A couple of weeks ago, another guy and I ran a two-vehicle convoy from Michigan to Montana. We coordinated and communicated using GMRS radio. Along the way, I had my vehicle mounted XTL 5000 radio from Motorola scanning the GMRS repeaters and the simplex channels. In this article, we're going to talk about what we learned, what worked, and what didn't work. We'll also talk about how you can better prepare and practice yourself.
First, let's talk gear. My vehicle radio is a Motorola XTL 5000. It's a UHF radio that you can find on e-bay for a couple hundred dollars. It's a 50 watt radio that allows you to program 1000 channels, as long as you have the software and cable. Mine is in what Motorola calls "UHF I" range or 380-470 Mhz. This is important because UHF II is 450-520 Mhz, and while both can do GMRS, I have mine programmed for international operations and need a lower range (446 Mhz) for Europe. This radio has a detachable control head that is kept on my console, with the main unit being under the driver's seat. The external speaker sits on the transmission hump.
Bill used a Baofeng AR-152 10 watt handheld. As a supplement, I had a Motorola XTS 5000, the handheld version of the vehicle radio, only because it scans faster than the Baofeng does. Truthfully, aside from scanning speed and encryption, the Baofeng UV-5R and AR-152 units OUTPERFORM the expensive Motorolas where it matters - transmit and receive range. Sure, the Motorola has better features, but in what really matters, the Baofeng is king.
Let's talk about what we learned....but first, this is where you become a paid supporter.