rherman

Thanks everyone! so I just picked up an 8180HK, I read a lot on the V1 vs V2 also. But found it so hard to get folks to even know what they had and could not find anything in the label to say definitely on the radio itself. Either way even if I got my Ham license having a V1 wouldn't be a total loss so took my chance and hope its a V2. Now I need to find a good antenna tuned for the 462.500 area to go on a mast about 35-45 feet up. I keep finding such conflicting information, thought I was going to go with a comet but then found all kinds of negative conversations in the forums so back to square 1 as I know a good antenna is important.

Thanks Guy's, so I found a couple different Kenwoods TX-880H-1 & TK-8180-K & two Vertex's a VX-2200-G7-45 and a VX2500U I'm thinking about a Comet CA-712EFC and about 75' of LMR-400 cable. Any suggestions on which one is better. Should I be looking for other models? I would like to find a good model to start and try under $200 and see how things go and add another later . I would also like to be able to program the radio's myself. I read ALOT on the kenwoods today but not much on the Vertex's but see them referenced a lot in searches. Thanks again! Rueben

Hello, been lurking for a few months off and on and now getting more serious only to get more lost in the weeds. So here to say Hello and also ask some questions. I am looking to setup a base station (maybe repeater also). We just purchased a decent parcel of land and cell service is near non-existed. Also National forest is about 5 miles away with vast areas to explore. So looking to start with a high power base station and radios are just all over. Do I go with a newer B-tech mobile unit with 50 watts or find a commercial UHF radio? What Antenna etc. So a bit more about my location, rolling terrain. Nothing to large, I do have access to about a 40 foot tower (Currently running some 2.4ghz wireless internet connections on). Mobiles will be used in the UTV such as maybe the Midland's at a min. of 15 watt and HT's when on the tractor/hunting etc. I have the UV5r but know they are not type accepted so may just get the btech GMRS HT. I plan to just stay in the upper channels and not mess with the FRS and FRS/GMRS channels. For the HT, I would be within 5 miles of the base station the majority of the time. It's when I go out into the National forest I would be 20 to 30 miles and would be with a good mobile unit back to the base station. So any help on which radio and a good antenna to start with knowing that the end goal would be to have a good repeater setup (maybe simplex first then duplex)? Also not many repeaters for GMRS in Missouri, which really sucks TIA Rueben