My GMRS station
Two GMRS handhelds and three antennas, which is the whole station for now. Everything here is what I actually use rather than what I would recommend — I have not owned enough to recommend anything yet.
What I’m running
Baofeng UV-5G Mini
HandheldA matched pair. 5 W, Part 95E certified, removable SMA antenna, USB-C charging, and a 2500 mAh pack. The removable antenna is the reason this one stayed.
Baofeng product page · How it compares to the rest of the range
- In use since Summer 2026
- Everyday carry.
- Two radios, because one radio is a paperweight
Antennas
Three, and they swap between both radios. This is where the money goes first: antenna placement, pattern, and losses can change a contact even when transmitter power stays the same.
| Antenna | Length | Gain | Tuned for | Reach for it when |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nagoya NA-701G The short one. Barely longer than the stock rubber duck, so it stays out of the way on a belt clip and does not catch on a pack strap. BTECH product page | 5.5 in | 2.15 dBi | GMRS, 462 MHz | When you need to worry about standing out. |
| Nagoya NA-771G The long whip, and the usual answer to "why can nobody hear me". Tuned for the GMRS band rather than the ham band a plain NA-771 covers. BTECH product page | 15.6 in | 3 dBi | GMRS, 462–468 MHz | When standing out is not an issue. |
| Nagoya NA-F30G A foldable tactical whip, two and a half feet extended. Folds down when you are moving and stands up when you stop, which is the only way something this long is practical on a handheld. BTECH product page | 30 in, foldable | 3.5 dBi | GMRS / MURS, 465 / 155 MHz | Out camping, hiking, outdoor stuff — anywhere space is not limited. |
The mistake I almost made
For this station, the radio has to be FCC-certified for GMRS. I nearly bought a cheap handheld sold as a ham radio that happens to cover these frequencies — transmitting on GMRS with one is not legal, however well it works. Now I check the listing for Part 95E certification before anything else.