The Best Two-Way GMRS Radio for Preppers
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- I'm M.D. Creekmore, author of The Prepper's Guide to Surviving the End of the World as We Know It and The Great Reset: Preparing for Economic Armageddon. My work has been featured in The Backwoodsman, American Survival Guide, The Daily Mail (UK), and Fox News Online.
Order My Books: amzn.to/4jkmvg1
My Amazon Shop: www.amazon.com...
Farmhouse Teas: www.farmhouset...
Use code MDCREEK10 for 10% off your first order!
Become A Channel Member For Exclusive Content and Perks: / @mdcreekmore
SUBSCRIBE: / @mdcreekmore and turn on notifications to get them
Disclosure: Some links in this description are affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Wouxun KG-805G GMRS Two Way Radio - amzn.to/45eVOkL
15.3-Inch Whip GMRS Antenna - amzn.to/3ZA7f5e
Dakota MURS Radio - amzn.to/46wPoON
Retevis NR30 GMRS Radio - www.retevis.com/nr30-noise-cancelling-group-call-waterproof-gmrs-radio-us (Not recommended)
Overland Rack and other Gear at Hooke Road - www.hookeroad.com/
Nakano Knife Set - nakano-knives.com/products/nakano-mokko-knife-set
Old Hickory Knife Set - amzn.to/3PxaO7A
The Wouxun?.. I think those were the good ones… ? 😂😂 thx
So talking about range which is better the Wouxun or the Dakota Murs?
When you say 5G that scares the lilies out of me so that means they can track the frequence?
they still have the wouxun on ebay.... $80....whats the name of antenna for it...?
Being that I have been in the radio and electronic field for 40 some years, I can agree that the GMRS radios are a good option, as well as MURS. Don't forget CB, it's in much more use than many people think. If I were starting out now, I would get my GMRS license and start using the repeaters. There is one right up the road from me (maybe 6 miles) that has very high elevation, and I can use my 5 watt handheld with no problem to talk within an 80+ mile radius. Communication is going to be a big thing, so a portable (and battery operated) Shortwave receiver will be an asset in terms of information gathering. The ONLY type to buy is one that has Sideband capability, (known as SSB, or BFO) so you can tune in the Amateur radio operators - not just in the states, but around the world. I could go on for a couple hours on this but these are the bare bones basics.
NVIS Antennas as well.
Family of Hams.
11 and 14 daughters are Generals.
But they both can weld, so we're kind of a different family than most.
I have my Extra, and there are 4 more Extra class in the extended family, along with a few of the lower class license holders. We all have the big name brand HF radios, GMRS, MURS, and CB. As you can guess, there are quite a few different antennas of various designs. I almost forgot the FTA Satellite which is a 1980's 12' motorized mesh dish with optional hand crank. @@halledwardb
Cb radio works awesome too
sweet!Thanks for sharing!😎👊
Please, go on :)
I have a couple Wouxun KG-805G radios and have successfully talked to other handheld SIMPLEX (direct handheld to handheld) out a couple miles. I have also talked to people with the same handheld to people 40 miles away over a repeater. Repeater use is more complicated, but that repeater that was used was over 10 miles away from my location and it connected to the repeater and then re-transmitted my transmission to connect with the person on the other end 40 miles away. The Wouxun KG-805 is a great handheld radio that isn't overly complicated.
I like your prepping warning videos but I also like your reviews and I hope you do more of them.
You mean doom and gloom for clicks and profit?
I have cb radios and intend to get rid of our cell phones. I also have walkie talkies. And a land line. Love you video
Standing to, my friend! Keep on keeping on! There's more of us than there is of them! Much respect, love and many blessings to you and yours from Northwest Alabama!
The Nagoya antennas are great. I’ve been using them for a few years now and they definitely make a difference on signal reception.
I love how you guide us through whats to come!! Thank you!!
Would be cool to have a list of prepper frequencies, or very important ones, to accompany a radio video like this.
write it down, not wthy have it. Best not. shar it vetted person to vetted person.
M D great videos.Communications is critical when the globalist and governments shut down the whole world.They say communications is very critical in war time with out it it's like trying to fight a war with one hand tied behind your back. M D your right your not going to get a lot of miles with cheaper radio s 2 to 3 miles should be good enough unless you need more watts and more miles. So it looks like a government shutdown is coming and then 3 days later they are going to be testing the national emergency test and Russia is also having a emergency martial law test around the same time the United States is. Everything is getting very scary.We have no future.🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🙏🙏🙏
There are a lot of frequencies for SHTF scenarios.
Mine came pre-programed with approximately 900 on the Wouxun KG-UV9GX.
@@carlh-thehermitwithwi-fi679 Ive heard channel 16 is usually used when offroading and 19 is what people use efor the highway do you know if that is accurate
@@BoBoBrappins 19 is the "main channel" in CB.
I don't know about 16, except in VHF marine..that's the emergency channel
I love my Wouxun radios. My 3 favorite are the 935g, Q10g, and of course my kg-1000g+. As far as retevis, the HA1G is good.
The black radio's with short antenna are Walmart employees radio's, they are good for kids in the yard, but nothing else.....Thanks MD, I learned a huge nugget today from you ,glad I buzzed in......00TG from Illinois....
Got some good knives too, qlso have a CB radio with base unit my nieghbor set up for me and him but need to put up a higher outside house antenna, i have the Short antenna on my gutter for now,l love it. I will at least have comunication with him a 1/4 mile away , and can tune in to other cb'ers for news word of mouth. Also have a bunch of cheap walkie talkies haven't tried them yet. Thanks M.D. Liked this video alot. Love your cool prepper gadget videos👍👊🏻🙏🏻
Hope you are all doing well with this last storm. Made me realize we needed the radio badly.
Somehow missed this video, glad i went back and watched it, live in small desert town about 5 miles diameter, and this radio sounds perfect, will get them and also the extended antenna, thanks for the great info, as always, so many choices its endless,,,
Wow… looking at gmrs radios lately, found your vid just now! Another Creekmore around. Don’t see many of us on you tube!!! good vid man!!
B Creekmore here!
Welcome aboard!
GMRS is great for Prepper/Ready minded people.
Can easily set up a family of four for a couple of hundred dollars, that includes upgrades.
Godspeed and keep getting ready!
my 45 watt cost me 275.00 but I wont shaire what brand I use but you never heard about
@@donalderickson-si8ww Why not share?
I just bought a BTECH MURS-V1 2-WAY MURS RADIO. The first test was all right. I walked a mile away and still had good reception with the wife until I went into the grocery store building. I will test them for distance in the near future.
With perfect line of sight with one walkie-talkie being on top of the relatively tall Hill I talked 24 mi away to another similar handheld gmrs radio but there was zero obstructions between the two radios
Enjoyed your video.
Thanks for sharing.
Figuring out prepper coms has been the most difficult part of prepping for me, not just the process of examining the different fields of radio but understanding how to use them and program for repeaters, planning for other friends and family members on obtaining and training on radios when they don't care much about prepping, worrying about emps and faraday cages, chargable radios or disposable batteries? need for base station equipment to significantly enhance your system of communication and on and on. I've purchased ham, gmrs frs and CB radios yet I'm still very concerned about reliability, not just on the equipment itself but on the operators at both ends of the radio.
Maybe some mikitary radios with whip antenna in the 30 and 40mhz band
Have already put up a high quality CB radio with upper and lower side bands and a 500 watt amplifier in a faraday cage just in case. Base antenna already installed also.
I use 2 way radios as a backup if cell and internet go out. Great for friends and family to have also for backup communications.
Good video. Basic radios are good and you are right about the false advertisements of range. That's not opinion, that's fact.
I'll put it out there that none of those radios have any form of privacy. The MURS operate on 5 VHF frequencies and the GMRS/FRS operate on 22 UHF frequencies. ALL operate on FM and unencrypted. The "privacy codes" that some of those radios have DO NOT make your transmissions private. All that does is put a tone squelch on your receiver to block out any unwanted transmissions that you don't want to receive. It's NOT encryption. If somebody else is using the same privacy code (subaudible tone squelch) you will hear each other if you are in range of each other.
Any radio that is not at least using a speech inversion encryption, which is the bottom of the barrel encryption standard, DES which is a 56 bit encryption standard (better than speech inversion) or AES which is a 256 bit encryption standard which is used by the feds and other LE/public safety entities, then your transmissions can easily be intercepted by anyone with a scanner or other receiver that is listening on the frequency (ies) you are using. Your transmissions will be heard even if you are using the "privacy codes".
Any users of CB, GMRS, FRS or MURS are stuck on the same handful of frequencies (channels) as everyone else. If there's a lot of activity, you'll be competing for airtime.
I think I'm covered on comms. HF, VHF, UHF, analog, DMR, P25 ham, MURS, GMRS, FRS and CB.
really guys it is sails hipe thay say 38 miles but how to do it is a secret
thay wont tell you
The black radio's with short antenna are Walmart employees radio's, they are good for kids in the yard, but nothing else.....The radio' you just talked about with the long antenna im gonna check out.....Thanks MD, I learned a huge nugget today from you ,glad I buzzed in......00TG from Illinois....
Midland GXT not too shabby. Fair price made in Philippines would like to upgrade though. Thanks MD👍🏻
Thank you for this, I did not know about MURS, I will watch some youtubes to learn more about that and will come back here and hopefully buy a few and and base station.
Nagoya 771G sma male or Signal Stick antennas for your NR30. You’ll get out there. Night and day difference when I swapped out the stock antennas on my units.
All your videos are great. I've been thoroughly pleased with your books as well except I wish you could write more of them. Thanks for all you do for us.
Glad you like them and thank you.
MD hello it's been a while, I saw on the online store the big Amazon where there's radios that will cover up to 3000 miles but also 1000
Its good to keep few low wat radios. Those are safer to use when the signal does not get too far.
Thank you for this information. Do any of these also have compass options on them in the event one is trying to reach a destination? Would it be a good thing if a person was down and the other was asking for them and maybe help was able to listen in and send help?
Thanks for the info and the time you put in making these videos!👍🙋🏻♀️NW GA
It's great to see you again!
Nice truck rack!
Looks fairly heavy duty.
Good radio review.
Do you have a video on shopping for a Satellite Locator Beacon?
You can get an amplifer for the handheld and put out about 40-50 watts. Install the amp in your vehicle or base/ home setup. Don't forget to get your GMRS LICENSE. $35 for 10 years and covers your family. No test... it's like a hunting liscense. I can hit repeaters 35- 60 miles away. I have a mobile radio as a base and handheld w/ mobile antenna in my vehicles. Thanks ! ...Alan in 🇨🇱
What brand is best for the amp
People cannot seem to wrap their heads around the concept of having radios in their preps. On top of knowing how to work them and set them up.
I have had so much trouble getting my group on radios and CBS. I don't get it they are very handy and pretty dang cheap really.
People do not want to accept that their cell phone might not work. We really need a scare in this country where all the cell phones go down for about 5 days to teach the public not to rely on technology so much.
Baofeng makes them affordable
that's getting to ham radio 6 meters will do that alday
you right but thay are spendy around a thousend dollars
Simple is getting to the point.
🙄 Whining about free content lol.
Great info!! Thanks
Someone mentioned to me there are two different models ? standard and something else, but was not sure ? which do you have ?
Some Wuoxuns have a GPS feature, complete with a map giving you the location of a companion unit.
Thank you. I have been looking for a good set. So many on the market it is hard to know which will be worth the money.
Wouxun KG-805G GMRS Two Way Radio - amzn.to/45eVOkL
15.3-Inch Whip GMRS Antenna - amzn.to/3ZA7f5e
@@MDCreekmore Thank you sir. Any promos that benefit you?
@@northerntrucker4118 no but the link is an affiliate link where I get a 4% commission with no extra cost to you.
@@MDCreekmore Perfect thank you. You deserve it for the work you do.
What do you need multiple channels for? Can you communicate with one type of radio with another person using a different one?
I have the Wouxun UV9GX and am thinking about purchasing a set of Wouxun 935G Plus.
The Wouxun radios are very nice quality.
Looks like you could mount some nice led’s fairly easily or a m60 if you got one on that rack .
Thank you for sharing and posting this wonderful honest and down to Earth review on the radios. That is a really superb rack on your truck. 👍😊
I've tried to find those bigger antennas couldn't find any that worked on any of my walkie talkies.
It's for a GMRS
That’s a cool rack! I wish I had a truck. Thanks for sharing the video. Have a good day!🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂🍁🍂
I think the main reason the retevis radios didn't have near the range as the wouxun is that the wouxun kg-805g is a super heterodyne receiver, whereas the retevis ones are almost certainly direct conversion \ system on a chip radios.
I have the Wouxun 805G radios, works great on my ten wooded acres.
Great information, been looking at two way radios. There are many to choose from. I’m going to check out the first one you reviewed. Thanks for the info
M.D. Good presentation... Wondering if you are a Ham ? I am and it is a great hobby and great way to enhance emergency Communications
Do any of these have dual battery capability? if not can you recommend some. I'm thinking if we lose long term power sources, batteries will be a good option. Especially if you don't have a generator or away of generating power to charge rechargeable batteries.
I have problems with wooded areas
Hey Mr. Creekmore, have you ever looked into ham radio? That would give you a bigger choice of radios and whole lot more frequencies to use instead of being stuck with the channels on GMRS or MURS. Just a thought. Prepping was the main reason I got my ham license
I'm sure he has looked into ham radios. But they can be very expensive, where as a good handheld is less than $80.
@@lmb5826 you can get a good analog Yaesu ht for around $80-100. Plus, on a ham radio, even the cheapest ones, you can put different antennas on every radio. Just throwing that out there in case someone runs across this comment
Wouxan has ham radios so do many other inexpensive vendors, the prices are the same. Its about taking the Ham test and time required to study.
If my 11 yr daughter can do it and get a General Class so could you.
my three hand held's cost me 150.00 each and they work fine
and my 45 watt radio walk's the talk
Just seen this
"FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with wireless providers and other emergency managers to make sure confusion is minimized and public safety is elevated.
The test will help to provide confidence that the system is effective as a means of warning the public when there is an emergency en masse. If, by any chance, the weather prevents the test from proceeding, it will be moved to the following Wednesday, October 11, 2023. "
If weather can affect the test how would they use it if there is bad weather to let people know anything??
Seriously, good question. Personally, I suspect they're wanting everyone to shut their phones off for this "test" in order to get them to have to restart them. One thing for sure is when this much hype is drawn around something, it's not what they say it is.
If anyone trustsFEMA, you should look at their record. Lahaina fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.
@@JacquelinePresnell-kl3cl I was involved with Katrina and saw what deplorable things they did. I always warn people to stay as far away from them as possible. Never, ever trust them. It will be a horrible and tragic mistake.
Exactly. Wouldn't a national emergency alert be most important in a devastating weather disaster among other events? If bad weather would interfere, maybe the alert is for some other purpose.
The whole thing is odd.
Hi, where do I get the extended atenas
The Retevis NR 30 has 3 output power settings.
Good video M.D. Communication is something to think about.
Just found u. And subd. Keep bringing this kind of content
Worth mention for GMRS...a combination of a 50W GMRS radio at home (Base Station) matched up with a good GMRS Base Station Antenna mounted in an attic (stealth) will turn that handheld into a 8+ mile solution. No doubt, handheld to handheld is very useful...adding power and a high gain antenna (shouts louder and hears better) extends your travel radius if someone needs to leave base (home) while spouse/kids are still at home. The 805G is a good radio...pairing it with a KG1000 (also Wouxon) makes it a very impressive comms solution.
And 2 1000Gs can make a small repeater if you have to do that.
Right now things like the bridgecomm repeaters are cheap and plentiful.
If my mother lives 12 miles away can I get her the same type of gmsr radio and do handheld to handheld?
@@GondolaFishing yes but use a GMRS tuned Yagi beam outdoor antenna at each end if you need it. Many people don't get through just do to the type of antenna they use. It takes WAY WAY more power than using the right antenna for the situation. Let me know if you need any assistance. There are reasonably price alternatives to the woxuan 1000g plus, but its a great radio. I've got 3 of them i like them so much.
@@GondolaFishing Probably not. Like M.D. said, you'd need "line of sight." 12 miles is beyond the point where the Earth begins to curve away from you (downward), regarding "radio horizon." Now, If you're up on a hill that's a couple hundred feet higher than Mom (or vise versa) and there are no obstructions in between (like other hills), it might work if both of you were standing outside. Your best bet would be to set up a 50W radio at home and place a good external antenna up as high as you can...in radio, height is might! It's best if you can improve "both" sides of comms...but if you can only improve one side, it may solve your problem anyway as the improved side can "hear" better (from a weak signal on the other side) and "shout" louder (for a weak receiver on the other side).
@@goodoz9942What external antenna would you recommend for this scenario? I am in a similar situation with family being about 8 miles away from me.
The AILLUNCE HD1 IS THE BEST RADIO I USED AND OWN.
These..i mean just takeem n throwem in the trash....
Love thAt quote!😅😅😅
The antennas on the retevis is killing it. Idk if its swappable or not but if you could change the antenna it would prob be the same and your wouxun.
Thanks this was great information. What about joining groups for WSHTF IN THE DC AREA?
Try to use the same antennae for all the same radio types. That will be more appls to apples test
You can't become some have removable antennas and some have fixed.
@@MDCreekmore
Fair enough but fixed antennas on GMRS radius is a no go for me. Thanks for the video. 🤙🏻
Do the Wouxun have a silent mode for the voice and all the loud beeps etc...?
RockOn.StayFree.
I guess i just need gmrs for listening to what going on? If i can. I do have FRS already. But just try figute out gmrs caz i don't plan on get license of right now.
Good video bud I'm in the UK have my CB Radios on standby incase of SHTF. I just wish people would listen but too stupid can't help them😳
Thanks for the info M.D. 😘😍🥰
I bought some gmrs wouxun radios. Can you offer a channel or website that offers instructions on how to use them
Ive got 3 sets of 1 cobra and 2 different ones. Can i find these better longer antennas from Amazon? Or where can i find them? Great idea. Thanks Sir
When buying cheap walkie talkies be aware that sometimes the advertising claims of long range capabilities can be a smidge over exaggerated. In my experience a good rule of thumb to go by when trying to determine the actual effective range of communications you will have in real life is to use feet instead of miles. For example...If the advertised range is 25 miles just convert to feet by placing a decimal point between the numbers then drop the miles & replace with ft. behind the new number. Like this...25 miles= ( 2.5 ft.) An advertised range of 50 miles would in actuality be 50 miles =(5.0 ft)...& so on & so forth. I've found this method of calculation to be very accurate. Cheap walkie talkies work great at these ranges. At 2.5 feet apart from someone you can hear them clear as a bell no problem.
Yep, I talked about the false range claims list on radio packaging in the video.
that is sails pitch I you program your radio and fine the in put tone
I talk to my main tower on a five watt radio and have a 45 watt radio back up
Interesting review on the radios!
I found out the hard way the more expensive walkie talkies don't have much more range as the cheaper ones
That being said i bought a couple extra cheaper walkie talkies to pass out to my neighborhood just incase shtf situation we will be able to inform each other if we had some kind of a cyber attacks and cell phones don't work
Maybe a ham radio, but in my area these wouldn’t work unless many others have them. But 3-5 mile radius isn’t close to enough. I mean what info will you hear with these?
Love your videos, MD. You are definitely a good guy.
GMRS isn't to hear info, for that get a shortwave. Like I said they are for two way communications with your family, group, community who have radios and a communications plan.
Fyi.
We have an informal radio net at 7 pm.
every Tuesday night on the 146.820 Starr Mountain repeater, located in eastern McMinn County Tennessee.
Starting at 7 pm.
Good to know. Thanks.
@@MDCreekmore same here!
I'm on very limited income and I'm try figure what I should be getting.
YOU ARE DOING GOOD,KEEP TEACHING
Do you know lot bout solar generator?
Baothang..
Just bought a pair of Baofeng UV-5G GMRS radios--I hear a lot more chatter on these than the Baofeng UVR series handheld ham radios...
I just got back from playing radio (ham, not GMRS) in the woods offgrid tonight. Contacted over a hundred people on 4 different continents in about 2 hours time. The nice part about owning a radio is that YOU control the infrastructure - you're not dependent on AT&T or T-Mobile to talk to people.
GMRS has a place, and I've got a GMRS license. It's big with the overlanders. It's like CB, but with a much smaller antenna required and a lot more wattage allowed. GMRS has potential to be useful for local prepping comms. By local, I mean like 5 miles tops, with a handheld. If you're looking to get a radio, do some homework before you spend money.
Also, be very careful buying Chinese radios - the quality is usually terrible, but they do get the job done... if they work. There are models that can be (illegally) modified to work on all GMRS, MURS, and VHF/UHF ham frequencies. *wink wink*
I see owning radios like owning firearms - If you don't use them and get familiar with them when times are good, you're going to be screwed when things go sideways and you're trying to figure out awful Chinglish instruction manuals.
I could go on and on for hours here, but I'll spare you from my nerd-ery.
The video was about GMRS for preppers to stay in contact locally. It wasn't about HAM radio.
@@MDCreekmore Right. Just saying that GMRS is. "gateway drug". Not putting it down.
Ok, I'm doing a rewatch. Canning and listening don't work well together at times. I've been wondering about this for my mom and I since we aren't too far apart.
if you mother is less then a mile away your in
Thanks BROTHER Man
Much appreciated,some good info
GMRS MUR and others will be the the first to be jammed by friends and foe. You want a radio that is a lot more flexible.
Without any suggestions, that comment is worthless.
Can you make a video on that rack you put on your pick up? It looks bad ass.
Txqk300 the radios I saw for $250.00 ,for 2 cover 1000 Mike's and there's ones that cover 3000
Very informative thanks MD
What you think about those Cobra business two ways at Wal-Mart? Thought about those if they was better than Baofang but they are almost 300 dollars for a 6 pack.
thay are radios that wont work farther then the outside walls a five floors up
that's it I have 8 stores using the same radio with in a mile of me and can hear all
of them as I live in a high rise 12 floors up.
GMRS radios have to have a license. FRS don't.
Best to get a shortwave radio or ham radio and good antenna. That way you can get info from all around your area and possibly across the country when SHTF. Its not as important to talk on them as it is to gather info.
Shortwave is good but for a different purpose than GMRS or other two way communications.
great honest review. thank you.
That wouxon 805 has the standard 22 simplex channels and 5 additional repeater channels
don't you mean 8 channels that is what I have on all 4 of mine
If/when the stuff hits the fan, your world is going to become small and most likely dangerous. Instant contact with your family members out doing chores on the homestead, or neighbors scattered around your base will be invaluable...for peace of mind and safety/security. I live remote on 45 acres of rugged forested ridges and hollows. The 8watt walkie talkies work well for me . Mine do 5 miles easily ridge top to ridge top line of sight with only trees for obstruction. I have done up to 10 miles with auxiliary antennas on the rooftop of my vehicles. For me, the UHF frequencies of GMRS do much better in forested areas than the VHF frequencies of MURS.
What is the best radio walking talking GMRS for long distance?
Can you use regular batteries
why would you going to the store to buy half dead batterys to take home
You can buy gmrs repeaters and extend the range and coverage.
Yes, I mentioned that, however, most people wanting and needing simple communication with family, neighbors, Prepper group aren't going to bother with that and in most cases it's not needed.
Yaesu FT-60R with MARS modification.
Excellent video