TJ Fest 2021 - Moab (April 24 – May 1, 2021)

[LONGJP2]

Unless everyone runs out and buys one, I would bet there are more CB'ers in this group (people who actually wheel) than GMRS.

I don't run out and buy the latest and greatest thing just because all the cool kids have it. Especially, if I don't really need it.
Hard enough trying to build a capable Jeep without having 'Savvy' money like Chris.

 

[Apparition]

Unless everyone runs out and buys one, I would bet there are more CB'ers in this group (people who actually wheel) than GMRS.

I don't run out and buy the latest and greatest thing just because all the cool kids have it. Especially, if I don't really need it.
Hard enough trying to build a capable Jeep without having 'Savvy' money like Chris.

Probably be better to teach people how to tune their CB if they don’t work than to buy a new radio that does the same thing.

Plus it’s Moab, cell service everywhere.

 

[TJ Hunnicutt]

Here's an informative vid on GMRS:

From what I can tell, FRS (no license required) is essentially the same as GMRS (license costs $70 for 10 years but requires no additional knowledge) is the power output limits...see 11:54 in the video. For channels 1 - 7 and 15 - 22, on FRS you can run up to 2 Watts and for channels 8 - 14, up to 0.5 Watts. With GMRS, you can increase your power to 5 Watts on channels 1 - 7 and up to 50 Watts (paying big time for that privilege) on channels 15 - 22, with channels 8 - 14 remaining at 0.5 Watts.
Since most of the handheld units will be hard-pressed to even do the 2 Watts, you really don't get any true advantage by getting a GMRS unit over a FRS one and end up spending more money. Alright, there do appear to be a few more frequency/channel assignments for GMRS over FRS but, my guess is that everyone will stay in the FRS channels to maximize compatibility with their mates.
To get the full benefit from going GMRS, you will need a vehicle-mounted unit. These will allow much more power and, generally, have more features, but cost a lot more because they require separate antennas, cabling, tuning, mounts, and installation costs.

I have a very competent CB installed in my rig and will stay with it for all runs where everyone is OK with 20th Century tech (like the AMD 4.0L inline 6 engine). For the Moab trip, and the times when "21st Century" is required, I'm going to get a hand-held FRS/GMRS radio (or set of two) and call it good.

 

[DaveF]

To get the full benefit from going GMRS, you will need a vehicle-mounted unit. These will allow much more power and, generally, have more features, but cost a lot more because they require separate antennas, cabling, tuning, mounts, and installation costs.

for $150 you can get a 15 watt GMRS radio with antenna and all needed hardware.... on a built off roading Jeep, I mean seems like a drop in the bucket.

 

[Apparition]

for $150 you can get a 15 watt GMRS radio with antenna and all needed hardware.... on a built off roading Jeep, I mean seems like a drop in the bucket.

For $219 you get that radio and 2 walkies.

 

[TJ Hunnicutt]

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/cph/cto/d/phoenix-2004-jeep-wrangler-tj-rubicon/7263438177.html
Not the best deal but certainly not the worse.

That actually looks like a pretty decent deal. A bit more rust than would be on a TJ that spent its life in AZ, so you'd want to check the frame and body well but, for what it has, it ain't bad.

EDIT: Oh yeah, the gears are kind of overboard for 33" tires but the seller said they're pretty much spent so, replace with 35's and be pretty happy (though possibly still revving a bit on the highway).

 

[GEEP4ME]

Probably be better to teach people how to tune their CB...

I had a cb and 1 or 2 antennas back in the day and had never tuned one. Bought a '90 Kawasaki Voyager 12 touring bike in late 2002. It had a cb on it. Decided to tune the antenna at one point, since the Clarion CB components on that bike had become somewhat scarce and pricey if you needed a part. Took a half hour or so, trimming the upper portion and rechecking, going slow so I didn't cut it too short. Bought another Voyager and it had a CB on it, but an aftermarket antenna. Tuned it, no problem. Eventually, the Clarion antenna base on the first bike fatigued/failed, so had to replace it with an aftermarket antenna also. The aftermarket antennas were Chinese, or worse than Chinese, and wiggled more than they should at freeway speeds. Eventually, you would get to your destination, but the antenna tip would be somewhere 300 miles back down the road having broken off due to metal fatigue. I got good at checking SWR and trimming cheap antenna tops.

Enter the Firestik II. I got tired of replacing antenna tips on the motorcycle and wanted to experiment with other options. The Firestik II and the Wilson Flex, both have tunable tips, where they have essentially, a screw in the end of the antenna where you just turn it out or turn it in (in small increments) to tune the SWR. Takes like 5 minutes. The Firestik was too heavy for the bike's fragile antenna mount and the Flex just has horrible SWR due to the flex. (unless I just got a bad one). So, back to the aftermarket antennas. I got smart and pre-tuned a replacement tip, and zip-tied it to the bottom of the trunk/tourpack. The Firestik is what I put on my TJ and it will be going to Moab.

Plus it’s Moab, cell service everywhere.

Not sure you can get 12 or 17 Jeepers on a conference call for a 2 hour trail run, but for emergencies, that's good to know.

From what I can tell, FRS (no license required) is essentially the same as GMRS (license costs $70 for 10 years...........snip.......

I have a very competent CB installed in my rig and will stay with it for all runs where everyone is OK with 20th Century tech (like the AMD 4.0L inline 6 engine). For the Moab trip, and the times when "21st Century" is required, I'm going to get a hand-held FRS/GMRS radio (or set of two) and call it good.

One could buy the GMRS radio and just listen on it, and not have to pay the license fee (if their conscience was the type that it might bug them, or if they're the type that always get busted, even when they're not guilty of anything). And like mentioned above, if everyone is on the FRS channels, then I'd be less than thrilled about having paid for the license when it could have paid for 2 tanks of gas instead.

 

[Apparition]

I had a cb and 1 or 2 antennas back in the day and had never tuned one. Bought a '90 Kawasaki Voyager 12 touring bike in late 2002. It had a cb on it. Decided to tune the antenna at one point, since the Clarion CB components on that bike had become somewhat scarce and pricey if you needed a part. Took a half hour or so, trimming the upper portion and rechecking, going slow so I didn't cut it too short. Bought another Voyager and it had a CB on it, but an aftermarket antenna. Tuned it, no problem. Eventually, the Clarion antenna base on the first bike fatigued/failed, so had to replace it with an aftermarket antenna also. The aftermarket antennas were Chinese, or worse than Chinese, and wiggled more than they should at freeway speeds. Eventually, you would get to your destination, but the antenna tip would be somewhere 300 miles back down the road having broken off due to metal fatigue. I got good at checking SWR and trimming cheap antenna tops.

Enter the Firestik II. I got tired of replacing antenna tips on the motorcycle and wanted to experiment with other options. The Firestik II and the Wilson Flex, both have tunable tips, where they have essentially, a screw in the end of the antenna where you just turn it out or turn it in (in small increments) to tune the SWR. Takes like 5 minutes. The Firestik was too heavy for the bike's fragile antenna mount and the Flex just has horrible SWR due to the flex. (unless I just got a bad one). So, back to the aftermarket antennas. I got smart and pre-tuned a replacement tip, and zip-tied it to the bottom of the trunk/tourpack. The Firestik is what I put on my TJ and it will be going to Moab.


Not sure you can get 12 or 17 Jeepers on a conference call for a 2 hour trail run, but for emergencies, that's good to know.


One could buy the GMRS radio and just listen on it, and not have to pay the license fee (if their conscience was the type that it might bug them, or if they're the type that always get busted, even when they're not guilty of anything). And like mentioned above, if everyone is on the FRS channels, then I'd be less than thrilled about having paid for the license when it could have paid for 2 tanks of gas instead.

Unlimited data, we’ll just do a zoom call.

I may buy the GMRS kit just because I want one to play with. I still don’t see the point in them.

 

[bobthetj03]

$70 for the license that is good for10 years, and your family can use the same call sign. Let's see, that is $7 a year. Boy, that is steep! ugh!

Cheap CB: $35
Firestick: $30
Coax cable: $16
SWR meter: $25
Labor to tune antenna: 2 beers

Total: $110.

GMRS:
Midland MXT-275: $149
Included: antenna, coax cable, no SWR needed
Add the $70 license fee and if you want to take advantage of repeaters and extended power/range as an option.

And that's for a cheap CB. You can go hog wild and spend over $200 for higher end CB's.
CB has served us well over the years, but there are better options now.

I experimented with my MXT-275 today and my gmrs handheld to check my range.
Tomorrow I'll do the same range check with my Cobra CB in the Jeep and my Uniden handheld CB.

 

[cmitcham]

Unless everyone runs out and buys one, I would bet there are more CB'ers in this group (people who actually wheel) than GMRS.

I don't run out and buy the latest and greatest thing just because all the cool kids have it. Especially, if I don't really need it.
Hard enough trying to build a capable Jeep without having 'Savvy' money like Chris.

so are we going to have a cb group? if so i'm in.

 

[Alex01]

That's for a hard-mounted unit. You can spend $25 and get a 2 pack (find a friend to buy the other and you're at $12.50) that will allow you to talk to other hard-mounted radios in the group. Channels 15-22 are best since they are mixed-use and can be used with higher watts.

Cheap hand held.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B5ZNV8/?tag=wranglerorg-20

A $40 set with more range.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007B5ZPGG/?tag=wranglerorg-20

To each their own though.... I will have my handheld CB with me and will be monitoring channel 4.

 

[Chris]

Damn... I mean I dunno, $25 is a lot of money for a GMRS setup

 

[Chris]

$70 for the license that is good for10 years, and your family can use the same call sign. Let's see, that is $7 a year. Boy, that is steep! ugh!

Cheap CB: $35
Firestick: $30
Coax cable: $16
SWR meter: $25
Labor to tune antenna: 2 beers

Total: $110.

GMRS:
Midland MXT-275: $149
Included: antenna, coax cable, no SWR needed
Add the $70 license fee and if you want to take advantage of repeaters and extended power/range as an option.

And that's for a cheap CB. You can go hog wild and spend over $200 for higher end CB's.
CB has served us well over the years, but there are better options now.

I experimented with my MXT-275 today and my gmrs handheld to check my range.
Tomorrow I'll do the same range check with my Cobra CB in the Jeep and my Uniden handheld CB.

I'm bringing these ones for everyone who is to cheap to get a GMRS setup:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L8YVDKV/?tag=wranglerorg-20



Not kidding

On a more serious note, I would like to add that a GMRS capable handheld is actually a smart thing to carry in your Jeep regardless. Even if you don't want to spend $150-$200 on a hard mounted setup, for $25 or so you can get a cheap handheld to carry in your Jeep at all times.

More-and-more people are switching to GMRS, and given how superior the range of GMRS is to CB, I can see why.

 

[GEEP4ME]

zoom

Uh, hello, Grandpa! We use DUO ovah heyah. I ain't even playin. What. Is yo Skype broke-in? For realz. Yo, you seen the MEET app? Oh, it'za gonna be big! You don't even know. Mmmm hmmmm. (insert "Airplane!" shiiiiiiit gif here)

 

[DaveF]

Uh, hello, Grandpa! We use DUO ovah heyah. I ain't even playin. What. Is yo Skype broke-in? For realz. Yo, you seen the MEET app? Oh, it'za gonna be big! You don't even know. Mmmm hmmmm. (insert "Airplane!" shiiiiiiit gif here)

Jeez, next thing you know we're going to be meeting trail groups on tinder...

 

[Apparition]

Jeez, next thing you know we're going to be meeting trail groups on tinder...

You aren’t already?

 

[GEEP4ME]

Let's see, there's Swingin Jeeps, Bleepin Jeeps (lots of technical "stuff" on that one supposedly), HighbeamJeepers and for those over 50, Goldeneaglejeepjammers. (not a dues paying member, so don't ask me any questions about them)

 

[bobthetj03]

Results with my Uniden handheld CB and the Cobra in my jeep with a 3' firestick were pathetic. I didn't get even a 1/4 mile away and lost all contact with the handheld.

 

[Alex01]

Results with my Uniden handheld CB and the Cobra in my jeep with a 3' firestick were pathetic. I didn't get even a 1/4 mile away and lost all contact with the handheld.

How far did the GMRS make it?

 

[bobthetj03]

How far did the GMRS make it?

6 miles on channel 16. Basically went beyond the range of the little handheld. He could still hear me past mile 8. That was with the small antenna that came with the radio. I have a 32" 6db gain antenna I'll be mounting same place you did.