Can you please post the make and model number of the radios you use to communicate with friends while doing drives? Thanks

 

I've used both, the BAOFENG has a much better range. The Motorola is much older, but I'm sure updated models are still available. I bought both on Amazon.

 

I've used Baofeng, good range as mentioned above.

 

Consider the baofeng unit with 8 watt capability. Range varies depending on topography, but you’ll be far better off than your Motorola 2 way type radios.

 

You can't beat the Baofeng UV-5R TP price of $35.00. It has many functions built in than any other low priced China built radio.

 

FYI to OP, the recommend model here is an 8 watt model. TP stands for tri power which allows users to use the radio at various watts, including the 8 watt mode.

 

Here is the issue. We drive with 12 vehicles and we all have the Baofeng UV-5R and the Baofeng DF-F8HP. Our primary radio is the Baofeng DF-F8HP. One of the guys programmed the radios so we have a few channels + FRS. The problem is that when we are driving in the mountains of NC and even on regular roads we find that all of the radios are not able to communicate clearly. Sometimes you can easily hear a car 10 cars behind you but not the guy directly behind you. So confusing. If possible, could someone share their settings? Maybe we have it programmed incorrectly? Thanks

 

Great timing with this post. My driving buddies and I were just talking about radios / walkie talkies

Rapid Radios are pretty cool but are $400 for a set.

 

@Kelsey What are the key differences between the Baofeng UV-5R and the Baofeng DF-F8HP?

 

The issue you are likely running into when driving in the mountains is a well known limitation. These, and the majority of handheld radios are only capable of working in a clear line of sight. Imagine having a powerful flashlight and pointing it at another car. As long as the mountain isn’t in the way, the light will get there.

 

We solve that with motorcycle comms by using a mesh network. Sena and Cardo both offer that now. I imagine a meshnet walkie talkie is going to be prohibitively expensive for solving that issue though, as it relies on 3+ units in your driving line to relay throughout.

 

I take it you like the performance of these systems? Love your perspective on them. How is the latency?

 

Latency heavily depends on how many hops are happening. Ideally you're only hitting one relay bounce, maybe two, at which point the latency is minimal but it's there. Extreme circumstances where every unit is rebroadcasting to the next, yeah, you're going to get a ton of latency. This doesn't really happen unless you're really, really far apart. Around mountain bends I don't think you'd get more than a couple rebroadcasts happening -- can't speak much to it, since I live in Minnesota which is relatively flat. Mesh rebroadcasting is mostly just range extension here, rather than fixing line of sight problems.

 

The reason you can hear the car 10 cars behind and not the car behind you is because you are not using a quality superheterodyne GMRS radio. Check out superheterodyne units such as the Wouxun KG-905, or KG-S88G. The problem is the signal from the car behind you is overloading the receiver in your radio.

 

Thank you all! Greatly appreciated.