Radios

[Grinder]

Looking to buy some radios for bush communication, just wondering if anybody knows of a kind or a brand that gets great coverage distance wise. I have a set of cheaper two ways that don't go far at all. They say 50 km but that's bs. Tried them and can't get a buddy in the timber even at 1 km. looking for something better. Has anybody tried hand held vhf radios?

[Stormy]

All handheld devices come with a crappy antennas - no matter what you buy, get the antenna upgrade...

for FSR's and General hunting type use I have found that this unit gives great value for money..


Baofeng UV 5R - Wide Frequency Range, FM Radio, LED Torch, 5 To 10km Range, Long… CDN$ 39.99

Retevis RHD-771 Whip Gain Antenna 15.4" SMA-F Dual Band 144/430 MHz for Retevis H-777 /RT-5R Baofeng… CDN$ 18.99

USB Programming Cable for Baofeng UV-5R/666S/777S/888S Walkie Talkie Radio CDN$ 5.46


https://www.amazon.ca/Pofung-UV-5R-Interphone-136-174-Dual-Band/dp/B00KATH95K/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459349340&sr=1-14&keywords=baofeng

[gmachine19]

+1 for baofeng

Bought it for last season. I can communicate with my buddy to about 10km in thick bush. Even longer when we were sitting on top of a clear mountain.

Can be programmed for vhf and frs. Tone blocker is nice too.

[Bubba123]

If you are going with the Baofeng, check out the BF-F8HP...around 65 bucks

https://baofengtech.com/bf-f8hp

Couple it with a Nagoya 701 antenna, and you have a great radio for FSR/Comm, VHF repeater access, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

[okas]

i have MOTOROLA HT 1000 ... and two lap tops so i can program them as i have to move around and keep ahead of stuff .. ha ha
i told fuzzy nuts ha ha i was not going to post but really .. as every one on here as there wish list and 15000.00 of hunting stuff8) buy a real radio but then you have this web site and a cell and hunting trip when you fall asleep after watching a CD

[AgSilver]

If you are going with the Baofeng, check out the BF-F8HP...around 65 bucks

https://baofengtech.com/bf-f8hp

Couple it with a Nagoya 701 antenna, and you have a great radio for FSR/Comm, VHF repeater access, etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Do you have a Canadian source? I couldn't find it on amazon.ca or anywhere else and $63 US is like $7000 CAD, so not the best right now!

[Ronforca]

Lots of Baofeng on E-Bay

[Bugle M In]

My hunting partners have the Baofeng ... seem to like them and have really good range

[ruger#1]

I have Baofeng GT-3TP. They are 8 watts. They sure work nice. Clear crisp sound. FRS and GMRS can be thrown in the garbage.

[Carrollizer]

Is Amazon/eBay the only way to get these in Canada?
I'd like to get these. What about an old CB radio swap out?

[squamishhunter]

Icom radios

[ruger#1]

You can get one for the truck. It will be the same size as a CB radio. I used to run a Ranger 2950. It was 30 watts. They are around $300. EBay is the best place for these. I had some Baofeng UV - 82. They were 4 watts. Dual bands. You could key them up on two different channels. You could talk on one channel. And rec on another. They are also good sounding radios.

[Smiz]

I have a GT 3 and a UV5. Both Bofeng and have not had any issues with either. The antenna upgrade is the truth. Definetly need the better antenna. I bought mine on E-bay and direct from China. Shipping is normally free and are anywhere from 40 to 60 dollars right now. You have nothing to loose. Get around 5 k normally. If up a little higher up to 10 km for range. For the money if you drop it in the lake or lose them not a big issue. Had a Motorola and didn't work any better than the cheap ones do.

[Philcott]

Do you buy the antenna upgrade on ebay too?

[ruger#1]

The GT-3TP. Have the upgrade. Yes you can buy the antennas on EBay.

[Singleshotneeded]

All handheld devices come with a crappy antennas - no matter what you buy, get the antenna upgrade...

for FSR's and General hunting type use I have found that this unit gives great value for money..


Baofeng UV 5R - Wide Frequency Range, FM Radio, LED Torch, 5 To 10km Range, Long… CDN$ 39.99

Retevis RHD-771 Whip Gain Antenna 15.4" SMA-F Dual Band 144/430 MHz for Retevis H-777 /RT-5R Baofeng… CDN$ 18.99

USB Programming Cable for Baofeng UV-5R/666S/777S/888S Walkie Talkie Radio CDN$ 5.46


https://www.amazon.ca/Pofung-UV-5R-Interphone-136-174-Dual-Band/dp/B00KATH95K/ref=sr_1_14?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1459349340&sr=1-14&keywords=baofeng




I've got the same set-up, the Baofeng, but you still only get about a kilometer for each watt of power in most terrain with radios...a bit better on a large lake. The good thing about the Baofeng is you can program it to the logging frequency for the area you're hunting in, and hear the logging trucks announcing they're flying down the road towards your little truck.

[Singleshotneeded]

If you're not into programming a radio like the Baofeng, and just want to keep it simple, get the GMRS radios made by Midland or Motorola...but buy them in the USA! Or order them from Amazon.com or Ebay and have them shipped to the US side of the border and pick them up there. The very very important reason is our GMRS radios are limited to a miserly TWO WATTS of power, but the US radios can be bought with FIVE WATTS of power. Don't buy Canadian two watt radios unless you just want to chat between the boat on a small mountain lake and camp...:-P

[Sniperdan]

Is Amazon/eBay the only way to get these in Canada?
I'd like to get these. What about an old CB radio swap out?

Try these guys, they operate out of Surrey in Canadian $$ https://www.fleetwooddp.com/products/baofeng-uv-5r-dual-band-vhf-uhf-amateur-ham-radio

[Carrollizer]

Try these guys, they operate out of Surrey in Canadian $$ https://www.fleetwooddp.com/products/baofeng-uv-5r-dual-band-vhf-uhf-amateur-ham-radio
Awesome, Thanks Sniperdan!

[tyler-brown]

Try these guys, they operate out of Surrey in Canadian $$ https://www.fleetwooddp.com/products/baofeng-uv-5r-dual-band-vhf-uhf-amateur-ham-radio

Hey there, is this the one with the upgraded antenna? Or will that still be needed? And if I'm reading it right, that is a 5w radio? Correct ?

[jamesvtr]

i was under 40 bucks on ebay and i bought the upgraded antenna

[crazybushcreature]

I have a baofeng uv-5re. Upgraded antenna on the roof of my truck. Works great. Love the radio. As for the range of transmitting haven't tried to far. Receiving I have been able to receive transmissions from over 25 k away

[Carrollizer]

Since these are essentially ham radios, do you need a license to use them?

[crazybushcreature]

Yes u need a lisence to transmit on baofeng radio using the vhf frequencies.

[ruger#1]

Since these are essentially ham radios, do you need a license to use them? program your radio for frs gmrs freqs. These radios can be programmed for the police freqs. For you own good. Stay off of those. You can program them to work as a scanner. With no transmission. Use CHIRP, for programming.

[hunter1947]

I have an Icom Mod# IC-2200H,,this radio has given me no trouble for 6 years I have had it in my truck will put out to 30k I am very happy with this radio..

[Singleshotneeded]

program your radio for frs gmrs freqs. These radios can be programmed for the police freqs. For you own good. Stay off of those. You can program them to work as a scanner. With no transmission. Use CHIRP, for programming.

I was happily listening to the police radio traffic when I first got my Baofeng radio, but then they went to a scrambled signal here in Kelowna, just like the Fraser Valley. I imagine some smaller communities still have police using standard radios.

[Singleshotneeded]

Since these are essentially ham radios, do you need a license to use them?

The hand held Baofengs at five watts only carry 4km. or so in most wilderness terrain...don't worry about it. Now if you were on them constantly in the GVRD you might get your signal tracked down and get fined, or if you had a 30 watt truck radio anywhere and you were on the logging frequency, but using them in the bush for personal close range use is a non issue.

[ruger#1]

I was happily listening to the police radio traffic when I first got my Baofeng radio, but then they went to a scrambled signal here in Kelowna, just like the Fraser Valley. I imagine some smaller communities still have police using standard radios.Mission is on the new system. It is also encrypted. Chilliwack, hope , Boston bar ,Cultus lake, Agassi, Freeway patrol all the way from Abbotsford to Hope. Is not scrambled. They use Dog mountain repeater for hope and HI way 5 and 3A. I can listen to them when I am at Sunday summit. My radios are eight watts.

[Arctic Lake]

There's a repeater on Flatiron Mt. Trail is off the Coq just past the snowshed . Is that the one you are talking about ?

Arctic Lake

[jamesvtr]

williams lake is scrambled. i use mine for fsr so i dont get run over.

[ruger#1]

There's a repeater on Flatiron Mt. Trail is off the Coq just past the snowshed . Is that the one you are talking about ?

Arctic Lake I looked it up once. I think it is in Washington state.lots of ambulance service talking. There is another repeater. I can not remember the name. I think that is the one at the snow shed. I think that one is called. Mount Whitmore repeater.