Hello from Tacoma

[Guest Will B]

I've been in the scanner game for a while due to being commercially licensed sUAS pilot (drones). In certain areas, mainly near airports I'm required to monitor air traffic in order to avoid manned aircraft. I recently started getting interested in GMRS and purchased the license. I have a few Baofengs that I use to listen to HAM and GMRS along with some marine channels and no I do not transmit. Eventually I'll be looking for a part 95 compliant handheld as well as a mobile setup for my pickup. I find great value in having comms for hunting/hiking and boating which I participate in. The little cheesy FRS radios just don't cut it for longer ranges and that's one of the reasons I've been doing research. I kinda need a mentor lol.  I look forward to learning from folks way more involved and knowledgeable than myself.

[OldRadioGuy]

I'm a long time ham and just bought a pair of Wouxun 805G radios.

They are only 5W but here's the big deal - external antenna connector.

You can put the Nagoya 771 or Smiley "super stick" 465MHz anennas on then.

You can also adapt to a mag mount car antenna.

You can get a speaker mic which makes them easier to use in the car.

 

They are pretty darned nice radios for the money.

I can hit a repeater 15 miles away with the factory antenna.

 

The Midland mobile radios I think are pretty popular in the 4WD clubs for mobile use.

 

BTW, I'm familiar with the Tacoma area and know that terrain is the make or break.

50W with a hill between you and them is not going to cut it.

So maybe the 5W radio with a decent antenna will often work about as well as the 50W radio.

 

Vince

[mbrun]

Welcome to the Forum. I hope you enjoy your stay and will share your knowledge.

 

I've been in the scanner game for a while due to being commercially licensed sUAS pilot (drones). In certain areas, mainly near airports I'm required to monitor air traffic in order to avoid manned aircraft. I recently started getting interested in GMRS and purchased the license. I have a few Baofengs that I use to listen to HAM and GMRS along with some marine channels and no I do not transmit. Eventually I'll be looking for a part 95 compliant handheld as well as a mobile setup for my pickup. I find great value in having comms for hunting/hiking and boating which I participate in. The little cheesy FRS radios just don't cut it for longer ranges and that's one of the reasons I've been doing research. I kinda need a mentor lol. I look forward to learning from folks way more involved and knowledgeable than myself.

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM