How do you mount you "tactical" radio?

[Currahee]

OK I didn't know if I should post this in radios or comms.  It's mostly about radios so here I go. (Gonna take a sec to sort out pictures)

This is pretty much my radio set up now.  A Baofeng and Yaesu both with hand mics.  Until recently I wasn't attaching them to my plate carrier.  (That is a ranger band around the mic plug to secure it) I'm revisiting this whole thing.  Until two weeks ago my radio was shoved in a cargo pocket.  I know the cool guys would want a push to talk and peltors but I'm trying not to spend that much and be more versatile.



I've played with different pouches and ended up using an old USGI MOLLE mag pouch.  The radio also goes in a sock before it goes in the pouch to eliminate and spurious lights flashings.  This is the best thing I can come up with because I don't want it to be radio specific and I want it completely covered.  On the back is less than ideal because I have to take off the PC to adjust stuff. This keeps it out of the way for other stuff.



Now I need a very simple ear plug to plug in to the mic/speaker handset so that no one else can hear.  This needs a cord about 1' long but it is turning out to be very hard to find.

So what do y'all use for "on your person" tactical comms?


Lastly, everyone should have a whistle attached to their tactical gear.  It would do 50% of what you might expect a radio to do for $5 and be MUCH more reliable.

[Jackalope]

    I use a variety of pouches for my radios, some of them are military surplus and some of them are made specific for whatever model of radio that is being used.  Depending upon the "mission", different headsets and speaker/mics are used, gear should be mission driven.  Sometimes a H-250 handset is used, if I'm going to be shooting I'll use a Peltor knock-off headset.  Frequently a backpack is worn, so the radio and speaker/mic are often mounted on the pack straps, otherwise in a molle pouch on the pack or on a plate carrier or vest.

    Not sure what you're getting at with the whistle.  Yup, a whistle can be used for signalling or getting attention, but usually I'm not trying to attract attention, and a whistle won't allow me to communicate with a base that's 3 or 4 miles away.  There are more effective means of communications that won't attract attention but can still be directed to your intended recipient, i.e. a signal mirror, laser, or even hand/arm signals.  We used whistles mostly for SAR work.

[pkveazey]

I'm only going to speak to the UV-5R because that's what I use. I have about 10 of the 5 watt radios and about 5 of the 8 watt radios. I have an 8 watt unit on each bug out backpack (one for me and one for the wife). They both have speaker mikes and 15" antennas. If you go into the menu and find the menu for setting the display colors of the screen, there should also be an OFF setting and that should allow you to get rid of the sock. All of my UV-5R's came with earpieces and they can be keyed on the earpiece cord or you can set the radio to VOX. Our bug out backpacks have several fully charged extra battery packs and a Charging Dock for when we can plug into 12vdc or 120 vac to make sure we always have power for the radios. The obvious question is, "Why are all my radios UV-5R's? Its because all the battery packs and antennas fit all the other radios and I can scavenge parts off the one's that break down. They also are so cheap that they become disposable radios. I can ditch one and grab another for replacement.

For HF coms, I have an ICOM IC-718, 100 watt, 12 vdc rig with an attached LDG automatic antenna tuner in a backpack with everything I need to set up a complete station anywhere that I can get access to 12 vdc. The rig has been cut loose and can transmit on any frequency from 1.6 Mhz to 30 Mhz. The worst thing about the Radio bug out backpack is that its really heavy because of the rolls of wire, accessories, test equipment, and the radio.

I always keep a fanny pack with me and I have at least 4 others that are packed and ready to go at any time. All of them have UV-5R's attached and extra batteries.

In this comment, I'm avoiding all of my other radio equipment because it is mounted in the house or in the automobiles and wouldn't be available for hiking through the forest.

Hell, I thought I was the only person who keeps whistles in a bugout bag. We also have a hand powered horns in our bugout  bags that is really loud and sounds exactly like the air horns that boaters use.

[Currahee]

    I use a variety of pouches for my radios, some of them are military surplus and some of them are made specific for whatever model of radio that is being used.  Depending upon the "mission", different headsets and speaker/mics are used, gear should be mission driven.  Sometimes a H-250 handset is used, if I'm going to be shooting I'll use a Peltor knock-off headset.  Frequently a backpack is worn, so the radio and speaker/mic are often mounted on the pack straps, otherwise in a molle pouch on the pack or on a plate carrier or vest.

    Not sure what you're getting at with the whistle.  Yup, a whistle can be used for signalling or getting attention, but usually I'm not trying to attract attention, and a whistle won't allow me to communicate with a base that's 3 or 4 miles away.  There are more effective means of communications that won't attract attention but can still be directed to your intended recipient, i.e. a signal mirror, laser, or even hand/arm signals.  We used whistles mostly for SAR work.

The point of the whistle is, when it counts the most a whistle is an uber reliable and very cheap way to communicate.  When does it count the most? When you have to say something like "withdraw" or "online and assault" the whistle is much better than the radio.  Everyone should have a whistle, not everyone needs a radio.

[Currahee]

I'm only going to speak to the UV-5R because that's what I use. I have about 10 of the 5 watt radios and about 5 of the 8 watt radios. I have an 8 watt unit on each bug out backpack (one for me and one for the wife). They both have speaker mikes and 15" antennas. If you go into the menu and find the menu for setting the display colors of the screen, there should also be an OFF setting and that should allow you to get rid of the sock. All of my UV-5R's came with earpieces and they can be keyed on the earpiece cord or you can set the radio to VOX. Our bug out backpacks have several fully charged extra battery packs and a Charging Dock for when we can plug into 12vdc or 120 vac to make sure we always have power for the radios. The obvious question is, "Why are all my radios UV-5R's? Its because all the battery packs and antennas fit all the other radios and I can scavenge parts off the one's that break down. They also are so cheap that they become disposable radios. I can ditch one and grab another for replacement.

For HF coms, I have an ICOM IC-718, 100 watt, 12 vdc rig with an attached LDG automatic antenna tuner in a backpack with everything I need to set up a complete station anywhere that I can get access to 12 vdc. The rig has been cut loose and can transmit on any frequency from 1.6 Mhz to 30 Mhz. The worst thing about the Radio bug out backpack is that its really heavy because of the rolls of wire, accessories, test equipment, and the radio.

I always keep a fanny pack with me and I have at least 4 others that are packed and ready to go at any time. All of them have UV-5R's attached and extra batteries.

In this comment, I'm avoiding all of my other radio equipment because it is mounted in the house or in the automobiles and wouldn't be available for hiking through the forest.

Hell, I thought I was the only person who keeps whistles in a bugout bag. We also have a hand powered horns in our bugout  bags that is really loud and sounds exactly like the air horns that boaters use.

Yes, I've got two UV5rs and lot's of friends have them. for pretty much the same reason.  Yes I have all the lights and beeps turned off.

[JohnyMac]

Like Jackalope, it is mission driven However, with that written...

On my battle belt I have a radio pouch. The radio is either hooked to a push button talk switch attached to my battle belt suspenders then my Peltor muffs or if I am wearing a chest rig, to a Dogbone mic which is duck tapped at shoulder height left side to my chest rig suspender shoulder strap. Boy that was a mouthful.

I also use a standard ear piece with a discreetly hidden cord from my radio on my belt under my cover for Grey Man stiff.   

[Currahee]

Like Jackalope, it is mission driven However, with that written...

On my battle belt I have a radio pouch. The radio is either hooked to a push button talk switch attached to my battle belt suspenders then my Peltor muffs or if I am wearing a chest rig, to a Dogbone mic which is duck tapped at shoulder height left side to my chest rig suspender shoulder strap. Boy that was a mouthful.

I also use a standard ear piece with a discreetly hidden cord from my radio on my belt under my cover for Grey Man stiff.

While I agree the whole "mission drives the gear" thing.  I haven't been given an OPORD in a long time, so I strive to keep gear as versatile as possible.

I think moving the radio to the belt line might be forthcoming, but I already keep a bleed pouch in it's logical place there.

I like the looks of those ear phones you posted.  I would have liked a sturdier looking PTT.  Have you had any problems with them?  How durable are they?

I really like the old school looking hand mic.  I might get one just for nostalgia.

(I also see my new photo hosting method failed)