New mobile GMRS radio

[buddy]

I am looking for a new (affordable) mobile GMRS radio that is easy to program.  I don't want to spent the money for a Motorola.

Thank you for any suggestions.

[PastorGary]

Hello, Buddy, and welcome to MyGMRS forums.  You will probably receive as many different suggestions for equipment than there are members here at the Forum...

 

Choose carefully for ergonomics and programming ease and good luck with your search.

[JohnE]

define "affordable"

I have "stuff" around but you need to find software and a cable on ebay.

[quarterwave]

http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=71892

 

http://www.powerwerx.com/two-way-radios/mobile-radios/

 

The basis for affordable also takes into account that "cheap" may play into it. If you want something you can program, works right out of the box, etc...there are a couple options. However, my preference would be a good Motorola (insert your brand here). Although you may have to do a little more work to get your self setup with software and cables, you will end up with a really good commercial grade radio that will go the distance, and look nice, like a pro, in your vehicle. For GMRS you can't go wrong with a GM300 (or sim) and a 1/4 wave antenna. 40 watts and 16 channel, gives plenty of options. 

[PastorGary]

There may be some gently used Kenwood TK863G  radios available in your area - These are Part 95 certified and do an amazing job. I'm partial to Kenwood because in the past 37 years of using Kenwood equipment commercially and on GMRS, I have yet to have a radio failure of any kind.

[zap]

Nearly all of the current Kenwood analog mobiles are type accepted for GMRS…but I'm not too in-depth on the features or how easy to acquire the programming software is. 

 

Motorola's are fairly cheap…if you buy from the used market (there is honestly a good like-new used market out there). One of my current favorites is the Motorola PM400 (a CM300 is the same radio without LTR trunking). The reason being, it's still under support (though recently out of production), programs in Windows. The other big reason, you can get someone to dump a GMRS cqodeplug into it and enable the programmable buttons for the following: PL Defeat/Monitor, a menu setting where PLs can be edited (take note there is a little more functionality in this compared to MPL) on a per channel basis and scan list can be adjusted, scan/nuisance delete, and tx power/talk around.

 

Most of my experience is in Motorola so it's what I can really recommend. I have some Icom's and Kenwoods but in my experience editing the PL's isn't as easy (usually have to enter a FPP mode which first has to be enabled in the software). Just my 2¢.

[WSFM959]

I would recommend the Wouxun Q10G, they normally run around 219 and change, but as quarterwave said... is the suggestion i made "affordable" to you? and this suggestion is an HT, is that what you wanted suggestions on, or are we talking "in car or backpack" ?

[brasda91]

On 3/25/2015 at 1:14 PM, buddy said:

I am looking for a new (affordable) mobile GMRS radio that is easy to program.  I don't want to spent the money for a Motorola.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Wouxun KG-905G $99. The only other accessory you will need will be a programming cable

I'm not an affiliate but click on this link

[WRTC928]

If you don't have any radio at all, I recommend you start with a good HT. I don't have any strong favorites -- anything reliable is fine. Then put a mag-mount antenna on your car and use the HT as a mobile until you decide what you want for the car. I got really good results with a Baofeng radio and Nagoya antenna, and they're kind of "entry level" items. If you already have an HT, I recommend you look for a mobile that will program in a similar way. For example, if your HT programs with CHIRP, it will significantly flatten the learning curve if your mobile programs with CHIRP as well.

[GrouserPad]

If you go ht to mag mount for a vehicle make sure to get the proper sma to nmo or pl259 type connector adapters. 

[WRXB215]

15 hours ago, GrouserPad said:

If you go ht to mag mount for a vehicle make sure to get the proper sma to nmo or pl259 type connector adapters.

Some antennas come with that adapter which is nice. The Nagoya UT72/UT72G are such antennas. It's actually an adapter cable. The cable is very flexible and reduces the strain on the SMA on the radio.

[WRUU653]

While I'm all for a continued discussion, just in case anyone missed it it has been nearly ten years since OP posted this question. I hope he isn't still trying to make this decision. 

[WRYZ926]

3 hours ago, WRUU653 said:

While I'm all for a continued discussion, just in case anyone missed it it has been nearly ten years since OP posted this question. I hope he isn't still trying to make this decision. 

Talk about resurrecting a zombie thread 

[radiozip]

Crazy that GMRS advice 10 years ago was buy old commercial radios and software. Today so many off the shelf, errr order online, GMRS options to just turn on and go.

[WRXB215]

19 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:

Talk about resurrecting a zombie thread 

Necro-posting.