For many this years MOTD will be their first and I just wanted to remind everyone
that is attending to bring your radios with you .

No I don't me your boom-boxes I mean those little FSR radios that Motorola and a few other companies sell.
They are an excellent way of staying in touch with everyone else or getting in touch with those that you have lost.


Keep in mind that most if not all cell phones are useless throughout most of the Dragon.

 

These lovely little gadgets are also fairly inexpensive... $10-$30 for a pair... and provide great car-to-car communications during the group drives.

Some of the radios use just a basic channel set. Other slightly more advanced versions have 'sub-channels' which subdivide the primary channel into many smaller segments (encryption, I believe) so that you effectively get many useable channels squeezed into the same space. They also have the long-distance models with additional channels over and above the normal channels available on the cheap units.

On the group drives, we generally choose a channel that is in the range of even the cheapest models and don't use a sub-channel so that even the cheap $10 units can participate.

If you are trying to keep up with your local MINI club at Fontana and find your friends, you may want to designate a specific channel and sub-channel so that it's easy for them to find you once they get there. I did this in 2006 when a cabin-mate of mine was showing up late to the event. I kept my radio on my hip and when he arrived in the area during the Brew Swap, I was able to give him directions so he could join in the fun.

I strongly recommend buying a cheap headphone device for your radio. It's the only real option that I would insist on if I had to buy a new radio set. I've got a simple ear bud setup that fits into one ear comfortably (you don't want to use both, 'cause you are driving and need to listen to traffic). It has a lapel clip to keep the cord tucked away and a push-button mic that's near your shoulder and easy to find when you want to transmit. For a bit more $, you can buy a voice activated mic so you don't have to use your hands to transmit.

Think about your power options too. I purchased a unit that is powered by 3 AA batteries... They are fairly cheap and give me about 15-20 hours of listening time (less if you talk alot). They sell units with rechargeable batteries and charging bases which look handy if you use 'em very frequently, but I didn't want to have to think about charging 'em every time I use 'em (2-3 times a year, generally)... It's just easier for me and the way I use my radios to have some spare batteries handy and swap 'em out as needed.

They also make the long drive to/from the Dragon much more fun when you have a caravan of cars with you. Whenever someone needs a gas/food/bathroom stop, there is much less confusion. Even if you are alone in your car, you now have someone to talk to as well!

 

That or have a co-pilot that can run the radio. I agree though that if you are flying solo, you should try to be as "hands-free" as possible.

 

Already have 2! Make sure to stock up on batteries though, ours ran out last year during the caravan up.

 

Or get one that has rechargables. We didn't use ours on the trip down, but we ended up charging them at least twice while we were there.

 

I got radios and hands free devices for Xmas!

 

For those of us enamored with Smokey and the Bandit, or just haven't moved out of the 70s, is there a certain CB band we typically have to ourselves?

 

I've always wondered about installing a CB radio in Jango... would be nice for the long drive to Fontana from Texas.