Please, let me address a few things on this thread.
First, as I stated in my original post, I'm not too interested in HAM for the following reasons:
1) Not really interested in having a conversation with someone that I dont know personally, using a radio.
2) Not really interested in speaking with someone on the other side of the planet, using a radio.
3) Although the test is easy, and I could probably pass the technician or even general level with minimal study, I dont want to take the test. But I might in the future. But it wouldnt be for the purpose of communicating with friends or family.
4) For my uses, HAM is overkill
5) I'd have to get my friends and family on board with them getting a HAM license in order to communicate with me.
6) No reason to get a HAM license for my needs, I can monitor those freqs without a license.
7) Absolutely no interest in joining any clubs or groups. I know I dont have to, but that seems to be the big push
8) HAM operators have a great way of being "know-it-alls" and do a great job of pushing people away, like myself.
9) Other options fit my needs, better, in my opinion.
10) Just dont want to. Not saying that I may go down that road, but it would be for much different reasons than what I
NEED comms for now. (might in the future, as a hobby, but dont really need another hobby at the moment)
What I'm leaning towards is GMRS. For $70 for 10 years, everyone in my family is covered 'legally.' This means, that when I'm out and about, and my wife needs to get ahold of me, she can simply pick up the hand set and call me. She doesn't have to study for a "stupid test" that she will never end up using. Alternatively, when someone is helping me on my property, getting work done, they can use an FRS (Motorola Talkabout) to communicate with me, without taking a test. Same goes for neighbors, who, the more I talk to about this, the more they are on board with.
Soon the FCC will lower their pricing, hopefully, from $70 to $35. With my knowledge, the inexpensive fee, and no test, our entire community where I live could be up on comms with ease. And as I mentioned, this fire we just had, has kind of pushed us towards that. Wouldn't it be great to contact your neighbor while out on the 4-wheeler, just spotted a coyote heading his direction, and a few minutes later hear a bang? You could text him, hopefully he sees it before the coyote. (That just happened last night, by the way) (And yes, coyotes are kill on sight in my neighborhood).
Here is what I'm thinking as far as equipment:
For my semi-truck:
Midland 75-822 CB Radio This will give me flexibility with CB. Its a hand held and mobile radio in one. Chances are, I'll never use it but once or twice. Thinking of not even bothering.
Wouxun KG-1000G GMRS Radio. This radio is absolutely packed with features. 50w has the range. Paired with a
Browning BR-450 UHF Antenna this setup I believe is perfect.
Base station (Home Office): Probably another Wouxun. But with something like this
Amazon.com: BRC HP-30-U 460-470 Mhz UHF Pre-Tuned GMRS Base Antenna- 5.5 dB : Electronics for the antenna. Not sure, haven't gone down that rabbit hole yet.
My pickup will get the Wouxun KG-1000G for sure.
Tractor will probably get the
Radioddity DB20-G since it wont be more than a mile from home. Its smaller and not as robust, and the price reflects that. For a radio that will not likely get used that much, the
Radioddity DB20-G will be just fine.
I did buy the
Baofeng UV-5R to use as a handheld scanner for emergencies. For $25, this is a no brainer. I can scan and listen to any frequencies including emergency channels used by law enforcement and fire. Leaning more towards the fire for reasons I mentioned in my OP. I'm also looking at a "military grade" IP67 rated hand held, the
Retevis RT29, for handheld use when I'm not in a vehicle or when I'm out on my 4-wheeler, etc. Something I can chuck into the glove box type of thing.
A note to HAM radio operators. I know and understand that this is a hobby or lifestyle for many of you. For me, my family, and my neighbors, it is not. That said, we are in need of alternative communications (anything outside of a cell phone) without jumping though unnecessary hurdles. No one really cares about bouncing a signal off the moon, or sun spots, or reaching someone in Japan while sitting in your 1970s era rolling chair in your basement. If that's your thing, great! Its not mine or anyone else whom I know or wish to communicate with. Also, cheap Chinese made radios maybe "filthily" with their spurious RF emissions, but for emergency use, show me something better, that is as inexpensive, and I'll use that. People who say Chinese made radios are "Cheap pieces of junk" are probably just jealous that my $25 radio does the same thing as their $500 radio. Yeah, shots fired. If you really think that everything made in China is junk, then you should probably throw out the computer you are using to read this post. HAM radio operators always claim that HAM is dying, that no young operators are coming online, that's mostly because of Old HAM operators passing along junk advise and being total jerks. It has happened to me, years ago, when I first became interested in it. Several HAMs did everything they could to discourage me, and it worked. I lost interest, quit studying, and completely gave up on the hobby. All because I asked questions that any new comer to the space would have asked. The Baofeng line of radios, with their inexpensive price point, and with their popularity growing over the last several years, have gotten so many young new HAMs into the space, yet you slam it. The Baofeng is a gateway. You should be embracing it.
To the question of CB's they would work, but only a short distance in my area. I'm not concerned about privacy with these radios. I wouldn't talk about personal information anyway. I could get a linear amplifier and extend my CB range, but not necessary with GMRS.
In my original post, that started this discussion, I asked what you use to communicate on and around your property in a rural setting if anything. I honestly didn't want this discussion to morph into a debate on what is legal and what is not legal, sun spots, what can and cannot be discussed on the air, etc. I'm simply looking to see who is using what on their property for rural communications. Figured this was the place to ask. I got a feeling though, that not many people who live rural have thought about it. Well, except for the HAM's, who probably dont use HAM to talk to their significant other while in the back yard or at the neighbors house.
