Another HT or a Mobile as a Base Station?

[TNFrank]

I'll be getting credit for the DMR radio I returned so I'm kicking around 2 possibilities to use it on. 

1)Retevis RA89 HT.

OR

Retevis RT95 Mobile.

I have quite a few HT's already but nothing with an IP67 rating so the RA89 would be a good outdoors radio because of the waterproof rating. 

The RT95 can be used with my solar power station and Yagi antenna as a Base/Mobile(think POTA)radio that'll give me 20+Watts on 2M/70cm and even GMRS in Mode2 so I could TX further than the 8-11w HT's I have. Plus, when funds allow I can set up a nice Base Station antenna at the house to get up in the air more. 

The mobile set-up would cost more and while portable it'd not be as portable as an HT. Still, it would be a step up over all the HT's I have and help me get to the next level in my GMRS/HAM journey.

So, what do ya'll think,another HT or step up to a Mobile/Base Station rig?

[SteveShannon]

8 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

I'll be getting credit for the DMR radio I returned so I'm kicking around 2 possibilities to use it on. 

1)Retevis RA89 HT.

OR

Retevis RT95 Mobile.

I have quite a few HT's already but nothing with an IP67 rating so the RA89 would be a good outdoors radio because of the waterproof rating. 

The RT95 can be used with my solar power station and Yagi antenna as a Base/Mobile(think POTA)radio that'll give me 20+Watts on 2M/70cm and even GMRS in Mode2 so I could TX further than the 8-11w HT's I have. Plus, when funds allow I can set up a nice Base Station antenna at the house to get up in the air more. 

The mobile set-up would cost more and while portable it'd not be as portable as an HT. Still, it would be a step up over all the HT's I have and help me get to the next level in my GMRS/HAM journey.

So, what do ya'll think,another HT or step up to a Mobile/Base Station rig?

I think you already answered your own question. The only benefit of getting one more HT is the water resistance. Yet you listed several new things that you can do with a mobile radio. 

[TNFrank]

I think I kind of did too, just wanted to bounce the idea off of the group for confrontation. 

[WRYS709]

Many of us are very happy with the Radioddity DB20-G a/k/a Anytone AT-779UV, mini-mobile, 20 watts, cigarette lighter plug, Chirp and easily opens to Ham radio 2 meters and 70 cm for about $99.

[TNFrank]

I did look this mobile up on CHIRP so it's listed and should be easy to program. I can even set it up at home so my wife can to "talk" to the BTech 20v2 GMRS in my truck if we ever have cell service go out. 

I'd like to try some 2M POTA if I can find a book with all the location coordinates in it so I'll know where I'm TX'ing from and where I'm getting the RX from. 

[WRYS709]

22 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

 

I'd like to try some 2M POTA if I can find a book with all the location coordinates in it so I'll know where I'm TX'ing from and where I'm getting the RX from. 

I frequently talk to POTA activators on HF as they quickly confirm their QSOs and move on. 

I have never been a POTA activator. 

That being said, every state and federal park in the USA qualifies as a POTA location, making it easy to find a qualified park and start activating!

Check out POTA’s website for more information:

www.parksontheair.com

[WRXB215]

6 hours ago, TNFrank said:

just wanted to bounce the idea off of the group for confrontation. 

Good one.