look into TYT (any mobile flavor). very economical and budget friendly.
i have a TYT 9800. (a Yaesu clone) hooked to my intercom.. been good so far... see my signature.
now let the hams chime in for the license you need....lol

 

look into TYT (any mobile flavor). very economical and budget friendly.
i have a TYT 9800. (a Yaesu clone) hooked to my intercom.. been good so far... see my signature.
now let the hams chime in for the license you need....lol

It's not waterproof though, is it?

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I had seen the tyt radios come up in a few searches but wasn't sure about them being legit or junk. Sxsradios.com has those radios in kits that come with everything but they are 25w. I will look into that tyt 9800.

 

I have a VHF in the rzr I just bought and know nothing about it. Subd to learn

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Yes, licensed needed to be legal.
N7SLD

 

Kenwood from John Betner,Betner Communications. Not waterproof but I have it mounted.to the roof and don't spray directly on it when washing. Been 3 years with no problems. About everyone uses UHF on the Eastern side of the country. I use a puck antenna .

 

That are waterproof.

 

Out West, too; most everyone on a budget has a Midway or Baofeng handheld UHF. Otherwise a Yaesu or Kenwood or similar vehicle mounted radio pushing 50 watts or so.

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Ordered 2 of these and due here today. Will see how they work out. Tri power dual band and small size for overhead consoles i am having made.

 

I have been using a TYT 9000D for over three years now in two rzr's. It has worked flawlessly even being washed. I have it in a rugged radio mount and use a 1/4 wave antenna. One thing to note if you mount it like I have it is hard to hear while driving so I have a little external speaker hooked up to it, and can here it just fine. A buddy of mine has one mounted to the roof with no external speaker and can hear it just fine.

https://www.amazon.com/TYT-TH-9000D-136-174MHz-Scrambler-Mobile/dp/B006QMM9XM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=38CYPPE7103Z2&keywords=tyt+9000d&qid=1580405401&sprefix=Tyt+9%2Caps%2C1194&sr=8-3

Amazon.com: HYS TCJ-N1 VHF NMO 136-174 Mhz Mhz Mobile Vehicle FM Tranceiver 2M Antenna with 13 ft RG58 Coax Cable NMO to UHF PL259 Connector for Yaesu Kenwood HYT Vertex Icom Mobile Radios: GPS & Navigation

Amazon.com: HYS TCJ-N1 VHF NMO 136-174 Mhz Mhz Mobile Vehicle FM Tranceiver 2M Antenna with 13 ft RG58 Coax Cable NMO to UHF PL259 Connector for Yaesu Kenwood HYT Vertex Icom Mobile Radios: GPS & Navigation

www.amazon.com

 

Not to beat a dead horse, but just a reminder. The only radios you can use that don't require either a GMRS or HAM license are the low-power FRS fixed-antenna handhelds.

 

You're beating a dead horse.

 

What I like about the Kenwood or Motorola is the front firing speaker. Loud and clear.

 

Western US guy, VHF & a TYT-9000D for me too. as ETX mentioned, it's hard to hear if you have it mounted in the dash (mine is in the same place), so an external speaker is really needed, no other issues at all with it. Don't even cover it when I wash it, and it's held up fine. You can pick them up for $115 +/- on ebay, but you'll have to program it yourself that way. SXS Radios on Facebook will sell you the programmed radio & antenna package for around $250 i think. It is the radio Rugged re brands (and tweaks a bit) as the RM-60.

...and as much as I hate to even bring it up, @Denver & @Wolfhound are very much correct about being legal... but the FCC isn't beating down SXS owner's doors...yet. (I'm probably one of the very few that can actually legally use them as a lot do....but I'm not gonna get into that conversation anymore than this lol, it's your choice whether you care/are worried or not)

 

These are rated IP67 duel band, you can also get a rugged mount for it as well.

Amazon.com: TYT TH-8600 IP67 Waterproof Dual Band VHF UHF 136-174MHz/400-480MHz 25W Car Radio HAM Mobile Radio with Antenna,Clip Mount,USB Cable: Electronics

Amazon.com: TYT TH-8600 IP67 Waterproof Dual Band VHF UHF 136-174MHz/400-480MHz 25W Car Radio HAM Mobile Radio with Antenna,Clip Mount,USB Cable: Electronics

www.amazon.com

 

Yes you will have to program the TYT. I did not use any software to do mine, programmed it using the mic took about 30 minutes to do.

 

Yes you will have to program the TYT. I did not use any software to do mine, programmed it using the mic took about 30 minutes to do.
View attachment 644499

I used TYT 9000 it's the made by the same manufacturer as RR and only $120.

 

When I got mine, there was a listing that included the programming cable, so I bought that one and used Chirp. Did the same for several UV-5R handhelds.

 

I've got a uv-5r and another Baofeng, but after learning more, I'm shopping for something better.

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Yep, they're XB3... (Military supply code for non-repairable, disposable)

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Yep, they're XB3... (Military supply code for non-repairable, disposable)

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But cheap enough that I wouldn't be very heartbroken throwing them away lol, i got all 5 for under $100

 

for a little bit more $$ you can get the Baofeng UV-82hp for a little more output wattage along with a Nagoya antenna
.

 

Mozart, have you found mounting bracket to secure radio while driving ?

I have same radio and ordering the same antenna. 12v backing plate (carry spare battery). The reason I'm going portable route for now is if for some reason I'm in the Mtn. with disabled vehicle that needs to be abandoned. I can take radio with while attempting to find help. Can't always get radio /cell signal in Mtn. Less than $75 for everything...maybe get another to stay in touch with passenger if walking out.

 

Another dead-horse point in the license debate, the GMRS-V1 is the only Baofeng that is Part 95 certified for GMRS operation. My BF-F9V2 is only Part 90, and the uv-5r class is not FCC certified at all.

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Wow lots to take in here! I do know I most definitely want something that's ip67 waterproof. Mainly because I'm in a rs1 and it will be mounted to the right of me when I'm sitting in the machine in the wide open. I have already ruined 2 electronic boost controllers and one tablet due to them not being waterproof in the past 3 rides. The last ride was brutal with 40 degree temps and 2" of rain in the 2 days we went riding. It never stopped so everything was drenched. Lost my tablet and boost controller on that weekend. It's odd that the waterproof ones like the tyt ones are only 25watt tho. I guess I need to take all of this in and do my homework b4 I buy.

Another question here is what's the range of say a 25watt or a 50watt unit in say Tennessee or West Virginia? It's not the Rocky mountains but by no means flat. Just worried about range distance with a lower wattage unit. I'm known to roll out in the lead and get miles and miles ahead then stop and wait at intersections. Or we often spread way way out if it's super dusty.

Another thing is on the programming. Im assuming the programming you guys are talking about is a pre setup frequencys for off-road and safety? Guess I never really thought about the frequency side of things so I definitely need to read up on that.

And sorry for the newb radio questions. I'm just so out of touch with this side of things. And it doesn't help that it seems you have 50 different radios with 20 different antenna setups available with programming thrown on top of it all. I would honestly like to just find a place that cuts the leg work out and sells me the whole bundle ready to hookup. I know rugged makes setups but that's out of my budget a little I think. The sxsradios place seems pretty legit but I'm worried the 25watt ip67 tyt won't have enough ass to reach out very far. If anyone is running one of the tyt th8600 25watt radios please let me know what a real world use is like and how u like it.

 

I would honestly like to just find a place that cuts the leg work out and sells me the whole bundle ready to hookup

contact Ruggedradios.com
tell them what your after. maybe name drop rzrforums....... and be done with it!!

 

DBR - it's not really that complicated. We ride the same areas and all of our group have UHF radios. UHF is popular on the east while VHF is a West coast thing. UHF on GMRS frequencies is what most run on the east coast.

Range is relative to the terrain in the mountains. I use a TYT 9800 45W and typical range is a few miles in the mountains. On flat terrain with few obstacles 20+ miles is not uncommon.

Programming is simple and can be done with the radio keypad or via computer for most units. A good IP67 unit: TYT TH-8600 Mini 25 Watt Dual Band Base, IP67 Waterproof Radio VHF: 136-174mhz (2m) UHF:400-480mhz (70cm) Amateur Car Mobile Transceiver (HAM) FREE Cable https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H8692ZX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vcbnEbPF89ZX1

Personally I would not mess with RR unless you want to pay 3x what you can buy the same thing for.

 

As RZR_Joe and mozart said. Rugged and a couple others will sell you plug&play setups, already programmed, at a fancy price. Ebay and Amazon will sell basically the same at a reasonable price, you program easily with CHIRP free software and inexpensive cable. Frequencies are kind of a free-for-all but there are lists; Rugged programs in their own, but they have paid the FCC for exclusive use of their frequencies at race events. Other than that, stay off the repeater frequencies unless authorized to use that repeater, be polite, follow the rules.
For general knowledge on the GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) side, with links to FRS and HAM info: myGMRS.com Forums

 

The advantage with someone like SxS radios (Brad Blair) is you get the entire package ready to install and use. Programmed,mount,coax cut to length for antenna and choice of antenna .

 

The TYTs are good considering the cost. I have the TYT TH-9800 in my truck as well as in the Rzr connected into my Rugged Radios intercom. Running the Baofeng UV-5R for several handhelds including some I use when on the motorcycle with helmet mike and speakers. All work really well and while not exactly waterproof they seem to be fine so far. Also, the licensing requirements are not required for the radio but are required to transmit on certain frequencies and at certain power levels. Don't believe all of the license police, you can own one of these radios and use it on some frequencies (FRS and MURS are two examples) at the proper power level without license. Adding your basic HAM license however does open up a lot more use while remaining purely legal.

 

I am running the midland MTX 115 15 watts. A lot of us in our club are running the GMRS radios with great success. Terrain is still a factor in distance you can reach no matter the wattage. Some radios have claims they reach out so many miles. Normally these are based on perfect conditions. I run a RZR RS1 so I have my radio mounted under the roof over my head and I too have an auxiliary speaker to hear better. The radios have allow us to help fellow riders out on where to turn on the trail, if someone needs help or when is the next trail break. Worth having!

 

I use a Kenwood tm-271a that I got from ham m radio outlet for $130. After you mod it to open all the frequencies its a great powerful radio.