Radio information guide

Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
2,038
View attachment 78769

Google GMRS repeaters near me to see
Ahhhh, very nice. Thank you. :beerscheers:

I can say that HAM repeaters are much in abundance for sure, but I'm pretty impressed nonetheless with these repeaters.

Seems the concentrations are for some reason along each coast line? Well, except for the great lakes area and/or up in that general area. All others are definitely more concentrated on each coastline and not the very central part of the country?

Anyways, very nice to know. :beerscheers:
 

Octanejunkie

Just another jagoff with a 4x4
Joined
Nov 2, 2018
Messages
612
Ahhhh, very nice. Thank you. :beerscheers:

I can say that HAM repeaters are much in abundance for sure, but I'm pretty impressed nonetheless with these repeaters.

Seems the concentrations are for some reason along each coast line? Well, except for the great lakes area and/or up in that general area. All others are definitely more concentrated on each coastline and not the very central part of the country?

Anyways, very nice to know. :beerscheers:
I haven't done the search, but how does this map correspond with HAM repeaters? I would imagine the same towers and installations would be leveraged...
 
Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
2,038
I haven't done the search, but how does this map correspond with HAM repeaters? I would imagine the same towers and installations would be leveraged...
If you were to look at a HAM Repeater Guide, you will immediately see that there are hundreds of repeaters just in CA alone and well across the nation.

You are likely right that some of those very same HAM Repeater towers likely have FRS/GMRS "equipment" on them, but definitely not all of them.

A lot of the HAM repeaters are "owned" and maintained, if you will, by HAM licensed operators and/or "clubs".
 

Octanejunkie

Just another jagoff with a 4x4
Joined
Nov 2, 2018
Messages
612
So in looking at HAM operator licenses, does Technician cover everything I would need for offroading or should I be looking at Technician and General?

Considering an online learning/test exam site and there are options. Training for each license is $35 (unlimited access) or $49 for Technician and General combined...
 

Chris In Milwaukee

Ain’t no mo’
Joined
Dec 16, 2019
Messages
3,101
Age
56
Location
North Woods, WI USA
It’s been a long time since I looked into it, but I think the lower license restricts you to 2m/70cm bands. Above that all the bands are open, I believe (or more of them). I think many off-roaders are mainly using the former.
 
Joined
Nov 15, 2018
Messages
2,038
So in looking at HAM operator licenses, does Technician cover everything I would need for offroading or should I be looking at Technician and General?

Considering an online learning/test exam site and there are options. Training for each license is $35 (unlimited access) or $49 for Technician and General combined...

It’s been a long time since I looked into it, but I think the lower license restricts you to 2m/70cm bands. Above that all the bands are open, I believe (or more of them). I think many off-roaders are mainly using the former.
For Tech class, you can use 10m, for example, but the smallest "sliver" of it. In other words, there are other bands you can use other than 2m/70cm, but limited to a certain part of whatever freq band.

Either case, there is a freq chart that has a breakdown for each class.
See the link as an example...

But yes, General Class opens up the freq band use QUITE A BIT!!!

I use 2m/70cm mostly anyways really. May go for a Gen class, but definitely the bottom of my list of things I want to get and/or do.
 
Last edited:

Octanejunkie

Just another jagoff with a 4x4
Joined
Nov 2, 2018
Messages
612
For Tech class, you can use 10m, for example, but the smallest "sliver" of it. In other words, there are other bands you can use other than 2m/70cm, but limited to a certain part of whatever freq band.

Either case, there is a freq chart that has a breakdown for each class.
See the link as an example...

But yes, General Class opens up the freq band use QUITE A BIT!!!

I use 2m/70cm mostly anyways really. May go for a Gen class, but definitely the bottom of my list of things I want to get and/or do.
I found a few online study guides (free) and pulled trigger on a radio. Need to work on an antenna/mount next.

I have a rear tail light bracket (passenger side) I could use but haven't installed yet...

Is a 36" FireStik with tuneable tip and spring base mount the way to go?
 

Chris In Milwaukee

Ain’t no mo’
Joined
Dec 16, 2019
Messages
3,101
Age
56
Location
North Woods, WI USA
I found a few online study guides (free) and pulled trigger on a radio. Need to work on an antenna/mount next.

I have a rear tail light bracket (passenger side) I could use but haven't installed yet...

Is a 36" FireStik with tuneable tip and spring base mount the way to go?
It's fine for CB use since that's what they're meant for (roughly 10m wavelength). If they made versions for the other bands, that would be pretty cool. But 2m and 70cm antennas are usually quite a bit shorter so don't usually need that much durability built in because of that. The average 2m antenna is about a 1m skinny spring steel whip which will darn near bend if half but just spring back. 70cm antennas are super short and probably wouldn't be bothered by a typical tree branch. And there are antennas for the GMRS (~64cm) radios are are barely an inch long for the low-profile ones.
 
Last edited:

Octanejunkie

Just another jagoff with a 4x4
Joined
Nov 2, 2018
Messages
612
It's fine for CB use since that's what they're meant for (roughly 10m wavelength). If they made versions for the other bands, that would be pretty cool. But 2m and 70cm antennas are usually quite a bit shorter so don't usually need that much durability built in because of that. The average 2m antenna is about a 1m steel whip which will darn near bend if half but just spring back. 70cm antennas are super short and probably wouldn't be bothered by a typical tree branch. And there are antennas for the GMRS (~64cm) radios are are barely an inch long for the low-profile ones.
Makes sense. Maybe something like this:

Easy fender or front bumper mount
 

Chris In Milwaukee

Ain’t no mo’
Joined
Dec 16, 2019
Messages
3,101
Age
56
Location
North Woods, WI USA
Got my GMRS license today. Now to decide which radio to use. There’s a lot of variation that I wasn’t expecting. Everything from 2W to 50W. I like the kind where all the controls are in the handset.

@WileECoyote, any problem with the stubby antenna being installed in the roof near the satellite antenna that you can imagine?
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom