Norcal Spotted and BS Thread

Oh I could care either way, just have a ham.

I started with a baofeng, still have two for loaners. Then when it seemed useful I got a better handheld. Then when that was amazing I got a mobile install so I could hang the mic.

 

BTW, my mobile was cheaper than my handheld.

 

I forget who recommended this, but it has been sitting in my Amazon cart for months.

 

Site looks great buddy!

 

The thumbnail on the main page brought me in, but maybe I can provide a little insight
I have two of these:

$50 Baofeng Radio US BF-F9 V2+ 5-Watt Hi-Power Dual-Band 145-155/400-520 MHz Hand Held Ham Radio Two-Way Transceiver - With Battery, Earpiece, Antenna & Charger (BFF9V2BLACK)

https://www.amazon.com/Baofeng-Radi...=1482883366&sr=8-3&keywords=baofeng+tri+power
On sale now too.
I keep one as a loaner and the other as the main unit for the truck. I added a cig lighter power adapter, handheld mic and eternal antenna and I get incredible range (under optimal conditions). I would definitely recommend this set up for handheld Hams. One thing I will say that @jberry813 mentioned above is that there really is nowhere the clip that sumbitch where it doesn't get in the way. Add in the cig lighter plug, mic and external antenna, and you've got wires going everywhere. The easiest and safest way I've found to keep everything is the unit goes in the cup holder or by the setbelt clasp and I added a small strip of elastic to the actual seatbelt strap so I can clip the mic near my collar bone (think: cops). You can hear clearly and talk into it without removing it from there.
Daily driving, the mic is clipped to the little pocket on the right of the steering wheel and the unit is clipped to the upright of my weathertec mat. Hope this helps. I'll see myself out.

 

I like that one because there was a deal to get it for 40 bucks last year. It's also nice because it can monitor two channels. Some people dislike that model since it can be easy to transmit on the wrong frequency by accident.

 

I love it. Only downside is battery life on high pwr

 

Using low power on the trail usually isn't an issue.

 

Programming them is pretty easy. Way easier than typing the program in on the console switches. Right John?

Download Chirp, build yourself a spreadsheet, then program away.

 

I bought the extended baofeng batteries for both radios. So I have a way bigger battery, and the one they sent with it is a backup. The car charger plugs into the base not the radio.

One thing I like about the yaesu handheld, is the car attachment plugs into the handheld. But it doesnt charge, just keeps the radio from drawing from battery.

 

Yup, I lowered it this past snow trip. Lasted all day. Toy run trip, didn't last the whole time.

 

Damn those Yaesu handhelds are pretty spiffy. Anything with large icons on the screen gets my attention because can't see for shit.

 

Need the Bluetooth to switch from vehicle to portable when you get out of the truck. Lol.

 

These seem perfect if you have a Techdeck or any other RAM mounting points.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...lder-Brackets-quot?highlight=Baofeng+brackets

I was going to install a retractable mic hanger at the campsite, but forgot it at home. I just clipped it to a croakie (sunglass thingy) and wedged it in the sunglass compartment door. Worked ok on the DV trip.

Comms were awesome on the trip- even on the way home. Andy saw an accident ahead and led @theed and I on a dirt road romp along some farm fields off of 5. We popped back on the freeway 1/4 in front of the accident. People who passed us an hour earlier (and got stuck in the traffic) must have been tripping when they passed us again. Our trucks are easy to recognize...

We would also have the person in the back (usually me) get in the fast lane so the convoy could move over when passing big rigs. Worked out really well.

Also, I was on 146.458 (instead of 146.460) the whole trip. Must have changed the channel while trying to adjust the squelch on the road. Probably why my transmissions were so shitty in DV, even with the Nagoya antenna.

Any thoughts on this thing:

$225 TYT TH-9800D Quad Band 50W Cross-Band Mobile, 10M/6M/2M/70CM Mobile Transceiver, A+B Dual Band Two Way Radio

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B012...yt+th-9800&dpPl=1&dpID=41FQkAIsTUL&ref=plSrch

Detachable face. $200. 50 watt. Seems legit.

 

I have the Yaesu 7900 and love it. Mount the box under the seat, route the cord up to behind the rearview mirror, throw the radio innthe glovebox when im not using it

 

I hate when that fucker flies off the visor as your hitting a rock and bending a rim and hits me on the fucken face. Fack!

Please post??? wood buy

really?? that's weird...mine go for days

 

if you are going to spend $200, then spend a lil more (or less depending on the model) and get a yaesu/kenwood/icom that you know are solid. Lots of new radio stuff coming out of asia on the cheap with new names, hard to know what is worth the money.

 

I use this install, $119.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-014764

I now could use a bit more functionality now, so about to ditch my cb and put a second mobile ham into its spot.

 

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/11746

ymmv

 

Like this one?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004...u+ft-7900r&dpPl=1&dpID=41jM1bjmpML&ref=plSrch

Same one @VolcomTacoma ?