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Rugged Radios 20% Storewide Sale

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http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php

Good time to pick up a complete radio kit.

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=763&products_id=1323

homepage_14.jpg

This is a good all-in-one package. I chose to piece together my own kit for two reasons.

1. On the PTT I prefer the nexus style jack over the RCA type.

2. The harness in the Moto Kit is hardwired for the RH-5R (rebadged Baofeng), the harness I bought requires a cable jumper...good thing about that is that if you decide to use a different radio all you need is a different cable jumper, about $25.

The price for piecing together the radio kit with Rugged gear ($178) and a Baofeng radio ($28) from Amazon sets you back about the same as buying the complete Moto Kit.

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=706&products_id=1318

MH-O-2-DEMO-SM.jpg $42

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=831_903&products_id=104

CJ-Ken-Kenwood-Jumper-SM.jpg$20

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=139_144&products_id=1703

HK-OFSP-M-SM.jpg$75

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=294&products_id=585

PTT-MC-VM-SM.jpg$40

Hope this helps anyone that's been considering a radio setup.

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I have used a RH-5R Kit for a couple of years w/ no issues thus far... :good:

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I would like to buy two setups complete and ready to go. I don't know anything about adaptors,antennaes, I know how to push a power button and put in batteries. I would like help buying two complete ready to go radio sets. Any ideas?

sign me Technologically Challenged/stupid

Uncle C.

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I have used a RH-5R Kit for a couple of years w/ no issues thus far... :good:

x2.

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I would like to buy two setups complete and ready to go. I don't know anything about adaptors,antennaes, I know how to push a power button and put in batteries. I would like help buying two complete ready to go radio sets. Any ideas?

sign me Technologically Challenged/stupid

Uncle C.

The kit that Benny just posted ($205) above is a complete, ready to go set up. It doesn't get any easier.

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Damn just bought complete kit 3 weeks ago. Oh well

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I would like to buy two setups complete and ready to go. I don't know anything about adaptors,antennaes, I know how to push a power button and put in batteries. I would like help buying two complete ready to go radio sets. Any ideas?

sign me Technologically Challenged/stupid

Uncle C.

The kit that Benny just posted ($205) above is a complete, ready to go set up. It doesn't get any easier.

Yup. Do yourself a favor though and go on Amazon and pick up a programing cable cable and download a program called CHIRP. Also if it were me I'd buy a backup radio considering how cheap they are.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HUB0ONK/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il?ie=UTF8&m=AA3MGRC7F9EI2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00HUB0ONK&linkCode=as2&tag=btek-20

http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R-Dual-Radio-Black/dp/B007H4VT7A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460393669&sr=8-1&keywords=uv-5r

Here's the CHIRP download link. You want the newest daily build which will be towards the bottom

http://trac.chirp.danplanet.com/chirp_daily/

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http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php

Good time to pick up a complete radio kit.

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=763&products_id=1323

homepage_14.jpg

This is a good all-in-one package. I chose to piece together my own kit for two reasons.

1. On the PTT I prefer the nexus style jack over the RCA type.

2. The harness in the Moto Kit is hardwired for the RH-5R (rebadged Baofeng), the harness I bought requires a cable jumper...good thing about that is that if you decide to use a different radio all you need is a different cable jumper, about $25.

The price for piecing together the radio kit with Rugged gear ($178) and a Baofeng radio ($28) from Amazon sets you back about the same as buying the complete Moto Kit.

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=706&products_id=1318

MH-O-2-DEMO-SM.jpg $42

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=831_903&products_id=104

CJ-Ken-Kenwood-Jumper-SM.jpg$20

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_free_shipping_info&cPath=139_144&products_id=1703

HK-OFSP-M-SM.jpg$75

http://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=294&products_id=585

PTT-MC-VM-SM.jpg$40

Hope this helps anyone that's been considering a radio setup.

This is a great post, and I've referred two people so far to it.

I'd also opt for the ala carte menu for the same reasons Benny outlines.

There's a v2 Baofeng- supposedly a better case. $35-ish from Amazon.

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Just keep in mind that Benny's post is from 2015 and when I go to RR's site I don't see these prices and some of the items are no longer there. Since I already have a perch mounted nexus style PTT, I'd prefer the ala carte too. I'm starting to lean toward Sena SR10 and a Baofeng if I can find a decent PTT for the SR10.

*Edit - The items are still on the site but the links above might no longer be valid. Just takes a little searching around

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Thanks everyone, looks like Rugged is having a sale today - guess it is my turn to buy one :) Thanks.

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On sale today, but already bought the RH-5R set, but am now looking into a radio for my support driver to use to find me if I am riding a BDR and she is driving the camper parallel to the rider?   another RH-5r, maybe with what appears to be a longer range by using a longer antenna....  or should a slightly larger or powerful radio in case the distance from single track to highway  gets quite far?  

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46 minutes ago, MacDuncan said:

On sale today, but already bought the RH-5R set, but am now looking into a radio for my support driver to use to find me if I am riding a BDR and she is driving the camper parallel to the rider?   another RH-5r, maybe with what appears to be a longer range by using a longer antenna....  or should a slightly larger or powerful radio in case the distance from single track to highway  gets quite far?  

You'd need TWO powerful radios, and I don't think it will work very well. VHF is line-of-sight, and thus works well for short range simplex (bike to bike) and long range using repeaters.

A better solution would be two inReach units and text back/forth via satellite. Or two sat phones.

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Yup agree the limiting factor will be the small handheld on the bike not much range 

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Actually a good mobile radio/antenna can talk much further to an HT than an HT to HT. It isn't so much about power as it is the antenna. A good 5/8 wave antenna mounted on a good ground plane ( i.e. truck roof) will extend the range dramatically. As an example my daughter driving our RZR near Sand Dam can easily talk with me on the bike over by Painted Gorge (~14 miles). And that was with me up in a canyon a bit. RZR has a mobile pushing about 10 watts into a 1/2 wave antenna mounted on the aluminum roof of the RZR (i.e. good ground plane). I also have a mobile radio in the motorhome with a 5/8 wave base antenna mounted on a 25' flag pole. We've communicated many times on motorcycle at Carrizo Wash near the trestle back to the motorhome parked at Poleline (~12 miles). There are really three important items....antenna, antenna and antenna. The best radio in the world hooked up to a crappy, mismatched antenna will perform very poorly. Even with upgrade an HT antenna is pretty inefficient. All that said I think your idea of putting a mobile radio in the truck is a good one. I would put a 5/8 or 1/2 wave antenna with a good magnetic mount on the roof. Will it work everywhere. No. Terrain will have a big influence. As mentioned an Inreach would be a good idea in tandem, at least on the bike if not both vehicles. 

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4 minutes ago, PbdBlue said:

Actually a good mobile radio/antenna can talk much further to an HT than an HT to HT. It isn't so much about power as it is the antenna. A good 5/8 wave antenna mounted on a good ground plane ( i.e. truck roof) will extend the range dramatically. As an example my daughter driving our RZR near Sand Dam can easily talk with me on the bike over by Painted Gorge (~14 miles). And that was with me up in a canyon a bit. RZR has a mobile pushing about 10 watts into a 1/2 wave antenna mounted on the aluminum roof of the RZR (i.e. good ground plane). I also have a mobile radio in the motorhome with a 5/8 wave base antenna mounted on a 25' flag pole. We've communicated many times on motorcycle at Carrizo Wash near the trestle back to the motorhome parked at Poleline (~12 miles). There are really three important items....antenna, antenna and antenna. The best radio in the world hooked up to a crappy, mismatched antenna will perform very poorly. Even with upgrade an HT antenna is pretty inefficient.

 

Excellent point.  On a bike you may be limited to a HT mounted antenna.  I run an external antenna on the back of the bike but it's a 1/4 wave which isnt' ideal on a bike due to limited ground plane.  I had a 1/2 (less ground plane dependent) wave working for a while with good range but all of a sudden it started picking up a lot of ignition or charging system noise.  But only underway and over a certain rev point.  I may try a 5/8ths wave later just for giggles and see what happens :)

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1/2 wave does not require a ground plane but performs much better if it has one. 1/4 wave and 5/8 wave antennas absolutey must have a ground plane to operate correctly. Also whatever antenna you choose be sure to tune it for the frequency you are using. You need an SWR at least under 2:1 and preferably under 1.5:1. Not much opportunity for a ground plane on a dirt bike!

This is the most compact 1/2 wave antenna I've found. It's a good quality antenna and performs very well. Very durable. I run one on the roof rack of my 4WD.

http://www.cheapham.com/comet-ss-680sb-2m-70cm-dualband/

If size isn't a concern and you have a ground plane then I'd go with a full size 5/8 wave like this:

http://www.cheapham.com/products/Larsen-NMO150B-2-Meter-Antenna-%252d-Black.html

As for mobile radios if you want to go inexpensive (~$60) there's the Leixen mobile - 10 watts. I just picked up one of these as my "loaner" rig. Put a cigarette lighter plug on it so together with a mag base antenna it's very easy to swap into a vehicle.I haven't used it a great deal yet but it seems to perform adequately although the controls are not very intuitive.

http://www.amazon.com/LEIXEN-VV-898-136-174-400-470MHz-Transceiver/dp/B00LS8AJRW 

Otherwise I'd recommend a Yaesu FT-1900. It's a very good radio for $130 (certainly better than the chinese brands). It's the radio I run in the RZR.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-010077

 

 

 

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You guys are great, and the experts, so thank you!    This newbie will need to process this information down the road a bit as I have never even sent a message to anyone yet as I only just received my call sign (a longer wait for the vanity :) )  and my radio (still in the box) in the last few days. If there is a chance to cross paths one of these days... please send a PM.  I'll catch up soon. Please keep that good radio info rolling on the thread......     Thanks again. cheers. 

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Had my license for many years:) I know all this 1/4 wave, 1/2 wave, SWR stuff is overwhelming when you're just getting started but I'm happy to answer any questions I can. Not much free time in the near future but happy to assist in person when things settle down a little (mid June).

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3 hours ago, PbdBlue said:

1/2 wave does not require a ground plane but performs much better if it has one. 1/4 wave and 5/8 wave antennas absolutey must have a ground plane to operate correctly. Also whatever antenna you choose be sure to tune it for the frequency you are using. You need an SWR at least under 2:1 and preferably under 1.5:1. Not much opportunity for a ground plane on a dirt bike!

This is the most compact 1/2 wave antenna I've found. It's a good quality antenna and performs very well. Very durable. I run one on the roof rack of my 4WD.

http://www.cheapham.com/comet-ss-680sb-2m-70cm-dualband/

If size isn't a concern and you have a ground plane then I'd go with a full size 5/8 wave like this:

http://www.cheapham.com/products/Larsen-NMO150B-2-Meter-Antenna-%252d-Black.html

As for mobile radios if you want to go inexpensive (~$60) there's the Leixen mobile - 10 watts. I just picked up one of these as my "loaner" rig. Put a cigarette lighter plug on it so together with a mag base antenna it's very easy to swap into a vehicle.I haven't used it a great deal yet but it seems to perform adequately although the controls are not very intuitive.

http://www.amazon.com/LEIXEN-VV-898-136-174-400-470MHz-Transceiver/dp/B00LS8AJRW 

Otherwise I'd recommend a Yaesu FT-1900. It's a very good radio for $130 (certainly better than the chinese brands). It's the radio I run in the RZR.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-010077

 

 

 

My half wave right now is the Comet SSB-5.  I picked it because it had the phasing coil as an integral part of the antenna.  I assume the SS-680 has a multi piece whip?  I may pick one of those up and give it a shot with that springy base.  Right now my SSB-5 1/2 wave lives on my Jeep XJ since I can't get it to play well with the bike. 

 

I picked up one of those VV-898s when they first came on the market.  Been a solid radio the whole time I've had it.  They have the VV-898S that is a 4/10/25 watt mobile and if you want tot he spend the extra money can get it in a nifty case as a "backpack" radio with onboard battery and fan option.  I took the VV-898 out of the Jeep when I found a FT-90R locally and the 898 has been on "base" duty hooked to my rooftop antenna but I've kicked around the idea of moving it into an "EMCOMM" box especially with the "new" relabeled Baofengs mobile radios baofeng tech is selling now.  Or picking up one of the VV-898S models and building that into an EMCOMM box.  The programign cable made life a lot easier. 

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I agree the radio in the truck is the easy part. I have a mag mount 5/8 antenna for my Yaesu 170 and can hit the Catalina repeater from my house in Mission Hills- loud and clear. 

 

But the bike side of MacDuncan's equation is the problem. Interesting that Randy has had such great performance. Worth a try, I suppose. 

 

For some reason I visualize the single track to highway jump as having terrain challenges- might not be the case. 

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Now that I've completely derailed this thread:) Comet, Larsen, Diamond make good quality stuff that works. Some of the others (Nagoya, etc) not so much. I'm wondering if you had a bad feed cable connection on the bike?

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3 minutes ago, paulmbowers said:

I agree the radio in the truck is the easy part. I have a mag mount 5/8 antenna for my Yaesu 170 and can hit the Catalina repeater from my house in Mission Hills- loud and clear. 

 

But the bike side of MacDuncan's equation is the problem. Interesting that Randy has had such great performance. Worth a try, I suppose. 

 

For some reason I visualize the single track to highway jump as having terrain challenges- might not be the case. 

It's not going to work everywhere. It's really going to depend on whats between the truck and the bike. Still IMO it's worth having but as you mentioned I would also have the Inreach as the emergency backup. Remember the mobile  antenna improves both the transmitting and receive performance. That's why there is a performance gain communicating with the HT. An HT with a mobile antenna would be much better but may not always be practical.

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