what is a good HAM/CB setup

Looking to add a CB setup to the taco. What works well but doesn't break the bank. Will mainly be wheeling throughout texas.

thanks for the help!

 

A baofung uv5r and a tram mag & tram 2m/70cm and a technician amateur license will cost ya a little over $100.
With that radio you can send and receive GMRS also (ie 151 mhz) at one watt and be legal with a $30 non test license. If you're not sure yet if ham is for you...

Technician license is like $15 and a pretty easy test.

If you do GMRS, get a wide band antenna (146-155 mhz).

Edit: I guess GMRS is $70 and limited to 5 watts

 

Ham is $15.

$50 UV-5r 8Watt UHF/VHF Radio with 2 Rechargeable Battery, Handheld Walkie Talkies for Adults with Earpiece, GV-771 Antenna, Programming Cable (3rd Gen)

UV-5r is $35. That will be fine for wheeling with guys who are on ham bands. If you want to hit repeaters and talk 30-50 miles, another $28 gets you a roof top mag mount antenna with a rubber base.

So $78 to get rockin and Rollin with that and it's going to be a lot better than CB. But it only does you good if you have people also using ham. If not, either convince everyone to get on the ham wagon, or go for a CB.

 

Where can i mount an antena on this bad larry?? Tailgate mount from BAMF?

 

Yes or on the front bumper like @Mynameisbrandin

 

Depends on how hard you want to get into it right off the bat.

Honestly I used this when I started and it worked flawlessly for convoys and wheeling. You can just run the cord through the vent hole in the back side of the cab behind the rear seats.

-Antenna-
Authentic Genuine Nagoya UT-72 Super Loading Coil 19-Inch Magnetic Mount VHF/UHF (144/430Mhz) Antenna PL-259 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016SIJX28/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4yaHBbECGCP2N

-Radio-
BaoFeng UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio (Black)

$19 BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Two Way Radio (Black), 144-148MHz & 420-450MHz

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007H4VT7A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-BaHBbA0X58D6

$53 and you're good

 

Also, I can hit guys miles away with my radio. And then you get into the world of repeaters which do what their name suggests. So far I've got 70 miles as my Max distance.

 

Your bumper light tabs is a good spot and already available. Just scuff around the mounting hole a bit to get a good ground. I ran a ground strap to the actual mount on mine

 

What equipment you running buddy?

 

https://www.gigaparts.com/kenwood-tm-281a.html

For a few bucks more you can get 65 watts

 

You could get this and do a simple 5 min mod and get 10w (albeit illegal) for 11 meter (CB).

https://www.savinglots.com/mobileprod.asp?item=SR94HPC

Or keep it simple and cheapdidn’t know hd sold radios, but hey)

This one is stout and cheap.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Uniden-...gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CNzh87fHjt0CFdFrfgodpaoP1w

 

This is what I run, with a 3ft firestick.

$44 Uniden PRO505XL 40-Channel CB Radio. Pro-Series, Compact Design. Public Address (PA) Function. Instant Emergency Channel 9, External Speaker Jack, Large Easy to Read Display. - Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ZLB0E4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_SckHBbP9TZB8V

Lots of members are getting these also.

$63 BAOFENG BF-F8HP (UV-5R 3rd Gen) 8-Watt Dual Band Two-Way Radio (136-174MHz VHF & 400-520MHz UHF) Includes Full Kit with Large Battery

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MAULSOK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_DdkHBb3NZC7FE

 

Wattage is one of those balance things. With some set ups you are way better suited spending less money for less wattage, but making sure you get a quality antenna to get the signal out there.

As a bench mark I use mid power on my kenwood tm-v71a almost always. If I'm in the woods I actually drop to low. H-50w, M-10w, L-5w.

Basically if you want to go the handheld route you could save a few bucks and go the 5w route as a general FYI. 3w difference won't be really noticeable .


And here's my radio. I waited a bit to see if it's something I was really into. I found I used it a lot more than expected when not wheeling. This rig covers all my travel needs, emergency needs, and long distance needs. Biggest feature being the dual recieve feature. Key if you're monitoring your group and the area (aka if you're someone's potential only hope but you can't hear them on the national calling freq because you're on a wheeling band).

They do make a cheaper Chinese knock off of this. But I suggest going as cheap as possible until you find out if you like it and what you want to do with it . Intended uses can change

https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-008951

 

@fajitas21 Got any input for this

 

This is the rig I’ve been thinking about picking up.

 

I love it . And I'm getting it set up for APRS soon as well. Let me know if you have any questions I can try to answer

 

Yeah, the APRS is a great function. I also like the cross-band repeat, and as you mentioned, the dual station monitor function.

 

I've got a hand held that I take into the woods with me and keep the mobile on x repeat just in case.

And the dual monitor is huge with me. I can act as a middle man between two convoys. Happens all the time because of CB guys not reaching. I also use it every weekto talk on local repeaters while listening on the calling freq. There's a lot to that rig that others don't offer at that price.

 

I ran this radio:
https://www.amazon.com/TYT-TH-7800-...=UTF8&qid=1535424352&sr=1-1&keywords=tyt+7800

Works great on the trail, can use repeaters, dual watch, and *cough* unlocked for GMRS bands.

BTW, legal limit on GMRS is 50watts actually. I swore it was 5W for a long time until I learned this.

Someone mentioned get a good antenna. A 5 watter with a good antenna will do better than a 50 watt with a junk one.

Also dig ferrite chokes, but don't use them as a crutch, find your feedback loop first, then ferrite choke.

Mounting on the bumper is probably fine, or the rear, but run some grounding straps to the frame from the item you're hooked up to. A good ground goes a long way.

 

Works for me.