GMRS – Best For Fixed Mount Overland Vehicle 2-Way Radio

Why Two-Way Radio Is Important For Off-Road Vehicles

Having mobile communications that function without cell phone towers is pretty essential for overland travel. In much of the Western US, out beyond the asphalt, there simply aren’t any cell phone towers, so you won’t have a signal. If you’re traveling with a group and become separated from them, you’ll want a means of calling them for help if necessary, as well as to alert them to trail hazards ahead, etc.

Our Setup For Overland Two-Way Radio Communications

While on a recent trip to Utah, hiking in Kodachrome Basin State Park (where there’s no cell phone reception) my wife called me from the mobile radio in our truck to see when I’d be coming for dinner. Another hiker heard us talking and using our call sign, and asked what kind of radio worked so well way out here. I was happy to explain!

Our inexpensive setup consists of one Btech GMRS-50X1 fixed-mount 50 watt mobile GMRS radio, along with a couple of Baofeng UV-9G handhelds. This setup allows us to stay in touch with other GMRS radio users, as well as each other  if one of us is away from base camp. We switch the mobile to run off of an auxiliary battery, which is charged by a solar panel, so we don’t run the truck’s battery down.

We also sometimes carry a very compact directional antenna, for reaching out to distant repeaters or mobiles far away, after we’ve set up camp. (Seen in photo above.)

Options For Overland Two-Way Radio Communications

Let’s look at some of the options in two-way radios for overland travel, and see why GMRS is such a good choice. (We left off amateur radio, which is great to have for emergencies, but less likely to be used by everyone, since licenses requires taking an exam, learning radio theory, etc.)

CB (Citizens Band Radio)

You’ll still see CB’s used in off-road vehicles. They can offer a decent communication solution for parties wanting to keep in touch over a distance of a couple miles or more. The old CB service, authorized by the FCC way back in the 1950’s, operates on technology that’s largely unchanged since that time.

Pros:

• Cheap – costing as little as $50
• New FM mode available on some radios
• Available in many discount stores and truck stops
• No license is required.
• CB is still used in the off-road community and by truckers.  Update: Jeep Jamboree just announced that CB will be replaced by FRS/GMRS in 2021.

Cons:

• Low Power – Only 4 watts of output is allowed by the FCC
• Noisy – AM -used on most CB’s – is plagued by static and interference.
• “Skip” – Every so often, with increased solar activity, the CB band goes haywire – so much so that you may not be able to talk a mile away because of interfering stations.
• Larger antennas are needed, due to the longer wavelength. (That’s one reason handheld CB’s don’t work well.)

“Bubble Pack” FRS Walkie Talkies

These inexpensive handheld radios are one option for keeping in touch off-road.  You can find them everywhere from Home Depot to Wal-Mart.

Pros:

• FRS radio use doesn’t require a license.
• FRS radios can communicate with more powerful GMRS ones. (The GMRS station must still identify with a call sign.)
• FRS can now use up to two watts on channels 1-7 and 15-22. (The FCC is now allowing FRS radio to share GMRS channels 15-22.)
• Cheap and widely available.
• Not subject to long-range interference or “skip”.
• Depending on model, can use “privacy” tones, so you don’t hear other parties on the same channel. (This does not offer privacy.)

Cons:

• Lower power and limited range. Most FRS radios won’t work more than a couple miles.
• All FRS radios use narrow band FM – with reduced audio quality and range compared to GMRS.
• Not available in a fixed-mount radio.
• Can’t use FRS with repeaters.
• Not allowed to use external antennas for greater range.

MURS Radios

The Mutual Use Radio Service was authorized by the FCC in the VHF band  for use without a license. Max power is limited to two watts and external antennas are allowed. These are not widely used, and do offer advantages over FRS and CB radios.

Pros:

• Not widely used, so less chance of interference.
• No license is required
• Offer decent range – up to a couple miles or more.
• Use VHF, which may have longer range than UHF outdoors. (This advantage may be offset by handset antenna size issues and 2 watt power limit.)

Cons:

• Only 5 channels available
• Radios cost more than “bubble pack” walkie talkies.
• Not available as fixed-mount mobile radios.
• Power limited to 2 watts.
• There are few dedicated MURS fixed-mount mobile radios for sale.

Fixed-Mount Mobile GMRS Radios

Our last class of radios is GMRS. The General Mobile Radio Service was authorized by the FCC to operate in the UHF band. It was created for families and other non-business users to keep in touch. You have the choice of everything from inexpensive handheld radios, all the way up to 50 watt mobile radios that sell for $300. The thing that all of them have in common is the need for a GMRS license, which is easy to get.

Fixed mount mobile GMRS radios typically offer longer-range communications, because of their higher output power – up to 50 watts – along with the ability to use an external antenna. They also use 20 kHz wide-band FM, which offers better call quality and range.

On a fixed mount GMRS you will typically find 15 simplex channels. 8 of these channels are “high power”, with 50 watts maximum allowed. Missing on mobile radios are channels 8-14, which can’t be included on radios with external antennas, per FCC rules.

The 8 high-power channels (15-22) may also be used as repeater outputs – commonly referred to by the last three digits of their frequency and may be numbered as RP15, etc.. Users may refer to a repeater or simplex channel by the last 3 numbers of the frequency, for example, 462.675 MHz becomes “675” or the “675 machine” in the case of a repeater.

Below is a chart showing the channels available on a fixed mount mobile GMRS.

A Fixed-Mount, Mobile GMRS Radio Transmits Farther

Perhaps their best feature is that you can add an external antenna, giving you even more range. You may experience a range of up to 30+ miles, mobile-to-mobile, but only under ideal conditions.

We’ve found that our radio’s real world range is about 5 miles from mobile to handheld, and 15 miles vehicle-vehicle in fairly flat, open desert country, and even farther when we’re up on a high spot.  We’ve heard repeater stations on GMRS from over 200 miles away, so range varies a lot!

A nice feature of this service is that repeaters (base stations that rebroadcast your signal – often located on mountaintops) are allowed. There are repeaters scattered all across the US, many of which are open to the public, but you must have a GMRS radio that is repeater-capable and be licensed.

Pros:

• Higher transmit power, up to 50 watts. Offers range of up to 20 miles or more.
• Less noise and interference than CB.
• Can be used to communicate with cheaper FRS radios.
• Smaller external antenna than CB.
• GMRS uses 20 kHz wide-band FM, for better audio quality and range.
• Repeaters are available in many areas, greatly extending range.
• Unlike amateur radio, no test is required.
• Can use “privacy codes” so you don’t hear other parties’ conversations. (They may still hear you though.)
• One GMRS license is good for the whole family.

Cons:

• An FCC license is required and you must announce your call sign when transmitting.
• More expensive than FRS radios and CB’s.
• Limited number of channels. Fixed-mount mobile GMRS radios don’t include FRS channels 8-14.
• Users may experience interference from FRS radios, which share the same channels, thanks to a recent rule change.

Below is an example of real-world GMRS range in flat terrain.

And The Winner Is… A Fixed-Mount Mobile GMRS Radio

If you’re looking for a powerful two-way radio for overland use, it’s hard to beat a fixed-mount, mobile GMRS radio.  They’re typically built to better specs than CB’s and bubble pack FRS walkie-talkies, so they can better stand up to vibration on the trail.

For more on this affordable and powerful radio service, check out the US GMRS Association. There’s info on that website about how to use GMRS repeaters, how to get a license, etc.

 

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Some Final Thoughts on GMRS For Overland Vehicle Use

• Be sure to get your license. It’s required by law and getting one is the right thing to do.
• Antenna placement is key for good performance. The best place on a vehicle is often the center of the cab.
• Repeaters are owned by clubs or individuals and each has their own set of rules.
• Try not to hog air time when using a GMRS channel – especially through a repeater. Use the lowest power setting possible to maintain communication.
• Be courteous, especially in busier areas like Moab. Go ahead and use a pair of FRS walkie talkies on the 1/2 watt channels (8-14) if you plan a lot of talking at short range, so you don’t add to congestion.

Also, can you use a cheap $35 Baofeng dual band ham walkie-talkie for GMRS? Technically, yes. Legally, no, since they’re not approved by the FCC for that use. For about the same price you can get a 5 watt GMRS handheld, that’s repeater-capable, and stay legal. A dedicated GMRS handheld, such as the Baofeng UV-5X or UV-9G  is type certified by the FCC and will allow you to use wide-band GMRS channels with 5 watts of power. We’ve got a couple UV-9G’s and are very happy with them. 

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