What to get

[Jonathon]

So lets start with vehicle. I have 2006 Jeep wrangler unlimited with just a bimini top.
I dont have a HAM license however am not unwilling to get one.
I am on a budget and trying to figure out a radio. What would you recommend?

 

[freak4life]

So lets start with vehicle. I have 2006 Jeep wrangler unlimited with just a bimini top.
I dont have a HAM license however am not unwilling to get one.
I am on a budget and trying to figure out a radio. What would you recommend?

Hello Jonathon, I am, in no way an expert, in my experience there are a lot of groups the use GMRS. Your best option is if you will be going with a group find out what they use. Otherwise it will be hit and miss. I went this route (GMRS).
Blessings

 

[Jonathon]

Thank you. We have a trip planned for a day trip with a group. But in the lomg run we are plan ing to do 1 year of overlanding around the US soon as we get a pickup. For now the radio will be in my jeep amd will need to work witb handhelds so gf cam have a handheld in her Jeep grand cherokee.

 

[Old Tanker]

Good handheld GMRS radios are available in the $100-150 range. I've had good results with Wouxons. We got ours from buytwowayradios.

 

[TheRealMcCoy]

Good handheld GMRS radios are available in the $100-150 range. I've had good results with Wouxons. We got ours from buytwowayradios.

Most East Cost folks use GMRS, while CB are also, however west cost folks tend to use Hamm radios.

 

[RedRob]

Ham has such an upside, and I feel like more and more people use it. I have an eight watt BaoFeng attached to an external antenna that was pretty inexpensive and works quite well.

 

[Prerunner1982]

Ham radio is far more capable than anything else, however based on this statement below you want GMRS/FRS.
For the below to work with ham radio you both would need to test and get licensed, with GMRS a single license covers your family.
Mobile GMRS radios can have up to 50 watts and they work with handheld GMRS or FRS radios. You might be able to get by with two handhelds but understand that operating from inside a metal container (Grand Cherokee) will limit how well the radio works.

For now the radio will be in my jeep amd will need to work witb handhelds so gf cam have a handheld in her Jeep grand cherokee.

 

[Jonathon]

Ham radio is far more capable than anything else, however based on this statement below you want GMRS/FRS.
For the below to work with ham radio you both would need to test and get licensed, with GMRS a single license covers your family.
Mobile GMRS radios can have up to 50 watts and they work with handheld GMRS or FRS radios. You might be able to get by with two handhelds but understand that operating from inside a metal container (Grand Cherokee) will limit how well the radio works.

For now the radio will be in my jeep amd will need to work witb handhelds so gf cam have a handheld in her Jeep grand cherokee.

Long term we both plan to get Ham radio licenses. However would it hurt to have the GMRS license?

 

[Prerunner1982]

Long term we both plan to get Ham radio licenses. However would it hurt to have the GMRS license?

Wouldn't hurt at all, more capability is better.

 

[TheBronze]

Very first question should be, what do the people you ride with use? Second quesiton should be...and be honest...are you actually interesting in radio/electionics? If you aren't and just want to be able to talk to others on the trial then GMRS is easy and not very expensive. But, if you want to dive in a little bit and learn some radio theory then the starter ham license isn't very hard to get.

 

[TheRealMcCoy]

Great point