gortex2

Nice we looked at a nice LJ that was actually automatic, but with my time on the road didn't think I'd have time to get everything done before April so a 3/4 done jeep was what we got. Luckily one we found was a one owner 100% mall crawler (whinch doesnt even have power cables to it). We plan to remove all the mall stuff and put some real stuff on it. Just ordered new BFG MT last night for all the way around. Going to miss the old school MT...

Nice we looked at a nice LJ that was actually automatic, but with my time on the road didn't think I'd have time to get everything done before April so a 3/4 done jeep was what we got. Luckily one we found was a one owner 100% mall crawler (whinch doesnt even have power cables to it). We plan to remove all the mall stuff and put some real stuff on it. Just ordered new BFG MT last night for all the way around. Going to miss the old school MT...

Nice we looked at a nice LJ that was actually automatic, but with my time on the road didn't think I'd have time to get everything done before April so a 3/4 done jeep was what we got. Luckily one we found was a one owner 100% mall crawler (whinch doesnt even have power cables to it). We plan to remove all the mall stuff and put some real stuff on it. Just ordered new BFG MT last night for all the way around. Going to miss the old school MT...

Well, i got the green light from the wife to build another rock crawler. This one is going to include some nice VHF/UHF comms, too. Just not sure if I'm going to stick HF in it. I feel like I won't need it, unless I'm wheeling with someone who is still running a CB. Of course, I know a few people with CBs, but no one uses them offroad.
 
I am pretty sure I am going to install the MXT500 due to its IP rating. The Jeep won't have any roof or doors once it's done. Shoot, im not even sure if it will have a windshield when it's done. LoL
 
Anyone aware of a different, affordable and readily available GMRS/UHF mobile radio that I should consider?  IP66 or better and 20+w?
 
This is what I picked up. 1997 Wrangler TJ.

 
 
This is roughly what it will look like when its done. 
 

Looks like lots more jeeping next year on my horizon. Wife just signed up for 4 JJUSA events. So on top of other events we do we will be doing more of the JJUSA stuff. Guess I got alot of work to do on the rig this winter. 

Well I guess when I told wife we need to do multiple repairs on the JK she decided a new one was better...so picking up a 2018 Rubicon later this week. So instead of axles, lockers, its just radios and wrap...My kinda work for winter months ! 
 

Well I guess when I told wife we need to do multiple repairs on the JK she decided a new one was better...so picking up a 2018 Rubicon later this week. So instead of axles, lockers, its just radios and wrap...My kinda work for winter months ! 
 

For years Wikipedia said that channel 20 is the national calling channel for GMRS. 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service
scroll down to the channel table 

Finally, someone that knows what he's talking about. Hardline is the only way to go. Stop wasting money on LMR-400 and buy the real deal, Heliax. You'll never find LMR-400 on any of my installations. Might as well use RG-8x and generate heat.

This is not the appropriate forum for the above posting. This is a GMRS forum and you should be posting this on a Amateur Radio Forum or Radio Reference.

Looks like lots more jeeping next year on my horizon. Wife just signed up for 4 JJUSA events. So on top of other events we do we will be doing more of the JJUSA stuff. Guess I got alot of work to do on the rig this winter. 

Kinda sounded to me like he planned on leaving voluntarily.

You’re sure welcome. And pay no attention to the guy who has thrown away more radios than Baofeng has manufactured.  We all just understand that he only feels good about himself when he’s sniping at others.. The range you’re getting is reasonable inside a city with trees and buildings.  He lives on the edge of a desolate valley and apparently doesn’t understand the difference.

Dude.. just... duude...
Either you are one of the worlds greatest trolls, approaching even my troll-status, OR you are seriously broken inside and should seek help and medication.

Barring emergency situations, licensed amateur radio operators are only allowed to communicate with other licensed amateur radio operators. Additionally, licensed amateur radio operators are only allowed to communicate with other amateur radio operators on the frequencies allowed by their license. Licensed GMRS operators are allowed to communicate with either other licensed GMRS operators or with unlicensed folks on FRS radios. Just because amateur radio and GMRS are both licensed services doesn't mean you can talk between them, but no rule exists that says you can't have (and use) both amateur radios and GMRS radios in the same room or on the same belt. Don't read anything else into the rules, and don't get caught up in what you think the definition of a station is.

Old news since both services require separate licenses. 
And yes you can use cross band repeat on an unlocked amateur dual band radio to transmit on GMRS to 2m. Though I do not suggest doing that since it is against FCC regulations. Plus you will have a bunch of people get on you if you give your GMRS call sign on 2m.
I only mention this as it can be legally done only in case of an actual emergency.

Nearly everything of significance is defined by the FCC. GMRS is one of the Personal Radio Services. Here’s the definition of a station:
Personal Radio Services station. Any transmitter, with or without an incorporated antenna or receiver, which is certified by the FCC to be operated in one or more of the Personal Radio Services.

@WSFP666 - feel free to add socalgmrs to your ignore list and feel free to ask questions. 

The FT4X was my first radio I purchased after getting my Ham license 3½ years ago.  It's a competent radio.

That said, it's not FCC type-accepted for Part 95 use.   Yes, I know the 'code' to unlock my FT4X but it would be technically illegal for me to operate it on anything other than the bands/services approved for Part 97 type-acceptance.  I'm licensed for both services (amateur/GMRS).

No laws/regulations exist against listening in on the GMRS service.
WRUK662
WA7HPK  

All the laird antenna's I use are wrapped to the base. Dont go around the antenna. 

The bronco has the same issues us with jeeps have fought for years. Do some searching for jeep mounts and you will find ideas. While I run the 1/4 wave or smaller antennas for my use many on hear say the Midland MXTA26 to be a good comprimise for distance on a mount near the hood or spare tire. I dont have a use for distance as I either use my repeater or am talking to the jeep in front or behind me. 

All the laird antenna's I use are wrapped to the base. Dont go around the antenna. 

No.  New GMRS Licenses are only issued to individuals.  For your CERT team to use GMRS each person would require his or her own license, except for family members of a license holder who may be authorized to use the license holder’s stations.

All the laird antenna's I use are wrapped to the base. Dont go around the antenna. 

Yeah, and I am the guy that has some of those 12K radios.  And I can say that wide band FM is wide band FM.  Same thing coming from a 38 dollar Baofeng and a 12K buck Motorola.  Same thing with wattage, if 4 watts is measured at the output of one radio, and there is 4 watts measured from another radio, that's the same power. 
The 12K buck radio may continue to work in a high RF noise environment when the lesser radio gives up and looses the ability to lock onto the signal of interest, but that's the difference.  The 38 dollar may start mixing those other signals that are getting into the transmit circuits and begin to have issues on the air with a clean signal, but again, 12K gets you a LOT of shielding that's not going to be in the 38 dollar radio.  But outside of that, FM is FM.  If the 38 dollar works at all, it's going to work the same if it has the same power output and deviation (modulation) as the 12K Motorola.  And the ham / GMRS operator that has that 12K Motorola will NEVER be able to give you a reasonable and honest answer on why they 'need' that radio.  Because no one will ever admit that it's purely vanity that gets them to drop the silly amount of money required to get such a radio. 
There is no special function that makes those radios superior to even the cheapest radios in 99% of the operations they are expected to perform, which is talking on the local repeater.  I have Boafengs too.  I can't take them downtown on rooftops and expect them to work.  The RF noise in those locations drive the radios nuts.  My high dollar Motorola works in those situations just fine.  But if I am out in the country at home,  no one can tell if I am talking on the Baofeng or the Motorola.  While they don't sound exactly the same because that 12K gets you a bunch of audio processing, dual mikes, noise canceling and other stuff that 38 bucks isn't going to buy, you have to decide if 12K is too steep a price to pay so you can talk on the local repeater while you're on the lawn mower with all the engine noise being canceled out or not. 
To address the FCC type acceptance thing mentioned by others.  If you don't understand the type acceptance procedure, that is done by the manufacture, not the FCC.  Well you might read up on that before stating claims about it.  Manufactures do their own testing.  And may or may not be required to submit equipment for testing to the FCC for additional testing.  And even when there is a requirement for sending in radios, it's up to the manufacture to ensure that the radios going out the door for sale are the SAME design and function as the radios that were submitted for testing.  Some manufactures do verify that every unit is equally good as it leaves the factory.  And some manufactures make 'wonder knives' like the 'as seen on TV' ones that saw bricks in half then slice a tomato.  Can a knife be made to do that.  But when was the last time you were at a state fair watching the guy saw a copper pipe in half and then cut bread actually sell the knife HE'S using, not the ones on display.  Or randomly take one of the ones for sale for 19.99 and do those things with it, and then attempt to sell THAT knife.  Because NOTHING about the knife the seller is using is the same as the ones you will go home with other than looks. 
Now, would China based companies do such a thing?  Well they put lead in toys, ship Fentanyl to us, send helium balloons into our country to spy on use, and a full list of other things that would fill a page here but then verify that every last radio coming out of their factories is the same as the one they sent for testing that cost 10 times to make?  I am not going to hedge my bets on that.  But you are more than welcome to.