UHF Radios?

I was planning to go on an off-road event in about 3 weeks. Contacting the organizers, I found out that they have a requirement to have a UHF radio. Makes sense, I guess, if you are trying to keep a larger group organized but it puts me in a position of needing to get a crash course. I usually go in smaller groups with friends and have never needed radios.

Recommendations of brands? Handheld vs hard mounted? Anything special I should watch out for?

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Bob

1. First of all you should check the local laws and regulations regarding frequency plan, mode and power, allowed to be used freely.

2. Check with the organizers what would be the used frequency and/or mode - PMR, FRS, FDMA. (of course that is expected to be harmonized with local regulations)

3. Consider renting one.

4. Ideally a handheld transceiver to avoid unnecessary cables and antennas.

5. If money isn't an issue, go big: Yaesu, Icom, Motorola (black & rugged models)

6. Budget wise, go for hobby Motorola's or Asian replicas of heavy duties radios (Puxing, Wouxun, Baofeng)

Must of the off road clubs that I am a member of suggest that you bring a UHF radio since it can transmit further distances than CB radios and with less noise. Locally the most common inexpensive UHF/VHF hand held radio is the Baofeng UV-5r. Recently found it on EBay for $20.59 with free shipping. You can also program FRS and GRMS frequencies on this radio.
When vehicles are with in eye sight then the hand held with rubber antenna is sufficient, but for further distances you should consider the purchase of a magnetic mount antenna to connect to the screw on antenna connection.
I own a couple of the UV-5r's; the Chinese have tried to copy Yaesu and Kenwood, but the quality in build and electronic filtering is not quite there.
My preference are Yaesu radios of which I have several. They are easy to program and their performance is exceptional.
You should consider... to use one of these radios you should have a Ham Radio License of Technician.

Yep, won't everyone transmitting need a license?

Thanks for the comments. I will look at the regulations first. Sometimes I think the Philippines doesn't have any laws but I still want to do it right.

The frequency is 462.675Mhz. I'm not sure what mode they use but I think most of these radios are programmable. Correct?

Handheld is what I would prefer and sounds like there isn't much of a downside for this use.

Sounds like Yaesu is getting the most votes for quality. I'll have a look. I have seen numerous club postings for the Baofeng. I don't like going for cheap but I'm OK with inexpensive if the quality is decent. If Yaesu (or one of the other high quality radios) can't easily be found, it sounds like Baofeng would be a good fill-in? even if temporary?

The event is in 3 weeks but I likely only have a week or so to get set and signed up so I will begin a serious search.

Thanks again. Any additional comments are welcome.

The frequency 462.675 is CH 20 on FRS and GRMS. You can talk on a FRS without a license, but to talk on a GRMS; you really should have a technicians license. I own two Baofeng UV-5 radios and I have both of them programmed to talk on ALL the FRS/GRMS frequencies since you never know what kind of radio someone will bring while off roading.
Most of the people that I have observed in the rural areas of PI using 2 meter radios are not licensed.