One of the problems when riding in a group which is most to all the time is staying in contact with each other. This is more so when the group gets split up or someone makes a wrong turn and get lost or has an accident.
We have tried several types of radio or walky-talky. Most of our riding is in CO and UT, some AZ. In this country the CB is useless and the Family radio is much the same. Put a few trees or mound of dirt between you and others and no contact.
We have found one great radio system; that is the line of BaoFeng radios. These radios are quite cheap (reasonably priced) and do a great job. Everyone in the group carries one. We have used them in UT's Sand Rafael Swell area and talked back to the women in the MH's from 17 and 24 miles. This distance was measured by the use of GPS. This country is very mountainous, to say the least.
We all have the BaoFeng UV-82HP High Power Dual Band units. You can monitor 2 channels at the same time. They do have/use the family channels but you are required to use low watt power. WE USE THE HAM CHANNELS. The ham channels are 8 watts. BECAUSE THEY ARE HAM RADIOS YOU SHOULD HAVE A HAM LICENSE. If you wish to get a license it is very cheap to get and you no longer need to know morse code. it is a simple test and given by many Ham clubs in most towns and cities.
The radios measure 5 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 and weight 8 oz. I mostly carry mine in a shoulder holster with an added hand mike. They easily fit in a shirt pocket.
We have been using the UV-82HP model. Ours are generation 2 and now they have a generation 3. Price is still about the same; less than $63.00 each & comes with one battery that will last more than 2 days; on about 12 hours. We mostly charge them every day but will go more than 2 days on a single charge. There are days that we may not need to talk on them and that greatly increases the run time. We have about 12 riders each with one and none of the radios have yet to have a problem. They have been in use for at least 5 or 6 years.
Baofeng also makes a small unit that will mount in a UTV very much like a CB but is much smaller yet. They cost about $125 but have 3 times the output of 25 watts. Model is UV-25x2
https://baofengtech.com/baofeng-radio
We have tried several types of radio or walky-talky. Most of our riding is in CO and UT, some AZ. In this country the CB is useless and the Family radio is much the same. Put a few trees or mound of dirt between you and others and no contact.
We have found one great radio system; that is the line of BaoFeng radios. These radios are quite cheap (reasonably priced) and do a great job. Everyone in the group carries one. We have used them in UT's Sand Rafael Swell area and talked back to the women in the MH's from 17 and 24 miles. This distance was measured by the use of GPS. This country is very mountainous, to say the least.
We all have the BaoFeng UV-82HP High Power Dual Band units. You can monitor 2 channels at the same time. They do have/use the family channels but you are required to use low watt power. WE USE THE HAM CHANNELS. The ham channels are 8 watts. BECAUSE THEY ARE HAM RADIOS YOU SHOULD HAVE A HAM LICENSE. If you wish to get a license it is very cheap to get and you no longer need to know morse code. it is a simple test and given by many Ham clubs in most towns and cities.
The radios measure 5 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 1 1/4 and weight 8 oz. I mostly carry mine in a shoulder holster with an added hand mike. They easily fit in a shirt pocket.
We have been using the UV-82HP model. Ours are generation 2 and now they have a generation 3. Price is still about the same; less than $63.00 each & comes with one battery that will last more than 2 days; on about 12 hours. We mostly charge them every day but will go more than 2 days on a single charge. There are days that we may not need to talk on them and that greatly increases the run time. We have about 12 riders each with one and none of the radios have yet to have a problem. They have been in use for at least 5 or 6 years.
Baofeng also makes a small unit that will mount in a UTV very much like a CB but is much smaller yet. They cost about $125 but have 3 times the output of 25 watts. Model is UV-25x2
https://baofengtech.com/baofeng-radio