BajaNomad

Best 2 way radio for my Bronco in Baja

CortezBlue - 8-30-2010 at 10:19 AM

What is the best 2 way radio to put in my bronco in case I get on the back roads and need some help.

VHF
Ham
CB
Family Radio
??

I would like to mount in the bronco but would also like to have something to play with to try and tune in some folks just chatting?

Baja&Back - 8-30-2010 at 10:42 AM

VHF is generally boat to boat.
Ham will reach homebound vets in Alabama.
CB is probably the best to get local help from Mexican truckers.
FRS is only good in the campground to Walmart.

Go with the CB.

Need Help????

bajaguy - 8-30-2010 at 10:47 AM

Get a SPOT!!!

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

Pompano - 8-30-2010 at 10:51 AM

Buy both a handhelp VHF and a mounted CB with good antenna.

P.S. I realize you stated '2-way radio' but chances are you will not be able to contact anyone in case of trouble in remote areas. I would highly recommend a sat-phone and/or SPOT.



[Edited on 8-30-2010 by Pompano]

2 meter radio

Hook - 8-30-2010 at 04:26 PM

I know many people over here in Sonora (myself included) that have purchased a 2 meter radio and "clipped/modded" the radio to broadcast on the VHF marine frequencies. The biggest advantage to this is that you can get up to 75 watts of output power and that is not supposed to be illegal in Mexico on the VHF marine band.

Some of the more common ones are the Yaesu 2900R, the Yaesu FT-8800 or the ICOM IC-8000. By the way, modding most of these radios also allows you to transmit on the FRS and GMRS frequencies, so you could also talk to handheld FRS radios.

Unless you find a real good deal on a used ham radio, it gets pretty expensive to put one of those in the car. And the number of people you can talk to who are close to you is often much more limited than the number you can contact on VHF marine.

With 75 watts, I regularly talk to people on the Mulege net on 22 from here in San Carlos. Yes, my antenna is about 40 feet up, but you should be able to get out around 50 miles on any given day.

I dont know anyone still using CBs down here............but modding my FT8800 also gives me the CB frequencies. I do have to go into a menu and change the radio to AM modulation.

Mind you, you will have to manually programm all these various frequencies into your radio unless you know someone who has software to do it via a computer.

[Edited on 8-31-2010 by Hook]

Mexicorn - 8-30-2010 at 07:26 PM

Hook
How much does one of those Radio's run?
Furthermore, I still do not understand why Nextel's dont work in San Felipe.

Hook - 8-30-2010 at 08:20 PM

I am not up on cell technology but it probably has something to do with an incompatibility between Nextel and the cell towers that exist down there. Or, it is a lack of willingness to work/pay into Carlos Slim's network.

The 2900 can be had for 165 bucks on line. The 8000 is right at 200 on line.

The modding of these radios is ridiculously simple; just do a search. My soldering skills are not great but I did mine.

If you think that transmitting on a VHF marine frequencies will only put you in touch with boats, think again. So many people are using these for land communications within locales that you will easily reach people that will be able to contact persons via other means, in an emergency.

Our local Rescate/ambulance service, funded by gringos living here, monitor VHF channel 22.

It's disappointing that there aren't more 2 meter or 440 repeaters in Mexico or these radios would be absolutely indispensable.

The average Shakespeare 8db antgenna will take these power levels just fine.

[Edited on 8-31-2010 by Hook]

CortezBlue - 8-30-2010 at 08:40 PM

I bought the new spot when it came out.

bajalou - 8-30-2010 at 08:53 PM

In San Felipe a lot of us use 2 meter sets tuned to Marine channels. Both mobile and base at our homes

Hook - 8-30-2010 at 09:01 PM

Have fun talking to your Spot. Arent the people you are texting too afraid to come down to Mexico if you have an emergency, anyway?

If you live in certain areas, the gringo radio networks on the VHF marine bands are more valuable than just getting help in an emergency, not to diminish that valuable function. Fish reports, classified ads, local assistance on goods and services, ham and fax relays, event announcements, etc.

Amateur radio............REAL radio.

5 x 5

wessongroup - 8-31-2010 at 07:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
Have fun talking to your Spot. Arent the people you are texting too afraid to come down to Mexico if you have an emergency, anyway?

If you live in certain areas, the gringo radio networks on the VHF marine bands are more valuable than just getting help in an emergency, not to diminish that valuable function. Fish reports, classified ads, local assistance on goods and services, ham and fax relays, event announcements, etc.

Amateur radio............REAL radio.


Thanks Hook, and it is something I have always wanted to get into ... maybe.. but, not sure I can work in a 40ft tower... but, thanks for all the good information on the subject from all... as communications are really pretty important at times, when you really need them.. food for thought .. again thanks to all. as it all helps..

Going to start looking and reading about the units you put up..

"The 2900 can be had for 165 bucks on line. The 8000 is right at 200 on line."

Like to play with electonics .. so it should be a lot of fun, for me

Can't say I like to "talk" all that much, really do prefer email for communication, as one gets a record of what has been said...

But, for other means of com.. this sounds pretty darn good.. have been thinking along the lines of emergency com.. with all this talk of "solar flares" knocking thing out.. for a while.. than an a good back up generator that runs on "ethanol"..

Getting a still built down here.. that can produce 100 gallons per day.. have gotten all the other pretty much set up .... just wanted a really good "copper" still .. have ordered a conversion for my Bronco.. the Ford does 85% at this time.. just hate to convert the trunk into a gas tank for long drives.. my, my shades of "The Road Warrior".. no turbo on the ford .. yet

[Edited on 8-31-2010 by wessongroup]

Pompano - 8-31-2010 at 07:32 AM

You don't need a 40ft tower at all, wessongroup. Just a long length of copper wire worked fine for me and my neighbor, Jake, for many years. It was wire from the old Western Union telegraph lines that used to run the peninsula years ago. We just strung it out like a 200ft clothesline.

Jake prided himself on talking low power to places like Japan. A real treat.

On those old telegraph poles: Now the unique warped poles are collector items and can be found in many homes... used as colorful railings, etc. They are beautiful nostalgia once cleaned and varnished.

Mexicorn - 8-31-2010 at 08:24 AM

See you guys at poker run...

wessongroup - 8-31-2010 at 08:27 AM

Thanks.. a good work around .. going to start exploring... these units.. as I really have no idea about their capabilities..

The selection is ... well pretty big.. was just looking at the ICOM brand.. someone said it is a pretty good unit...

On those old poles.. would have never thought it... worked on a couple of jobs.. we were taking them out.. saving the copper and tossing the poles.. take the ties off the insulator then reel it up on a "butterfly"off the take off on the line truck .. we did pretty good.. they gave us a % on the copper.. plus our wages.. even the ties were copper.. used to call that "rabbit"

Think we were just burning the old poles.. most were just trash.. eaten up by bugs.. was not unusual to have the butts just pull lose .. while up would be up the pole .... lucky they we weren't up that high on telegraph...

Thanks again, it all helps....

Pompano - 8-31-2010 at 09:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wessongroup
....On those old poles.. would have never thought it... worked on a couple of jobs.. we were taking them out.. saving the copper and tossing the poles.. take the ties off the insulator then reel it up on a "butterfly"off the take off on the line truck .. we did pretty good.. they gave us a % on the copper.. plus our wages.. even the ties were copper.. used to call that "rabbit"

Think we were just burning the old poles.. most were just trash.. eaten up by bugs.. was not unusual to have the butts just pull lose .. while up would be up the pole .... lucky they we weren't up that high on telegraph...

Thanks again, it all helps....


wessongroup..I will not tell you how much some local builders charged for those old telegraph poles! It would only make you feel bad. Mucho dinero...

Right, Raul?

[Edited on 8-31-2010 by Pompano]

805gregg - 8-31-2010 at 06:53 PM

Cell phone, like every other Baja resident.