What is the best CB/GMRS/HAM config?

If I wanted to get the best CB/GMRS/HAM for my truck, what would that look like? There is so much out there on the market and so many posts on here with a LOT of hack jobs. I wanted to get a real discussion about some philosophy around this technology.

I've got a Cobra 75 WXST with a

$31 Uniden (BC15) Bearcat 15-Watt External Communications Speaker. Durable Rugged Design, Perfect for Amplifying Uniden Scanners, CB Radios, and Other Communications Receivers, Black

Uniden Bearcat external speaker and a 4' firestick. Stuff I've read is that this is a super weak setup. So, what is a good one? Midland has the

$165 Midland - MXT275 MicroMobile GMRS Radio - 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone - Overland Caravanning Tractors - Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

MXT275 and

$100 Midland 75-822 Handheld CB Radio & Mobile CB Radio – Walkie Talkie with 40 Channels, NOAA Weather Alerts, Long Range, Compatible with CB Antennas

75-822, I've seen some really nice

Yaesu Original FTM-400DR/XDR 144/430MHz Dual-Band Analog/Digital Mobile Transceiver System Fusion

Yaesu FTM-400DR setups. ICOM is huge in the HAM world. Lots of

BaoFeng UV-5R PRO 150-174/400-480mhz Dual Band Handheld Two Way Radio Waterproof Walkie Talkie UHF VHF Portable Two-Way Radio for Hiking Camping Marine¡

Baofeng UV5R's which I think may be illegal to transmit on... What are the top radios? What are some dream machine setups that are up to date and worth buying?

Is it worth it for the average weekend warrior to go through the Level 1 Technician test, or is the $70 call sign just fine?

I spent a lot of money on this truck, I'd like to have a decent radio. Are you using CB/GMRS/HAM and what situations are these best in? My personal reasons are to have a way to communicate with family and friends when cell phones aren't an option within a few miles of the camp/hunt site. I dont do a lot of off-roading(though I want to and should be) and I've read that GMRS eclipses CB in the woods.

 

Also, why does it feel so damn taboo to ask questions about this? Too many hard dick dudes out in the world. You're killing the tech!

 

As far as strength/signal.....CB<GMRS<HAM

I personally like the controls to be in the mic. That way I can put them in the console when not in use and you'd never know they are there.

I have this CB b/c I got a RJ45 jack and put it in one of the blank spots to have it look factorish. The CB is fine if you're pretty close to your group

$142 Uniden CMX760 Bearcat Off Road Series Compact Mobile CB Radio, 40-Channel Operation, Ultra-Compact for Easy Mounting, Large 7-Color Backlit LCD Display on Mic with Built-in Speaker Mic, Black

https://www.amazon.com/Uniden-CMX76...arcat+760&qid=1608797464&s=electronics&sr=1-2





For GMRS, I like this one

$165 Midland - MXT275 MicroMobile GMRS Radio - 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone - Overland Caravanning Tractors - Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FN2FBML/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_7?smid=A33O82Y9CWW4GL&psc=1



For HAM, I plan to get the Kenwood d710(I've had my license for a year or so, but have only bought a cheap baofeng handheld)

 

@medic2230 and @m603holden can give you some great info on HAM.

 

I’m looking for the same thing as you. Wish I could help more but I just bought this one, it’s supposed to show up tomorrow. My last few trips I’ve been having a lot of issues with my cb and hand held ham so hopefully this helps

 

I'm gonna be honest, that looks miserable.

 

Which part?

 

The UX.

 

Don't forget @koditten

 

How could I have forgotten @koditten

 

I don’t think you could go wrong with the FTM-400DR. It’s a nice rig. Some people like the touch screen on it. I’m still undecided about it. 2 friends of mine have them and they seem to like them.

I’m running a Kenwood TM-D710 and really like it. Easy to use and easy to program a repeater in when you want. I like not having to dig through menus for a truck radio. For APRS messaging you have use the keypad on the mic to type.

As far as HT’s I have a Yeasu FT-70 (C4FM) and a Alinco DJ-MD5GP (DMR). I mainly use them for digital modes with a hotspot or on the local digital repeaters.


At the house I’m using a Yeasu FT-991a for HF/VHF/UHF and C4FM.


Really just depends on what you want to do with them. A

 

You want a radio to communicate with friends and family when out of cell range? Probably best to find out what kind of radio they have then..

Why not study up and get you Amateur ticket? You’ll learn a bunch about radios, maybe pick up a new hobby, or figure out it’s not for you.

Much better start that plunking down a bunch of coin for something you don’t understand and won’t use, or that doesn’t do what you were hoping..

 

Oh absolutely, I agree with you. And I realize its sort of like asking what the best guitar setup is and how subjective a question that is to ask. I guess I'm asking because I want to know more information before I start drilling holes into my brand new vehicle and installing something that I'm going to eventually find out is a crappy setup. Getting the response that I need to read an 11 chapter technical manual and take a supervised test in order to be certified to find out what a decent radio setup would look like also seems kind of extreme, you know? I do have the manual and I'm planning on actually reading it and taking the test in the near future (something good will come out of COVID19)

 

I've got similar ideas as OP and have been doing lots of reading. It's true that when it comes to range, CB<GMRS<Ham. But with Ham, you kind of end up in the hobby category. It also seems like Ham is great for creating a community of radio enthusiasts who like to talk about that hobby. That's not so much what I'm into. GMRS seems like the sweet spot between weak CB and overpowered/complicated/popular Ham.

I'm almost sold on the Midland MXT400. I want to be able to reach 10 or 15 miles through patches of woods. I want an uncomplicated mic to deal with (and I've read that mics with lots of buttons can get hot). I like that it can use repeaters (which I may one day set up on the farm) and it can talk to some relatively cheap hand-held radios I can hand to friends on a hunting trip. The lower powered models would be enough, except for the range.

Any feedback y'all have is welcome.

 

I have an MXT400. Have hit repeaters and talked to people in adjacent states. Works very well. If I had to do it again I might have gone with

$165 mxt275 micromobile GMRS radio - 15 watts two-way radio with integrated control microphone - overland caravanning tractors - detachable external magnetic mount antenna - 8 repeater channels

mxt275 but it wasn’t in production at the time, and the next step down

$165 mxt115 - 15 watt GMRS micromobile two way trails radio - off roading outdoor RZR farm - 8 repeater channels extended range - external magnetic mount antenna - NOAA weather alerts

mxt115 was reviewed as a piece of crap.

GMRS is best middle ground for most. 10 yr pay to play license that extends to family and your gtg. Even lower tier midland offerings are relatively cheap and easy to set up. Works well for groups that aren’t ham licensed and don’t want or have the time to invest in testing.

I have MXT400, a Kenwood 2m, and plan to get a garmin inReach and call it a day.

 

By all means buy whatever you like.. you question is like asking about the best tire for a truck you don’t have, and a drivers license that is ‘too hard’ to study for.

The radio is the last thing you need to buy. And there are hundreds of options out there, not just Icom who is huge in the Ham world.

 

Plus there is the small detail that if you’re not going to bother getting an Amateur License your illegal to own or operate an Amateur Radio.

Us Ham guys get prickly about these things..

 

Same boat here.

Been looking at the mxt400 for the truck and a couple of beufangs for handheld around camp, spotter, etc. Figured I'd I program them up for gmrs, set the power to low, and use them in channel mode that should keep me in the spirit of things.

Grab the 10yr family license and call it good.

Not super interested in picking up ham, although I wouldn't be apposed to getting a cert one day.
And I don't think of CB as being super useful anymore for my use case.

 

It’s not illegal to own a ham radio without a license. You just cant transmit.

 

Why not keep it legal and buy a couple of handheld FRS radios for this purpose instead? Baofengs are illegal to use for GMRS no matter how you are programing them.