Ham radio is a great hobby and great for off-roading, please get licensed to fully enjoy it. These radios make you think you're operating legally, but you really are not.
Yeah, it looks like a rebranded baofeng , I realized right away this radio requires a ham licence to operate. It's a shame because these cheap radios are a gateway to get new people into the hobby but unfortunately idiots ruin good things for everyone else.
You are so correct you're technically not allowed to talk on those radios without being a license and then when you do get license you have to always use your call sign.
THANK YOU!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one out there exposing this ripping off of the off-road community. As a ham, it makes cringe to see people trying to take advantage of others like this...
@skat kat MURS, CB, and FRS are all license-by-rule (no additional license required). Baofengs can operate on the 2m and 70cm bands, but not 11m (CB), so these pieces of garbage are physically not interoperable with CB equipment. That's before getting into Part 95 type acceptance.
RR is the biggest rip off in radio history. A radio marked 4x price over the same radio (UV5R) on Amazon. 60 dollar up charge for a sticker. 2 for 100 is still insane. Watch a 10 minute youtube video and save yourself some money. If you dont have the time to spend 20 minutes programing a radio i dont know what to tell you. The antennas still have to be tuned just like CB.
"... a lot of these pre-programmed channels on these rugged radios are, you know, perfectly legal to use without a license..." Only MURS and FRS frequencies are legal to use (transmit onto) without a license, but you need specific radios that are rated for use on those frequencies. This radio is not one of them. So while the frequencies are available to use legally without a license, using them with this radio is not legal. The viewers should be aware of that.
Raúl J García so what radio would you recommend that would keep me legal without having a license? But offers same or similar features than these b-feng.? Thx
A lot of commercials wouldn’t you say? FYI if you want to enjoy the 5 watt setting you MUST have a minimum of a gmrs license. No test just a small fee and that gives your entire family access to use your call sign. And yes every start of a communication and sign off you must announce your call sign. I believe you can have a 50 watt BASE station. That could be your Jeep. But only 1 per license. You can have unlimited hand held 5 watt maybe even up to 8 watts? It’s been a few years since I’ve played with it so my numbers could be off. And get rid of the rubber duck antenna that comes with it.
@Spencer Morrow Yes. CB, FRS, and MURS are the only unlicensed radio services in the United States. If you want to use a 2M VHF radio, you will need your Ham radio license. To stay legal, the radio you are using must also be type accepted for use on that particular service. For example, even with a Ham radio that can transmit on other frequencies like the Baofeng in the video, would be unlawful to transmit out of band. But people do it all the time, like this guy.
@@adell8496 I assume you mean VHF. In the United States, the marine band is its own allocation. The entire VHF spectrum is quite broad and covers emergency services, weather, and other things. You can transmit on the water, but not anywhere. There are specific channels for maritime radio, several of which are monitored by the coast guard in case of emergency.
Actually, there isn't a single frequency that those radios (they are rebranded Baofengs) can use that doesn't require a license. That is why the FCC essentially made those radios illegal to use unless you have an amateur radio license. They are not even legal to use on FRS, which doesn't require a license, due to the removable antenna and output power. Just do a search for FCC Advisory DA-18-980A1. Will you get caught? Probably not. But there are amateur radio users out there that search for unauthorized users and report them. You mentioned a lot of people on the west coast are switching to the VHF/UHF radios. That is correct, but we are all getting licensed so that we do it legally. Just because that company sells the radios preprogrammed with frequencies to use, doesn't mean that it is legal.
I think you glossed over the FCC legality issues. What frequencies can you use that you say..."are perfectly legal" without any ham radio or other license? I think Rugged Radios is sponsoring you, so that you can put out inaccurate information that will sell more radios while insulating themselves from lawsuits. You will be the one held liable. You need to encourage everyone to get a ham radio license to use these radios. Its not hard to get a technicians license. Morse code is not required any more. A ham license will open up all kinds of other options too. You will be able to use local repeaters and extend your radios range from 3 miles to 30 or more. All it will take is one 5 or 10 thousand dollar FCC fine to make you wish you had taken my advice. Have a nice day.
I think the notion of begging some bloated government agency for permission to do something is just asinine. Ill stick to non licensed radios till the fall of said bloated government agency. You'r the same sheeple that ask the government for permission to exercise your God given right of self defense.
@@johngault2439 It's $15... No begging required. Learn a few things, take the test and utilize the network created by all of the hams in the country. Repeaters everywhere that will let you talk for hundreds of miles. Good luck doing anything near that with your unlicensed radios. Not sure what you have against the license? I imagine you aren't driving around in unlicensed cars, or hunting without a license/tag, or fishing without a license... And you can even still exercise your god given right of self defense without a license, the rest of us do even with a ham license...
@@45ColtJD If its SHTF I will use HAM and also fly my plane use my trucks and anything i wish without a license, you are to thick to understand this is about accepting government overreach.
Rugged are great, but with HAM you get repeaters and can talk even further. You can easily call for emergency help in remote locations. Get the HAM, get the license.
I just got my Jeep up and running again. I am just starting research on which radios to put in her and saw this video and have looked at the Rugged Radios channel so will most likely go this route. My Brother in Law and his son just moved down here with their “Garage Queen Jeeps”and we are planning some off road trips. These will be awesome for teaching them how to use their Jeeps for something other than driving to work. A couple of my buddies with Jeeps already use UHF too so this will work nicely. Thanks for the opportunity. Love the channel.
I'm studying for my HAM license and I 4 wheel with some friends. Having this kind of radio would be awesome. I'm also an EMT, so having the link to get help would be a huge plus on the trial. Thanks for the video!!!
@cody austin I hear what you're saying. A mobile mounted radio will give you better performance. Hand helds are limited. Folks just have to work within their budget.
Hate to break it to you - but there’s no legal frequencies these can be programmed on that don’t require a license. There’s no way to use them legally out of the box. That doesn’t mean anyone will catch you, but the product is not legal marketed in the way that it is. If you want legal out of the box, buy some FRS radios (they have to be certified, but the main difference is lower power, no removable antennas) or MURS radios (also low power, but in VHF, so probably better range for your uses, and you can use an external antenna if you want to). Otherwise, it’s either using amateur radio frequencies, GMRS power (also needs certified radios), or business band. All three of those later options require a license.
First these are not rugged, These are Baofeng transceivers, You can use MURS Stations only without a licence. GMRS/FRS are restricted(as these have removable antennas and for Tx power.) Ham/CAP stations are restricted to having a licence.... ~73
In order for these radios to be legal on MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service), they must be limited to 2 watts max output, 5 MURS frequencies only, can have removable antennas, no repeaters allowed and must be Part 95 certified. GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) handhelds are allowed up to 5 watts output, can have removable antennas and must be Part 95 certified.. GMRS Mobile/Base radios are allowed 50 watts max, can use repeaters, must be Part 95 certified and a license is required (your immediate family can operate under the same license [like the old CB licenses]).
@Peter Ham Radio covers the spectrum from 1khz all the way to +20ghz. I can't speak for other countries however greater 80% of the VHF/UHF band is not for public use and reserved for HAM, commercial 2way and aircraft along with emergency services in many regions. 27mhz (11meter) AM/FM/SSB all count as CB within the US limited to 40 channels however there are hidden channels in the split of a few that can only be accessed by converted out of band 10meter ham radios converted to pirate 11meter (CB) stations.
@@KageShi Right only Aussie have cb in 26 (not 27 its marine cb band) in uhf band (icom make a lof of rename radio) some asian country have 222/240 MHz cb radio, in Europe have lpd433 MHz and pmr446 MHz public free band too (must have fixed antenna and only 0.5w)... and yes rugged radio it's a company buy baofeng and rebrand like Btech (baofeng tech); if need it take ham license 73 de IZ3QVB
They're not type accepted part 95 radios, and can't be legally used on MURS, GMRS, FRS, or marine VHF. Kind of ridiculous since there are part 95 radios that are basically "this radio locked down to MURS or GMRS" but still ...
@@jfrphoto01 They also have to be type accepted for that service - which these are not. You won't find ANY type accepted radio that can transmit outside its service...
Just bought my first jeep wrangler and am trying to figure out how to communicate with my friends. A pack of rugged radios would be a great start to my new jeep experience. I have already learned alot from watching your videos.
I already have a Rugged hand held, and I would love to be able to hand a few of them out to friends while im out on the trail. With that being said I do have a ham license, KM6YNW, I know for a fact that Rugged Radio locks the RH5R down to FRS and MURS frequencies. You do not need a license to operate on those frequencies. They are also a repackaged BaoFeng UV-5R. You can get a packaged deal on amazon for under $50, or just the radio for around $25.
@@Mike-xn1bh No problem. Rugged Radio actually came under scrutiny recently because they were buying cheap radios, putting their cases on them, then marking them up 200%+
Okay, I must admit you've peaked my interest.. FRS is FM and limited to 2 WATTS ERP and MURS is at the same ceiling.. and this is a 5-watt unit, so how does that work?
Mike the big thing for me is that RR preprograms them, I personally wouldn’t want to deal with that. Secondly RR supports the Offroad community a ton, they host events, sponsor races, and are very active with the Offroad community, that for me is a selling point. I like to support companies that support our hobby
Been planning on getting a new radio. Our 40 CH Cobra is smoked (very old). Being way out in the middle of no where and zero reception on the cell phone made me have a not so good feeling. Planning on my Ham license real soon. Would love a Rugged Ridge Radio. Will be a while before I can be offroad again. Just had 2 level Cervical Disc Replacement 2 weeks ago. Doc says no hardcore for 6 months 8-0 .
I plan to use these radios to increase my yodeling range. Every time I try to reach the other side of the canyon with my yodeling, no one hears me. This way, anyone on the channel can enjoy my awesome technique.
Me and my best friend just recently got into Jeeps within a year ago and absolutely love it. We are still in the fence on communication and we currently just yell out our windows. This would be super awesome set up and then when we run into You and Jeep gear n gadgets we can chat.
These radios look awesome! I finally got my son to buy a Jeep! He's deployed to the Middle East and returning mid-January! He would get one radio and I the other so we can hit the trails in Arizona and MOAB this Spring! Great video! Keep'em comin!
@Peter It is perfectly legal to use in the amateur space. Just don't transmit on the frequencies outside the Ham Bands, if you're trying to stay within the scope of the law. However, these radios do not meet the requirement for spurious emissions. So they are technically not legal to use if your particular radio has that problem, but honestly nobody cares about spurs on a handheld radio, they usually don't have enough range to make it very far, or bother many people.
@@tylerdean980 GMRS is still a HAM frequency. It is a low range frequency and most HAM guys are long range but rarely use the GMRS frequencies. Just because you aren't "bothering" anyone does not make it legal. The license is $70 and is a 10 year license. The GMRS license does NOT require a test either. Some HAM guys have a hobby and can triangulate you if they really wanted to.
@@LJ_AF GMRS is not in the ham frequency space. Also, ham is not an acronym. The amateur license does not cover GMRS, and it does require its own license. And yes, I know that some hams engage in direction finding. It is not hard, but they mainly go after offenders on the ham bands. I am a ham radio operator myself.
I'm new to the jeep world and love it. Bought a 2014 jeep jku sport and been adding little by little. Done a couple of group rides and found myself the only one without a radio. I would love to have a set for future rides. Love your channel too.
Be very careful, my quick research is that you need an FCC issued license to operate most if not all these radios. Right on the Rugged site the VHF mobile radio download manual specifies an FCC issued license is required. I hols an Amateur Extra, GMRS, and Marine Radio Opertors permit. The FCC does not play, and hands out huge fines all the time.
Mike J I will never ask you or anybody else for permission to use a product I have already bought! I have no problem learning proper terminology for these radios but I will never till the day I die pay the government to use a glorified walkie talkie that I have already paid for. So go back to your moms basement and nerd out on your radios some more
@@canyonjohnson389 Just warning you for your own good, if you interfere with amateur or emergency services, it is quite easy for a trained ham to direction find you and report you to the FCC. Get your license. It is literally free, the only requirement is knowledge, and if you're refusing to learn, I suppose you will deserve the fine that comes your way.
I've only used a CB but this handheld would be a great item for more mobility on the trail and to use when out of the vehicle when camping or hiking with family and friends. Thanks for the opportunity. Love the channel!
Your statement: "A lot of these pre-programmed channels on these Rugged Radios are ... you know ... perfectly legal to use without a license" is a little vague, at best. These radios come pre-programed by Rugged Radios with Part 90, Part 95, and NOAA WX frequencies. Technically the MURS (Multi Use Radio Service) frequencies are licensed "by rule". What that means is as long as you follow all of the FCC rules for using that radio service, you are good. And the FRS/GMRS frequencies require purchasing a license from the FCC. For $75 you get a 10 year license that covers you and your immediate family. BUT the problem with these radios is they are not FCC "type" certified. The potential problem is they have the ability to interfere with public safety systems Imported radios like these have become such a big problem the FCC has created new Part 95 rules. Effective September 30, 2019 it will be illegal to manufacture or import radios capable of operating under FRS rules and under other licensed or licensed-by-rule services. Amateur radio is a great option - study a little bit and pass a 35 question multiple choice test and you can run great radios on VHF or UHF frequencies set aside for amateur radio use with more power and fewer limitations - legally.
Exactly. You can do this with cb's. People don't realize cobra and midland make handhelds. My wife and I have vehicle mounted radios and handhelds in case one of us needs to step away and communicate with the person in the vehicle.
Actually the FCC does not even care about guys out back using them for offroading. They care if you are being a ass and jamming things and causing problems.
Awesome i will use them while wheeling but i could also use them while snowboarding i use regular walkie talkies on the slopes i wonder how much better they will be
Hi, love the video and your enthusiasm, I am a radio fan myself (UK Ham). These radios look horribly like the BaoFeng UV-5R - I have two of them, albeit in black casing. They work fine, and are cheap radios, certainly two for $100 is about double what they should be. Interesting, but I believe the BaoFeng UV-5R and similar and not allowed in the US now due to open frequency options, you can tune them into anything within two meter and 70 cm ranges. I cycle and keep them for that, if they get wet or damaged they are easily replaced. They have their weaknesses, the squelch and CTCSS leaves something to be desired, but if you are not in busy radio area that would not be too much of an issue with stations breaking in. Another antenna would improve the performance considerably, lots available on-line but be careful there are a lot of fake ones about - a reliable supplier would suffice. Enjoy the radios.
I am a licensed Ham operator here in the states, just Tech level so far. But I use a Baofeng radio on my bike also. Like you said, if they get damaged or stolen, your not out alot of money. But this poor guy, has no clue. 73s
Have a 2005 Jeep TJ Rubicon I purchased new and it's been a love and hate relationship. Love it as it's tons of fun but hate it cause there is SO MUCH YOU CAN DO TO A JEEP. Just finished a total upgrade of the brakes, steering and control arms and next on my list was getting/installing a CB radio. Hadn't thought a handheld would be that effective but from your review, I need to reconsider. Would really like to win one for multiple reasons - I need a CB radio when trailing for emergencies, if you do any off-roading it's one of those must have items, but the biggest reason is I can brag to my wife - hey honey I got that CB radio you've been giving me grief about and it was free - I won it. Oh, the response and look on her face will be rewarding. Not often after 36-years of marriage I get one up on her.
Curious as to why you would pick Rugged over Baofeng. Rugged are just rebranded Baofengs with different colored cases, less features and 2-3 times the cost.
These radios will be the perfect comm gear for my life goal of bringing an end to the reign of the undefeated and undisputed Hide and seek World Champion, Sasquatch. I will find you!
Rugged Radios are on VHF/UHF ( VHF (169-216 MHz), UHF (450-806 MHz) ) frequency operation and CB are on low band 27 mhz which by nature will transmit further . Installing one of these is not hard and CB radios come in hand held units also An in properly tuned antenna will not and can not effect how you receive a signal it has minimal effect on transmit and is only to keep the reflected energy down so as not to damage to the final power transistor in your CB Cobras will take a 25 to 1 miss match and do no damage . Also with the installed CB radio you can modify them so the power out put is about 8 watts RMS with 100 percent modulation . The VHF/UHF radios are line of sight and do not work as well as a low band ( CB) radio as the lower frequencies tends to want to wraparound the earth and are not line of sight . For the Rugged radios to be legal they would have to be on a itinerant frequency to be legal to use with out a license !
This is the first time hearing about Rugged Radios and I am impressed. My original plan was to use a CB radio in my JK and then eventually purchasing other radios, but I like how this one is an “all-in-one” radio.
You and your father need to get your Technicians license to be legal, but get a better HT, or handy talky. Like the Baofeng F8-HT, its a 8 watt radio, and with a good antenna, much better range.
Nice giveaway!! These are rebranded Baofeng UV5R Radios. However, I will say that you do get some "value" by buying these and paying more because of some points you made. They are pre-programmed which is worth a premium to many people. The second is you get "support" from the company instead of buying from a random vendor that may or may not even understand radios at all. With all that said I have the UV5R and other radios and perfectly comfortable with them but have dedicated a lot of time to understand them. For a plug and play option, these are a great fit for many people.
Bwahahahahahaha! It's a baofeng uv model. If your using these for transmitting without an amateur radio licence, your commiting a federal felony, and it's quite costly too, around 10 grand per violation. And no, these radios are absolutely not legal for non licenced purposes. Per FCC, you cannot legally use them for FRS or GMRS period. Not type accepted. And since the antenna is not within FCC parameters, and is removable, again another federal violation. There are all kinds of reasons using these radios outside of the accepted parameters are a huge problem, interference to certain services. One example being the military. You goof up there, both the FCC and the military will hunt you down with extreme predudice. One minute your yapping with your buddy, next you got the military bearing down on you hard. Idiots on CB have discovered the hard way that the military has frequency within the range of the 11m band, and there gone sideband and trampled over then military freqs. You won't hear anything, but it doesn't mean they arnt transmitting. Then there's the very real possibility of messing with law enforcement coms. Hospital, medical devices, railroad, power stations, airplanes(which will get you in a double whammy as your now crossed with not only the FCC, but the FAA, and if it's military, or law enforcement, then it's a triple gig.) In my county, the sherriff, and damn near every deputy is a ham. There are some places where their coms don't work, and so it's good for them to have amateur radio capability. "FCC rules apply at all times" and then there's the fact that the FCC/U.S. government has treaties with other countries as radio coms are not limited to country borders. (Which reminds me of some idiot offroaders who were using those very same radios your hawking, and we're interfering with NASA coms, telemetry, and a couple satellites, one of which was Russian, which could have caused an international incident. Here in my state, not only will everybody and their mother track you down, but under law, the law can confiscate your radio equipment and the vehicle it's operating from, as the vehicle was used in commission of the crime. It's not like it's not super easy to locate the signals. UHF/VHF bring ultra easy as it's near line of site and ultra "directional" CB being in the upper HF, is only fractionally more difficult to track, having more directional properties closer to VHF. Lol, a super simple 6" handheld yagi and a handheld radio is all it takes. Point in the direction of the signal and pow, it gets strong, point away, and it gets weaker rapidly. It's like a sport for us, amusement, to track down rogue radios with a deputy in tow. When we track them down, and they get arrested, the look on their faces are priceless. They thought they'd never get caught. Jail time, a 10grand fine for each violation, confiscation of all your junk. Steep price to pay for something you'd have avoided by learning about all this, getting a licence, and operating within the safety of knowing when/how/where to operate. Not only that, but why not get licenced? Then you can use repeaters that'll get you miles and a far stronger signal ability. My local repeater system gives me local coms for a 60 mile radius, and the other linked repeater gives me state wide coms. And then there's the ability to make phone calls thru the repeaters. On top of all that, you'd also be a part of a huge community. A massive resource.
I disagree with The Patriot on one point. I believe the concept of "FCC enforcement" is a joke, as it has been for about 40 years. It's not a realistic motivator for limiting any on-the-air activity. For instance, if you activate a low-power FM broadcast station and inadvertently start interfering with one of your neighbors who's trying to listen to a fairly weak station a couple of cities away, and if that neighbor complains to the FCC about the interference, then the FCC will check out the situation in a few years. That is the quality of FCC enforcement these days. There are lots of things about the FCC that are a joke. For instance, there is no victim is you take your 8 watt Bofung HT and ("illegally") use it on an FRS frequency. (Get the FRS channel-plan from Wikipedia so you can save their frequencies in memory.) The laws say something like FRS shall be limited to 0.5 watts maximum, and the antenna has to be integrated into the radio like a walkie talkie, or something like that. The FRS band is mostly empty, there's room aplenty, and if you wanted to interfere with someone maliciously you'd probably have trouble finding anyone to do it to. Also, FRS channels are on UHF frequencies, which don't travel past the horizon, a few miles under the best conditions - the curvature of the Earth stops your signal from going any farther. Whether you're using low power or high power, the coverage is about the same. (The implication is that high power - like a kilowatt -- isn't worth the money to implement. But 5 or 8 watts instead of 0.5 watts may get you an additional few-block radius.) So whatever you plan on doing with your non-certified Chinese radios, it would be rare if you'll affect or bother anyone, if you use FRS frequencies. All the other frequencies are a different story. They're all assigned to some other radio service. And all the other services have procedures where you'd stick out like a sore thumb, and some of those services are critical, like First Responders. Some are less critical, but that doesn't necessarily mean you want to interfere with any of them. For instance, the VHF and UHF "Ham radio" bands include sub-bands that are reserved for satellite inputs and outputs, like repeaters, except they're in the sky. The Ham's entry-class license is the Technician Class, whose test is so easy, and there are no Morse code requirements anymore, so you're welcome to get a Ham callsign, and a computer-controlled az-el rotator to track the satellites, and join the 2-way action. But, to simply unbox your Bofung and willy-nilly pick a frequency without realizing that you're on a satellite input would be pretty reckless. Or who knows what service you might land on if you don't take some care. That's why people are concerned about the proliferation of these radios. If your intention was to simply talk around the block with your buddies, I still say that FRS has the same propagation-properties as everything else from 400 to 470 MHz, and FRS is very empty, considering that everyone's activity gets cut off after a few miles. There's no disadvantage to using FRS frequencies for your purpose, so why not use them? The most exciting thing to happen would be that one of you neighbors who has an FRS walkie talkie hears you and may jump in to say Hello. In summary, there's no victim if your radio puts out 5 or 8 watts instead of 0.5 watts on the FRS channels. The FCC laws that say otherwise are arbitrary and poorly thought out. If you can reach 3 blocks instead of 1/2 block on empty frequencies, then who gets hurt? If you want more privacy and you only want to talk around your house, you're still free to use a genuine, 1/2 watt, FRS walkie. In summary, I recommend getting a Ham license. You want frequencies? We got frequencies. www.arrl.org/band-plan www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training
Yeah, not quite. The FCC's enforcement division is all but shut down; they don't have the manpower to go after anything but pirate FM broadcast stations and idiots who get on public safety or business frequencies and cause interference. Low-power UHF and VHF transmissions are extremely difficult to geolocate depending on terrain - fox-hunting a Baofeng would be a joke in any mountainous area.
Wow ...love It...Have a CB in the Jeep now, but what you said about the CB is true. These Rugged radios seem like a great thing for the trail and other uses. Great video!
Just overpriced Baofeng radios, and not even legal to use without an amateur radio license. Better off going with GMRS, they'll work with old FRS radios which most people have, and you can get 40 watt mobile units if you think you need that much power.
My jeep is used as mostly a camping rig and base camp for my Rc Plane events. Events like Joe Nall and SEFF(Southwestern Electric Flight Festival) and Apache Pass are so big that we use walmart walkies for communications. This would be a sweet upgrade.
I watched right up to the 6:43 mark, and then you said "ekspecially" instead of especially... And then I stopped watching. Sorry but it's a pet peeve that I got.
I'm in high school and bought my own jeep a few months ago, I'm trying to upgrade it but money is tough to come by. This would be so useful when I'm on the rails with my friends.
ronald flores Every little mod adds up search the Craigslist and Facebook market for used deals you don’t need all the fancy stuff the basics work the best! Every little mod you do will motivate you for the next!
These radios wouls be awesome. I would hand these out on trail runs with our club. These wouls be perfect for spotters, and or trail leads and trail vehicles. Clear communication is soo important on the trail. Thanks for the chance to win.
These radios would be a great way to communicate on the trails in place of CB’s because you can take them with you. If somebody goes to the bathroom you can hand one out so they don’t get left behind. I love the fact that they are portable and easy to use
My brand has never worked properly and nobody here can figure out why. I’m a new member of the Continental 4x4 Association here in Butte, Montana and I sure would like to be able to get my club turned on to Rugged Radios. Thanks for the videos! Keep me coming.
If you have some of these radios, I recommend getting a gmrs license and hopping on some of the hundreds of gmrs repeaters scattered throughout the US. It will increase your communication range dramatically. There are gmrs repeaters on mountain tops across virtually the entire country and the license it's simply a small fee to obtain.
Operating a UHF radio in the US requires an FCC license (except for the very low powered Family Radio Service). Your best option is either a GMRS license, which costs $70 for 10 years, no test required, and covers the members of your family, or an Amateur Radio License, which requires a simple test. A ham license is free from the FCC, but volunteer examiners often charge $15 to cover costs, The problem is that Rugged Radios cannot be legally used for GMRS. They could be reprogrammed for the 70 cm ham band. For GMRS, I would recommend Midland. They have legal GMRS handhelds and mobile radios up to 40 watts. With a ham license you could legally transmit with hundreds of watts, although most ham mobile UHF rigs tend to be 50 watts or less.
You always have great tips and gear info. I'm adding these Rugged Ridge handhelds to the list of gear on my 'must have list' that I have learned from your channel!! Thanks...
After I asked you about the radio i saw in one of your vids, instantly bought a couple. I've had tons of issues with my CB, Idk if I'm just unlucky or what but its going to be nice to have to options for communication in case one fails. Thanks for the recommendation, and would love to have two more for buddies on the trail. Would not go to waste thats for sure!
Sorry, from previous experience with an ht in the amateur radio service over a simplex frequency(direct like cb no repeater.) You might get a mile out of it maybe. I would try a cb radio with a good antenna. Don't buy the Chinese illegal radios.
Hey Ben, still having wiring issues with the Jeep. Sure could use these to brighten our days. Apparently a rodent chewed up the wires. $640 in repairs and two days later its doing the same thing.
Problem is people do not understand fcc licensing requirements. And this guy has no clue he is breaking the law using these radios. 25 or 5 watt they need a license. You may get lucky and not get caught, but that cheap radio can cost you thousands of dollars in fines. Fine print on the Rugged Radio site for these radios is as follows; FCC Licensing Information: This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the condition that this device does not cause harmful interference. This two-way radio operates on radio frequencies that are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). To transmit on these frequencies, you are required to have a license issued by the FCC. For questions regarding FCC licensing please visit the FCC online or call for information. FCC | Phone: 888-225-5322 | www.fcc.gov
I would use these while off-roading, not everyone has CB radios. And the Walmart walkie talkies never seem to work well or are always dead. Would be great to have a set of them to keep in communication on the trail and during the travels to and from the trails. Thanks!
Love trail riding with my jeep club.. Some jeepers still don't have radios. An I would love to be the one who could hand a couple out for those in need of a radio..
I am a jeeper and have been wondering/considering the idea of the uhf/ham radio in my rig. I like the ability to give these to those on the trail that do not have a communication device.
So I bought my Jeep March 16th, my buddy bought his a couple months later. I think these will be great on the trail for us. Hopefully I win. Good channel
GET A HAM LICENSE. these frequencies fall under part 90 which are paid for at certified off road events such as races or other things, you cannot use this for “free play” unless you have a HAM license. i use these radios all the time as an off-road racing recovery vehicle and we have to deal with them
The gmrs radios are great , They been around for a long time. I used to have base stations and fixed antennaes on my family members vehicles with speakers built into the headrests that looked factory. We could talk for a 2-3 miles inside our cars LOUD and CLEAR. Motorola used to make some great little consumer radios but the batteries that came with them were nimh and didn't hold up as good as Lipos. I've retrofitted several of my Motorola 5950's with lipos and their awesome. Their smaller and we slip them into our coat pockets when were shopping at Walmart or the Mall or what not. The Ruggeds look nice for sure.
I am new to getting into off roading with my Jeep. I have been looking for a radio set up to use with a friend in his jeep. Very informative and this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks
The "Rugged" radios are just rebranded Baofeng brand radios. Those are $30 on amazon all the time. My club in Ohio has more or less switched to the Baofeng style radios. I recently went on a ride with another group that "required CB"s, i got a handheld CB and a magnetic roof antenna just for the ride...and ended up only ever talking with a single guy all day. After lunch one of the other guys gave me their Baofeng (i didn't have mine programed to their frequencies) and heard traffic the rest of the day. I have mine a hand mic also velcro'd to the bit right by the rear view mirror. Pretty handy. Many of the more experienced guys in the club are of the thought that the handheld radios will be replacing the "CB" requirement.
I would definitely use these when out wheeling with the JBER JEEPERS in Alaska. Always good to maintain contact when out some where with no cell service
Winning these will make going out with friends 1000 times better. Winning or not I do plan to buy some in the near future. I believe they are a must have!!!
Another great video. Step one, two, and three complete. step 4: what would I use them for, well when we wheel we usually hike a bit too, it would be helpful to give one to the wife when we get spread out. Best case scenario I can radio for a beer when I'm too far from the cooler!!!
Awesome radios! Buddy of mine and I are just getting our Jeep expeditions started and could really use something like these for the trips as well as spotting one another on the trails!
I defiantly need a starter for my coms when out on the trails and not just borrowing someone else all the time. Plus I need some way to communicate if I go out with a friend who doesn't have com too. This would be a great starter set for me if I can get one.
As a paramedic in a very rural area these radios would be amazing. Many time I have to split from my partner where we are not in earshot of each other. Using the county emergency channel is out of the question because we don’t want to tie up the air. These radios would work perfect for that.
Don't you need an antenna for the uhf/vhf kit? Yes Look, they are much more expensive than cb's and YOU DO NEED A LICENCE FOR THEM. They are much more powerful and they really are better. If you are big into deep trail riding and you will be separated from your group a lot I recommend getting the licence and getting these. Especially the Ruggeds. They are much more reliable !
@@JKGearandGadgets yes right, tuning. Pain in the ass. I may actually invest in them this spring. Your video pushed me over the fence. As usual, nice vid.
Ham radio is a great hobby and great for off-roading, please get licensed to fully enjoy it. These radios make you think you're operating legally, but you really are not.
Great comment.
Yeah, it looks like a rebranded baofeng , I realized right away this radio requires a ham licence to operate. It's a shame because these cheap radios are a gateway to get new people into the hobby but unfortunately idiots ruin good things for everyone else.
Thanks for sharing
You are so correct you're technically not allowed to talk on those radios without being a license and then when you do get license you have to always use your call sign.
I was just about to say that, than I saw this comment. :)
Rugged radio just Rebranded Uv5R radio and quadrupled the price. 😂
Ridiculous!
WOW, You're a downer to these folks Roger That?
Keith Busch the Uv5R isn’t junk at all it’s literally identical to this rugged radio
@Keith Busch prefers to be the gullible one that pays 4x as much for a Chinese radio rebranded as American.
That's a steep price to pay to have rugged program it for you. Find a techie buddy and buy them lunch to program all your radios.
Ruged radiio? it's a Baofeng...
Painted UV-5R
Overpriced boafeng radios. Nice lol.
THANK YOU!!! I'm glad I'm not the only one out there exposing this ripping off of the off-road community. As a ham, it makes cringe to see people trying to take advantage of others like this...
@skat kat MURS, CB, and FRS are all license-by-rule (no additional license required). Baofengs can operate on the 2m and 70cm bands, but not 11m (CB), so these pieces of garbage are physically not interoperable with CB equipment. That's before getting into Part 95 type acceptance.
@skat kat Sorry, the Baofeng radio is a 2m/70cm radio. CB is on the 11m. So no, you cant program a Baofeng or any 2m/70cm HT to work on CB channels
RR is the biggest rip off in radio history. A radio marked 4x price over the same radio (UV5R) on Amazon. 60 dollar up charge for a sticker.
2 for 100 is still insane. Watch a 10 minute youtube video and save yourself some money.
If you dont have the time to spend 20 minutes programing a radio i dont know what to tell you.
The antennas still have to be tuned just like CB.
"... a lot of these pre-programmed channels on these rugged radios are, you know, perfectly legal to use without a license..."
Only MURS and FRS frequencies are legal to use (transmit onto) without a license, but you need specific radios that are rated for use on those frequencies. This radio is not one of them. So while the frequencies are available to use legally without a license, using them with this radio is not legal. The viewers should be aware of that.
Raúl J García so what radio would you recommend that would keep me legal without having a license? But offers same or similar features than these b-feng.? Thx
@@recombi123 BTECH MURS-V1 will serve you fairly well.
CB hand held radio.
@@recombi123 www.retevis.com/rt27v-license-free-5-ch-murs-2w-handheld-radio
A lot of commercials wouldn’t you say? FYI if you want to enjoy the 5 watt setting you MUST have a minimum of a gmrs license. No test just a small fee and that gives your entire family access to use your call sign. And yes every start of a communication and sign off you must announce your call sign. I believe you can have a 50 watt BASE station. That could be your Jeep. But only 1 per license. You can have unlimited hand held 5 watt maybe even up to 8 watts? It’s been a few years since I’ve played with it so my numbers could be off. And get rid of the rubber duck antenna that comes with it.
I have a ham radio license. These are OEM from Baofeng. The Baofeng brand radios are cheaper. I use both CB & VHF radios in my Jeep.
@Spencer Morrow Yes. CB, FRS, and MURS are the only unlicensed radio services in the United States. If you want to use a 2M VHF radio, you will need your Ham radio license. To stay legal, the radio you are using must also be type accepted for use on that particular service. For example, even with a Ham radio that can transmit on other frequencies like the Baofeng in the video, would be unlawful to transmit out of band. But people do it all the time, like this guy.
You don’t need a license for vhs. But you have to be on the water it is illegal to transmit vhs on land
@@adell8496 I assume you mean VHF. In the United States, the marine band is its own allocation. The entire VHF spectrum is quite broad and covers emergency services, weather, and other things. You can transmit on the water, but not anywhere. There are specific channels for maritime radio, several of which are monitored by the coast guard in case of emergency.
Actually, there isn't a single frequency that those radios (they are rebranded Baofengs) can use that doesn't require a license. That is why the FCC essentially made those radios illegal to use unless you have an amateur radio license. They are not even legal to use on FRS, which doesn't require a license, due to the removable antenna and output power. Just do a search for FCC Advisory DA-18-980A1. Will you get caught? Probably not. But there are amateur radio users out there that search for unauthorized users and report them. You mentioned a lot of people on the west coast are switching to the VHF/UHF radios. That is correct, but we are all getting licensed so that we do it legally. Just because that company sells the radios preprogrammed with frequencies to use, doesn't mean that it is legal.
I think you glossed over the FCC legality issues. What frequencies can you use that you say..."are perfectly legal" without any ham radio or other license?
I think Rugged Radios is sponsoring you, so that you can put out inaccurate information that will sell more radios while insulating themselves from lawsuits.
You will be the one held liable.
You need to encourage everyone to get a ham radio license to use these radios. Its not hard to get a technicians license. Morse code is not required any more.
A ham license will open up all kinds of other options too. You will be able to use local repeaters and extend your radios range from 3 miles to 30 or more.
All it will take is one 5 or 10 thousand dollar FCC fine to make you wish you had taken my advice.
Have a nice day.
I think the notion of begging some bloated government agency for permission to do something is just asinine. Ill stick to non licensed radios till the fall of said bloated government agency. You'r the same sheeple that ask the government for permission to exercise your God given right of self defense.
@@johngault2439 It's $15... No begging required. Learn a few things, take the test and utilize the network created by all of the hams in the country. Repeaters everywhere that will let you talk for hundreds of miles. Good luck doing anything near that with your unlicensed radios. Not sure what you have against the license? I imagine you aren't driving around in unlicensed cars, or hunting without a license/tag, or fishing without a license... And you can even still exercise your god given right of self defense without a license, the rest of us do even with a ham license...
@@45ColtJD Spoken like a Big Government sheeple apologist who thinks that the government is there to rescue him, what a soyboy.
John Gault not even close. But I’m not here to argue with a random youtuber. Good luck with your 4 watt CB if SHTF.
@@45ColtJD If its SHTF I will use HAM and also fly my plane use my trucks and anything i wish without a license, you are to thick to understand this is about accepting government overreach.
Going to overland events with a 7 year old are a blast! With the radios we could have so much fun. Little kids with 2 way radios are too funny!
Rugged are great, but with HAM you get repeaters and can talk even further. You can easily call for emergency help in remote locations. Get the HAM, get the license.
Or you can get a cb and not have to worry about a license but ham radio is great
And the license is way easy nowadays just a quick couple hours study and good for life basically. GMRS is no test just a paid license.
I just got my Jeep up and running again. I am just starting research on which radios to put in her and saw this video and have looked at the Rugged Radios channel so will most likely go this route. My Brother in Law and his son just moved down here with their “Garage Queen Jeeps”and we are planning some off road trips. These will be awesome for teaching them how to use their Jeeps for something other than driving to work. A couple of my buddies with Jeeps already use UHF too so this will work nicely. Thanks for the opportunity. Love the channel.
I'm studying for my HAM license and I 4 wheel with some friends. Having this kind of radio would be awesome. I'm also an EMT, so having the link to get help would be a huge plus on the trial. Thanks for the video!!!
@cody austin what's your point?
@cody austin I'm using a 50W dual band radio with a 3 DB gain antenna. So I'm not using the same set-up as JK G&G., It works well for me.
@cody austin I hear what you're saying. A mobile mounted radio will give you better performance. Hand helds are limited. Folks just have to work within their budget.
Hate to break it to you - but there’s no legal frequencies these can be programmed on that don’t require a license. There’s no way to use them legally out of the box. That doesn’t mean anyone will catch you, but the product is not legal marketed in the way that it is. If you want legal out of the box, buy some FRS radios (they have to be certified, but the main difference is lower power, no removable antennas) or MURS radios (also low power, but in VHF, so probably better range for your uses, and you can use an external antenna if you want to). Otherwise, it’s either using amateur radio frequencies, GMRS power (also needs certified radios), or business band. All three of those later options require a license.
First these are not rugged, These are Baofeng transceivers, You can use MURS Stations only without a licence. GMRS/FRS are restricted(as these have removable antennas and for Tx power.) Ham/CAP stations are restricted to having a licence....
~73
In order for these radios to be legal on MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service), they must be limited to 2 watts max output, 5 MURS frequencies only, can have removable antennas, no repeaters allowed and must be Part 95 certified.
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) handhelds are allowed up to 5 watts output, can have removable antennas and must be Part 95 certified..
GMRS Mobile/Base radios are allowed 50 watts max, can use repeaters, must be Part 95 certified and a license is required (your immediate family can operate under the same license [like the old CB licenses]).
@Peter Ham Radio covers the spectrum from 1khz all the way to +20ghz.
I can't speak for other countries however greater 80% of the VHF/UHF band is not for public use and reserved for HAM, commercial 2way and aircraft along with emergency services in many regions.
27mhz (11meter) AM/FM/SSB all count as CB within the US limited to 40 channels however there are hidden channels in the split of a few that can only be accessed by converted out of band 10meter ham radios converted to pirate 11meter (CB) stations.
@@KageShi Right only Aussie have cb in 26 (not 27 its marine cb band) in uhf band (icom make a lof of rename radio) some asian country have 222/240 MHz cb radio, in Europe have lpd433 MHz and pmr446 MHz public free band too (must have fixed antenna and only 0.5w)... and yes rugged radio it's a company buy baofeng and rebrand like Btech (baofeng tech); if need it take ham license 73 de IZ3QVB
They're not type accepted part 95 radios, and can't be legally used on MURS, GMRS, FRS, or marine VHF. Kind of ridiculous since there are part 95 radios that are basically "this radio locked down to MURS or GMRS" but still ...
@@jfrphoto01 They also have to be type accepted for that service - which these are not. You won't find ANY type accepted radio that can transmit outside its service...
Ham is great n best for trail! The best cb setup, i’ve found for me n others ive ridden with, is the midland 75-822 with a magmount antenna.
Legit just looks like a baofeng UV-5R..... That's marketing for yah
Just bought my first jeep wrangler and am trying to figure out how to communicate with my friends. A pack of rugged radios would be a great start to my new jeep experience. I have already learned alot from watching your videos.
I already have a Rugged hand held, and I would love to be able to hand a few of them out to friends while im out on the trail. With that being said I do have a ham license, KM6YNW, I know for a fact that Rugged Radio locks the RH5R down to FRS and MURS frequencies. You do not need a license to operate on those frequencies. They are also a repackaged BaoFeng UV-5R. You can get a packaged deal on amazon for under $50, or just the radio for around $25.
NotICON Thanks for that info, not a fan of rebranded items
@@Mike-xn1bh No problem. Rugged Radio actually came under scrutiny recently because they were buying cheap radios, putting their cases on them, then marking them up 200%+
@@NotICON I have one of these in my Jeep and F250: amzn.to/2LrdUIK
Okay, I must admit you've peaked my interest.. FRS is FM and limited to 2 WATTS ERP and MURS is at the same ceiling.. and this is a 5-watt unit, so how does that work?
Mike the big thing for me is that RR preprograms them, I personally wouldn’t want to deal with that. Secondly RR supports the Offroad community a ton, they host events, sponsor races, and are very active with the Offroad community, that for me is a selling point. I like to support companies that support our hobby
Been planning on getting a new radio. Our 40 CH Cobra is smoked (very old). Being way out in the middle of no where and zero reception on the cell phone made me have a not so good feeling. Planning on my Ham license real soon. Would love a Rugged Ridge Radio. Will be a while before I can be offroad again. Just had 2 level Cervical Disc Replacement 2 weeks ago. Doc says no hardcore for 6 months 8-0 .
I plan to use these radios to increase my yodeling range. Every time I try to reach the other side of the canyon with my yodeling, no one hears me. This way, anyone on the channel can enjoy my awesome technique.
baofengs are pretty deaf
Me and my best friend just recently got into Jeeps within a year ago and absolutely love it. We are still in the fence on communication and we currently just yell out our windows. This would be super awesome set up and then when we run into You and Jeep gear n gadgets we can chat.
Massively and ridiculously overpriced Baos under Rugged name? P.... leeease! :D
These radios look awesome! I finally got my son to buy a Jeep! He's deployed to the Middle East and returning mid-January! He would get one radio and I the other so we can hit the trails in Arizona and MOAB this Spring! Great video! Keep'em comin!
I think at the beginning of your video you should mention that these require a license.....
My uv5r transmits only a few miles.I've been using mine for years out on the trails without a license.
@Peter its legal as long as you have a ham license
@Peter It is perfectly legal to use in the amateur space. Just don't transmit on the frequencies outside the Ham Bands, if you're trying to stay within the scope of the law. However, these radios do not meet the requirement for spurious emissions. So they are technically not legal to use if your particular radio has that problem, but honestly nobody cares about spurs on a handheld radio, they usually don't have enough range to make it very far, or bother many people.
@@tylerdean980 GMRS is still a HAM frequency. It is a low range frequency and most HAM guys are long range but rarely use the GMRS frequencies. Just because you aren't "bothering" anyone does not make it legal. The license is $70 and is a 10 year license. The GMRS license does NOT require a test either. Some HAM guys have a hobby and can triangulate you if they really wanted to.
@@LJ_AF GMRS is not in the ham frequency space. Also, ham is not an acronym. The amateur license does not cover GMRS, and it does require its own license. And yes, I know that some hams engage in direction finding. It is not hard, but they mainly go after offenders on the ham bands. I am a ham radio operator myself.
I'm new to the jeep world and love it. Bought a 2014 jeep jku sport and been adding little by little. Done a couple of group rides and found myself the only one without a radio. I would love to have a set for future rides. Love your channel too.
What a ripoff,,,,,$25.00 on E-bay
Don't buy rugged radios.
Great looking radios. What is the standby and talk battery life? I’d definitely use them in the trails throughout the Kentucky wilderness.
Be very careful, my quick research is that you need an FCC issued license to operate most if not all these radios. Right on the Rugged site the VHF mobile radio download manual specifies an FCC issued license is required. I hols an Amateur Extra, GMRS, and Marine Radio Opertors permit. The FCC does not play, and hands out huge fines all the time.
Good deal
My wife just bought her own JK Jeep so having this out in the trails would be a cool win and so useful. Great contest.
You need a HAM license to operate in these bands. The Technical certification is easy to obtain these days.
@Ed Baumann The radios in this video DO require a license to operate. They are ham radios. Guys like this are why ham operators hate off-roaders
Mike J I will never ask you or anybody else for permission to use a product I have already bought! I have no problem learning proper terminology for these radios but I will never till the day I die pay the government to use a glorified walkie talkie that I have already paid for. So go back to your moms basement and nerd out on your radios some more
@@windowlicker2487 the FCC doesn't care lol
@@canyonjohnson389 Just warning you for your own good, if you interfere with amateur or emergency services, it is quite easy for a trained ham to direction find you and report you to the FCC. Get your license. It is literally free, the only requirement is knowledge, and if you're refusing to learn, I suppose you will deserve the fine that comes your way.
I've only used a CB but this handheld would be a great item for more mobility on the trail and to use when out of the vehicle when camping or hiking with family and friends. Thanks for the opportunity. Love the channel!
Your statement: "A lot of these pre-programmed channels on these Rugged Radios are ... you know ... perfectly legal to use without a license" is a little vague, at best.
These radios come pre-programed by Rugged Radios with Part 90, Part 95, and NOAA WX frequencies. Technically the MURS (Multi Use Radio Service) frequencies are licensed "by rule". What that means is as long as you follow all of the FCC rules for using that radio service, you are good. And the FRS/GMRS frequencies require purchasing a license from the FCC. For $75 you get a 10 year license that covers you and your immediate family. BUT the problem with these radios is they are not FCC "type" certified. The potential problem is they have the ability to interfere with public safety systems
Imported radios like these have become such a big problem the FCC has created new Part 95 rules. Effective September 30, 2019 it will be illegal to manufacture or import radios capable of operating under FRS rules and under other licensed or licensed-by-rule services.
Amateur radio is a great option - study a little bit and pass a 35 question multiple choice test and you can run great radios on VHF or UHF frequencies set aside for amateur radio use with more power and fewer limitations - legally.
Been looking into using a radio in my new jeep but not sure about the in vehicle set up, was interested in a handheld more.
this video should be titled "i spent $85 on a radio im not legally allowed to use"
Exactly. You can do this with cb's. People don't realize cobra and midland make handhelds. My wife and I have vehicle mounted radios and handhelds in case one of us needs to step away and communicate with the person in the vehicle.
"I spend $85 on a $19 radio" you mean...
Actually the FCC does not even care about guys out back using them for offroading. They care if you are being a ass and jamming things and causing problems.
Awesome i will use them while wheeling but i could also use them while snowboarding i use regular walkie talkies on the slopes i wonder how much better they will be
Hi, love the video and your enthusiasm, I am a radio fan myself (UK Ham). These radios look horribly like the BaoFeng UV-5R - I have two of them, albeit in black casing. They work fine, and are cheap radios, certainly two for $100 is about double what they should be. Interesting, but I believe the BaoFeng UV-5R and similar and not allowed in the US now due to open frequency options, you can tune them into anything within two meter and 70 cm ranges. I cycle and keep them for that, if they get wet or damaged they are easily replaced. They have their weaknesses, the squelch and CTCSS leaves something to be desired, but if you are not in busy radio area that would not be too much of an issue with stations breaking in. Another antenna would improve the performance considerably, lots available on-line but be careful there are a lot of fake ones about - a reliable supplier would suffice. Enjoy the radios.
I am a licensed Ham operator here in the states, just Tech level so far. But I use a Baofeng radio on my bike also. Like you said, if they get damaged or stolen, your not out alot of money. But this poor guy, has no clue. 73s
Currently using the old yell out the window method when communicating off road. These would be great to have when wheeling.
Bear in mind, they require a license. CB radio does not, nor does FRS radio.
Have a 2005 Jeep TJ Rubicon I purchased new and it's been a love and hate relationship. Love it as it's tons of fun but hate it cause there is SO MUCH YOU CAN DO TO A JEEP. Just finished a total upgrade of the brakes, steering and control arms and next on my list was getting/installing a CB radio. Hadn't thought a handheld would be that effective but from your review, I need to reconsider. Would really like to win one for multiple reasons - I need a CB radio when trailing for emergencies, if you do any off-roading it's one of those must have items, but the biggest reason is I can brag to my wife - hey honey I got that CB radio you've been giving me grief about and it was free - I won it. Oh, the response and look on her face will be rewarding. Not often after 36-years of marriage I get one up on her.
Curious as to why you would pick Rugged over Baofeng. Rugged are just rebranded Baofengs with different colored cases, less features and 2-3 times the cost.
These radios will be the perfect comm gear for my life goal of bringing an end to the reign of the undefeated and undisputed Hide and seek World Champion, Sasquatch. I will find you!
He has read this and is waiting for you.
Trying to get our 07 Rubicon ready to hit the trails and would love to have these for spotting and general communication - thanks
I like your idea about using these for your spotter !
Me and my old lady go out alone quite a bit, having 2 handhelds would really come in handy for spotting as well as emergency separation on the trail.
Rugged Radios are on VHF/UHF ( VHF (169-216 MHz), UHF (450-806 MHz) ) frequency operation and CB are on low band 27 mhz which by nature will transmit further . Installing one of these is not hard and CB radios come in hand held units also An in properly tuned antenna will not and can not effect how you receive a signal it has minimal effect on transmit and is only to keep the reflected energy down so as not to damage to the final power transistor in your CB Cobras will take a 25 to 1 miss match and do no damage . Also with the installed CB radio you can modify them so the power out put is about 8 watts RMS with 100 percent modulation . The VHF/UHF radios are line of sight and do not work as well as a low band ( CB) radio as the lower frequencies tends to want to wraparound the earth and are not line of sight . For the Rugged radios to be legal they would have to be on a itinerant frequency to be legal to use with out a license !
This is the first time hearing about Rugged Radios and I am impressed. My original plan was to use a CB radio in my JK and then eventually purchasing other radios, but I like how this one is an “all-in-one” radio.
One thing to note is that a VHF radio will not communicate with cb radios
I'd love it just so I can give one to my father when we are hunting or when we go out on the trails
You and your father need to get your Technicians license to be legal, but get a better HT, or handy talky. Like the Baofeng F8-HT, its a 8 watt radio, and with a good antenna, much better range.
Get your father a GMRS only radio, $60.00-$80.00, BTech or Wouxun. Same frequencies, same power.
Nice giveaway!! These are rebranded Baofeng UV5R Radios. However, I will say that you do get some "value" by buying these and paying more because of some points you made. They are pre-programmed which is worth a premium to many people. The second is you get "support" from the company instead of buying from a random vendor that may or may not even understand radios at all. With all that said I have the UV5R and other radios and perfectly comfortable with them but have dedicated a lot of time to understand them. For a plug and play option, these are a great fit for many people.
San Diego Jeep Club uses rugged and there are two guys who own their own channels. I would use with the group
No can own a channel/frequency.
@@robertbillodeaux8971 Part 90 business licenses sort of facilitate "owning" a frequency.
How good would this be for hunting? Would they perform better than Walkie-talkies?
Bwahahahahahaha!
It's a baofeng uv model.
If your using these for transmitting without an amateur radio licence, your commiting a federal felony, and it's quite costly too, around 10 grand per violation.
And no, these radios are absolutely not legal for non licenced purposes.
Per FCC, you cannot legally use them for FRS or GMRS period. Not type accepted.
And since the antenna is not within FCC parameters, and is removable, again another federal violation.
There are all kinds of reasons using these radios outside of the accepted parameters are a huge problem, interference to certain services. One example being the military.
You goof up there, both the FCC and the military will hunt you down with extreme predudice.
One minute your yapping with your buddy, next you got the military bearing down on you hard.
Idiots on CB have discovered the hard way that the military has frequency within the range of the 11m band, and there gone sideband and trampled over then military freqs. You won't hear anything, but it doesn't mean they arnt transmitting.
Then there's the very real possibility of messing with law enforcement coms.
Hospital, medical devices, railroad, power stations, airplanes(which will get you in a double whammy as your now crossed with not only the FCC, but the FAA, and if it's military, or law enforcement, then it's a triple gig.)
In my county, the sherriff, and damn near every deputy is a ham. There are some places where their coms don't work, and so it's good for them to have amateur radio capability.
"FCC rules apply at all times" and then there's the fact that the FCC/U.S. government has treaties with other countries as radio coms are not limited to country borders.
(Which reminds me of some idiot offroaders who were using those very same radios your hawking, and we're interfering with NASA coms, telemetry, and a couple satellites, one of which was Russian, which could have caused an international incident.
Here in my state, not only will everybody and their mother track you down, but under law, the law can confiscate your radio equipment and the vehicle it's operating from, as the vehicle was used in commission of the crime.
It's not like it's not super easy to locate the signals. UHF/VHF bring ultra easy as it's near line of site and ultra "directional"
CB being in the upper HF, is only fractionally more difficult to track, having more directional properties closer to VHF.
Lol, a super simple 6" handheld yagi and a handheld radio is all it takes. Point in the direction of the signal and pow, it gets strong, point away, and it gets weaker rapidly.
It's like a sport for us, amusement, to track down rogue radios with a deputy in tow. When we track them down, and they get arrested, the look on their faces are priceless. They thought they'd never get caught.
Jail time, a 10grand fine for each violation, confiscation of all your junk.
Steep price to pay for something you'd have avoided by learning about all this, getting a licence, and operating within the safety of knowing when/how/where to operate.
Not only that, but why not get licenced? Then you can use repeaters that'll get you miles and a far stronger signal ability. My local repeater system gives me local coms for a 60 mile radius, and the other linked repeater gives me state wide coms.
And then there's the ability to make phone calls thru the repeaters.
On top of all that, you'd also be a part of a huge community.
A massive resource.
I disagree with The Patriot on one point. I believe the concept of "FCC enforcement" is a joke, as it has been for about 40 years. It's not a realistic motivator for limiting any on-the-air activity. For instance, if you activate a low-power FM broadcast station and inadvertently start interfering with one of your neighbors who's trying to listen to a fairly weak station a couple of cities away, and if that neighbor complains to the FCC about the interference, then the FCC will check out the situation in a few years. That is the quality of FCC enforcement these days.
There are lots of things about the FCC that are a joke. For instance, there is no victim is you take your 8 watt Bofung HT and ("illegally") use it on an FRS frequency. (Get the FRS channel-plan from Wikipedia so you can save their frequencies in memory.) The laws say something like FRS shall be limited to 0.5 watts maximum, and the antenna has to be integrated into the radio like a walkie talkie, or something like that. The FRS band is mostly empty, there's room aplenty, and if you wanted to interfere with someone maliciously you'd probably have trouble finding anyone to do it to. Also, FRS channels are on UHF frequencies, which don't travel past the horizon, a few miles under the best conditions - the curvature of the Earth stops your signal from going any farther. Whether you're using low power or high power, the coverage is about the same. (The implication is that high power - like a kilowatt -- isn't worth the money to implement. But 5 or 8 watts instead of 0.5 watts may get you an additional few-block radius.) So whatever you plan on doing with your non-certified Chinese radios, it would be rare if you'll affect or bother anyone, if you use FRS frequencies.
All the other frequencies are a different story. They're all assigned to some other radio service. And all the other services have procedures where you'd stick out like a sore thumb, and some of those services are critical, like First Responders. Some are less critical, but that doesn't necessarily mean you want to interfere with any of them.
For instance, the VHF and UHF "Ham radio" bands include sub-bands that are reserved for satellite inputs and outputs, like repeaters, except they're in the sky. The Ham's entry-class license is the Technician Class, whose test is so easy, and there are no Morse code requirements anymore, so you're welcome to get a Ham callsign, and a computer-controlled az-el rotator to track the satellites, and join the 2-way action.
But, to simply unbox your Bofung and willy-nilly pick a frequency without realizing that you're on a satellite input would be pretty reckless. Or who knows what service you might land on if you don't take some care. That's why people are concerned about the proliferation of these radios. If your intention was to simply talk around the block with your buddies, I still say that FRS has the same propagation-properties as everything else from 400 to 470 MHz, and FRS is very empty, considering that everyone's activity gets cut off after a few miles. There's no disadvantage to using FRS frequencies for your purpose, so why not use them? The most exciting thing to happen would be that one of you neighbors who has an FRS walkie talkie hears you and may jump in to say Hello.
In summary, there's no victim if your radio puts out 5 or 8 watts instead of 0.5 watts on the FRS channels. The FCC laws that say otherwise are arbitrary and poorly thought out. If you can reach 3 blocks instead of 1/2 block on empty frequencies, then who gets hurt? If you want more privacy and you only want to talk around your house, you're still free to use a genuine, 1/2 watt, FRS walkie.
In summary, I recommend getting a Ham license. You want frequencies? We got frequencies.
www.arrl.org/band-plan
www.arrl.org/licensing-education-training
The Patriot. I like how you call yourself “The Patriot” but you are a government bootlicker crying about offending the FCC 😂
Yeah, not quite. The FCC's enforcement division is all but shut down; they don't have the manpower to go after anything but pirate FM broadcast stations and idiots who get on public safety or business frequencies and cause interference. Low-power UHF and VHF transmissions are extremely difficult to geolocate depending on terrain - fox-hunting a Baofeng would be a joke in any mountainous area.
Wow ...love It...Have a CB in the Jeep now, but what you said about the CB is true. These Rugged radios seem like a great thing for the trail and other uses. Great video!
Just overpriced Baofeng radios, and not even legal to use without an amateur radio license. Better off going
with GMRS, they'll work with old FRS radios which most people have, and you can get 40 watt mobile units if you think you need that much power.
My jeep is used as mostly a camping rig and base camp for my Rc Plane events. Events like Joe Nall and SEFF(Southwestern Electric Flight Festival) and Apache Pass are so big that we use walmart walkies for communications. This would be a sweet upgrade.
I watched right up to the 6:43 mark, and then you said "ekspecially" instead of especially... And then I stopped watching.
Sorry but it's a pet peeve that I got.
Haha sorry, it’s hard to talk for that long without making some bloopers 😂
get a life.
@ 00:1 u said "whaz up" in stead of wats up. Slang n abbreviations r kinda a deal breaker for me. 🙃
Fishermen 82 hahahaha oh man.
I'm in high school and bought my own jeep a few months ago, I'm trying to upgrade it but money is tough to come by. This would be so useful when I'm on the rails with my friends.
ronald flores Every little mod adds up search the Craigslist and Facebook market for used deals you don’t need all the fancy stuff the basics work the best! Every little mod you do will motivate you for the next!
These radios wouls be awesome. I would hand these out on trail runs with our club. These wouls be perfect for spotters, and or trail leads and trail vehicles. Clear communication is soo important on the trail. Thanks for the chance to win.
These radios would be a great way to communicate on the trails in place of CB’s because you can take them with you. If somebody goes to the bathroom you can hand one out so they don’t get left behind. I love the fact that they are portable and easy to use
My brand has never worked properly and nobody here can figure out why. I’m a new member of the Continental 4x4 Association here in Butte, Montana and I sure would like to be able to get my club turned on to Rugged Radios.
Thanks for the videos! Keep me coming.
If you have some of these radios, I recommend getting a gmrs license and hopping on some of the hundreds of gmrs repeaters scattered throughout the US. It will increase your communication range dramatically. There are gmrs repeaters on mountain tops across virtually the entire country and the license it's simply a small fee to obtain.
Operating a UHF radio in the US requires an FCC license (except for the very low powered Family Radio Service). Your best option is either a GMRS license, which costs $70 for 10 years, no test required, and covers the members of your family, or an Amateur Radio License, which requires a simple test. A ham license is free from the FCC, but volunteer examiners often charge $15 to cover costs, The problem is that Rugged Radios cannot be legally used for GMRS. They could be reprogrammed for the 70 cm ham band. For GMRS, I would recommend Midland. They have legal GMRS handhelds and mobile radios up to 40 watts. With a ham license you could legally transmit with hundreds of watts, although most ham mobile UHF rigs tend to be 50 watts or less.
You always have great tips and gear info. I'm adding these Rugged Ridge handhelds to the list of gear on my 'must have list' that I have learned from your channel!! Thanks...
It's my birthday today and I;m glad that you made a really good video today. I would use the rugged radios for when i go offroading with my friends.
After I asked you about the radio i saw in one of your vids, instantly bought a couple. I've had tons of issues with my CB, Idk if I'm just unlucky or what but its going to be nice to have to options for communication in case one fails. Thanks for the recommendation, and would love to have two more for buddies on the trail. Would not go to waste thats for sure!
My wife and I are both Jeep owners. New to off roading. These Rugged Radios would really help us to learn some cool stuff together
Sorry, from previous experience with an ht in the amateur radio service over a simplex frequency(direct like cb no repeater.) You might get a mile out of it maybe. I would try a cb radio with a good antenna. Don't buy the Chinese illegal radios.
Hey Ben, still having wiring issues with the Jeep. Sure could use these to brighten our days. Apparently a rodent chewed up the wires. $640 in repairs and two days later its doing the same thing.
Recently bought a jku was looking at cb radios but this seems more usable. I would use these every weekend with buddies. Thanks.
Problem is people do not understand fcc licensing requirements. And this guy has no clue he is breaking the law using these radios. 25 or 5 watt they need a license. You may get lucky and not get caught, but that cheap radio can cost you thousands of dollars in fines. Fine print on the Rugged Radio site for these radios is as follows;
FCC Licensing Information:
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the condition that this device does not cause harmful interference. This two-way radio operates
on radio frequencies that are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). To transmit on these frequencies, you are required to have a license issued by
the FCC. For questions regarding FCC licensing please visit the FCC online or call for information. FCC | Phone: 888-225-5322 | www.fcc.gov
I would use these while off-roading, not everyone has CB radios. And the Walmart walkie talkies never seem to work well or are always dead. Would be great to have a set of them to keep in communication on the trail and during the travels to and from the trails. Thanks!
Love trail riding with my jeep club.. Some jeepers still don't have radios. An I would love to be the one who could hand a couple out for those in need of a radio..
Nice radios, had something similar many years ago that I purchased and used in the Marines. We would use them with the Jeep club while wheeling.
Just at the point of hooking up a CB to my 4runner. Would be interesting on having a set of these to compare.
I am a jeeper and have been wondering/considering the idea of the uhf/ham radio in my rig. I like the ability to give these to those on the trail that do not have a communication device.
Been trying to decide if I wanted to get a cb for the ol’ Jeep. But a pair of these would be nice to test out
this radio can communicate with normal jeep CB?
No
So I bought my Jeep March 16th, my buddy bought his a couple months later. I think these will be great on the trail for us. Hopefully I win. Good channel
My current cb setup never works right in my TJ, i would love to upgrade for when my buddies and i hit the trails!
GET A HAM LICENSE. these frequencies fall under part 90 which are paid for at certified off road events such as races or other things, you cannot use this for “free play” unless you have a HAM license. i use these radios all the time as an off-road racing recovery vehicle and we have to deal with them
The gmrs radios are great , They been around for a long time. I used to have base stations and fixed antennaes on my family members vehicles with speakers built into the headrests that looked factory. We could talk for a 2-3 miles inside our cars LOUD and CLEAR. Motorola used to make some great little consumer radios but the batteries that came with them were nimh and didn't hold up as good as Lipos. I've retrofitted several of my Motorola 5950's with lipos and their awesome. Their smaller and we slip them into our coat pockets when were shopping at Walmart or the Mall or what not. The Ruggeds look nice for sure.
I am new to getting into off roading with my Jeep. I have been looking for a radio set up to use with a friend in his jeep. Very informative and this is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks
1975 Radio Shack CB 4 to 5 mile range with 130+ miles on skip. About $175.00 then; included radio, mic, coax, antenna, mounts and SWR check.
The "Rugged" radios are just rebranded Baofeng brand radios. Those are $30 on amazon all the time. My club in Ohio has more or less switched to the Baofeng style radios. I recently went on a ride with another group that "required CB"s, i got a handheld CB and a magnetic roof antenna just for the ride...and ended up only ever talking with a single guy all day. After lunch one of the other guys gave me their Baofeng (i didn't have mine programed to their frequencies) and heard traffic the rest of the day.
I have mine a hand mic also velcro'd to the bit right by the rear view mirror. Pretty handy. Many of the more experienced guys in the club are of the thought that the handheld radios will be replacing the "CB" requirement.
I used to have a 94 xj with a cb and sold it, just bought a 04 tj rubicon stock and have been debating between a cb or rugged radios
I would definitely use these when out wheeling with the JBER JEEPERS in Alaska. Always good to maintain contact when out some where with no cell service
Winning these will make going out with friends 1000 times better. Winning or not I do plan to buy some in the near future. I believe they are a must have!!!
Another great video.
Step one, two, and three complete.
step 4: what would I use them for, well when we wheel we usually hike a bit too, it would be helpful to give one to the wife when we get spread out. Best case scenario I can radio for a beer when I'm too far from the cooler!!!
okay, for we music junkies.....what is the song playing during your intro (where the Jeep is driving around). Love your channel and love music.
Awesome radios! Buddy of mine and I are just getting our Jeep expeditions started and could really use something like these for the trips as well as spotting one another on the trails!
Luv your info about Rugged Radio. Will give them to my kids when we go off-roading! THANKS!
Like the new front bumper BTW. We camp,and it would be nice to use these radios for commo if I venture out from the main camp.
The only channel on UA-cam that uses there jeeps to their full capacity
We have a group of folks that currently use CBs and I would like to convert them over to Rugged Radios. Can’t wait to try one.
I defiantly need a starter for my coms when out on the trails and not just borrowing someone else all the time. Plus I need some way to communicate if I go out with a friend who doesn't have com too. This would be a great starter set for me if I can get one.
As a paramedic in a very rural area these radios would be amazing. Many time I have to split from my partner where we are not in earshot of each other. Using the county emergency channel is out of the question because we don’t want to tie up the air. These radios would work perfect for that.
Great package. I am a big NASCAR fan and these would come in real handy when someone runs to the concessions or to the car for something.
I don’t have any kind of radio! I haven’t looked into CB’s yet but based on what you said, I’m sold on the rugged radio.
Don't you need an antenna for the uhf/vhf kit? Yes
Look, they are much more expensive than cb's and YOU DO NEED A LICENCE FOR THEM.
They are much more powerful and they really are better. If you are big into deep trail riding and you will be separated from your group a lot I recommend getting the licence and getting these. Especially the Ruggeds. They are much more reliable !
I never said you don’t need an Antenna.. I even showed the antenna lol. You just don’t have to tune it
@@JKGearandGadgets yes right, tuning. Pain in the ass.
I may actually invest in them this spring. Your video pushed me over the fence.
As usual, nice vid.
Would you have any info on getting the licence needed?
Looking in to radios now. Would use them for wheeling, fishing, camping, and snowboarding here in Colorado.
On off days from wheeling these will come in handy to use on dog walks. Merry Christmas
Borrowed one from a friend and was amazed at the reception and clarity. This will be perfect when out on a hike exploring the National forest trails