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08-22-2019, 05:18 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 54
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Mobile Communication Radio Install.
Considering participating in a caravan tour but I would need to install a GMRS radio in my ‘19 Bay Star, but, how and where does one install the antenna on this all fiberglass bodied vehicle? From what I understand it is recommended that 60% of the antenna length should project above the roof and, a ‘non-ground plane’ antenna will be required (whatever that may mean). I certainly have no intention of drilling holes either in the roof or on the side walls so running the antenna cable to the radio would be another challenge other than alongside an existing cable run.
Anybody else carried out this installation?
Thanks for any info!
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08-22-2019, 05:23 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 779
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Why not just use a handheld radio?
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08-22-2019, 05:25 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Lansing MI
Posts: 2,825
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Will a hand-held unit work? Cheaper and no installation required. Whomever is organizing the caravan will likely know.
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08-22-2019, 05:43 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,385
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If you need to run a cable outside, you can use some good quality tape to hold it in place.
Run it through the door seal area to get around drilling holes.
Use an antenna that has a broad base that has it's own ground plane.
If you just get a 2 foot by 2 foot piece of thin aluminum or stainless to mount it on, that too can be attached with a good tape.
When you come home, it will all just come off and you will see nothing.
Happy Glamping.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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08-22-2019, 06:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Washington State or Western Montana, depending on the season.
Posts: 3,473
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For what appears to be a temporary install, a handheld unit will work just fine. Get a pair so you and your significant other can communicate as well. Somewhere around a hundred bucks will get you a pair of pretty decent-quality handheld GMRS radios.
TJ
Edit: be sure you know the difference between GMRS/FRS, CB and ham radio units. They are not interchangeable and use very different frequencies. And, be sure you coordinate with the caravan leader to verify what communication service is being used. Some people think GMRS/FRS and CB are the same. They are NOT. And, amateur radio/ham radio is different from those two and requires a federal license to operate.
__________________
Jim (W7DHC), Diane & Mini Schnauzers, Lizzy & Ellie
2018 Mountain Aire 4047
2014 Honda CR-V 2020 Lincoln Nautilus "toad" w/AF1
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08-22-2019, 07:50 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 1,343
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Mobile Communication Radio Install.
Spend a bit more money on a set of commercial radios, handheld like the guys said, even if they operate on the FMRS frequencies. You’ll thank me/us later.
The cheap radios in 2-packs aren’t worth their weight in batteries.
A Baofeng radio set can be had for $50!!
Baofeng T1 Mini Walkie Talkies UHF Two Way FRS/GMRS Handheld radios Rechargable with Programming Cable, Headsets (1 Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DB7TSY5..._tB0xDb4Z8NNF0
My buddies have used the Baofeng 5watt VHF/UHF HAM radios and they work in reply well!
Since these are pretty much line of sight and will go plenty far in a caravan.
I’ve operated radios for decades and a good handheld, these days, is all I would get...CERTAINLY before even the thought of drilling a hole; whether to mount or for antenna!!
Look up David Bott, as a matter of fact. He did a YouTube video covering how he made his decision.
__________________
Steve & Janice
2015 Newell 2020P
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor TOAD with RoadMaster Nighthawk & AirForce1 Braking
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08-22-2019, 07:54 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tranquil Jim
For what appears to be a temporary install, a handheld unit will work just fine. Get a pair so you and your significant other can communicate as well. Somewhere around a hundred bucks will get you a pair of pretty decent-quality handheld GMRS radios.
TJ
Edit: be sure you know the difference between GMRS/FRS, CB and ham radio units. They are not interchangeable and use very different frequencies. And, be sure you coordinate with the caravan leader to verify what communication service is being used. Some people think GMRS/FRS and CB are the same. They are NOT. And, amateur radio/ham radio is different from those two and requires a federal license to operate.
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GMRS requires a Federal license as well.
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08-22-2019, 07:55 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainGizmo
Spend a bit more money on a set of commercial radios, handheld like the guys said, even if they operate on the FMRS frequencies. You’ll thank me/us later.
The cheap radios in 2-packs aren’t worth their weight in batteries.
A Buofang radio can be had for $50 and they kick butt!
A 5watt VHF is line of sight and will go plenty far in a caravan.
I’ve operated radios for decades and a good handheld, these days, is all I would get...CERTAINLY before even the thought of drilling a hole; whether to mount or for antenna!!
Look up David Bott, as a matter of fact. He did a YouTube video covering how he made his decision.
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If the caravan has standardized on GMRS then much of what you referenced would not work.
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08-22-2019, 08:03 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 1,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tfryman
If the caravan has standardized on GMRS then much of what you referenced would not work.
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Huh? The info I posted absolutely will work! I’ve done it for decades.
Please read it again.
__________________
Steve & Janice
2015 Newell 2020P
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor TOAD with RoadMaster Nighthawk & AirForce1 Braking
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08-22-2019, 08:07 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
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BaoFeng radios and "5 watt VHF" radios do not operate in the GMRS UHF frequencies of 462 and 467 MHz.
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08-22-2019, 08:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,807
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainGizmo
Huh? The info I posted absolutely will work! I’ve done it for decades.
Please read it again.
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You've talked to GMRS radios with a 5 Watt VHF radio or BaoFeng radio?
BaoFeng radios can talk to each other, 5 Watt VHF radios can talk to each other, GMRS radios can talk to each other. But two different radios using different frequencies can not talk to each other.
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08-22-2019, 08:17 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 1,343
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Sir,
Please don’t argue. I know exactly what I’m talking about and have used every version including MOD versions that will do every band including restricted Public Safety bands.
And please don’t confuse the issue.
The point...and answer to his question is to get handheld radios. The tech talk of bands, frequencies, is not important. He’ll be able to get any one he needs with Baofeng, Motorola, etc.
__________________
Steve & Janice
2015 Newell 2020P
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor TOAD with RoadMaster Nighthawk & AirForce1 Braking
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08-22-2019, 08:19 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 1,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tfryman
BaoFeng radios and "5 watt VHF" radios do not operate in the GMRS UHF frequencies of 462 and 467 MHz.
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Correction. They do.
Baofeng T1 Mini Walkie Talkies UHF Two Way FRS/GMRS Handheld radios Rechargable with Programming Cable, Headsets (1 Pair) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DB7TSY5..._tB0xDb4Z8NNF0
__________________
Steve & Janice
2015 Newell 2020P
2017 Ford F-150 Raptor TOAD with RoadMaster Nighthawk & AirForce1 Braking
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08-22-2019, 08:41 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Spartan Chassis
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Washington State or Western Montana, depending on the season.
Posts: 3,473
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainGizmo
Spend a bit more money on a set of commercial radios, handheld like the guys said, even if they operate on the FMRS frequencies.
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Let's be sure we understand which radio services require FCC licenses and which do not. Only Family Radio Service (FRS) and Citizen's Band (CB) radios may be operated in the US WITHOUT a FCC license. GMRS radios require a FCC license for US operation, but may be operated without a license in Canada. While it is common to find radio equipment that may cover both GMRS and FRS frequencies, it is not legal to use the GMRS frequencies without a license in the US (which includes Alaska).
"Commercial" radios are commonly called "business band radios" and operate in the Private Land Mobile Radio Service. They DO require a FCC license. Let's not confuse GMRS/FRS radios with those designed for commercial "business band" operation even if they may have the capability to use similar frequencies.
I know it is confusing when looking at a bunch of radios offered for sale, but it is critical to know exactly what radio service will be used for communication and what the licensing requirements are. I am particularly sensitive to this for a couple of reasons. First, I am a licensed Amateur Radio Service operator and have a fairly good understanding of radio communications. We encounter unlicensed operators on occasion and they do get reported to the FCC. The fines for unlicensed operation can be significant.
Second, I have personal experience with people confusing the different radio services. A few years back, I was involved in a situation in a remote section of British Columbia where the group leader insisted that we all have "CB radios" to maintain communication between our fishing boats. After a full day of attempting to contact the group leader while we were out on the water, I caught up with him that evening and asked to see his "CB radio." He handed me a FRS radio! I explained that it wasn't a "CB radio" and that the frequency difference between the two types of radios made it impossible for us to communicate. He said "I thought they were all CBs." Needless to say, we had no radio communication capability during that fishing trip!
So, if the caravan leader will be using FRS radio (and, possibly GMRS in Canada), it is important to get a real GMRS/FRS radio and not some other type that might have the same or similar frequency coverage.
TJ
__________________
Jim (W7DHC), Diane & Mini Schnauzers, Lizzy & Ellie
2018 Mountain Aire 4047
2014 Honda CR-V 2020 Lincoln Nautilus "toad" w/AF1
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