CB, 2-way, walkie talkie, etc. questions

[Hay Dude]

What are the high points of 2-way radios. Would like to talk to employees directly, while working in tractors together in fields. I have only a superficial knowledge. Anything hands free would be preferable, but not required. Range of 5 miles would be great, but 2-3 miles ok since we also have cell phones.
The micro CB’s looked pretty cool, but walkie talkies can be very effective, too.
If it matters, we have hilly obstructed terrain.
Anyone have suggestions?

in first minute of search, found these....looks kind of simple, long range? Midland Micromobile MXT105 (2 Radios)

 

[Rustyiron]

I miss my Nextel
Check out "V belt and son" on YouTube, he uses some type of hands free communication that's integrated into a helmet.
They do forestry mulching and are big Dodge truck fans and Diamond g/n trailer fans also, right up you're alley

 

[Jchonline]

You have to register with the FCC to use GMRS radios. They do have more power than the simple 2 ways you buy at big box stores, but still only a few watts of transmit power. The best option is Amateur radio, but everyone using it needs to have a license as well.

As for distance....the truth is you just need to get one and try it. Lots of variables could affect the range (interference, line of sight, etc). From the top of a hill I can make 5w do some amazing things!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Kind of depends how legal you want to be and how close to population centers you are to get away with bootleg operation. I like Analogue VHF FM, 10 maybe 30 watt. A lot of high quality Motorola Gear available cheap! A few miles in hilly terrain, mobile to mobile is asking a bit much. And that's the thing. Those systems are GREAT. No beeps, and data bursts, just good loud audio, BUT it has be be designed and work for your conditions. No good if it's hit and miss. Looking into more reliable operation and you're into a base/tower or repeater. Base tower will extend base to mobile range but you need the repeater on a tower to get improved mobile to mobile range.

There are outfits you can rent repeater time from. Nowadays on Digital Trunked systems.

 

[3Ts]

There was a thread on this not to long ago with the MURS radios being recommended. I did a search for it but it did not show up.

 

[Hay Dude]

Oh man, now you guys are talking “radio tech”....no comprende senior...

 

[Industrial Toys]

I don't know anything about MURS. Did a little reading. I see no mobile radios. Walkie Talkies have their purpose for sure, but for a fleet, mobiles is what you want. They are always there, no batteries, good loud audio and an outside antenna.

 

[LittleBill21]

your not going to see 5 mile transmission in hilly area's prolly less then 1 mile to be honest, these radio's to a degree are line of sight., there is a legal way and non legal way, both will require a repeater of some sort on the highest hill to get anywhere close to the 5 mile range. this includes ham, gmrs, and murs.

if everyone has cell phone's, and you have cell reception, then Zello by far will be the easiest, and do pretty much everything and more, and has no fee's, and allows photo and text transmission as well.

 

[MikeInEburg]

...The best option is Amateur radio, but everyone using it needs to have a license as well.

OP wants communications for employees, so amateur radio isn't appropriate.

I'd either get classic commercial land mobile radios or GMRS with a portable repeater mounted in a vehicle - park the vehicle on top of a hill. Requires licenses, but now $35 per family unit.

 

[Industrial Toys]

You have to know what you want. A friend worked for Motorola, and I set him up with a difficult friend and neighbor who has a Golf course. Guy says he JUST wants to talk from his house to the club house. So we get him a base at the house and a portable. Next thing he complains. Wife drove off to town and he lost her! We yanked the stuff out and that was the end of that.

I can't believe the range markings on those consumer walkie talkie sets. They should be sued for false advertisement.

 

[Hay Dude]

So CB radios require the license?
im not opposed to it. Just don’t understand if walkie talkie would work on hilly ground for more than a mile or 2.

is a watt of power the same in cheap units as in expensive units?

are the channels on CBs the same as channels on a walk-in talkie?
is there such thing as a CB/walkie talkie?

Sorry for all the beginners questions

 

[Topzide]

CB doesn't require a license. You can get base stations, mobile and handheld CB's. You get 40 channels across the platforms. Good for a mile or two with hills, maybe a bit more. Allows you to have units in trucks, tractors or wherever needed. Low cost compared to true mobile units!

 

[k0ua]

Keep in mind the CB band (27 Mhz HF radio) will soon change in nature due to the 11 year sunspot cycle. We are now entering cycle 25 and it is expected to peak in the next 5 years or so. What does this mean for the users of 27 Mhz CB? It means that it will likely get much more crowded as the sunspot level and solar flux both rise causing F2 ionospheric layer propagation to increase. This means that nationwide and even worldwide communications can be supported at times on these frequency's. Remember there are only 40 channels to share. What might work perfectly today for your local under 5 mile communications might be useless in a year or two because of thousands of other users on the chosen channel. You may have noticed my choice of "weasel words here like can and may etc." as nothing can be totally predicted concerning Ionospheric propagation and sunspot levels.

This is the main reason I never recommend CB radio for anyone desiring local short range communications. . Although as stated it CAN work perfectly fine during sunspot quiet times. You pays your money and you takes your choice here.

There are 3 other choices FRS, MURS and GMRS. You can pretty much throw out FRS as it is limited to 1/2 watt units with fixed antennas. Think kids walkie talkies blister packed at Wal-Mart. They are not going to do what you want to do. And they share channels with GMRS which will have typically much more powerful units. So toss FRS unless you needs are within a block or two.

That leaves MURS and GMRS

 

[k0ua]

You can read all about MURS below on the FCC link, but it is a 2 watt regulated service with no license required in the VHF spectrum.

Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)

About Rule Part 47 C.F.R, Part 95

www.fcc.gov

Then we come to GMRS, which DOES require a single license for each family. It is in the UHF spectrum and allows much more powerful radios and antenna systems even including repeaters. You can read about it here. Be sure to open each tab and read all of the sections. Then come back here for the things you didn't understand.

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

AboutRule Part47 C.F.R, Part 95 Subpart ERadio Service Code(s)ZA - GMRS

www.fcc.gov

If you wish to talk to me directly, we can communicate over the phone if you like.

 

[Tinhack]

I still have my old 23-channel CB base station from the late 70s. At night, I used to talk to the World! That was some unit. The final is pushed a little though--About 8.5W as I recall.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I don't follow sunspot cycles so don't know how it was in the mid 70s. I just know you couldn't hear the person down the street but ARKANSAS was blaring in loud and clear and when he wasn't talking, the noise level was not to be believed! Remember one guy cursing "watch out where you swingin them beams". Funny, I thought it was a construction site! Beam is a large rotatable antenna.

IF I were you. I would try and find out if some little communications company was running a (Time Share) repeater service in your area. Get you set up with some good used radios maybe. Maybe Google "Mobile Communications"

 

[Toyboy]

The BIG problem with CB radios today is there is no courtesy on any of the channels like there was back in the 70's. Language has turned into a dumpster fire of obscene words. Darn near impossible to even want one in the car when traveling anymore because of all the trash talk.
CB's I would definatly try to avoid.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have one siting in the back floor of my truck that I bought for maybe ten bucks at a thrift store. Plus a mag mount Larson Antenna, costing many more times than the radio.

If I get caught in a traffic jam of unknown origins, I throw that on the roof and I guarantee you, I will know within minutes what's going on. Other modern technology seems all about offering you BS answers.

 

[MossRoad]

Maps on the phone show you traffic jams far up ahead, the length of the jam, and you can plan exits and bypasses before you get there. Mount it in a holder and it's hands free compliant, since you can voice activate all of it.

 

[MossRoad]

... since we also have cell phones...

Do those work reliably in your locations?