Newb question; any handheld/rig-mounted 2M/70cm/FRS radios?

[mk216v]

Thank you Randy!

[gary in ohio]

I suspect when you say FRS you really mean GMRS. There hasnt been a "FRS" radio made for a number of years. Only the combo FRS/GMRS radios.
I also question using GMRS for SAR since each member has to have a license. Gets pretty expensive. Would be better to license your own freq.

[mk216v]

FRS/GMRS, correct.
Just returned from another SAR training; most are using ICOM radios (VHF). Some also use handheld FRS/GMRS as secondaries, but not that often.

[mk216v]

Physical limitations (power and size). The 50-75 watts in a 2 meter mobile radio takes a bigger amplifier than you could comfortably fit in a hand-held radio, plus the batteries to power it would be huge and heavy.

There is not a single solution that covers any two of those, never mind all three. Three completely different radio services with three different sets of regulations and licensing (or lack thereof).

After doing even more reading and research...could I get some feedback on this type of setup?;

-I get my HAM license
-Purchase the handheld(HT) Wouxun KG-UV6D dual band VHF/UHF commercial radio (can be "unlocked" to TX/RX on GMRS/FRS when needed)
http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun-radi...ommercial.html
-Purchase the Wouxun SMA->SO239 cable jumper (w/ female PL259 end)
http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun-radi...er-so-239.html
-Purchase a SO239/PL259->PL259 (or PL259->NMO; NMO seems to perhaps be a bit more durable than PL259??) coax mobile mount for rig
http://www.cometantenna.com/products...D=9&childID=14
-Purchase a PL259 (or NMO) dual-band mobile antenna for rig
http://www.cometantenna.com/products...ID=4&childID=4

Wouldn't this allow me;
-handheld(HT) VHF in field with SAR
-GMRS/FRS if ever needed
-mobile 2mVHF/70cmUHF setup when in my rig after I connect the SMA->SO239/PL259 cable jumper->PL259(or NMO) mount/antenna (I could use the Wouxun battery eliminator to save battery life when in mobile arrangement; http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun-radi...liminator.html)


Thoughts??

[1911]

Thoughts??

What you're proposing is illegal.

Beyond that, a 5-watt HT with an external antenna will beat a 5-watt HT with the stock rubber ducky, and will doubtless be fine for trail commo in a group and you could probably hit nearby repeaters depending on your elevation and the elevation of the repeaters. Farther than that and you're pushing the limits of the system pretty quickly IMO. I guess it all depends on where you want to use it off-road. If there are lots of repeaters in your SAR county/area of operations then it might well suffice. But if (for example) you want to go wheeling in the southern Utah back country, there will be times and places where even a 75-watt 2-meter mobile will not get out far enough to hit a repeater, so the 5-watt HT is not going to do much for you there, except among your immediate trail group. Unless you really need an HT so you can be independent of your vehicle, you're handicapping yourself IMO by not using a 10-15x more powerful mobile radio installed in the truck. For my money, I would buy a mobile radio first, then an HT to use out of the truck if a radio mounted in the truck did not suffice for all situations.

[HenryJ]

After doing even more reading and research...could I get some feedback on this type of setup?;

-I get my HAM license
-Purchase the handheld(HT) Wouxun KG-UV6D dual band VHF/UHF commercial radio (can be "unlocked" to TX/RX on GMRS/FRS when needed)

Not a bad choice of radio, but there is no current software available to unlock them. For the older KG-UV2D, KG Commander software can be used to open the frequencies for use in countries where they are legal.
I'd suggest giving up on TX FRS/GMRS using a VHF/UHF radio. The FRS/GMRS radios are cheap , small and work better than an illegally modded radio. Just buy a pair to carry if you need them. I think you will find that if you have VHF you will not need FRS/GMRS on your SAR team. We just hand those out to the community volunteers. All our members use VHF.

Get a small handheld. The Wouxun is an excellent bang for the buck. Use the savings to purchase the Yaesu FT8800R. That mobile can be set to cross band repeat. Using the UHF Wouxun you can transmit to your mobile and then it will broadcast VHF at the higher power. Works great to extend range when hiking canyons.
That set up has served me well. The option to have my truck as a mobile repeater has been helpful more than a couple times.

[mk216v]

Ok, thanks guys. I had read the unlock software was available from Wouxun, but wasn't aware it was illegal in the USA to make the mod.

I'll stick with the KG-UV6D(even though I prefer European-built components) for HT and then the FT8800R for mobile. I doubt I'll use GMRS/FRS much, I was just trying to add it if I easily could.

I'll have to do more research on antenna's but if anyone wants to suggest something for a newbie(has to be black in color, will be gutter-mounted most likely), I'd appreciate it.

Thanks again all!

[HenryJ]

Tons of options for antenna. You will have to decide what works for you and the areas you frequent. Theft can be an issue in the Portland area. I use cheap 1/4 wave whips for their durability. Plenty repeaters in range and big sky in the high desert make them a workable solution.

The stock whip on the Wouxun is very good. I finally found a nice dualband shorty for mine. Makes it easier to carry on a call.

Start studying and practice , practice, practice:
http://www.eham.net/exams/
http://www.qrz.com/testing.html
http://aa9pw.com/

[mk216v]

Any thoughts on a fold-over vs spring antennas (I do more forest overlanding than desert)?

[gary in ohio]

FRS/GMRS, correct.
Just returned from another SAR training; most are using ICOM radios (VHF). Some also use handheld FRS/GMRS as secondaries, but not that often.

So if they are using Icom on VHF and NOT using ham radio's then they must (or at least should ) have a license to operate. Why not go that route?