Baofeng Newbie radio question

[Dbednarsky]

I am new here, and I hope you folks can give me some pointers. I have a baofeng uv-5r and my buddy has a baofeng x5-plus. We live about 3.5 miles from each other in a densely populated area which is also heavily wooded.

We do not have any fcc licenses or ham radio licenses so we are using 462.225. So we got both radios connected with the same settings at his house yesterday. When I left we were testing and when I got about 1.5 miles away, I lost him.

I guess what I am asking is what are my options? Different radios, different frequencies. I would even be willing to install a repeater or higher wattage antenna in my truck.

I am an IT executive but radios are a weak point for me. So I am hoping you guys can give me some constructive pointers.

Thank you!

 

[alcahuete]

We do not have any fcc licenses or ham radio licenses so we are using 462.225.

100% illegal what you're doing there.

That said, in dense, wooded areas, 1.5 miles is probably about all you're going to get. Options are bigger antennas (i.e. base/mobile antenna), better higher-power radios (i.e. mobile) with better antennas, or repeaters.

Either way, stop using 462.225. You have absolutely no business using that frequency without a license.

 

[Dbednarsky]

@alcahuete I found this on google:

FRS Radios, which stand for Family Radio Service, do not require an FCC License. These are small handheld radios such as a walkie talkie and used for short distance communications. FRS two-way radios have 22 channels that operate on 462-467 MHz range.

 

[Dbednarsky]

If there are better radios or different channels I should be using I am all ears. We mainly want to be able to communicate around town when we are hauling, towing and plowing. We don't really want to go to the CB world if we can avoid it

 

[alcahuete]

Those radios are not certified for FRS, nor is 462.225 a FRS frequency.

 

[Dbednarsky]

@alcahuete I am not trying to argue at all, so I will take this advise. I did another search on this site and found the 22 channels used for FRS, so I will use one of those so that I can be compliant.

Can you please recommend some descent radios that won't break the bank that will give us roughly 5 miles? I would prefer a handheld, but I am not opposed to a console mount for the truck, and I can add a larger whip antenna on the back rack.

 

[alcahuete]

@alcahuete I am not trying to argue at all, so I will take this advise. I did another search on this site and found the 22 channels used for FRS, so I will use one of those so that I can be compliant.

Can you please recommend some descent radios that won't break the bank that will give us roughly 5 miles? I would prefer a handheld, but I am not opposed to a console mount for the truck, and I can add a larger whip antenna on the back rack.

Still not compliant with those radios. There is no frequency you can legally transmit on using those radios without having a license.

Either way, the odds of getting 5 miles with a handheld radio in a densely populated/wooded area is near zero. You can use an external antenna with those radios, i.e. a magnet mount or permanently installed external antenna. That will help the cause, potentially.

If you're not opposed to installing radios and antennas in your trucks, that's the way to go. Get your GMRS licenses, ditch the Cheap Chinese Radios, get a high-powered GMRS mobile radio for your trucks, and install an external antenna. That is going to get you the best performance. 5 miles would definitely be doable with a setup like that.

 

[MTS2000des]

This thread exemplifies why the FCC used to have (and enforce) rules about consumers forking around with essentially what are LMR subscribers. Legitimate commercial radios capable of field programming were locked down, required software or hardware keys, for this very reason.

FRS and GMRS certified radios are hard coded to prevent one from doing this exact illegal (and potentially harmful) act. 460.225 is often used and licensed by part 90 public safety. Need I say more?

But this is where the ROAD APPLE TURD radios need to be smashed, trashed, crushed and burned by ICE. Oh wait, I'm dreaming. We live in consequence free USA and no one likes being told NO.

 

[Dbednarsky]

This thread exemplifies why the FCC used to have (and enforce) rules about consumers forking around with essentially what are LMR subscribers. Legitimate commercial radios capable of field programming were locked down, required software or hardware keys, for this very reason.

FRS and GMRS certified radios are hard coded to prevent one from doing this exact illegal (and potentially harmful) act. 460.225 is often used and licensed by part 90 public safety. Need I say more?

But this is where the ROAD APPLE TURD radios need to be smashed, trashed, crushed and burned by ICE. Oh wait, I'm dreaming. We live in consequence free USA and no one likes being told NO.

so as I said above, I am not opposed to anything. This is why I came on here and asked questions. Now I have answers and will pursue these methods. Seems it is only a $35 fee to get my GMRS license so I am going to go that route. But a quick search says that all info on the call sign is publicly searchable on the FCC database, so I will have to get a PO BOX to register to so I don't have to use my home address. Now I will ask for recommendations for a descent high powered GMRS radio to mount in the trucks.

If anyone has a recommendation for the radio and antenna I will appreciate that.

Thanks for the input

 

[mc48]

Here is some info to look at.

FRS/GMRS combined channel chart - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[mmckenna]

so as I said above, I am not opposed to anything. This is why I came on here and asked questions. Now I have answers and will pursue these methods. Seems it is only a $35 fee to get my GMRS license so I am going to go that route. But a quick search says that all info on the call sign is publicly searchable on the FCC database, so I will have to get a PO BOX to register to so I don't have to use my home address. Now I will ask for recommendations for a descent high powered GMRS radio to mount in the trucks.

If anyone has a recommendation for the radio and antenna I will appreciate that.

Thanks for the input

Thank you for doing the right thing.

460.225 is assigned to the public safety pool. Without having the knowledge to understand how two way radios work, it's really easy for someone to cause interference to public safety users without knowing it. There are a handful of professionals on this site that have had to track down interference to public safety systems, and it's a very time consuming and expensive process.

I know you understand that, just making sure that if anyone else is confused about this, there's a good reason for the reactions above.


GMRS license is easy to get, as you've found. If you don't want your address out there, PO box, or send it to your work address, is kind of your only option. Truth is, FCC doesn't send stuff by mail very often, so no big deal there. Yes, it does make your name/address publicly searchable, which isn't something all of us are comfortable with.


So, FCC license is your first step. Let us know if you need any assistance, the FCC webpage is a challenge.

Understand there is a difference between FRS and GMRS. Reading through the the FCC rules is important.
FRS rules: Federal Register :: Request Access
GMRS rules: Federal Register :: Request Access

Then you need appropriate radios. Just because a radio can be programmed to use on GMRS frequencies does NOT mean it is legal. The FCC has a thing called "Type Acceptance", and this is a requirement for many radio services. GMRS has some very specific technical rules that must be met. Since the FCC does not expect the average user to understand the technical specifications, or have the proper test equipment to make sure the radio is behaving, they've simplified the process by using "type acceptance".

To be legal on GMRS, the radio must have FCC Part 95 acceptance. Your Baofeng does NOT have that, and would not be legal to use on GMRS.

There are suitable radios on the market and it'll make your life a lot easier if you stick with one of those.
I'd suggest looking at the Midland brand of mobile radios. They have FCC Part 95 acceptance and are programmed correctly out of the box. Your only task to provide power and a suitable antenna.

 

[inside4rom]

As for me best way the use extended antennas like Retevis RA771 (38 santimeters length), and use transmitting frequency with antenna resonance, RA771 what i have, have resonance in 430-435 mHz, so, for small-test try this freq. About distance "3.5 miles" this is arround 3.6 * 1.6 = 5.6 Kilometers, this range is over use with simple baofengs with 5W TX power. Maximum what you can get the use external antennas, like antennas for a car. Use SQL 1-2 settings in ur radios, disable CTS or DCS tones. And use clear distance- i mean distance without big house barrier, or anything similar. Because UHF frequency spread similar ray. And plz not use walky-talky with power more then 5W with ur brain.. the very danger for ue health!

B.R.

 

[captaincab]

A few other good options for GMRS are the Kenwood Tk-3180 portable and Tk 880 or 8180 mobiles all uhf all great radios all easy to find and programming software and cables are easy to find. Motorola M-1225 and P-1225 are good as are the Maxtrac and Gm-300 are also great radios and I would choose them over Kenwood but programming software is a bit harder to obtain but it can be found.

 

[steve9570]

As an example 460.225 is a Boston Police area zone FQ one of many 460 ... Channels
The city uses. 462.225 is not a police/ fire channel.

Steve

 

[krokus]

Another option to stay legal: Lease system access from a radio service provider. There are companies that have repeaters, or even trunked systems, that they allow people to use.

Details on rental or purchase of the radios, and applicable access fees vary.

Rentals can be useful, as they might not require the financial burden of buying the equipment. The provider is typically responsible for routine maintenance, and FCC licensing.

 

[jkahn]

@alcahuete I found this on google:

FRS Radios, which stand for Family Radio Service, do not require an FCC License. These are small handheld radios such as a walkie talkie and used for short distance communications. FRS two-way radios have 22 channels that operate on 462-467 MHz range.

FRS radios are very low powered, Less than 2 Watts, like for finding your kids at the amusement park. The 22 channels are specific frequencies allocated to FRS, not the entire 462-467 range.

You can legally use your radios on GMRS frequencies if you get GMRS licenses (no Ham tests required), but you look like you will need at least 5 or 8 Watts to get better range. The UV-5R should have 3 user selectable power settings, low medium and high if you have the 8W model.