Race Radio setup and laws.

[TimS]

Just for shits and giggles. I turned on the radio a few hours ago, did some testing with my race radio, but I will leave it on until it dies. We'll see how long it lasts on standby.

Radio still shows three bars. We are going on 24 hours now. The battery saver setting is at 3. That's a pretty low setting. The battery saver delays the frequency at which it checks for signal - higher numbers is a longer delay and may delay the initial recieved transmission by up to 1/2 second at max setting. Range of this setting is 0-9, so three is a pretty useful setting without much delay noted at all. Plus I have it monitoring two channels, so it has to keep the receiver on twice as long.

I haven't done much transmitting, but I did listen to the FM radio for about two hours this morning in the garage, I programmed it a bunch so it talked to me a lot and had the backlight on a lot, and I used the flashlight a bit last night with the race car wiring. FM Radio should be similar to "recieve" on the two way bands.

So far so good. I will run the FM radio for a few more hours tomorrow if it's still kicking. If it's still showing three bars in the morning, I will turn on the FM radio before I go to bed and let it play for 6-8 hours.

[TimS]

I actually forgot.about it this morning. It still has three bars. Standby time is important because I remember out hunting one day and using a "top of the line" Motorola and it wouldn't even last the day on standby only. I haven't carried a gmrs radio since.

FM radio is now on and will stay on until it's dead.

Edit-- just looked up a 4-AA battery Motorola. Manufacturer states 20 hour battery life with 90%.standby, 5% transmit, and 5% receive. I know transmit will take an lot more power.;

[TimS]

Okay, it finally died. Somewhere in the last hour. Not too bad.

That's about 55 hours total, about 6 hours of that were recieving, minimal transmitting.

[TimS]

Just to add to this thread. We had confirmed comms from a kenwood mobile unit (65 watt??) and mobile antenna (kyle's) to a base station 20 miles across nevada desert and over two mountain ranges. There was no static in these transmissions. VHF Rules!!

Also, Boefang handheld (Ed's) with extended battery lasted five days of daytime use (continuous standby and occational conversation) during the EIA trip. Confirmed range, each way, from handheld to mobile unit (mine) 7 miles over rolling hills while moving.

[kyle_pc_75]

That's impressive on the Baofengs! The Blackleys have said the same thing.

[kyle_pc_75]

Here's my latest updated frequency list. I have an Excel file for anyone who's interested.

Frequency Name
150.830 Mag 7 #2
150.830 Record
150.860 Fair
150.950 SMD1
151.010 C and C
151.055 MDR
151.130 EJR2
151.130 SMD2
151.175 Hunt1
151.250 Starts2
151.370 Starts
151.415 Dukes1
151.490 BITD
151.490 Score Medical
151.505 Checkers #2
151.535 EJR1
151.540 MD Motorsports
151.580 Dicker2
151.625 Weatherman
151.670 Hogman
151.685 Network
151.715 BFG Relay
151.745 BOR #1
151.745 MD Motorsports #1
151.760 Herzog
151.775 Locos Mocos
151.775 Chapala Dusters
151.775 BRAT Motorsports
151.805 Red X Relay #1
151.820 JeepSpeed
151.855 SMD3
151.925 Checkers #1
151.955 Score #1
151.970 Tatum
152.045 Shepard2
152.165 SMPUP
152.180 Dukes2
152.255 Ghansen
152.285 S and G 1
152.505 Trick Racing
152.510 Sand Limo
152.720 Voss2
152.780 Off-Road.com
152.870 Protruck
152.945 More
152.960 Campeones
152.975 Mango1
153.095 Licitra2
153.110 Yokohama
153.140 Agave
153.185 Becker2
153.185 S and G 2
153.230 RJR2
153.245 CORE
153.245 Dicker1
153.245 Voss1
153.350 Licitra1
153.380 Mag 7 #1
153.395 BFG Pits
153.425 Hunt2
153.620 Becker
153.680 Koch
154.090 Tranzition Motorsports
154.515 PCI Relay
154.515 Whiplash
154.540 BOR #2
154.540 MD Motorsports #2
154.980 Baja Pits #1
155.160 Search & Rescue
156.675 RUGGED D-023
157.470 Red X Relay #2
157.500 Mango2
157.545 McGilvry
157.560 Shepard
157.895 Mikes Sky Ranch
158.550 CODE
158.655 Pro Pit
162.400 Weather 1
162.425 Weather 2
162.450 Weather 3
162.475 Weather 4
162.500 Weather 5
162.525 Weather 6
162.550 Weather 7

[rickosuave1987]

153.530 Suave Racing

[Lord Green]

151.115 ES Motorsports

[TimS]

Wife bought me a pair of 3tp baofeng's for my birthday. Used the chirp software to program and clone.

These things are sweet and distance testing went well. Software is super easy to use.

[GoMopar440]

I recently picked up a handheld Baofeng UV5R-TP (8W max) radio that I plan on using for group outings. I don't plan on keeping it in the rail unless I'm going somewhere with other people in a group. One less thing in view to tempt any thieves (usually meth-head $#!t stain types around here) that might be walking by my rail. I did get a mag mount external antenna that I may permanently mount on the rail though.

Anyway, I finally got a genuine Baofeng programming cable, so now I can try setting up and using the Chirp software. My PC wouldn't recognize the first (generic) programming cable I got at all, even after I finally got the drivers successfully installed for it.

I've never used Chirp, or any other radio programming software for that matter. I'll post up any questions I have if I run into any programming problems. But first I'll go back and reread this entire thread in case my questions have already been addressed and answered.

[TimS]

The chirp software is cool. You can look up external frequency sets and import them... for instance, take all weather channels and assign them to channels 100-107 took about three clicks. Same with murs, FRS,gmrs.

You can also directly import frequency sets from popular frequency finding websites.

I was going to do some range testing and compare vhf to UHF next time I"m out in the desert.

[Leatherneck]

Yes, seems we have moved away from the CB's and to the race radios, I bought a hand held with remote antenna, able to plug into the intercom system too. It for sure isn't as good as the car setups but until I have more room and a secure place to put it I will stick with that.

[bikesndbugs]

so there is a cb in the family motorhome. the rats ate the wiring at one point so i was thinking about putting that in the bug. IS that eve worth while or should I just get a nicer radio. The group of buggies id go out with have radios but im not sure what exactly they have. I know some have full headsets but others just use walkie talkies. What do i even need im not racing this will purely be used for use when out with groups as they go on long rides and its nice to have car to car communication.


SOmebody learn me about these things.

[dustymojave]

Some use CB, some use VHF/UHF/FM sets (race radios). A few years ago, having a CB radio was recommended for going on SoCal Bajas outings. I am REALLY NOT a chatterbox on a 2-way radio. And not into radios.My dad was quite knowledgable about radios, but I never had much interest. Although I HAVE had CBs since the early 1970s and these days have a BaoFeng UV82-V2+ hand held. Within the last year, I've seen Baofeng radios on the internet, like on Amazon, for as low as $35 with charger, antenna, rechargeable battery, ear piece, etc. You still need to buy one of the Baofeng programmer cords and a 12V charger cable is handy too. Still DIRT cheap as Motorola and Kenwood in-car race radios tend to cost upwards of several hundred dollars to WELL above $1000.

I recommend a BaoFeng radio like a UV5R or UV82. Then check back. I or any of several others on here can give you info on how to get it set up and ready to operate. You'll need to get a list of the radio frequencies your buddies use on their radios so we can help you program those in. Be sure to buy your stuff from the official BaoFeng folks. There are those out there selling stuff that seems the same like the programming cable GoMopar440 talked about above, that just DON'T work. The "Chirp" software is a free download recommended by BaoFeng, even though BaoFeng has their own software. The Chirp is more user friendly and is updated nearly every day.

[dustymojave]

BaoFeng Radio UV-5R V2+ - Amazon

The more powerful radios make 8 watts. But those tend to cost around $60 rather than $25-35 for the 4 watt units. You choose. Ask if you're confused. It took me quite a while to figure the deal out, then found a bargain on my more powerful model.