIGHT be able to keep the antenna mount and just pop on a new antenna. At least that way, you don’t have to run new cable.

 

[JeepNamedSarge]

Unfortunately, no. CB and GMRS are very different frequency ranges. The good news, however, is that you MIGHT be able to keep the antenna mount and just pop on a new antenna. At least that way, you don’t have to run new cable.

Keeping the mount would be very helpful. If I go with the 15w GMRS mobile unit (Midland MXT275), what antenna would you recommend?

 

[JeepNamedSarge]

Keeping the mount would be very helpful. If I go with the 15w GMRS mobile unit (Midland MXT275), what antenna would you recommend?

While I'm asking, would you recommend that GMRS mobile unit?