Easiest car to car communication?

[4x4junkie]

That does look like a great option. Does anyone know if it's possible to attach an antenna on a magnet outside the car with this? And I'm assuming this is a pretty simple radio, no need to program frequencies?

Yes, you will need to program frequencies into it. But if it's MURS (or FRS/GMRS) you want to program, Chirp has preconfigured stock lists all you need to do is select them, then dump them onto the radio.

As for an antenna, this little guy here works great on a Baofeng:
http://www.amazon.com/Tram-1185-Amateur-Dual-Band-Antenna/dp/B0045EQUBK
(you'll need to trim it slightly shorter for MURS/GMRS use)

You'll also need one of these little dealios:
http://www.amazon.com/Valley-Enterprises-SMA-Female-Adapter/dp/B00ATEDHXE
http://www.amazon.com/DHT-Handheld-Antenna-Baofeng-Quasheng/dp/B00COKNKS8


And FWIW, I highly recommend these Baofengs over the UV5R for their much better receiver chip:
http://www.amazon.com/GT-3-Dual-Band-Transceiver-400-520MHz-65-108MHz/dp/B00GCZVXPI
http://www.amazon.com/GT-3TP-Mark-III-Tri-Power-Transceiver-Upgraded/dp/B00R7LXR7S

 

[BigSwede]

The Tram 1185 antenna works very well, and is much more robust than the cheaper ones that are often sold for the Baofengs.

 

[Tundraexplorer]

The Tram 1185 antenna works very well, and is much more robust than the cheaper ones that are often sold for the Baofengs.

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated. Trimming the antenna has me a little worried...I really have no clue what I am doing, and that's why I originally was thinking cb. How will I know how short to cut the antenna? Thanks everyone again for all the help

 

[4x4junkie]

Thanks for the tip, much appreciated. Trimming the antenna has me a little worried...I really have no clue what I am doing, and that's why I originally was thinking cb. How will I know how short to cut the antenna? Thanks everyone again for all the help

You should get yourself a SWR meter (tester) for the antenna.
Honestly, should have a SWR meter no matter what radio setup you go with anyway (except for FRS, or handheld radios used with their portable antenna). A meter is really the only effective way to troubleshoot any antenna and/or range issues you might run into (CB antennas can be particularly picky if mounted anywhere other than top of the vehicle roof). It will pay for itself in very short order.

These meters will test for MURS, GMRS (including FRS channels), 2M, 70cm (but not CB):
http://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Professional-Standing-Wave-Meter-Testing/dp/B00GNVJ8IU
http://www.amazon.com/VHF-UHF-POWER-Meter-Cross-Needle-140-525Mhz/dp/B004IP8FSW

CB meters:
http://www.amazon.com/METER-Radio-Antennas-Jumper-cable/dp/B002KRME3C
http://www.amazon.com/ASTATIC-PDC1-Workman-jumper-CX-3-PL-PL/dp/B00HMDQ4RQ

Meters that can cover everything:
http://www.amazon.com/RF-Power-SWR-meter-1-8-525Mhz/dp/B00579E6RW
http://www.amazon.com/SX1100-~SWR-Meter-1-8-160-70cm/dp/B00AR0A9YU (successor to one I have)

I s'pose someone's gonna chime in here suggesting an antenna analyzer in lieu of a standard meter.. Well here ya go:
http://www.amazon.com/MFJ-269C-SWR-Antenna-Analyzer-530/dp/B00M26KKS2

IMO, the analyzer is FAR more meter than you'll need at this point in the game, so I would suggest simply getting one of the (less $$$) SWR/wattmeters for now, and keep it handy for when you change a part of the setup (antenna or it's location), move the setup to another vehicle, encounter a problem, etc.

 

[Tundraexplorer]

You should get yourself a SWR meter (tester) for the antenna.
Honestly, should have a SWR meter no matter what radio setup you go with anyway (except for FRS, or handheld radios used with their portable antenna). A meter is really the only effective way to troubleshoot any antenna and/or range issues you might run into (CB antennas can be particularly picky if mounted anywhere other than top of the vehicle roof). It will pay for itself in very short order.

These meters will test for MURS, GMRS (including FRS channels), 2M, 70cm (but not CB):
http://www.amazon.com/Signstek-Professional-Standing-Wave-Meter-Testing/dp/B00GNVJ8IU
http://www.amazon.com/VHF-UHF-POWER-Meter-Cross-Needle-140-525Mhz/dp/B004IP8FSW

CB meters:
http://www.amazon.com/METER-Radio-Antennas-Jumper-cable/dp/B002KRME3C
http://www.amazon.com/ASTATIC-PDC1-Workman-jumper-CX-3-PL-PL/dp/B00HMDQ4RQ

Meters that can cover everything:
http://www.amazon.com/RF-Power-SWR-meter-1-8-525Mhz/dp/B00579E6RW
http://www.amazon.com/SX1100-~SWR-Meter-1-8-160-70cm/dp/B00AR0A9YU (successor to one I have)

I s'pose someone's gonna chime in here suggesting an antenna analyzer in lieu of a standard meter.. Well here ya go:
http://www.amazon.com/MFJ-269C-SWR-Antenna-Analyzer-530/dp/B00M26KKS2

IMO, the analyzer is FAR more meter than you'll need at this point in the game, so I would suggest simply getting one of the (less $$$) SWR/wattmeters for now, and keep it handy for when you change a part of the setup (antenna or it's location), move the setup to another vehicle, encounter a problem, etc.

Great, thank you! So to use if on murs, I would just use the meter to make sure it's within the good zone, and then download the frequencies from chirp?

 

[4x4junkie]

Other way 'round.

The radio has to be operational on the approximate frequency (channel) you intend to use in order to test the antenna with a regular SWR meter, so you'd have to prog the radio first.

Once thats done you simply hook the meter inline with your antenna, key the transmitter, calibrate the meter (if required) and then read the SWR.
The instructions that come with most meters should tell you how to determine whether an antenna needs to be made longer or shorter depending on what the SWR is on a higher frequency vs a lower one.

If it's a 2M (146 MHz) antenna you're going to use on MURS (151/154MHz), then we already know the antenna will be too long, so you'd just cut the antenna in 1/8" or so increments until the SWR is as low as you can get it (most antennas also allow about an inch of whip adjustment, so if you go slightly too far, all isn't lost). Many antennas also come with a cutting chart (length vs. operating frequency) that you could use as a starting point (I'd go a little longer than the chart indicates just to be safe... You can always cut a tad more off if it's still too long, but adding length back to it is not quite as easy lol).

Also don't forget that Tram 1185 is a dual band antenna, so you might want to keep an eye on the SWR on the GMRS/FRS side too if you want to use it there also. On my antenna the two bands fell into place almost exactly on target, but still a good idea to check so that you don't accidentally overshoot GMRS while pruning it for MURS.

 

[mjac]

Bumping an older thread up to check for updates re: Baofeng buying choices.
Great informative thread btw. I am looking at Baofang for trail use.
Thanks.

 

[Chris Boyd]

Greta thread and advise from 4x4junkie.

FWIW, Much of the questions asked and answered here would be covered in the material for the ham technician license... Except of course the use of freqs on the non type-rated HTs. Well then again, that's covered too, just not the way you'd like.

 

[4x4junkie]

Bumping an older thread up to check for updates re: Baofeng buying choices.
Great informative thread btw. I am looking at Baofang for trail use.
Thanks.

The GT-3TP is still top dog in Baofeng hand helds as far as I'm aware. 8 watt output, a receiver that is comparable overall to a couple older Yaesu handhelds i have, and seems pretty high up on the ruggedness scale (I've dropped mine quite a number of times now). I did have to spray the volume pots with some control cleaner/lubricant, which requires a complete teardown of the unit to get to any spot where you can spray into the potentiometer housing, but other than that they've held up real well.

There's also been a few more chinese mobile units to hit the market in the last year or so, though unlike the hand held units, their pricing still remains relatively high (some discussion about chinese mobiles here).

 

[Counterpoise]

The antennas may work fine without trimming. Not alot of wattage here. CB would of probably worked fine for your needs. Check HamFest flea markets for cheap used cb's and antennas. 10 to 20 dollars will usually get you fixed up.