Suggestions for mobile GMRS

[suicideking]

Looking for suggestions for a mobile GMRS radio to install in my Jeep. Prefer something that is known to be loud (poor hearing), or can have an external speaker connected. Also looking for antenna suggestions. For the radio, something that can use repeaters. In the $100 - $200 range.

I currently have a ham radio and Larsen NMO 2/70. Haven't used ham in a while so looking to switch.

 

[DeoVindice]

TK-8180K, accept no imitations. A simple quarterwave from Laird, PCTel, Pulse-Larsen, EMWave, or any of the other LMR-oriented OEMs will pair nicely with it.

 

[prcguy]

What model/year Jeep? Many radios to choose from like the Kenwood above, various Motorola models and for GMRS one of my favorites is the Motorola XTL1500 which has a built in speaker and you can program all GMRS channels then all the PL tones into a list that is selectable on the fly. And its better than the Kenwood. I was paying about $120 for refurbished 438-470MHz XTL1500s and about $30 for a nice new mic.

Roof mount for the antenna is obviously the best but for Jeeps like my Gladiator Mojave its all fiberglass so a trunk lip mount on the hood and I find Laird brand NMO trunk mounts to be good on the Jeep. Then a gain type antenna like the Laird B4505CNS or for less range a 6" 1/4 wave whip.

Here is what a Laird trunk lip mount looks like on my Jeep hood.

 

[Hans13]

Something to note about the TK-8180 (which I also recommend, BTW)...

Seeking User Comments on 25W to 50W GMRS Mobile Radios

 

[Hans13]

My current GMRS mount on the JK is a bracket on the driver's side just forward of the top door hinge.

 

[suicideking]

What model/year Jeep? Many radios to choose from like the Kenwood above, various Motorola models and for GMRS one of my favorites is the Motorola XTL1500 which has a built in speaker and you can program all GMRS channels then all the PL tones into a list that is selectable on the fly. And its better than the Kenwood. I was paying about $120 for refurbished 438-470MHz XTL1500s and about $30 for a nice new mic.

Roof mount for the antenna is obviously the best but for Jeeps like my Gladiator Mojave its all fiberglass so a trunk lip mount on the hood and I find Laird brand NMO trunk mounts to be good on the Jeep. Then a gain type antenna like the Laird B4505CNS or for less range a 6" 1/4 wave whip.

Here is what a Laird trunk lip mount looks like on my Jeep hood.

It's a 2006 Wrangler TJ unlimited

 

[hill]

TK-8180K, accept no imitations. A simple quarterwave from Laird, PCTel, Pulse-Larsen, EMWave, or any of the other LMR-oriented OEMs will pair nicely with it.

This only real.choice and DeoVindice is spot on point. Not too hard to programs as KPG-89 is some easier ones to use

If you all have a TK-3180 handheld with same band split can programs it from file. Just need to change the buttons selection with both being different

 

[prcguy]

My current GMRS mount on the JK is a bracket on the driver's side just forward of the top door hinge.

Doesn't that put the antenna well below hood level with any matching coil right up against the side of the hood?

 

[prcguy]

This only real.choice and DeoVindice is spot on point. Not too hard to programs as KPG-89 is some easier ones to use

If you all have a TK-3180 handheld with same band split can programs it from file. Just need to change the buttons selection with both being different

Have you ever owned the XTL series? If so you should know better. XTL1500 is the exact same radio guts as the higher priced XTL2500 and XTL5000. These ran around $2.5k to $4k new in their day. Weren't the Kenwood TK-8180Ks maybe $500 tops new? I think you get a higher performing radio in the $200 or less used radio price range with the XTL.

 

[hill]

Never owned and Motorola XTL radio.

Kenwood radios are very good radios. Don't really go on price alone with many Motorola radios being over priced.

Kenwood radios are great radios work fine and not everyone is a Motorola fan boy that If it isn't able Motorola radio must be junk. There are other radio brands other than Motorola that work fine and Kenwood is one of them.

Comparing a TK-8180 to an Motorola XTL is like apples to oranges. The Kenwood is analog only and Motorola has P25. Moay XTL radios were used in trunking mode.

Kenwood TK-8180 30 watt 450-520 have Part 95 for GMRS use and don't think the XTLs have part 95.

I drive all over the area withn my Kenwood mobile radio mainly used for GMRS has no issues. Access to repeater is fine with a UHF quarter wave antenna. Receive is also great with inference at all.

 

[hill]

E

one of my favorites is the Motorola XTL1500 which has a built in speaker and you can program all GMRS channels then all the PL tones into a list that is selectable on the fly.

H
My Kenwood radios i can do all.of that.

Operator Selected Tone (OST) can all standard PL tones.

 

[prcguy]

Never owned and Motorola XTL radio.

Kenwood radios are very good radios. Don't really go on price alone with many Motorola radios being over priced.

Kenwood radios are great radios work fine and not everyone is a Motorola fan boy that If it isn't able Motorola radio must be junk. There are other radio brands other than Motorola that work fine and Kenwood is one of them.

Comparing a TK-8180 to an Motorola XTL is like apples to oranges. The Kenwood is analog only and Motorola has P25. Moay XTL radios were used in trunking mode.

Kenwood TK-8180 30 watt 450-520 have Part 95 for GMRS use and don't think the XTLs have part 95.

I drive all over the area withn my Kenwood mobile radio mainly used for GMRS has no issues. Access to repeater is fine with a UHF quarter wave antenna. Receive is also great with inference at all.

I'm not a Motorola fan boy, I'm a Harris fan boy. But I'm trying to recommend the best radio within the OPs $200 budget limit and an XTL1500 can do that and is a better performing, higher end radio than any of the Kenwoods. They also have P25 digital mode which is not needed for GMRS but can be fun on the 70cm amateur bands.

BTW I have several Kenwood 900MHz radios now set up for 900 amateur and a 900MHz XTL1500 is soo much better that I'll be dumping the Kenwoods on fleabay very soon. I've had other commercial VHF and UHF Kenwoods in the past and was never impressed. Not much different than commercial Icom's or Yaesu's to me.

Back to a good radio for a Jeep and a TJ is really hurting for space. A radio with a remote mount head would put the controls closer to the driver and save some space and the XTL2500 is a great radio for that. Here is an idea that would break the budget but I have an Anytone AT-878UV III with Bluetooth remote speaker mic and that is a great solution for cramped space. The radio can mount under a seat hidden and you use a wireless hand held speaker mic with full color display that works great. The radio can also come with FCC part 90 acceptance so it wouldn't be like using a modified amateur radio on GMRS. Only problem is its about $460 for the radio and remote mic and since they are very popular there are no great deals on used ones at this time.

 

[hill]

I've had other commercial VHF and UHF Kenwoods in the past and was never impressed

OK on all.

We will just have to agree to disagree.

I really love all my Kenwood radios they work great for the purpose I need them to do.

UHF mobiles and HTs are great for GMRS and Ham 70 CM. Plus work for silenty monitoring a local County's Fire Dispatch on using two tone decode and one last in area still using two tone.

The VHF radios are great for ham 2meters. Also the ones with P25 like the TK5210s do great with receive only on conventional P25 frequencies.

 

[nokones]

You can't go wrong with a Kenwood or Motorola XTLs. The Laird Hood NMO Lip Mount is also a good choice. In my 23 Wrangler Rubi 2 Dr., I run a Motorola XPR5550e for my UHF DMR systems and the radio is on an overhead Radio Bar and connected to the Lip Mountbusing a Laird Phantom antenna.

For my VHF freqs, I am using an 840 channel XTL2500 Remote Mount and is connected to a side mount NMO Rugged Radios bracket with grounding and using a Laird non-groundplane 2 dB antenna near thd vowl and A Pillarvon the driver's side.

For my P25 UHF freqs I am using a XTL5000 Remote Moung and connected to a Larsen Glass-Mount antenna.

The two XTLs controlheads are mounted on a Ram Mount mounted in thd cup holder in the center console.

In addition, I have a Cobra 29 LTD Classic CB Radio mounted

 

[KF0NYL]

As far as external speakers go, the Midland SPK100 is a good speaker for noisy environments. I use the Midland SPK100 on my Honda Pioneer 500 SxS and I have no problems hearing the radio while cruising sown gravel roads at 35 mph. My SxS has a windshield, top and rear shield but no doors so it's loud.

 

[nokones]

As far as external speakers go, the Midland SPK100 is a good speaker for noisy environments. I use the Midland SPK100 on my Honda Pioneer 500 SxS and I have no problems hearing the radio while cruising sown gravel roads at 35 mph. My SxS has a windshield, top and rear shield but no doors so it's loud.

Why not use a headset/intercom system?