CB radios

[RayIN]

A lot of truckers were using those until the Coast Guard stepped in. Something about pesky federal laws... That's what caused the switch to MURS.

The closest CG to our area is 400 miles North to lake Michigan.

 

[Jstpssng]

The closest CG to our area is 400 miles North to lake Michigan.

It's still illegal. There is a reason they are called "Marine" radios

 

[Oaktree]

Unlike previous replies, my CB radios are not noisy and channels crowded above channel 30. Out where we live there is very little CB band traffic, I hear a trucker on the highway once in a while.

I've noticed the same thing. Hooked one up to a power supply & antenna a few years ago and most channels were completely dead, a far cry from what they were like 40 years ago.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’ve been farming for 15+ years and continue to be frustrated by which “system” to use.
I’ll probably be retired by the time I figure it out.

We use typical small walkie talkies charged while in tractor cab. They work for about 1/2-1 mile, but we have very hilly ground here.

I’d like something better, but it’s so damn complicated.

 

[Topzide]

@Hay Dude , the GMRS system would work the best as you could get some 15 watt mobiles to put in the cabs. You can make them go from tractor to truck pretty easily with extra mounts and power cords that plug into "lighter" power sockets.

If you have fields all pretty close to one another, you could do a simple repeater that runs on solar and battery.

You can use "walkies" with individuals for spotting on loading and the such.

 

[Hay Dude]

Walkie talkies work pretty well for my situation. I bought 4 of them. They came with 2 chargers.
So far they are OK. When we get out of their range, we switch to cellies, but I still find myself wanting something better, but real convenient.

 

[D'oh]

It's still illegal. There is a reason they are called "Marine" radios

There are still Channels available on VHF that are not Marine Band. Logging Roads here use VHF (FM) Radios as do Police and Road Maintenance Crews. There are even Repeater Towers with Phone Access (if one pays for use) with a Keypad Mike.

Even UHF Channels, but around here VHF is used.

 

[bmaverick]

There are still Channels available on VHF that are not Marine Band. Logging Roads here use VHF (FM) Radios as do Police and Road Maintenance Crews. There are even Repeater Towers with Phone Access (if one pays for use) with a Keypad Mike.

Even UHF Channels, but around here VHF is used.

View attachment 2347900

Oh those are the higher 2M freq. and below the WOX public service weather channels. A bunch of background crap out there like packet radio and pulsing tones that are very annoying.

 

[bmaverick]

Walkie talkies work pretty well for my situation. I bought 4 of them. They came with 2 chargers.
So far they are OK. When we get out of their range, we switch to cellies, but I still find myself wanting something better, but real convenient.

You need to dump those silly 0.5W FRS walkies-talkie radios and go full GMRS.

GMRS goes from 5W up to 50W radios.

Here is the break down of FRS vs GMRS vs MURS

FRS 1-7:
FRS only: 0.5 watt maximum
GMRS: 5 watt maximum (more power here than CB)
Repeater use: prohibited (simplex only)
License/call letters required: only when operating GMRS equipment greater than 0.5 watt (people sometimes use handles on FRS and GMRS; call letters must always be announced on-air regardless)
CTCSS/DCS: allowed
Regulation (FRS): 47 CFR 95.194c
Regulation (GMRS): 47 CFR 95.179

FRS 8-14:
FRS only: 0.5 watt maximum
GMRS: prohibited (though most mainstream GMRS HTs do include 0.5 watt coverage of 8-14 for interoperability purposes)
Repeater use: prohibited (simplex only)
License/call letters required: no
CTCSS/DCS: allowed

This is where GMRS SHINES !

GMRS 15-22 (a.k.a. 550-725)
FRS only: not applicable (typically no kids messing in this area)
GMRS: 50 watts maximum (Power equal to many 2M ham radios.)
Repeater use: allowed; +5 MHz shift
License/call letters required: always; people sometimes use handles on GMRS but call letters must always be announced on-air regardless
CTCSS/DCS: allowed (may be required to access repeaters)
Other restrictions: Channels 19 and 21 (650/700) not permitted for use near the Canadian border

MURS
All channels: 2 watts maximum
Bandwidth: 1-3: 11 kHz; 4-5: 20 kHz
Deviation: 1-3: 2.5 kHz; 4-5: 5 kHz
Repeater use: prohibited (simplex only)
License required: not required for personal use, may be required if used during the course of duties in a place of business; people sometimes use handles on MURS when conducting personal communications
CTCSS/DCS: allowed

See also:
Family Radio Service - The RadioReference Wiki
General Mobile Radio Service - The RadioReference Wiki
Multi-Use Radio Service - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Why not just a Cell Booster? At least then you are calling Someone. Whole Room Boosters are relatively inexpensive, and when you want those quiet times, just shut it off.

That is often as useless as mammary glands on a male bovine.
I've a booster in my Mississippi house. I've got "dead areas" for my cell phone less than a hundred feet away. So IF I had an accident I couldn't call the wife, or emergency.
Frequently on local roads there are "skips" in cell service.