Northern Virginia Roll Call

I used a lootttt of bug spray numerous times throughout the day, so I escaped with only a couple bites.

 

Should have done the same but when I was downsizing from the usual trip crate, forgot the spray... got a few dozen on my arms and legs.

 

Bug spray and sunscreen stays in the door pocket.

 

How did the radios work out?

 

They were great. It was nice having clear comms with everyone. Adam was at camp at meadow knob and some of us were up top messing around, and were able to chat no problem. And when we left we had like 5ish mile range, and that was with adam using the little shitty mag antenna it came with. Huge improvement over CB, and I liked having a vehicle hardwired radio again. No need to worry about battery life.

 

So time for me to ditch my CB and Bao Feng?

 

Keep the baofeng. I still had mine on me for when I would get out and spot people. But throw the CB in the garbage and light it on fire and pick up a GMRS radio and license.

 

I'm convinced. My hard mount dual band picked up a lot of conversation that wouldn't even open the lowest squelch setting on my handhelds.

 

Groovy. That reminds me. The FCC site was jacked up when I tried to get the license.

And I should look mounting options for the GMRS antenna.

 

As far as I know they all require NMO mount. I drilled a 3/4" hole in my roof because eff it. But there are other options of course. I'd say the next best option for a good ground plane would be one that mounts in a ditch light area, or comes out of the hood crack thing. Like this

 

I've got the greenlee punch if anyone needs to borrow it for the NMO hole. Small pilot hole then it makes a super clean punch.

 

Mine even sounded great with the tiny antenna that it came with which was mounted low on my ditch light bracket.

 

Yeah imagine if everyone had proper antenna set ups. While I was waiting for you guys to get to the hill, I was up top hanging out in my hammock with the radio on. Heard Adam come through talking about how they lost Joe. Tried responding but he couldn't hear me. That was quite awhile before you guys arrived so you had to have been at least 8 miles away

 

Midland has a ditch light mount I'm probably going to get. They also make a Tacoma specific mount, but it uses the same area as my ditch lights.

I also looked at a mount I could put on my roof rack, but I'll probably skip it so I'm not pulling it off all the time. So....

 

I was able to pick up you guys at the lake when Hayden and I were back at the air-up gravel road.

 

yes, for a short time... If you are going to central Pa....go through Winchester catch 522N through Berkeley Springs then on to 70 West... you are in Md for maybe 4 minutes.

 

Damn that's nice. These radios really are sweet.

 

Well I'm sold. I'm hoping the power plug on my Midland CB is the same, so I just have to switch thangs.

 

And if it’s not, you can make it the same. Would be very easy.

 

@crashdb do you have any rubber RJ45 plugs? I just need 1. Don't really want to order 100 on Amazon for $9.