VHF Radio? Which one to get?

[braapin]

It seems as if it has become a necessity to have a VHF radio in BC with all of the logging traffic. I'm hearing about way too many accidents it seems like. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on maybe the best route to go for a cheaper handheld VHF radio so we can communicate with logging/sledder traffic. We only come up 3 or 4 times a year but just want to stay safe.

 

[Slamnek]

I just bought a kenwood hand held 9 channel radio from northwind radio in Lloydminster for $400. I use it for seismic and they work great. You have to know what frequencies you want programmed which isn't hard to get. The only thing is that it doesn't have a display so you have to know what channel is the proper frequency. Just have the shop wright them down and tape it to the back.

 

[CrankShop910]

YaesuFT-1900R

 

[Stompin Tom]

It seems as if it has become a necessity to have a VHF radio in BC with all of the logging traffic. I'm hearing about way too many accidents it seems like. I was wondering if someone could fill me in on maybe the best route to go for a cheaper handheld VHF radio so we can communicate with logging/sledder traffic. We only come up 3 or 4 times a year but just want to stay safe.

One thing to take into consideration is a hand held has a much more limited range than a standard VHF radio. I have a spare radio rigged out with a magnetic mount antenna and a lighter plug in on it so I can bounce it around any vehicle in a matter of minutes and get great range.

One other advantage to the standard radio is 128 channels is considered small now, you can get in the 200's for not all that much of a cash output, 5-600 range programed.

 

[moyiesledhead]

Baofeng UV5R. We routinely get 8 - 10km range on these on mountain logging roads, and you can program whatever frequencies you want into them. Cheap too, and they've been standing up very well.

BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Radio Interphone - US$36.33

 

[Merc63]

I just grabbed one for the price can't go wrong.

Will this pick up the freq used by loggers going up to silent pass?

 

[Rbrduk]

At those prices, should have a few extras on hand for the peeps that only ride once and awhile with your crew.

 

[ferniesnow]

Baofeng UV5R. We routinely get 8 - 10km range on these on mountain logging roads, and you can program whatever frequencies you want into them. Cheap too, and they've been standing up very well.

BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Radio Interphone - US$36.33

X2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

These are great little radios for the price. Program them to what you want. Moyie is a great programmer and knows where to get the books/software to program them.

 

[Stompin Tom]

Baofeng UV5R. We routinely get 8 - 10km range on these on mountain logging roads, and you can program whatever frequencies you want into them. Cheap too, and they've been standing up very well.

BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Radio Interphone - US$36.33

8 to 10 km range is not acceptable on logging roads, especially in hilly areas. Better than nothing at all, but if you have 8 to 10 km range, that gives you a max of 4 kms to clear if you get the first call at the max distance. With loaded trucks calling every second KM, you could possibly only hear their first call when you are only 5 km apart, which gives a max of 2 km to find a pullout, add to that the loss of range if hilly, not a good range at all. My radio has an average range of over 30 kms, often times over 50km, gives you a much clearer picture of what is happening on a road.

 

[Grizzly4323]

Baofeng UV5R. We routinely get 8 - 10km range on these on mountain logging roads, and you can program whatever frequencies you want into them. Cheap too, and they've been standing up very well.

BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Radio Interphone - US$36.33

I'll give er a try. 2 on the way!!

 

[f150truck]

8 to 10 km range is not acceptable on logging roads, especially in hilly areas. Better than nothing at all, but if you have 8 to 10 km range, that gives you a max of 4 kms to clear if you get the first call at the max distance. With loaded trucks calling every second KM, you could possibly only hear their first call when you are only 5 km apart, which gives a max of 2 km to find a pullout, add to that the loss of range if hilly, not a good range at all. My radio has an average range of over 30 kms, often times over 50km, gives you a much clearer picture of what is happening on a road.

8-10 kms is likely handheld to handheld, receiving would be dependent on transmitting radio. So they will here trucks coming for a long way. Also trucks should here them in plenty of time.

Also FYI, roads are radio assisted not radio controlled, see below from government website.

"Resource Road (RR) ChannelRR channels are used for radio assisted traffic control on resource roads. The specific RR channel
used will be posted at the entry point of the road. Please visit the Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resources Operations web page to view a map indicating where each channel is used."

 

[Stompin Tom]

8-10 kms is likely handheld to handheld, receiving would be dependent on transmitting radio. So they will here trucks coming for a long way. Also trucks should here them in plenty of time.

Also FYI, roads are radio assisted not radio controlled, see below from government website.

"Resource Road (RR) ChannelRR channels are used for radio assisted traffic control on resource roads. The specific RR channel
used will be posted at the entry point of the road. Please visit the Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resources Operations web page to view a map indicating where each channel is used."

No, receiving and transmitting are mostly dependent on the antenna on your radio. Yes wattage does come into play when transmitting, but if you have a poor antenna you defeat the wattage.

Your attitude towards "radio assisted roads" is what gets people killed on them. I have been there to help identify bodies in wrecks, I have had to call the wife of somebody who has swerved to miss a passenger vehicle and lost his life when his load came through his cab after hitting the ditch. Its not a very good feeling. Take into consideration while your taking your adrenaline induced ride up the road to get to your drop off point that you are driving into their work place, they are on the job doing what they do every day. Having you come screaming at them in a pickup with a short range radio and not knowing the road puts the other guy in a huge amount of danger.

IF you feel you have to travel on a resource road while hauling is in progress, the best practice for you is to wait at the start for an empty and follow them in, travel at their speed and follow their actions. If you have a hand held let them know you are following and they will treat you with respect. Turn off all stereos, put the phones in the glove box and pay attention. The driver of the truck you are following will let other know your their and you will arrive safe and everyone will make it home that night.

 

[lilduke]

Depends on the road I guess, and how well you know it. Keystone for example, you only have to go 6 km in to where you park, so 8 to 10
km range would be fine.

 

[braapin]

Thanks for all the input. I will look into those options.

 

[Merc63]

Baofeng UV5R. We routinely get 8 - 10km range on these on mountain logging roads, and you can program whatever frequencies you want into them. Cheap too, and they've been standing up very well.

BAOFENG UV-5R Dual Band Handheld Transceiver Radio Interphone - US$36.33

Can I input most any frequency into this with the number pad or do I need to get it programmed somewhere??

 

[moyiesledhead]

Can I input most any frequency into this with the number pad or do I need to get it programmed somewhere??

It's easier from a computer if you have the software and cable, but you can do it all from the keypad. Get this free download manual first though. The one that comes with it is crap.

The (Chinese) Radio Documentation Project

 

[moyiesledhead]

X2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

These are great little radios for the price. Program them to what you want. Moyie is a great programmer and knows where to get the books/software to program them.

Shhhhhhhhhhh! Trying to get me arrested?

We should be getting a commission from Baofeng on these things!

 

[Merc63]

Awesome thanks. It was mailed out the other day.

 

[X-it]

It is scary enough with my kenwood, I wish I had a tad at times. But what the heck at least with handhelds you don't know what is coming at you, more relaxing I guess.

 

[moyiesledhead]

It is scary enough with my kenwood, I wish I had a tad at times. But what the heck at least with handhelds you don't know what is coming at you, more relaxing I guess.

Not sure what you're trying to say here, but I have NEVER been surprised by oncoming traffic using my Baofeng handheld.....except for the people that have no radio at all of course, or the idiots that don't bother to call their km's.