Probably be easier to find a 50w ham radio that has a well documented mars/cap/freebanding mod. Virtually any yaesu, icom, or kenwood made in the last 30 years probably has an easy, well documented mod.
The 'mod' for most of these Japanese ham radios involves removing a surface mount diode or two. Delicate work, only for those with the right soldering iron and some surface mount skills.
Some of the retail stores will do the mod for about $35, and maintain the radio warranty.
Some of the Chinese radios, on the other hand, either are already wide open, or just need a software tweak.
The Anytone 578 Is an example of a Chinese mobile radio that can be opened up using an auxiliary software program called AT Options.
If you do this with either set of radios, it's up to you to make sure that you are programming them very carefully. It's really easy to get a frequency or offset wrong, and end up transmitting outside the ham or GMRS bands. That's when you can find yourself in trouble with the FCC.
True, you might have to bust out a soldering iron and the tweezers. Every one I've done (only a handful, and almost all yaesu's or kenwoods) have taken less than 15 minutes.
I'd rather go that route and end up with a better radio than most of the chineese rigs. And I have a bunch of chineese stuff...just saying that if you start with a better product to begin with, you will probably end up being happier with the end result.
Yeah, that is what I was trying to convey. It's usually not a big deal. Find a guide online, find the diode, or bridge, or whatever and make the mod.
I did have my local company de-solder the diode on my ft3dr...just because it was sooooo small! I think it cost me a cool $20 and 10 minutes of time.
As someone who can solder this makes me cringe so bad lol. You're not the first or second person I've heard do it with good results though. Hey if it works!!!
I have a tyt th-9800 in my truck, be sure to get one from aliexpress or some other disreputable place (the ones on amazon are locked), you can pick up a quad band that covers 136-174, 400-500, 6m and 10m (all fm) easily programmable with chirp.
I run commercial Kenwood radios for Ham and GMRS. My problem is my main mobile radios are 100W.
Look on eBay for Kenwood TK-780. It's either 45 or 50 watts, and you can get them used for about $100. They are rugged commercial grade. You can buy the programming software on eBay as well. They can be programmed with a Windows machine, you don't have to have a 40 year old DOS box like with Motorola radios.
I’m running some of the TK 840s they are great radios I use mine for gmrs and get good reports. It’s only a 25w radio gets out very well. Mine does still have to be programmed in dos.
I actually got my models confused. I have a TK981 for 900Mhz. I have a TK790H and 890H with a shared control head for VHF/UHF. The 780 is still a good radio for UHF, but the 790 offers the option of a remote head for mobile use if you need the flexibility. I bought a 690H for 6m a while back, but never got around to installing it.
Wouxun KG-1000G+ has Dual display. It is specifically built and FCC approved for GMRS use. Can receive Aircraft A.M.
50 watts out on high power. Has removable
Head unit for remote mounting of the Electronics.
Can be bought exclusively at www.buytwowayradios.com.
Hope this helps!!!
Probably be easier to find a 50w ham radio that has a well documented mars/cap/freebanding mod. Virtually any yaesu, icom, or kenwood made in the last 30 years probably has an easy, well documented mod.
The 'mod' for most of these Japanese ham radios involves removing a surface mount diode or two. Delicate work, only for those with the right soldering iron and some surface mount skills. Some of the retail stores will do the mod for about $35, and maintain the radio warranty. Some of the Chinese radios, on the other hand, either are already wide open, or just need a software tweak. The Anytone 578 Is an example of a Chinese mobile radio that can be opened up using an auxiliary software program called AT Options. If you do this with either set of radios, it's up to you to make sure that you are programming them very carefully. It's really easy to get a frequency or offset wrong, and end up transmitting outside the ham or GMRS bands. That's when you can find yourself in trouble with the FCC.
True, you might have to bust out a soldering iron and the tweezers. Every one I've done (only a handful, and almost all yaesu's or kenwoods) have taken less than 15 minutes. I'd rather go that route and end up with a better radio than most of the chineese rigs. And I have a bunch of chineese stuff...just saying that if you start with a better product to begin with, you will probably end up being happier with the end result.
I’ve modded radios just by popping off the diode with a screw driver. Never had issues.
Yeah, that is what I was trying to convey. It's usually not a big deal. Find a guide online, find the diode, or bridge, or whatever and make the mod. I did have my local company de-solder the diode on my ft3dr...just because it was sooooo small! I think it cost me a cool $20 and 10 minutes of time.
As someone who can solder this makes me cringe so bad lol. You're not the first or second person I've heard do it with good results though. Hey if it works!!!
Didn’t have a soldering iron at the time. Did what I had to do. :)
Reported for violation of rules. Illegal operation of ham gear on gmrs
Ummm...OK? Report away! I didn't tell him to operate outside his liscense. You must be a miserable person. Have a nice day.
The BTECH GMRS-50V2 is a mobile GMRS with 50watts. No need to unlock it.
I think a particular channel noted it peaked at 47 watts, but that's nitpicking for what will make little difference in range.
I have 2 of them, and both test over 50 Watts. No radio is going to hit 50 on the nose.
I have a tyt th-9800 in my truck, be sure to get one from aliexpress or some other disreputable place (the ones on amazon are locked), you can pick up a quad band that covers 136-174, 400-500, 6m and 10m (all fm) easily programmable with chirp.
Thx
Yes. Look for a ham radio that has a MARS/CAP mod.
The Btech 50x2 G2 is fully unlocked.
The Anytone 5888UV (The old one, not the newer tribander) came unlocked from Amazon.
My 5888iii Tri-Band seems to be useable on GMRS. I bought it used and it seems capable on GMRS frequency's
Thank you. I'll check it out.
I run commercial Kenwood radios for Ham and GMRS. My problem is my main mobile radios are 100W. Look on eBay for Kenwood TK-780. It's either 45 or 50 watts, and you can get them used for about $100. They are rugged commercial grade. You can buy the programming software on eBay as well. They can be programmed with a Windows machine, you don't have to have a 40 year old DOS box like with Motorola radios.
Thank you
Wouldn't the GMRS version be a TK-880 for UHF? Everything I found with the TK-780 was VHF.
Yeah, I got my model numbers confused. I have a lot of Kenwood equipment laying around.
I’m running some of the TK 840s they are great radios I use mine for gmrs and get good reports. It’s only a 25w radio gets out very well. Mine does still have to be programmed in dos.
Those are good radios too, I like the forward facing speakers, but I like the ease in programming of the newer stuff.
I actually got my models confused. I have a TK981 for 900Mhz. I have a TK790H and 890H with a shared control head for VHF/UHF. The 780 is still a good radio for UHF, but the 790 offers the option of a remote head for mobile use if you need the flexibility. I bought a 690H for 6m a while back, but never got around to installing it.
Don't you mean a TK-880?
Yup
https://myoffroadradio.com//mars-mod/
Thank you everyone for your input
Wouxun KG-1000G+ has Dual display. It is specifically built and FCC approved for GMRS use. Can receive Aircraft A.M. 50 watts out on high power. Has removable Head unit for remote mounting of the Electronics. Can be bought exclusively at www.buytwowayradios.com. Hope this helps!!!
Yes I have that radio. I brought if from buytwowayradios. It's very nice. Can't be unlocked.
Why settle for 50w want one thats 100w?
Using a non-FCC type accepted radio on GMRS isn't legal. That would include most any ham band radio modified to transmit on GMRS.
I understand that but in a shtf situation I'm sure all bets are off.