Trail Radios - what are you using?

CB or GMRS?

  • CB

    Votes: 2 10.5%

  • GMRS

    Votes: 12 63.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 5 26.3%
  • Total voters
    19
Jeffncs

Jeffncs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2017
Location
Wake Forest
I’m an old school CB guy, but it seems that GMRS is taking hold. Getting back into off-roading, which direction should I go?
 
GMRS hands down over any CB set up. All my junk is getting the CB pulled as the GMRS is ~5 times more powerful and less than half the size. Plus the handhelds are reasonably size unlike CB handheld which mimic a backpack phone.
 
both.JPG
 
I run CB, GMRS and ham. This way I can talk to anyone. Because CB is cheap, just about everyone has one still. The Midland mobiles are getting more competative for the GMRS side but are still not as popular as CB. Getting a ham ticket opens up a lot more opportunities but again not as popular on the trails. The little Chicom radios will do both GMRS and ham but are not legal for GMRS (not that many care).

I prefer either GMRS or ham for range and FM radio quality.
 
Andy J. said:
I’m still on the CB train for now. Once GMRS becomes more popular I’ll look into switching over.
Click to expand...
upload_2020-10-22_10-19-21.png


Andy - you fall here :flipoff2:
 
Chris_Keziah said:
GMRS hands down over any CB set up. All my junk is getting the CB pulled as the GMRS is ~5 times more powerful and less than half the size. Plus the handhelds are reasonably size unlike CB handheld which mimic a backpack phone.
Click to expand...
All this plus the fact that it's plug and play. No tuning the GMRS stuff like the PITA CBs. I ripped my CBs out earlier this year and haven't looked back. Just bought a set of handhelds too as we found them immensely useful last time we were at the Ranch.
 
Still running CBs, everyone in my wheeling group already has them in both trail and tow rigs. Not really concerned with talking to anyone outside of our group. I am considering getting my ham license though, but not for wheeling really.
 
ghost said:
Are you saying have a cb and radio?
Click to expand...
Yes..stacked on my dash...BIG BOX (CB) with a tiny box (GMRS) on top

ghost said:
The GMRS don't work on the same bands as the cb?
Click to expand...

No. They're very much so like men and women. Both can communicate with their own kind, but impossible to communicate from one to another effectively
 
We have stated using the gmrs stuff. I got a beofang uv-5r out at koh that will listen on the race frequency and gmrs. Works pretty good on the trails but it's OK on the highway
 
Andy J. said:
Do handheld GRMS radios suck like handheld CB does?
Click to expand...
Never used a handheld CB so can't comment on that. That said, they don't have as much power as the base units. I believe they are along the same power output as a base unit CB though (4 watts).
 
If anyone makes the change to GMRS they’ll never look back. No tuning, no adjustments, very little interference, the strongest antenna they offer is very affordable.

I can’t speak highly enough about the MicroMobile units we are running. I have a very expensive Cobra CB, that’s now a paperweight, that didn’t perform half as well even with the best antenna and proper tuning and upgraded mic.
 
77GreenMachine said:
If anyone makes the change to GMRS they’ll never look back. No tuning, no adjustments, very little interference, the strongest antenna they offer is very affordable.

I can’t speak highly enough about the MicroMobile units we are running. I have a very expensive Cobra CB, that’s now a paperweight, that didn’t perform half as well even with the best antenna and proper tuning and upgraded mic.
Click to expand...

Which MicroMobile units are you running?

Duane
 
I have the MXT275 and have been happy with it. It’s 15 watts and has all the controls on the mic. It’s been soaked a couple of times and survived, but a heavy dew last time out had it acting weird until it dried out. I’ll keep it dry if possible going forward. I’d like to have a handheld at some point.
 
Back
Top