I have both. Use the GMRS all the time...at least until my Midland 275 failed and they don't have parts, so using my Baofeng handheld.
CB is all hooked up with an amplifier and it's been turned on a couple of times to check SWR and that's it.
-Mac
CB Radio Static Concerns
- Thread starter SargeJosh
- Start date
I have both. Use the GMRS all the time...at least until my Midland 275 failed and they don't have parts, so using my Baofeng handheld.
CB is all hooked up with an amplifier and it's been turned on a couple of times to check SWR and that's it.
-Mac
Over the past few years I've used the CB in the Coach communicating with truck traffic while traveling. I generally turn it down or off when there is fowl language . Occasionally I talk to one in the Jeep or the truck . In our neck of the woods I still see quite a few pickups with CB antennas .
Icom 706mk2
I don't operate hf mobile in the Jeep . I have a Wolf River coil and a 17ft telescoping vertical antenna . In addition , I carry a length of wire to use as an end-fed dipole . Works great for stationary hf comms . I also use the 706 for CB on low power .
I ran mobile HF in my pickup using a Wolf River coil and a 102" steel whip . It worked extremely well mobile . Technology , on the road I could run the coil and 102" whip on the Jeep .
I don't operate hf mobile in the Jeep . I have a Wolf River coil and a 17ft telescoping vertical antenna . In addition , I carry a length of wire to use as an end-fed dipole . Works great for stationary hf comms . I also use the 706 for CB on low power .
I ran mobile HF in my pickup using a Wolf River coil and a 102" steel whip . It worked extremely well mobile . Technology , on the road I could run the coil and 102" whip on the Jeep .
That's good to know, I've been kicking around the idea of a screwdriver antenna on some kind of push/crank up mast/tower bolted to the rear bumper. The price of admission to HF is obscene...
I just got the bottom barrel Midland that I think does 5 watts. Should be fine for Jeep use. A lot of the guys here run the mid-level Midland, or various Radioddities.
This is a pretty decent one for $100. But you could get buy with handhelds (for ~25$) or really anything, GMRS is a commodity these days.
I'd say anything like rasband linked, or btech, or even a commercial radio programmed for GMRS. I'm not a fan of Midland or any big name GMRS manufacturers. Their prices are high and features limited. For basic, no-frills use, they can work. But you can get a lot more capability for the same money.
I really need a GMRS for dummies, very rarely do we (our normal group) even have radios, but it would have been nice last Saturday to hear @NashvilleTJ and @Woodrow cussing me while wheeling 
I really need a GMRS for dummies, very rarely do we (our normal group) even have radios, but it would have been nice last Saturday to hear @NashvilleTJ and @Woodrow cussing me while wheeling
Yep. Slow. The big yellow jeep had questions (and comments)
I really need a GMRS for dummies, very rarely do we (our normal group) even have radios, but it would have been nice last Saturday to hear @NashvilleTJ and @Woodrow cussing me while wheeling
For handhelds, I recommend Tidradio TD-H8 or, if you prefer something a little smaller, the TD-H3. When operating in a relatively close group, handhelds are fine with the biggest challenge being volume/hearing the radio. That can be solved with a headset or earpiece, or even an external speaker.
I have several handhelds, but prefer the mobile in my jeep. I have an external speaker mounted to the rollbar above my head so I can hear it clearly under any conditions.
With my Kenwood commercial radio, I programmed it to the basic GMRS & repeater channels, as well as several local/regional repeaters. Otherwise, I don't mess with the programming or do anything special. With the radio, programming software, and speaker, I have around $150 tied up in it and it works great & has never let me down.
I have done hand helds so far and as you say they are absolutely fine. Having a more powerful unit wired in with either the unit itself or a remote speaker high and central is on the list but right now it’s farther down.
Last edited:
Can’t. I just bought some Midland’s 5 or 6 years ago. They work well enough that doing something better is way down the list.
These are cheap and reliable. Radio nerds will talk about how they're dirty RF, but no one else cares about that. For a jeep group that's all on a trail together, it's enough. IIRC they let you just select a channel in the GMRS list.
https://www.amazon.com/Compatible-B...ls-Receiver/dp/B0CPFDKKZB/?tag=wranglerorg-20
The Tidradio TD-H8 is my favorite. I have 2. They can operate on UHF (GMRS), VHF, and have FM and weather radio. They're advertised at 10 or 15w, but 5w is all that's allowed on handheld GMRS (no on pays attention to that though). They can monitor 2 channels at once, have alpha-numeric channel tags (which is a requirement for me), and have USB-C rechargeable battery. I got mine on sale, but i think they can be purchased for around $60/each without a sale.
I use mine for local emergency frequencies as well. I'm a firefighter/EMT, so I transmit on those frequencies, but for someone who isn't, you can still program them in to listen in.
The radios can be programmed from the front panel of the radio, through a cell phone app, or from a computer. Or, they can be used as-is right out of the box. They're pretty easy to learn though. You can also hook them to an external antenna for more range if needed.
Similar threads
