Clean VHF/CB radio installs

There’s a few pretty good radios. If you want something simple you can get a very basic set of handhelds with channels programmed for you. It’s debatable on brands but I’ve found Midland, Baufang and Wouxon are pretty good. The Baufang UV5R is a HAM radio that can be programmed if desired to communicate on GMRS. The Wouxon KG-UV9G is a good radio also, that is GMRS. These will require some programming but are fairly simple following some YouTube videos. A great resource I’ve used is NotARubicon on YT.
https://m.youtube.com/@TheNotaRubicon/videos
if there’s anything else I can help with feel free to ask!

 

Thanks for the response! Looks like I have more research and youtubin to do.

 

GMRS ‘tuber has lots of reviews and a wicked sense of troll humor.

https://youtube.com/@TheNotaRubicon?si=8Ocyc1U5UZTWmo8m

 

Hah! Missed your post before sending mine.

 

Greta minds think alike! He’s pretty good for being a jeep guy haha

 

idk man, he kind of just comes off like a jackass.

 

He’s for sure unique but has found something that works for him on YT to get views. I’ve learned a lot from his videos. I’m not sure I’d wanna hang out with him though

 

Dude's as bad as the hams he claims to dunk on. Maybe worse because he advocates for not getting FCC licenses before transmitting. lol

 

Yeah, I usually advocate people play with the radio and monitor. If it’s on the lower FRS frequencies I don’t see a problem transmitting. Probably best to wait until you get a license especially on repeaters. With the license being cheap and easy, it’s best to wait. I do like that he tells you how to use radios like the UV-5 to chat on GMRS but once again I’m not going to say anyone should do it. Now if its emergency purposes I’d transmit on HAM or GMRS without a license in a heartbeat. Just my 2 cents though.

 

Love him! He does come off like an ass - it's his shtick, his gimmick, his ability to laugh at himself and those who take themselves too seriously.

I disagree.
He advocates for people to get a GMRS license and advocates to obey the laws. But also acknowledges that those same laws allow the unlicensed transmission on licensed frequencies when lives are on the line. Either SHTF / WROL or in the back country and out of Cell Range.

 

That is 100% allowed and is written into the Parts 95 and 97 code. 97 actually goes further and allows unlicensed transmission when either lives or property are threatened.

Part 97 goes beyond that and allows unlicensed transmission when life or property are threatened.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvK6KsLkPUs

I'd love to see someone make the argument in court that they had to transmit unlicensed because if the guy we're spotting down big bear missed a call, their life and property would be threatened by the big drop. Let's take it to the Supreme Court! lol

 

Finally feeling good about my clean install to show pix.

Works Great!

TYT TH-9800 Quad Band (But I don't use 6M/10M yet). I just put the coarse side of hook and loop / velcro (r) on the bracket and stuck it to the carpet under the seat.
Remote head mounted with the cable flowing up the trans tunnel plastic.
Power goes under the channel where the door kick plates are. It's in a switched fuse with a power tap.
Antenna runs under the lip of the bed and between the cab and bed. There's a grommet under the cab near the drivers seat. Antenna Cable runs through that, under the carpet and I cut a little hole for it to come through.
Antenna is a Diamond SG-7500 (2M/70CM) with decent gain. Parking garages haven't been an issue YET but it hit's right at about 7 feet at the tip and does lay down.

No mic clip / holder yet. That'll come later.

 

Nice handcuff....

Seriously though. REALLY liking that folding antenna mount.

 

It’s absolutely is written in. I think it’s good to have multiple options to communicate is all. That’s why I like a radio that can function on HAM and GMRS.

 

Hey I don't disagree at all. I hold ham and GMRS licenses and carry equipment in my truck for exactly that reason.

I just don't like a guy in a public position proudly calling himself an unlicensed ham operator and acting like you shouldn't have a license before hitting the PTT button.

It creates a bad precedent for the dummies out there who think rules are for suckers and I really don't want to make them feel more validated in their actions because the dumbdumbs are ultimately one mechanism through which we lose trail access.

That's it, that's the take. We can stop taking up space in this thread now.

 

I’ve watched a crap ton of his videos and I don’t think he’s ever advocated for transmitting out of licensed band. What he has said, is that the FCC’s (IYKYK) have rarely if ever fined anyone for doing so. He walks the line for sure, and trolls the hams heavily, but he stays just on the right side of regulations.

I’m licensed in both, Ham and GMRS, and have a couple of Yaesu HTs that *could* transmit on GMRS in an emergency. I’m inclined to purchase a single quality GMRS radio to add to my mobile ham in the truck. My Yaesu pair are emergency kit. Heck, hers has a series of frequencies labeled with my name and increasing numbers. Mine has the same frequencies labeled with her name and increasing numbers. Makes it easy-peasy outside of repeaters.

 

Every company I have worked for has had some policy about when your laptop is in your vehicle it must be stored out of sight in the trunk. When I ask IT or Legal about "How does that apply to a truck?" they keep copying and pasting the same crap from the policy about stored in the trunk of the vehicle. So I have a dark grey interior with tinted windows and a dark pet hammock in the back seat. It covers the black laptop bag when it is stashed behind the seat. Additionally I got a set of handcuffs off of Amazon for $10 because you can't get a cheaper lock. I wanted a cuff key for the key chain anyway and most criminals won't think twice about cutting a bag loose from a standard lock but they will pause for a set of cuffs. Maybe they still cut the bag loose maybe not but there's a bit of psychology involved. One side of the cuff is around the seat rail one gets squeezed around the straps on the bag. Works great.

The folding feature is part of that antenna. One of the reasons I got it was that it doesn't require a ground plane. It's all self contained in that bottom area apparently. Can be mounted on Fiberglass Boats, Camper Shells, etc. Right where it breaks and folds over is where the bottom end of the match or self contained ground is located. Really slick antenna. 3.5db on 2M and 6db on 70c.

https://diamondantenna.net/sg7500a.html

 

I did the same, for a pair of cuffs for the keychain. Never thought of using them to mount anything but that’s a great idea for securing a small truck safe for a handgun size safe or case. Way more durable than the small cable that can be cut with a pair of side cutters.

For the mic mount, do you have a dash mount? I used the DMM from taco garage and then got a mount for the RAM system and fastened it to that. It works great and right above where your radio is mounted so the cord isn’t being stretched constantly.

 

SG7500 is a great antenna. I used one on my motorcycle for years.

 

One of the next upgrades more than likely.

Thought I would do wireless car play (WCP) but then I have to plug my phone in to charge.
But if I get WCP and then put a mag safe charger in the center console cubby.
Then I forget the phone in the truck.

So now looking for how to get a mag safe phone mount to keep it up and visible so I don't forget it in the truck.
Mic Mount will go next to it.