I have the 5-watt with the 17cm antenna and it is drastically better! Getting stuck in the Sierra’s this weekend, I clicked it to scan and was able to pick up someone at palisades as well as someone with a repeater in Auburn covering ~60-miles in total. Great little units!
Not sure if you mentioned it, but on the 5 watt, you can also change out the antenna to a bigger one and you can change out the belt clip to a carabiner .
Excellent review! I am right now in the process of assembling an entire overland camping equipment list, and a good handheld radio is definitely on the list. Still watching reviews, but at this point, the Rocky Talkie 5-watt GMRS is at the top. Question: Being that the Rocky Talkie has a decent-length cable connecting the handset, as well as that robust alligator clip, would it be possible, instead of leaving the radio on the dash, to clip it just outside the driver’s window, say, somewhere on the roof rail, for better reception? I would imagine reception might be a bit better, but do you think it would hold? Thanks again for this excellent video. I stumbled onto your channel, but am now a new subscriber! Your explanations are to the point, and deal with the actual concerns, and answer the questions I would have.
The antennas of the transmitting and receiving radios should be parallel to each other. If one radio is being held horizontally like in this video it will attenuate the signal.
I've noticed that when you use the Mountain Radio, the carabiner is very close to the antenna. Since the carabiner is made of metal, it will de-tune the antenna and therefore will not perform at it's optimum. If you do another comparison test, it would only be fair to remove the carabiner first.
All of those are made to be used outside of the vehicle, you'll have better (ish) results. If you are going to be in your vehicle get a mobile radio with an antenna mounted on a high point. Also for the gmrs hand held for better results get a HT that can switch out the antenna for a longer better performing one. Also then you could carry a wire antenna you could throw up into a tree if need be for much better line of sight.
For good investment for GMRS, New / Old Stock Motorola HTs and some mobiles are perfect for GMRS. I know I know, you shouldn't use Part 90 radios on Part 95 E Frequencies.. According to the majority of GMRS repeaters out there, 90% of those repeaters are FCC Part 90 and not 95.
It doesn’t go far when you are in a winding canyon with steep cliffs. But in an Overlanding scenario for close range vehicle to vehicle communications it did ok but the 5w definitely did better.
@@greghaff229 as long as no repeaters are being opened up it's not too big of a deal. The FCC revised the rules on GMRS/FRS radios that you no longer needed a license for bubble pack radios at 2 watts or less (think Midland, Cobra, Motorola etc.). Is anyone going to notice (or even care for that matter?) that they're using 5 watt radios in the deep woods miles away from anyone? I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference, honestly.
Do you have a favorite radio for Overlanding?
They said it was the 5-Watt Rocky Talky GMRS
I have the 5-watt with the 17cm antenna and it is drastically better! Getting stuck in the Sierra’s this weekend, I clicked it to scan and was able to pick up someone at palisades as well as someone with a repeater in Auburn covering ~60-miles in total. Great little units!
Nice! I think we will end up doing a remote antenna once we have a decent mounting option.
Not sure if you mentioned it, but on the 5 watt, you can also change out the antenna to a bigger one and you can change out the belt clip to a carabiner .
Excellent review! I am right now in the process of assembling an entire overland camping equipment list, and a good handheld radio is definitely on the list. Still watching reviews, but at this point, the Rocky Talkie 5-watt GMRS is at the top. Question: Being that the Rocky Talkie has a decent-length cable connecting the handset, as well as that robust alligator clip, would it be possible, instead of leaving the radio on the dash, to clip it just outside the driver’s window, say, somewhere on the roof rail, for better reception? I would imagine reception might be a bit better, but do you think it would hold? Thanks again for this excellent video. I stumbled onto your channel, but am now a new subscriber! Your explanations are to the point, and deal with the actual concerns, and answer the questions I would have.
Get out of the vans and you will get much better reception for a better test. Using them inside of two vehicles greatly reduces their range.
That is true but we wanted to test in an overland scenario when people are in their vehicles.
The antennas of the transmitting and receiving radios should be parallel to each other. If one radio is being held horizontally like in this video it will attenuate the signal.
I've noticed that when you use the Mountain Radio, the carabiner is very close to the antenna. Since the carabiner is made of metal, it will de-tune the antenna and therefore will not perform at it's optimum. If you do another comparison test, it would only be fair to remove the carabiner first.
Ordering a few Mnt Radios tonight for family shenanigans this summer. Would’ve loved the 5watt radio but not available up here in Cnd😞.
Nice 😃. Does Cnd have an alternative to the GMRS radios?
All of those are made to be used outside of the vehicle, you'll have better (ish) results. If you are going to be in your vehicle get a mobile radio with an antenna mounted on a high point.
Also for the gmrs hand held for better results get a HT that can switch out the antenna for a longer better performing one. Also then you could carry a wire antenna you could throw up into a tree if need be for much better line of sight.
Yes so true. A 50-watt GMRS radio in the Lead Vehicle is the safe way.
Rocky talkie needs to get some 5-watt batteries in stock already. Love the radios, but this wait on spare batteries is ridiculous.
Buy the antenna for the 5 watt it will help big time.
Good advice. 😀
For good investment for GMRS, New / Old Stock Motorola HTs and some mobiles are perfect for GMRS. I know I know, you shouldn't use Part 90 radios on Part 95 E Frequencies.. According to the majority of GMRS repeaters out there, 90% of those repeaters are FCC Part 90 and not 95.
🤔
You know what works better you can put your cell phone on Zello and it will work 20 30/40 miles
You need cell service for that app to work which is not available in the backcountry.
@@ExploreTrekAdventurelol
It reminds me of all the people in Louisiana when the hurricanes hit
And Zello won’t work
$165?? No wonder they don't list the price on their site.
About 4 times the price of a normal GMRS handheld radio.
It shows $180. Each. 😢
2w distances 800m 😂
It doesn’t go far when you are in a winding canyon with steep cliffs. But in an Overlanding scenario for close range vehicle to vehicle communications it did ok but the 5w definitely did better.
Get out of the vehicle. Lol
We were specifically doing tests from inside the vehicles as it would be used in an Overlanding scenario.
@@ExploreTrekAdventure But you fail to give your FCC license number at the end of each transmittion.
@@greghaff229 as long as no repeaters are being opened up it's not too big of a deal. The FCC revised the rules on GMRS/FRS radios that you no longer needed a license for bubble pack radios at 2 watts or less (think Midland, Cobra, Motorola etc.). Is anyone going to notice (or even care for that matter?) that they're using 5 watt radios in the deep woods miles away from anyone? I don't think I'd be able to tell the difference, honestly.