Frederic

Welcome to the club @E.C. TAN !

Nice review below: https://geardiary.com/2013/05/23/baofeng-uv-5ra-review-can-a-50-ham-radio-be-any-good/

I leave it up to anyone to buy whatever they want. I only advise newbies to start with a radio that is not too expensive and easy to set up for the main reason that starting a hobby is not a cheap thing and they will be confronted with many other investments along the way. Once you reach the point that you fully understand the functionalities and flaws of that radio, you can perfectly upgrade to a Yaesu or something more professional. The MT777 (now made by Crony) is sharing lots of components with the Baofeng radios. I recently programmed a Crony radio with a Baofeng programming cable and Baofeng software. The main components to look at are: * Sound: A 200dhs radio will probably sound louder and more crisp than a 50dhs model. * Battery: A 2000mAh battery will last longer than a 1200mAh one. * Build quality. * Availability of accessories, support, etc...

There are some guys on Youtube that did some trials with bigger antennas, some with better results, some with much worse results as the unit is normally calibrated with the standard antenna. Especially the UV5R is super popular in USA with the HAM radio guys, so they try out all these things.

Correct i was in DM earlier this week and saw a banner that showed them at 75AED per piece. The Kenwood TK-UV3 is indeed mostprobably a chinese knockoff. That's why i am more inclined to go for Baofeng due to the amount of information, tutorials, and accesories available.

These towhooks are fine, and as it's a recent vehicle they will be in good condition. See you soon !

Welcome to Carnity!!

Thanks for the nice introduction @Gregory Perkin ! Another proud Mira member That sure looks like a great ride. Welcome to the Carnity family, where you will learn all there is to know about offroading in the UAE. Don't hesitate to use the forum to post questions, we are here to help !

Hi @Rinelle Sanaani i've noticed you signed up for both Newbie drives. Please take note these are two different Newbie drives in different areas (Dubai and Sweihan). Please select one of the drives. Thanks !

Hi Jorge, These Carnity spare radios are not for sale as we need them now on the busy off-road season. Please have a look at the Advice section where I wrote a list of recommended models available in dragon mart. (Crony MT777, Baofeng UV5R) For the flag the AOR flag is a very good option. Some Dragon Mart shops sell flags too, or a fishing pole properly mounted with a flag on it also works great.

Hi @Nayan Shenai both are very good radios but the Kenwood will be more difficult to program from what i have seen and read. The Baofeng UV-9R will probably be easier to program as Baofeng has lots of enthusiast users with Youtube tutorials. Also batteries and accesories are easier to find for Baofeng radios.

Congrats @balaji0007 !

Congrats ex-Koleos man !

Congrats @Szymon Stankiewicz !

Join us in exploring the Al Qudra Desert to see what's beyond the lakes, and learn the art of offroading at the same time ! This area is a very versatile playground for Absolute Newbies on their first offroad adventure. Why should i join ? We will teach you how to drive offroad safely and learn the best offroad driving and recovery techniques. If you have already driven in sand before then you can learn more from experts having decades of offroading experience in the UAE. This area offers a good mix of playable long set of dunes and broad ridge to test your off-road control. Can my vehicle do this ? This drive is open for all 4x4/4WD/SUV/AWD vehicle having 8-10 inches of ground clearance and front and rear tow hooks. If in doubt please first announce your questions on the drive thread so we can advise you further. Can i bring passengers ? Yes of course, but if you are absolute new to offroading it is better to drive alone first to avoid any distractions. What can i expect ? The drive will start with a detailed briefing, followed by 2-3 hours of driving in sand dunes and then followed by a break for refreshments over a feedback and assessment session for each offroader. You will learn about the following subjects: Introduction to off-roading Desert driving basics and etiquette Desert driving tips, techniques, myth and best practices Off-road and safety gear familiarization and recovery procedures Vehicle orientation, risk analysis, deflation and outdoor safety advice Are you joining us for the first time ? Please share your vehicle details below Prior off-road experience (Yes/No) Confirm front and rear tow hooks in good condition and usable Level: Absolute Newbie, Newbies and above (All level) When: 06 March 2020 Meeting time: 6:45 AM (SHARP - Without any exceptions) Meeting Point : Al Qudra https://goo.gl/maps/FbLs4vy99taAEzbTA Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance. What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks, smiles, stories, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Approximate finish time: 12:00 PM - (much before Friday prayer) Friday Prayer Mosque: The Endurance Masjid - https://goo.gl/maps/SXmkx2jntnK85DzB7 MUST READ: First off-road drive checklist Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities Off road Driving Etiquette's Off-road Convoy Rules Off roading - Everything you need to know Please RSVP on the below calendar.

Once again you took me there, and I’m so glad you made it all back safe and sound and with unforgettable memories !

@Michael sammy after testing today, it seems Carnity Channel 2 is indeed getting some interference within your vehicle. We will take note of this and make sure that your next convoy that you are assigned too is on another frequency. @Szymon Stankiewicz i was able to program your Crony CN988 with a Baofeng cable and Baofeng BF480 Software (go figure). I was pretty impressed with the battery size, build quality, and volume. Looks like you have a good model. Just unfortunate that it does not have a display, so for re-programming you will always need software / laptop and programming cable. @balaji0007 Your Baofeng 888 is programmed as following: Channel 1-2-3-4 = CARNITY CHANNEL 1 Channel 5-6-7-8 = CARNITY CHANNEL 2 Channel 9-10-11-12 = CARNITY CHANNEL 3 Channel 13-14-15= CARNITY CHANNEL 4 Channel 16 = CARNITY CHANNEL 5 (Backup Frequency) To the other newbies still looking for a radio i would like to advise against buying a walkie-talkie without display, as it needs to be programmed with a laptop, software, and programming cable. We can recommend following models that are equipped with a LCD display: Motorola MT777 or Crony MT777 (same) Baofeng UV5R Prolab WT5-WD Crony CN888 All are available in Dragon Mart. If you have any questions please ask on this thread. @Emad Malaeb @Kalahari @Hafiz Abdul Rahman @Ralph Geonzon @Nayan Shenai @Shiju Manuel @Nizam Mohammed @Najeeb Mohammed @Chaitanya D @Jolly Abraham @Rafal W. @Jamy B. @Jihad Hachem @andersonlorente @Anvar Sadath Bekal @Jorge Stepniak Felippe @Nikhil Saju Paul

Hi @Michael sammy you can post your images in the Gallery. On the homepage, just click on GALLERY and you'll find a gallery for every drive we did.

Trip Report Convoy 3 Again a beautiful morning in the sand with wonderful people ! With @Shamil as my second lead, and @Xaf at the back to sweep and assist, I was feeling quite comfortable. Because my wifey @Vanessa8580 had her first official drive I had to reluctantly hand over my little blue Pajero and came out with its younger and taller sister. That took a while to get used too of course, but that’s normal. @Nayan Shenai managed great with his Ford Explorer, same as @Szymon Stankiewicz, @Rafal W., @Shiju Manuel, @Anvar Sadath Bekal, @Sherif Hamed, and of course @Vanessa8580. We had some refusals and some stucks which is always a good opportunity to learn and practice shoveling and rope recovery. All kept a positive spirit and smile handy. One of the good things about this area is the Pink Rock climb, as it’s for many people a first time where they can really put the pedal to the metal and observe how the car reacts and behaves. My sincere thanks goes to @Shamil and @Xaf who both impressed me with excellent recovery techniques, composed behavior to explain the right steps to the newbies, and proactiveness to quickly detour where needed or to help out someone else. You both might have had Liwa on your mind, but your heart and spirit was with us 👍. I hope you all had fun and some challenges along the way, and look forward to our next drive !

@Jihad Hachem welcome to Carnity ! kindly provide the following info: - Which car are you driving ? - Any prior off-road experience ? - Are the vehicle’s front and back towpoints in good condition?

@Anvar Sadath Bekal Welcome to Carnity ! Please share with us the following: * Which 4x4 will you be driving ? * Any prior offroad experience ? * Are the vehicle's front and back towhooks in good condition ?