[Rambo_Of_PA]

I have a couple of these, and they are amazing...😉😁

Wouxun KG-935G Plus GMRS Two Way Radio

I also have a handful of cheaper Chinese Amazon units, and though there's an obvious difference in quality, they seem to work just about as well...😉😁

Thanks for the advice....I'll check them out....been on that site also....

 

[rumrunner]

we've used the the weaker FRS walkies from car to car, on some family road trips w/ 2 cars. not much range but if you're within sight of ea. other, they're OK

 

[rumrunner]

Thanks for the advice....I'll check them out....been on that site also....

they have decent videos describing products. forget if they are all on that site, or if they have their own YouTube channel. probably both

 

[Flybynightcru]

Thanks for the advice....I'll check them out....been on that site also....

It's a lot easier than hardwiring a mobile unit, and then routing coax, after you figure out an antenna solution. The walkies work almost as well as my Rugged Radios mobile unit, with the exception of the mods that were done on it to pick up a wider range of frequencies...😉😁

 

[Flybynightcru]

we've used the the weaker FRS walkies from car to car, on some family road trips w/ 2 cars. not much range but if you're within sight of ea. other, they're OK

Those are toys, but still very effective for short range vehicle to vehicle trail communications. A lot better than nothing...😉😁

 

[Rambo_Of_PA]

Got my Christmas Present - an RETEVIS RA86 - installed today.

View attachment 238333

Credit goes to @FallingDown for the mounting location inspiration shown on this post: https://www.jeepcherokeeclub.com/threads/gmrs-radio.246237/?post_id=2978153

I love a good stealth mounting and it fits perfectly in the center box, though I did change the routing of the antenna wire. The antenna is placed next to the factory antenna with the wire following the FM/AM/GPS/SiriusXM antennas through the hole and into the headliner, running parallel with them until right about the driver's seat where it goes down to the floor under the carpet and comes out the bottom of the center box.

Works perfectly fine and loving it! I know RETEVIS isn't one of the big names but I've had good experiences with the brand in several Search & Rescue operations and it was a ridiculous deal for Black Friday.

Hard to see the antenna in the 2nd pic....but get the idea....

 

[tracy08172002]

Hard to see the antenna in the 2nd pic....but get the idea....

I have a small antenna okay, leave me alone 😂

 

[Flybynightcru]

I have a small antenna okay, leave me alone 😂

It doesn't matter, as long as it's effective right???😁😉😎

 

[Rambo_Of_PA]

What I was referring to....found this on reddit GMRS forum:

 

[rumrunner]

What I was referring to....found this on reddit GMRS forum:

View attachment 238594

previous vehicles, that's exactly where I had my CB. but in the Cherokees, I put it on the other side, the passenger side. that nice GMRS looks pretty thin. that's probably a nice spot. you gonna mount an external speaker?

 

[Rambo_Of_PA]

you gonna mount an external speaker?

depends on how clear the volume is on the one I do eventually get....never had any mobile radio (CB, GMRS, HAM) before....will it make a hearing it better or same as without?? Thanks!

 

[rumrunner]

depends on how clear the volume is on the one I do eventually get....never had any mobile radio (CB, GMRS, HAM) before....will it make a hearing it better or same as without?? Thanks!

sorry I guess I started putting them on the other side w/ the Forester

re: external speaker, yes definitely. better quality sound. mount mine on the dash near the A pillar. used the bracket that came with the speaker, but no screws, just velcro tape. when I sell them, the little piece of Velcro might be useful to the next owner for something else. if not, I doubt they'll care cuz I usually drive my cars over 200k. anyway, up there, the speaker is closer to my head & away from the passengers in the vehicle w/ me. try it w/o & see how it sounds

I use several screws cuz they're just into the thin plastic. made this bracket from brass. super easy to cut/snip/bend & drill

 

[rumrunner]

depends on how clear the volume is on the one I do eventually get....never had any mobile radio (CB, GMRS, HAM) before....will it make a hearing it better or same as without?? Thanks!

you can mount your handset higher, that could be good

my Wife likes the speaker as far away from her as possible

 

[Flybynightcru]

depends on how clear the volume is on the one I do eventually get....never had any mobile radio (CB, GMRS, HAM) before....will it make a hearing it better or same as without?? Thanks!

You're gonna need some kind of speaker...😉😎

 

[Flybynightcru]

my Wife likes the speaker as far away from her as possible

And you obviously need one of these...LOL!!!😂🤣😉😁

 

[Rambo_Of_PA]

And you obviously need one of these...LOL!!!😂🤣😉😁

View attachment 238601

I have a headset that I use whenever my friend is visiting from Michigan, and we go for rides in her helicopter.....but not wearing them just for GMRS inside a moving vehicle.....

 

[Rambo_Of_PA]

sorry I guess I started putting them on the other side w/ the Forester
View attachment 238595

re: external speaker, yes definitely. better quality sound. mount mine on the dash near the A pillar. used the bracket that came with the speaker, but no screws, just velcro tape. when I sell them, the little piece of Velcro might be useful to the next owner for something else. if not, I doubt they'll care cuz I usually drive my cars over 200k. anyway, up there, the speaker is closer to my head & away from the passengers in the vehicle w/ me. try it w/o & see how it sounds

View attachment 238596

I use several screws cuz they're just into the thin plastic. made this bracket from brass. super easy to cut/snip/bend & drill

View attachment 238598

Thanks for the suggestions....greatly appreciated!

 

[Rambo_Of_PA]

I would prefer the driver side so that knucklehead passengers don't knock it off by accident....

 

[Skidmark]

depends on how clear the volume is on the one I do eventually get....never had any mobile radio (CB, GMRS, HAM) before....will it make a hearing it better or same as without?? Thanks!

A quality external speaker nearly always sounds a lot better than the built in one, but then you have to find a place to mount that too. If you do stick with just the internal speaker, don't mount the radio with the speaker grill up against anything, or it will really sound like sh*t.

 

[Skidmark]

I just got my GMRS license today after applying online yesterday....now to get me a mobile GMRS radio....wanted to get a HAM license but have no patience for books and testing just to talk on the airwaves....yet for HAM you have to study & take a test to do the same thing: Talk on the airwaves....typical bureaucracy just to make money and aggravate everyone else....

It's also an attempt to limit interference on the ham bands. With CB/FRS/GRMS, you can annoy other folks for a couple of miles around. With a ham rig, you can be a nuisance to people on the other side of the planet.

It used to be worse. Way back when I got my ham ticket, they also made you learn morse code, now THAT was a real PITA.