Trail Comms - What and How? Hopefully a sticky!

Like sending a map overlay on the FBCB2 from one vehicle in a convoy to the other, right? Instead it's a digital package over a radio net?

 

If we are in earshot of each other. Then we can have person to person comms. So in that regard it might work.

But in that case @Beretta4x4 it'd only be a mini map with you and those within a couple miles in the woods.

 

Haha now you're over my head !

 

I suspect Marteen and I are typing similar responses at the same time.

A TNC is a device that acts as a modem of sorts for the radio. Interpreting the data stream into radio transmissions and vise versa. The mobilinked is a stupid easy amazing “TNC.” But, it’s not a true TNC from what I understand. More of a Bluetooth bridge from the radio to a device that does the actual work.

 

As this thread takes off, I have to say. Sorry for being a dick earlier! I'm out for the same reason that I was...I need to sleep! Have a good night folks! Please continue on, and enjojy!

 

I have just the antenna(got a HAM one someone sent me too)

 

Drive that fucker up here and we will get a radio on that thing, put my suspension on your truck, fill you with cheese, and send you the fuck home.

 

Okay, that pretty much makes sense and it's really cool lol.

With that, you could potentially send data packages, but GMRS currently doesn't have the network support, right? Some of those packages could be a text message, right?

Similar concept, I think. You use a digital computer to design a route on a map, and send that digital route through a satellite system that tracks targets at real time (real time not necessary in this case).... Basically you mark the map with either routes or significant objects and send the digital map markers/routes through satellite, but in the case of APRS it's translated and sent via radio....





I think lol

 

No problem Ryan. Good thread. Happy you made it.

 

I'm about to go to sleep, but anyone else want to chime in, since I think we got GMRS pretty much covered, what are good vehicle setups and what should you look for in vehicle mounted components for Ham as it refers to our trucks?

 

Yatze.

It's sweet. So a little about me, just in case it sparks any other questions. I travel a lot. For camping, wheeling, and fishing. Normally it's for fishing. But fishing takes me 40+miles away from the closest town sometimes. I have my Ham Radio on all the time. If I'm doing a group ride, I bring the CB. It has a mag antenna but can also be broken down into a handheld if I need it. The only time I do that is for spotting, aka not that often.

Trips I do are like this.


My radio and antenna set up is this





And boy do we love to get out there!

Photo Cred @SR-71A, boy I use the crap out of this photo haha

 

That's cool of ya

 

Have a good night Josh!

 

Another day! Have fun and learn what ya can.

 

Whoa.. quite the thread we got here haha

Soo. Let me start real quick by saying Im not an expert on this shit or anything, I just know what I read online and then what works for me in my truck along with a good engineering background. (Im currently studying for my HAM exam also, but thats taking a back seat to some real world shit like finding a new apartment to live in next month haha)

Yup, I currently run a CB and a 45W GMRS radio in my truck. That's close to the max power you can push on the higher power frequencies (as I'm sure you know). The GMRS and FRS intertwined frequencies are a bit of a pain in the ass now. You are limited to 5W, 0.5W or the full 50W depending on what channel you are on. This is where a programmable radio is super handy. I have all the GMRS frequencies and their power programed in. I can switch modes and dial in an exact frequency & power too if I want, but having it all pre-programed is nice.

SWR: not sure if you ever got an answer to your SWR question. My understanding is yes, you could technically check the SWR on a GMRS setup if you wanted to. But a few caveats. 1st you don't really need to, it's just not as sensitive as CBs are. 2nd as I understand it, SWR are meters are more or less built for a certain band. Meaning you wouldn't want to use a common CB SWR meter for your GMRS radio. Some of the other guys here might be able to clarify that a bit.

Here's where it gets interesting. Like others already said, the radio you run isnt worth much if theres no one listening. SO what are you using it for? Just comms between a group off road? Either CB or GMRS will do nicely. GMRS will give you a very clear, good quality conversation at a greater distance too. But it will cost more, is less common than CB, and needs the $70 FCC license to get over the FRS power limitations.

If you do a lot of solo travel and want to reach out in an emergency where there's no cell service, then I might have to recommend either Ham or satellite like an InReach. Caveat to that is if you get a programmable radio, chances are good it will be capable of Tx/Rx beyond the GMRS frequency range. Thats what I have. So before I go, I take a quick look and see if there are any 70cm (~450MHz) repeaters in the area. If so Ill program them in as an emergency contact. With 45W Ive confirmed I can reach out about 25 miles through moderate trees and some small hills.

Turned out to be quite the essay. Hope it helps a little bit

 

Hey its a good picture man haha! (Photo cred to you, but it still might be one of my favorites)

Can you post a few more pictures of how you have the Kenwood mounted up? Like a side view? I didnt know that it had the remote mount faceplate thing

 

So, since this is a thread about helping people and such. You asked about antennas and SWR. what your SWR meter is telling you when you use it, is how well the impedence matches the RF cable and antenna to your radio. You always want it as low as possible. (1:1) For work (i work on radios for a living and have been doing it for the past 12 years) Depending on our radio i try to keep the reflected power less then 2 watts. Now, antenna placement plays a little into this but the big thing i have always noticed is improperly made connectors. if you happen to have just 1 shield thread touching your center conductor it will reflect so much power back. And if you have alot of reflected power, it can damage your radio.

Antennas are typically set to a freq range if you buy one off the shelf. No tuning needed. But if you get down into the theory section of RF and such, you can build your own antenna to be perfectly matched to a specific freq. I have some co workers in the Ham world that do this but they only talk on like 1 or 2 freqs. Antennas are also where you will get your range and such. Theres a big calculation where you take the height of your antenna and the receive antenna and do funky math to figure out the max range (Mind you its theory based so that range is what would happen in perfect world.)

For my truck, I am running a Kenwood D-710G VHF/UHF Ham radio with a 1/4 wave antenna mounted (currently running a magmount on top the truck). Works great for my needs and i can reach out on APRS 30 miles. Im currently waiting on a NMO connector set to run to my hood mounted antenna thought i bought from victory 4x4. I also run CB in my truck as well for those that dont use Ham.

The Ham thread on here is a great source of information as well and will accept pretty much any questions. They helped me with my build and troubleshooting my first antenna (crimped the cable under my hood). Also if you want to look into how people mount their stuff, the thread on Clean Ham/CB installs is a great tool. Its thanks to them i came up with the mounting of most my gear to keep it out of sight but easy to access. It ay seem like a lot of info, but just take it a step at a time and dont try to overload yourself and mix things up. good luck. 73

 

Great info, Thx!

 

So I didn’t read past the first page but from what I gather, all four major comms are good, just preference on what you prefer? Is there something that’s used more than something else?

Just trying to figure out what I want to get. Thanks

 

From what I gather, the general consensus is moving toward GMRS. The radios are small, less expensive, easy to install, and only $70 for a family license with no test like HAM. They have a greater range than CB, and can use repeaters. I'm personally a HAM but still have GMRS and CB capability.