We use the Motorola Talk-about 250 and they come in pretty handy, not the best range but has worked locally and Out of state. This radio has been discontinued. WHat if anything are you using to communicate with others in your group?
- Thread starter Flatbroke
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Right now a Kenwood and Alinco ham radios. True 5 watt radios in VHF range are the best I can find from military and fire dept experience. Plus I have them on a channel not too many people will find.
Them FRS radios are detuned from the factory down under their legal transmit power so they don't bust FCC type acceptance. If they say half watt your lucky to be getting 1/3 watt. On the 2 watt channels your lucky to get 1 1/2 watt. I know, I've tested them and they really suck for range.
Call sign: Hemorrhoid 1
Someone put some cloths on Bigworm for gads sake
Them FRS radios are detuned from the factory down under their legal transmit power so they don't bust FCC type acceptance. If they say half watt your lucky to be getting 1/3 watt. On the 2 watt channels your lucky to get 1 1/2 watt. I know, I've tested them and they really suck for range.
Call sign: Hemorrhoid 1
Someone put some cloths on Bigworm for gads sake
I would really like to get some Garmin Rhinos after seeing how well the Garmin Astro GPS untis worked when we were in Texas. We dont usually get seperated for more than a mile when hog hunting. Deer hunting out of state is a different story though. I have Some Kenwoods TK-3173 radios I could use but the simplex channels are line of sight only. I would probably be in trouble if the user switched to a repeater by accident
I do have a Ham Radio but have not taken my test yet. I can not find a testing site.
I do have a Ham Radio but have not taken my test yet. I can not find a testing site.
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I'd take them 4 watt Kenwoods over FRS or Garmin Rhinos any day. Just use simplex and you'll be okay FB. Repeater channels probably wouldn't work in the boonies unless you have line of site to the mtn top relay and are within range to hit it.
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Never seen anyone monitoring Marine Ch 16 out in the boonies. Not sure if any CG would hear you either since most are located along waterways.
It's also is illegal to use a marine radio anywhere but on the water. Ship to shore communications with a Marine radio, even if the person on shore is within eyesight, can result in hefty government fines. Would they prosecute? They did to a ham who did the same thing for a rescue a few years back in Orange Co.
It's also is illegal to use a marine radio anywhere but on the water. Ship to shore communications with a Marine radio, even if the person on shore is within eyesight, can result in hefty government fines. Would they prosecute? They did to a ham who did the same thing for a rescue a few years back in Orange Co.
Speckmisser
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If I were into some serious radio communication, I'd probably go with Jesse's recommendations. He probably knows a little bit about this stuff.
But since most of the radio communication I do is relatively close-range or in canyons where I don't care what kind of radio you use, it ain't getting out, I've been real happy with my Garmin Rhino. It gives me the little radio (it's not bad for FRS and GRMS), and puts my GPS in the same package so I only carry one unit for both purposes.
Hunting the flatlands back east, or in TX, the Garmins are really nice.
But since most of the radio communication I do is relatively close-range or in canyons where I don't care what kind of radio you use, it ain't getting out, I've been real happy with my Garmin Rhino. It gives me the little radio (it's not bad for FRS and GRMS), and puts my GPS in the same package so I only carry one unit for both purposes.
Hunting the flatlands back east, or in TX, the Garmins are really nice.
map
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For what it's worth, ham radio saved my life.
I have an Advanced Class License, so my emergency communications are done on the HF Bands. My Four Wheel pop-up camper is setup as a Ham Radio Station for when I am out beyond cell phone coverage. During the early evenings, the time depends on whether it's summer or winter, the Oregon Emergency Net (OEN) asks for check-in stations on the 75 Meter Phone Band. After the roll call for various Oregon towns is finished, the Net Control will ask for Out-of-State. The OEN can be a life saver while out in the middle to Nevada deer hunting.
What happened was: I was hunting by myself out there in a 77 Chevy Blazer, and that thing couldn't make it up to the top of a steep Jeep Road. When I tried to back down, which required a sharp curve, the back end of the Blazer slipped over the edge. While trying to get it back onto the road again, it slipped a little farther and then tumbled all the way to the bottom of the ravine.
No problem, because I called for help on the OEN Net that evening. Now-a-days, we have the emergency satellite communicator, "Spot", so I guess I can retire my Ham Radio HF equipment? While shopping at garage sales I picked up a few old CB Radio walkie talkies. They work pretty good while hunting, but I'm not sure how they would do in a shoot-out with the VHF? The advantage of us using CB was that my wife could hear us with my HF rig back at the camper .
Richard
I have an Advanced Class License, so my emergency communications are done on the HF Bands. My Four Wheel pop-up camper is setup as a Ham Radio Station for when I am out beyond cell phone coverage. During the early evenings, the time depends on whether it's summer or winter, the Oregon Emergency Net (OEN) asks for check-in stations on the 75 Meter Phone Band. After the roll call for various Oregon towns is finished, the Net Control will ask for Out-of-State. The OEN can be a life saver while out in the middle to Nevada deer hunting.
What happened was: I was hunting by myself out there in a 77 Chevy Blazer, and that thing couldn't make it up to the top of a steep Jeep Road. When I tried to back down, which required a sharp curve, the back end of the Blazer slipped over the edge. While trying to get it back onto the road again, it slipped a little farther and then tumbled all the way to the bottom of the ravine.
No problem, because I called for help on the OEN Net that evening. Now-a-days, we have the emergency satellite communicator, "Spot", so I guess I can retire my Ham Radio HF equipment? While shopping at garage sales I picked up a few old CB Radio walkie talkies. They work pretty good while hunting, but I'm not sure how they would do in a shoot-out with the VHF? The advantage of us using CB was that my wife could hear us with my HF rig back at the camper .
Richard
YoungBlood
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CopperJohn and I have been using the Rhino 530 for the last couple of years. They work great and like pbrdog stated, it's good to know where your hunting buddies are located for safety purposes. - YB
Lurediver
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (YoungBlood @ Jan 12 2009, 10:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
Do they show everyone with a Rhino where you're located?
Do they show everyone with a Rhino where you're located?
pbrdog
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lurediver @ Jan 12 2009, 10:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>
Do they show everyone with a Rhino where you're located?
[/b][/quote]
If you key the mike, yes. You can also see who is calling you by thier callsign if you have it programmed in.
Do they show everyone with a Rhino where you're located?
[/b][/quote]
If you key the mike, yes. You can also see who is calling you by thier callsign if you have it programmed in.
map
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Orso,
Welcome to Amateur Radio. Hams tend to be a little more friendly than most, basically, because they need someone at the other end to talk to. They will even come to your house and setup your station for you. However, a 2 Meter Repeater in an urban area probable wont be all that frendly. City folks are less trusting, I guess? I recommend using one of the practice Exams that are posted (by other Hams) on the Internet. Here is one of the popular sites:
http://www.eham.net/exams/
73,
Richard
Welcome to Amateur Radio. Hams tend to be a little more friendly than most, basically, because they need someone at the other end to talk to. They will even come to your house and setup your station for you. However, a 2 Meter Repeater in an urban area probable wont be all that frendly. City folks are less trusting, I guess? I recommend using one of the practice Exams that are posted (by other Hams) on the Internet. Here is one of the popular sites:
http://www.eham.net/exams/
73,
Richard
I cant imagine a marine VHF would better much better than an frs. I have a 5 watt and it is almost worthless at more than 3 miles on the ocean. I get about 20 miles on a good day with my fixed mount VHF. I also use a 2 meter mostly for privacy. I get more range with the 2 meter when the conditions are right. I have spoken to boats in mexico from the channel islands on the two meter. The point is all of these are line of sight systems, not very helpful from the bottom of a draw in the boonies. Just my measly two cents.
