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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9006
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Yeah, I mentioned the FT-2900R, but I think the latest version of that is the 2980. 75 watts. 2 meter.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6321
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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We now have switched from Jeeps to RZRs. In Jepps we generally kept using CBs with amplifiers. However, in the RZRs we are all using Rugged Radios
transceivers. They are good for about 20+ miles. The antenna placement, ground plane (for the antenna) and type of antenna are all very important.
Quote: Originally posted by larryC  | | Thanks for the suggestions. I'm guessing in most situations a 5 to 10 mile range would cover most all of our needs when looking to talk to someone
that may have made a wrong turn and end up going the wrong way and gotten away from the group. Most of our riding is in the hills and the marine
radios, and especially the handheld radios suffer for range in the hills. Most of us are using the Tram 6db whip antennas. Maybe there is a better
choice for antennas also. If just 2 or 3 of us had the better radios we could probably keep the group under control in most cases.
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Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3005
Registered: 5-21-2013
Member Is Offline
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Hook, the 2180 highest power setting is 80watts
UDO. Rugged is an excellent source for radios and they specialize in the latest off sxs rigs. The company is unjustified by the bad mouthing of the
racer guys because they do not like the competition for their favorite radio supplier. I really like their version to the Baofeng 5r radio and do not
mind the small extra cost. Having said all that I still rely on Google to find my parts and always read reviews on Amazon.
BTW, these radios we are discussing have the ability to transmit on illegal frequencies in the USA. So none of them are recommended for use in the
states. Baja only
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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I have a FT-2900 and a FT-7900 I'm selling for a friend after I check them out and make sure they work OK. I use a Yaesu FT-2600M with a mag mount
antenna on the roof of my Tacoma when I'm with friends in the desert or Baja. I normally run it on low power which I think is 10 watts. I also have
several Baofeng UV-5R handheld radios. Thank goodness for the key lockout feature.
What Mr. Bills and Udo said above is good info.
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9234
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Offline
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Here is what I use:
Truck radio:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0779CN8X9/ref=ox_sc_act_t...
Two handhelds for the bikes:
https://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-BF-F8HP-Two-Way-136-174MHz-40...
Mag mount antenna:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018EUB8DU/ref=oh_aui_deta...
The Yaesu came with the MARS/CAP Modification done for you. Looks like Amazon caught on and they aren't selling that version anymore.
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1094
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
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Obtaining an amateur radio license opens the ability to use much more power, and many more frequencies. We sailed in the Sea of Cortez for over 20
years (and spent many years exploring 4X4 Baja), and always stayed in touch with HF radio. As small as a CB, but running 100 watts on the HF bands,
these HF mobile radios allow constant contact world wide. If you have the power available you can run up to 1000 watts. We used Winlink and a Pactor
modem to do e-mail several times a day. Hundreds of stations are available worldwide as e-mail gateways. Simply contacted one in the USA and
connected to Internet e-mail. Unlike 2 meter and marine VHF, signals on HF are not line-of-sight. Vehicle to vehicle or boat to boat communication
was always consistent. Directional antennas are not usually required (I used a loaded vertical whip). You can choose your ham band (80, 40, 20
meters, etc. for best results)
Used a phone patch with a fellow ham to talk to stateside family regularly. Blue sky, nice breeze, boat heeled over and quietly sailing along talking
to our daughter on her phone at home. Never felt far away.
Jack N1IY
https://winlink.org/
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1094
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
Member Is Offline
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update
Currently the Mexican Government does not grant reciprocal amateur radio licenses to holders of a license in the USA. Ours was granted years ago and
we had a Mexican license prefix. Some are working on it, hopefully reciprocal licensing with Mexico can happen again. Meanwhile....
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3005
Registered: 5-21-2013
Member Is Offline
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Correct Jack,
Ham is not appropriate for Mexico.
Commercial frequency band is what we all use. (Mexico only).
Sure enough we Ham folks still are using in Mexico with no enforcement issues.
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1482
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline
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Update: I followed most of your advice and ended up with a Kenwood TM 281a w/mars mod, and an antenna for that radio plus the right cable. Once I get
it down here I'll let you know how it works out.
We're doing a ride this Saturday over to the west coast from BoLA and back that afternoon, I won't have the radio by then but it should be a fun one.
Lots of exploring to do over there.
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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Mr. Bills
Nomad
Posts: 189
Registered: 9-10-2019
Location: Area Code 530
Member Is Offline
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The Kenwood TM281a is a rock solid 2 meter radio. I have one in my jeep. You will like it.
KG6LMV
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5809
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retireded
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Just now, I decided to check on line to see what one of these units would cost. Two different sites say it is discontinued by the manufacturer!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3005
Registered: 5-21-2013
Member Is Offline
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Correct.
Try Ebay for discontinued stuff.
Or get the Yaesu FT-2900R which is comparable.
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1482
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by Udo | We now have switched from Jeeps to RZRs. In Jepps we generally kept using CBs with amplifiers. However, in the RZRs we are all using Rugged Radios
transceivers. They are good for about 20+ miles. The antenna placement, ground plane (for the antenna) and type of antenna are all very important.
| Quote: Originally posted by larryC | | Thanks for the suggestions. I'm guessing in most situations a 5 to 10 mile range would cover most all of our needs when looking to talk to someone
that may have made a wrong turn and end up going the wrong way and gotten away from the group. Most of our riding is in the hills and the marine
radios, and especially the handheld radios suffer for range in the hills. Most of us are using the Tram 6db whip antennas. Maybe there is a better
choice for antennas also. If just 2 or 3 of us had the better radios we could probably keep the group under control in most cases.
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Udo
There's probably 10 of us here with rzr's and we're having a ball doing some exploring in the hills here around BoLA. Early June I'm going down to San
Francisquito to visit a friend and from there will do some exploring. I'd like to go out to Santa Gertrudis and see that area and also El Arco, Pozo
Aleman and just follow some old roads and trails. Are you still in Asuncion and is that where you do most of your riding?
Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60
Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
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KasloKid
Nomad
Posts: 326
Registered: 8-29-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo |
Just now, I decided to check on line to see what one of these units would cost. Two different sites say it is discontinued by the manufacturer!
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Available in Canada..
https://www.gpscentral.ca/products/kenwood/tm-281a.html
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Mr. Bills
Nomad
Posts: 189
Registered: 9-10-2019
Location: Area Code 530
Member Is Offline
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As of May 20, 2021, the Kenwood TM-281a 2 meter ham radio is available at Ham Radio Outlet for $215.95.
https://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-011362
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