punisher1130
Adventurer
Yeah I was doing research on those, very good rep, makes me want to reconsider how I want to go about this.
hand helds
- Thread starter punisher1130
- Start date
Yeah I was doing research on those, very good rep, makes me want to reconsider how I want to go about this.
punisher1130
Adventurer
4x4junkie
Explorer
On what? The "ducky" antenna?
The short rubber antennas on hand-held radios (a.k.a. handie-talkies, or "HTs") are very often colloquially referred to as a "rubber duck" or just "duck"... Perhaps something to do with it being made of rubber material and the fact they don't work as well as full-length antennas do (a station with a weak signal is sometimes called a "mud duck" because their signal is "down in the mud", or static. So "mud duck", rubber, and... well hopefully you get the point lol). Maybe someone else here can provide some different versions of how it came to be called a "rubber duck"
The Baofeng UV5R dates back to somewhere around 2011 I think, and had some terrible reviews when it first hit the market, much of it centered on it's noisy receiver which nowadays most people just accept with the territory in cheap Chinese radios (CCRs). It sold for around $45 at that time too. The GT-3 Mark-II I think debuted in 2014. It's a little more modern design and includes a better "rubber duck" antenna in the package than the UV5R (a little more slender & floppy, but with much better RX & TX performance, on par with antennas included with the likes of radios from Yaesu, Icom, etc.). It's a slight hair over 8" long from base to the tip (not including the threaded connector). I don't have a UV5R on hand to measure at the moment, but I think it's provided antenna was around 5-6" tall if my memory is serving correct.
"Chirp" is free radio programming software that works very well to program these things. Chirp has preloaded lists for the MURS, GMRS, and FRS radio services all you would need to do is select them and then download or copy & paste them onto the radio. This is important too because you don't want to have accidentally programmed transmitting frequencies in the radio that could potentially interfere with another radio service such as police or fire.
A good website to check out is www.miklor.com. There you can find links to Chirp, along with many other references articles on these little radios.
The short rubber antennas on hand-held radios (a.k.a. handie-talkies, or "HTs") are very often colloquially referred to as a "rubber duck" or just "duck"... Perhaps something to do with it being made of rubber material and the fact they don't work as well as full-length antennas do (a station with a weak signal is sometimes called a "mud duck" because their signal is "down in the mud", or static. So "mud duck", rubber, and... well hopefully you get the point lol). Maybe someone else here can provide some different versions of how it came to be called a "rubber duck"
The Baofeng UV5R dates back to somewhere around 2011 I think, and had some terrible reviews when it first hit the market, much of it centered on it's noisy receiver which nowadays most people just accept with the territory in cheap Chinese radios (CCRs). It sold for around $45 at that time too. The GT-3 Mark-II I think debuted in 2014. It's a little more modern design and includes a better "rubber duck" antenna in the package than the UV5R (a little more slender & floppy, but with much better RX & TX performance, on par with antennas included with the likes of radios from Yaesu, Icom, etc.). It's a slight hair over 8" long from base to the tip (not including the threaded connector). I don't have a UV5R on hand to measure at the moment, but I think it's provided antenna was around 5-6" tall if my memory is serving correct.
"Chirp" is free radio programming software that works very well to program these things. Chirp has preloaded lists for the MURS, GMRS, and FRS radio services all you would need to do is select them and then download or copy & paste them onto the radio. This is important too because you don't want to have accidentally programmed transmitting frequencies in the radio that could potentially interfere with another radio service such as police or fire.
A good website to check out is www.miklor.com. There you can find links to Chirp, along with many other references articles on these little radios.
Last edited:
punisher1130
Adventurer
Lol yeah I never heard the term ducky antenna. I am looking at this HT and it looks like a newer version of the GT-3 Mark-II you mentioned.
http://www.amazon.com/GT-3TP-Mark-I...2WDYM6EPE1YYH&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl
http://www.amazon.com/GT-3TP-Mark-I...2WDYM6EPE1YYH&psc=1&ref_=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl
Last edited:
Robert Bills
Explorer
Perhaps someone who keeps up with the Baofeng UV5R new release and updates could let us know which is the most current version on the market. Several ebay stores claim that they have the newest and most advanced, but what is the truth as the versions, latest release of firmware, etc.?
4x4junkie
Explorer
That's the one I mentioned earlier I have two of. They're definitely good units, even for the higher price. Though I probably would've bought the GT-3 Mk-II units had i not come across the two-pack deal I did on the 3TP units (it was on Ebay I found it, it was two GT-3TP radios with two speaker hand mics thrown into the deal for ~$90-something). If the extra watts are important to you, then certainly go for it.
I'm in a dense population center of So Cal... The receiver on these radios seems to handle the RF energy in the air around here fairly well, at least on the "duck" antenna. I can tell there's an ever so slight noise level on it versus when I go deep into the desert away from any civilization (one or two bars will show up on the signal meter when I unsquelch it), but intermod has been almost non-existent on it. Set the squelch a few ticks above threshold and it generally stays quiet if there's no signals on the frequency.
From this page:
http://www.miklor.com/uv5r/UV5R-FAQ.php
The GT-3 Mark II and Mark III series however I do know are updated radios (has the upgraded receiver components), so these would be the ones to get if you want the most up-to-date hardware (not just the up-to-date firmware).
I bought mine maybe 6 months ago, the FW version on them BFP323.
I have the uv5re plus , I'm sure it's not the newest. But I have the squelch setting on 3 and I do get noise around some traffic signals and businesses (I'm guessing alarm systems or some other RF emitting equipment) but it's not a constant issue)
I've been happy with the radios performance especially given the price.
Truth be told the only ht radio I would get after this would be something dmr related.
I been looking at the wouxon quad band (10m, 6m, 2m and 70cm) if it's anything like the baofeng it would fill the void. At least until I could get a radio unit that does digital modes.
Sent from my QMV7A using Tapatalk
I've been happy with the radios performance especially given the price.
Truth be told the only ht radio I would get after this would be something dmr related.
I been looking at the wouxon quad band (10m, 6m, 2m and 70cm) if it's anything like the baofeng it would fill the void. At least until I could get a radio unit that does digital modes.
Sent from my QMV7A using Tapatalk
punisher1130
Adventurer
Cool the I'm good on the ham, just need to figure out which path I wanna take with emergency locators.
punisher1130
Adventurer
For emergencies I was planning on trying to reach emergency services in the area but i decided on using a PLB for that. Do I still need the license to use the ham just for weather?
Robert Bills
Explorer
You do not need a license to listen to the Ham bands. You need one to talk.
Although there are some who argue that an emergency is an exception to the licensing requirement, and use that as a rationalization for not obtaining a Ham license, that approach doesn't make sense to me because the Ham exam is relatively easy and is given frequently in so many locations. One might as well get the Ham license to have full use of one's radio.
If one is adverse to licenses and exams, many CB radios have NOAA weather channels, as do a few FRS/GMRS radios.
Caveat: None of these radios will do you any good without a good antenna to maximize range of transmission/reception. Handheld units of any type and frequency are quite limited in this regard. Also, NOAA weather channels don't cover every area. [One example is Nevada's Black Rock Desert - no NOAA weather reception there, 4/8-10/16 anyway - even with a properly tuned roof mounted external antenna.]
Although there are some who argue that an emergency is an exception to the licensing requirement, and use that as a rationalization for not obtaining a Ham license, that approach doesn't make sense to me because the Ham exam is relatively easy and is given frequently in so many locations. One might as well get the Ham license to have full use of one's radio.
If one is adverse to licenses and exams, many CB radios have NOAA weather channels, as do a few FRS/GMRS radios.
Caveat: None of these radios will do you any good without a good antenna to maximize range of transmission/reception. Handheld units of any type and frequency are quite limited in this regard. Also, NOAA weather channels don't cover every area. [One example is Nevada's Black Rock Desert - no NOAA weather reception there, 4/8-10/16 anyway - even with a properly tuned roof mounted external antenna.]
punisher1130
Adventurer
Then I should be ok, I will have the channels for my CB to run on but I want the ham so when I am out hiking I can get the weather and judge if the rain coming is going to make me set up camp to ride it out, if I need to high tail it back to the truck or if its something I don't need to worry about ( being from FL it has to be real bad for me to make shelter or get back to base). What you say about the weather channels I will keep that in mind when I double check reports on where I choose to go to make sure things will work out in my favor. As for emergencies, based on everything I have been told on this post and what I have researched the PLB is a much more reliable way to get help if its needed so I will run with that option I just need to make up my mind on which type of PLB I want to run with.
prerunner1982
Adventurer
Not only that but I wonder how many people who bought a Baofeng radio and threw it in the bottom of their bag will know how to use it if they ever need to. After the radio being packed away for no telling how many years, are they going to remember how to set a offset and tone if needed?...
It's a tool, it works better if you are proficient with it which only comes with use/practice.
texascrane
Adventurer
That's what's nice about the InReach. It gives you some options that don't involve calling the Air Force.
punisher1130
Adventurer
I was going to use a label gun to print out what is used most and stick it on the back of the radio and make notes for anything else and stick them in the case with the radio so the only thing I need to remember to check is the battery life.
punisher1130
Adventurer
Not being rude at all, at least not to me anyway, you just trying to help and make sure I am getting and understanding what I need and I greatly appreciate that I really do. I know what my body is capable of handling so in general terms of emergency I want something that if I am in a situation like both my legs broken, I get sick or poisoned by something that puts me in a state of immobility, I want something that will get bodies to me to either give me something to get back on my feet and moving or evac me to a hospital. Anything less then that I can work through.
Similar threads
