what to get for comms

[TommyAirsofter19 8]

i am just wondering what would be good for comms at Operation Ironclad. don't know what to get. if anyone has any ideas please help.

 

things it must be:

1. inexpensive

2.reliable.

3.easy to use

 

[drew1066 7]

Quality on the cheap: http://www.mtcradio.com/wouxun-kg-uv6d-v2-dual-band-vhf-uhf-199-channel-handheld-commercial-radio-w-2-5-step/ (works great with amped PTT and real military headsets)

 

Gets the job done: http://www.mtcradio.com/baofeng-uv-5rt-hand-held-dual-band-transceiver-usa-warranty/

 

PS - Be careful, lots of fake units out there.

[TommyAirsofter19 8]

ok thanks

[TimmyHorton 72]

I bought the bao fang UV-5R it is nice, compact,works every time I turn it on, easy to use even I have no problems I am not dumb but modern tech confuses me sometimes, can be programmed without computer, has fm radio, looooong battery life, only about 40 us for the whole kit on ebay (radio,battery,antenna,head set, charger dock, manual, strap

 

I have a programing video if you want to see how its like.... pardon my poor editing skills 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7GD4Kd6GnM

[Firefox88 13]

I have 2 baofengs. They are cheap, reliable and easy to use. I did have issues at faded giant with my short range that we could never figure out. Believe it was the buildings intereferring with the signal but could never get it nailed down. I have a uv-82 and a uv-5r, both are simple to program and use. The 82 has dual PTT so you can montior and transmit on 2 different channels. Making it useful for short range RTO. The uv-5r is there most powerful radio, and I got a 17 inch antenna to use as long range for BH and the likes.

[Guest Specs]

+1 for baofengs. While there is a steep initial learning curve, they are great for the price. Honestly, the setup is up to you though. After running headsets for a while I found I hated tons of straps and crap around my head, so now I use a simply speakermic. But some guys run ear wigs, sordins or comtacs, whatever.

 

Speakermics are crazy cheap though. So there's that.

[Padre 0]

AMS uses Midland channels and  sub-channels. The Midland-GXT1000 is a good choice, comes in a 2 pack for ~$60, and will give everything you need. But you can't reprogram it, and any headsets or accessories will be Midland only. 

A lot of us are running Baofengs, and these offer you the most flexibility. For about the same expense you can get the radio, antenna upgrade, and programming cable. 

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=baofeng+bf-f8hp&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=28510111706&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17880364329185443799&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4sf8pgfes5_b

As noted above, there is a steep initial learning curve. It's a good option if you also get a programming cable and learn how to use CHIRP. You probably can't buy one locally.For all things Baofeng see Miklor's site. http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/There's tons of support out there and you probably have time to get a Baofeng BF FH8 (the latest version of the most popular model) and work everything out. Odds are pretty good you already know someone that runs one of these and could help you. 

And the upgrade antenna, 7" or 14" is absolutely worth the extra $10. 
 

[Downs 99]

Baofengs are solid radios and with a little interwebz study are easy to program with a programing cable and a program called CHIRP. 

omeon

You can also check out hte BF-888 radios (also know by a slew of other names but the names always look like XX-888).  They are simple and easy to use.  They don't have the keypad on the front to program on the fly but when you hand someone who isn't radio savy a UV-5R with an unlocked keypad that can be counter productive as all it takes is one keypress to screw up your intended frequency and mess up your units comms. 

 

The 888 has a knob on top with 16 settings.  So pre-program the radio with 16 presets and roll with that.  Or teach all of your buddies and yourself how to use the UV-5R properly so if someone messes up they can fix their own radio in the field. I've got a couple of these radios and use them for non radio savy friends since I can just hand them to them and say "hey keep it on channel 5" and then they can just run with them.  Downsides?  They usually only make about 2 to 4 watts tops which can limit range and they are only UHF instead of dual band like the UV-5R (UHF/VHF).  Must most of these events run in hte UHF spectrum since they use the GMRS/FRS freqs most often.   Really the power isn't much of an issue since UHF and VHF are largely line of sight coms anyway.  I've been able to make it into a repeater 98 miles away using a 4 watt UV-5R granted that was from a hill top across a mostly flat area, and using an external roll up J-Pole hung in a tree at camp, but it was still 98 miles on less than 5 watts.

 

You can even get the 888s in packs of 6 or more if you need to outfit your whole unit.

 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=BF-888

[TommyAirsofter19 8]

thanks