Dear ATVC: I’m reaching out to see what people are doing for two way radio communications with your group when riding as well as emergency communications. I ride mostly in the Rockies where there is rarely cell service.

TLDR: Looking for two things. First, is there a way to mount a mobile radio on an ATV to protect it from vibration? The vibration would quickly break circuits. And Second, how to create a ground plane for a good antenna on a mostly plastic ATV?

The basic helmet bluetooth stuff is not really usable if you get more then a hundred feet or so away from others. FRS (basic walkie talkies) have too horrible of range as well. HAM is ideal but it would require all riders to get licensed.

The most feasible so far I’ve found is GMRS, CB, and MURS. GMRS needs a license but it covers a whole family for $35 every 10 years. No test. That is something that you could make a reasonable argument to your riding group. The other two are license free but with some restrictions. Mainly in watts.

Many would say that that GMRS and CB lack range. I’d argue that is usually more installation errors. Mainly antennas not installed, tuned, grounded, lack of ground plane or just crappy NGP antennas. MURS cuts through vegetation and other obstacles a little better. But bottom line is one, two, or all three are viable.

There are a few hardware challenges too. Most everything accommodates helmet speakers and mics of some sort. So that is not an issue.

First is vehicle mounted or personal (mobile versus handheld). With a vehicle mount I’d be concerned about water, dust, and more than anything vibration. Mobile radios would get rattled apart quickly. Unless someone knows of a mounting that would work to minimize vibration of your transmitter. I’m thinking a handheld that can TX on MUIRS, CB, and GMRS and carrying it in a backpack so you could have a longer handheld antenna and reduce vibration. Then have a tether that you could attach it to a fancy vehicle mounted antenna for better range and reception if needed.

Second is the vehicle antenna installation. Most of your budget should go to the antenna and install. Cheap radio with a good antenna is better than a good radio with a cheap antenna all day, seven days a week. You can buy a no ground plane needed antenna but they suck. That is one of the reasons most people complain about range and reception on these two way radios regardless of it being CB, FRS, GMRS, or anything else.

So, you need a ground plane antenna. Usually in a vehicle you’d mount the antenna on the roof or trunk. They’re made of metal so they’re the ground plane. It significantly increases the performance of the radio transmitter if tuned to the right frequencies, etc. ATVs are mostly plastic on the exterior. Of course you have Chassis ground and other installation basics covered, but how would you create a serviceable ground plane on an ATV? Radial wires? Noncontinuous ground plane under the plastic racks or fenders? Something else? Without a good quality antenna any radio is basically going to suck.

In theory MURS would cut through obstacles better but is limited in other ways. So being able to do all three is good. Handheld radios mainly for equipment longevity, but I would prefer vehicle mount if vibration could be controlled. And a vehicle mount antenna for when you need a little extra something.

Any ideas?? Or something you’ve done that could get you better range in mountainous terrain? If nothing else, to stay in touch with your group that may have taken a wrong turn or a different route? So just a couple of miles barring a mountain in your way and using HAM frequencies to bounce the signal off the upper atmosphere and back down to the other side of the mountain? Also realizing that it is a difficult proposition and it always “depends” on a million different things.