Best GRMS Radio?

I've had good luck with the Baofeng UV-5R. It's decent quality for a handheld radio. If you shop around you can find them for $30.
 
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The UV-5R was a good unit to use to get introduced to GRMS. However, I couldn't hear the thing and having to charge it was a pain. I went with a hardwired radioddity--though I dont have enough use with it yet to know if I like it or not.
 
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I also just did a Midland MXT275. Mounted the bracket/guts down along the passenger side of the center console near the footwell. I also put a Nagoya UT-72G mag mount antenna on the drivers side hood/cowl area and ran the wire back through the firewall and reterminated the coax at the radio (had to cut the coax to get through the firewall).
Currently just using the cigarette lighter adapter to see how it works. So far so good, so will grab 12V somewhere under the dash and hardwire when I get a chance.
Also would like a better, more permanent surface mount of the antenna. Still thinking about options for that—not many flat less-instructed metal surfaces suitable for mounting in the TJ.
I still need to check the SWR of this setup. I was missing an adapter to check that but it just showed up this week.

Overall this setup worked well on a first test wheeling in a very hilly and woodsy area, communicating with a few Midland handhelds.
 
I also just did a Midland MXT275. Mounted the bracket/guts down along the passenger side of the center console near the footwell. I also put a Nagoya UT-72G mag mount antenna on the drivers side hood/cowl area and ran the wire back through the firewall and reterminated the coax at the radio (had to cut the coax to get through the firewall).
Currently just using the cigarette lighter adapter to see how it works. So far so good, so will grab 12V somewhere under the dash and hardwire when I get a chance.
Also would like a better, more permanent surface mount of the antenna. Still thinking about options for that—not many flat less-instructed metal surfaces suitable for mounting in the TJ.
I still need to check the SWR of this setup. I was missing an adapter to check that but it just showed up this week.

Overall this setup worked well on a first test wheeling in a very hilly and woodsy area, communicating with a few Midland handhelds.

I put mine on the driver side of the center console. I'm just going to use the original antenna for now and like you, I will be researching a better antenna and mounting.
 
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I just recently got a rugged radio handheld. Before that I had a CB. It was fairly priced, think like 90 bucks shipped.

I got the handheld so I could have it in my tow rig when we have a few guys in a convoy for longer trips. Didn’t want a mounted radio in my truck.

Welp, liked it so much and its so much clearer than a CB that it made its way into the jeep also. We were at Windrock for a week and I never touched my CB.

The one pro I really like about a handheld is I can walk a trail if need be and give info back to the group.

The one negative is a few times after banging around on trails I thought I lost it, but found it floating around my jeep in some random place. Need to get a holder for it…

I don’t have a lot of experience with it, but that’s my take so far
 
I just recently got a rugged radio handheld. Before that I had a CB. It was fairly priced, think like 90 bucks shipped.

I got the handheld so I could have it in my tow rig when we have a few guys in a convoy for longer trips. Didn’t want a mounted radio in my truck.

Welp, liked it so much and its so much clearer than a CB that it made its way into the jeep also. We were at Windrock for a week and I never touched my CB.

The one pro I really like about a handheld is I can walk a trail if need be and give info back to the group.

The one negative is a few times after banging around on trails I thought I lost it, but found it floating around my jeep in some random place. Need to get a holder for it…

I don’t have a lot of experience with it, but that’s my take so far

10-fo driver. You got a full grown in the comedian at the 242 looking your way.
 
I'd like to do the mounted thing, even though I can understand the benefits of handhelds. My beef with handhelds is I lose them until right before a trip and end up having to buy another pair, and then I find the old ones later.
 
FWIW, I have a "mounted" GMRS radio - and a couple of cheapie FRS walkie-talkies in the Jeep with it. Wife can go on walk about and stay in touch, spotters can use them, whatever. Best of both worlds.

I have a mounted rugged radio and two rugged handhelds that have worked well as loaners at TJFest. I don’t know what the best is.
 
I recently got into gmrs radios, thanks to youtube. I decided on the wouxun kg-sx20g for a mobile in my jeep. great little radio with good power. ONLY beef I had with it, was mounting locations. I had it mounted above the windshield using a rugged ridge bracket I had already in place for the CB. It was fine until I recently went wheeling with it. It was a major PIA trying to talk, shift gears and steer the jeep at the same time. I decided to change it up and go with the B-tech 20v2 in the jeep. Mainly because all of the functions are done on the handheld mic. The unit can be mounted down below, say under the seat, and the mic can go.. anywhere. I like it also because it's IP67 rated, so if I get water in the Jeep, i don't have to worry about it failing. the KG-xs20g is IP66 or 65, I can't remember. Not that it wouldn't survive dust and water also, I just feel better with the B-tech. An added bonus with the B-tech is it's programable with chirp, which is wayyyy easier. Just copy and paste. Wouxun mobiles are not on chirp just yet, but I'm sure they will be within the next year or so, hopefully. They did just add the KG-935g, which I have also. Great little handheld. I live in the Houston area and there is great repeaters around here. Plus, with the Texas GMRS network, there's a lot of chatter going on. So I decided to install the KG-xs20g in my daily driver Tundra. With the two brands of radios I have, I can only attest to them and I like the Wouxuns better. They seem more "rugged" and "reliable." But I haven't had an issue with the B-tech either. Hope this helps.
 
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Just adding this one to the mix. I randomly found the early (ham) version of this radio and programed it for GMRS. Not the most powerful or even easiest to mess with through the handset, but the form factor is great and features (if you can figure out how to access them) are extensive. It's like a Chinese version of the Midland MXT-275 but the display doesn't suck. I installed is in my wife's van and it's very unobtrusive.

 
I picked up the tiny Radioddity DB25g it’s mounted on my 67design magnetic phone mount
Use it for our club runs easily removed when not in use .
also works in the wife’s JLUR

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I picked up the tiny Radioddity DB25g it’s mounted on my 67design magnetic phone mount
Use it for our club runs easily removed when not in use .
also works in the wife’s JLUR

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I actually tried the unit but had all kinds of problems getting it programmed for anything other than the basic gmrs channels. Went through 2 units until they finally said they knew they had a firmware issue with them and sent me a different model. Have you had any issues with programming repeaters on it?