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.

[Lscott]

22 hours ago, TNFrank said:

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. 

If you have a smart phone the mapping software likely has a GPS feature allowing you to get your current coordinates. 

[TNFrank]

4 hours ago, Lscott said:

If you have a smart phone the mapping software likely has a GPS feature allowing you to get your current coordinates. 

Don't they have special designations for each Park? It's not just GPS coordinators is it?

[RoadApple]

On 9/8/2025 at 12:08 PM, TNFrank said:

I have quite a few HT's already but nothing with an IP67 rating...

Do you need an IP67 rating?  Unless you engage in activities where such a spec would be meaningful, the RA89 would be yet another HH an apparently you already have a lot of those.  

[SteveShannon]

20 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Don't they have special designations for each Park? It's not just GPS coordinators is it?

Yes, each park has a designator. You don’t need to worry about the coordinates, just give the designator. And if you do a “park to park”, record the designator of the other person’s park. 

[WRYS709]

19 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Don't they have special designations for each Park? It's not just GPS coordinators is it?

Anywhere within the borders of each designated park!

Adds interesting considerations to your enjoyment. 

I am still looking to do my first activation once my knee heals a bit more!

[TNFrank]

39 minutes ago, RoadApple said:

Do you need an IP67 rating?  Unless you engage in activities where such a spec would be meaningful, the RA89 would be yet another HH an apparently you already have a lot of those.  

Well, I live in the middle of a desert so.........probably not.

There's a few small Parks in my area, not sure if there even on the POTA map or not. I need to get a book or something to show me all of them. I'll try to find one on Amazon. 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

Well, I live in the middle of a desert so.........probably not.

There's a few small Parks in my area, not sure if there even on the POTA map or not. I need to get a book or something to show me all of them. I'll try to find one on Amazon. 

https://pota.app/#/map

[TNFrank]

Thanks for the link. Friendship Park in Avondale, AZ isn't listed so I guess no one has activated it yet or maybe it's just too small of a local park to qualify. 

[WRYS709]

12 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Thanks for the link. Friendship Park in Avondale, AZ isn't listed so I guess no one has activated it yet or maybe it's just too small of a local park to qualify. 

Local or regional parks do not qualify. Only State and Federal. 

It looks like the closest qualified park nearest to you is the [see my next post]

[TNFrank]

Ahh, ok. Now I know why it wasn't on the list. Oh well, I can still have some fun outdoors when it gets cooler here with the RT95. Thanks. 

[WRYS709]

How close are these to Avondale:

Base & Meridian State Wildlife Area

https://pota.app/#/park/US-11982

Table Mesa BLM Recreation Management Area

https://pota.app/#/park/US-11975

Lost Dutchman State Park

https://pota.app/#/park/US-1061

[LeoG]

2 hours ago, TNFrank said:

Well, I live in the middle of a desert so.........probably not.

There's a few small Parks in my area, not sure if there even on the POTA map or not. I need to get a book or something to show me all of them. I'll try to find one on Amazon. 

IP67 also keeps out dust and dirt, not just water.