2 Way radios in the truck

[k0ua]

Do the truckers use it?

I don't think so.. and nothing is going to take the place of your CB strategy if you are wanting road information from the truckers on Chan. 19. We in the past have used our 2 meter amateur radio transceivers. which can give coverage up to about 25 miles between cars depending on terrain on simplex (car to car with no infrastructure) and up to 150 miles or more using the thousands of repeaters all across the country, and you can also use the internet nodes connected to many of those same repeaters to cover anywhere on the planet. You can "dial up" using touch tones on your transceiver. Those internet connections can link 2 or even dozens of repeaters together to widen your radio coverage footprint.

But I think your point was that you enjoy and profit from the trucker "chatter" and traffic advice you are getting on Channel 19 CB (27.195Mhz)

 

[k0ua]

I am a ham and always used commercial equipment. Motorola being my preffered brand. Nice performance and police/fire type of rugged construction. There is tons of this stuff available on E-Bay, cheap! You just need to find someone that knows what is what and can program it. There is always some radio type geek around, you just need to find them.

so... VE3..who?

 

[Garandman]

Have you ever seen a massive traffic jam and tried to listen to the truckers for the best way to get around?
They never message me on my phone.//

Or you can download the Waze app for free and it will route you the fastest way and report police. It's quite amazing if you have cell service.

https://www.waze.com/

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would be happy to give call signs on a private message.

 

[George2615]

I don't think so.. and nothing is going to take the place of your CB strategy if you are wanting road information from the truckers on Chan. 19. We in the past have used our 2 meter amateur radio transceivers. which can give coverage up to about 25 miles between cars depending on terrain on simplex (car to car with no infrastructure) and up to 150 miles or more using the thousands of repeaters all across the country, and you can also use the internet nodes connected to many of those same repeaters to cover anywhere on the planet. You can "dial up" using touch tones on your transceiver. Those internet connections can link 2 or even dozens of repeaters together to widen your radio coverage footprint.

But I think your point was that you enjoy and profit from the trucker "chatter" and traffic advice you are getting on Channel 19 CB (27.195Mhz)

Channel 19 is 27.185 not 27.195.
27.195 used to be called channel 19A. Not a legal CB channel. Just like 3A, 7A, 11A, 15A, 19A, 22A. 22A (27.235) later became channel 24 when the original 23 channels were expanded to 40 channels. Many times these frequencies were used for RC car control frequencies.

 

[k0ua]

Channel 19 is 27.185 not 27.195.
27.195 used to be called channel 19A. Not a legal CB channel. Just like 3A, 7A, 11A, 15A, 19A, 22A. 22A (27.235) later became channel 24 when the original 23 channels were expanded to 40 channels. Many times these frequencies were used for RC car control frequencies.

Right you are..

 

[Lineman North Florida]

We used to use CB's down here in the deep South when we were running our hounds and hunting, but most of us have gone to VHF radio's, Kenwood, I-Com etc, and we talk truck to truck 10 or 12 miles, you can buy these radios brand new off of Amazon for 125.00 thru about 175.00 for the mobile units and get a good hand held Baofeng for about 40.00.

 

[MitchellB]

I still have my CB in my old truck, my ham radio, a couple of handheld (HT) radios in the console and usually my cell phone with me. Not many folks use CB anymore in their cars, but the truckers sure do and some 4-wheelers. I also have a portable CB radio/speaker setup that can be plugged into a cigarette lighter with a magnetic antenna that radio can sit on the hump or seat. I will sometimes loan this outfit to another driver/car (without a radio) so that both vehicles can have radio communication. I have also given a person a handheld radio to talk/guide me backing up my trailer into a tight spot when I can't see them in my mirrors for hand signal directions or hear them. I have my 2m/440 50 watt amateur radio mounted in my old truck, but I'm the only one in the family with a license to use ham radio, but that can sometimes patch into the telephone system to make phone calls with the right repeater location. FRS (VHF) radios can be pretty cheap to own, sound good and anyone is legal to use them like (AM) CB radios. Their range is limited, but work good in a large areas like parking lots, shopping malls and close together vehicle caravans. Cell phones can work too, but sometimes cost money per call/minute (like mine) or are limited to metro areas within cell towers range. I still think every vehicle could benefit from having an old tried and true CB radio mounted inside. Many years ago before cell phones, everyone in our family had a CB in their car and I still have my base station radio set up in the house with an antenna mounted on the roof that stayed turn on all day long to listen for someone trying to contact home. My poor man's cell phone service, but today there is no reason to limit yourself to any one form of communication.

 

[handirifle]

WOW I thought I set this thread up to notify my when I got replies, but it didn't.

Anyway, thanks for the responses. First off, I am not interested in cell phone apps or using the cell phone. Distracted driving laws are cropping up all over the place, and especially here in Kalifornia. My daughter almost got a ticket (he let her off) for holding it, using the NAV part. Finally convinced the cop she wasn't talking on it. No desire to get into a pissn contest over using a phone.

Back in the early 80's when I used to do AC work for a living, our shop had a old Motorola base station with a 50ft tower, and each service truck had a radio. The amps for those were huge, and sat behind the seat. I was told they were 90W and I have talked as far as 45 miles away with them, to the base. We got 20-25 mobile to mobile. No idea what those were but they were sure nice. Any ideas?

I know VHF radios tend to do better in town and in the hills since the UHF are more line of sight. The little GMRS radios are not cutting it. Am sittin in Las Vegas tonight, going the the NFR here Monday, then the Cowboy Christmas. Got separated from our friends while in town and were 1/4-1/2 mile away and could not understand a word. That's not what I want.

Are the CB's better in town, and the hills?

I THINK this was either the radio the guy told me about (that he could reprogram), or it's similar. I think he said that because I wanted to comm with friends, and they MIGHT have to have the same radio, or same type otherwise. What type are these?
Icom IC-F5011 VHF Mobile Two Way Radio

 

[k0ua]

WOW I thought I set this thread up to notify my when I got replies, but it didn't.

Anyway, thanks for the responses. First off, I am not interested in cell phone apps or using the cell phone. Distracted driving laws are cropping up all over the place, and especially here in Kalifornia. My daughter almost got a ticket (he let her off) for holding it, using the NAV part. Finally convinced the cop she wasn't talking on it. No desire to get into a pissn contest over using a phone.

Back in the early 80's when I used to do AC work for a living, our shop had a old Motorola base station with a 50ft tower, and each service truck had a radio. The amps for those were huge, and sat behind the seat. I was told they were 90W and I have talked as far as 45 miles away with them, to the base. We got 20-25 mobile to mobile. No idea what those were but they were sure nice. Any ideas?

I know VHF radios tend to do better in town and in the hills since the UHF are more line of sight. The little GMRS radios are not cutting it. Am sittin in Las Vegas tonight, going the the NFR here Monday, then the Cowboy Christmas. Got separated from our friends while in town and were 1/4-1/2 mile away and could not understand a word. That's not what I want.

Are the CB's better in town, and the hills?

I THINK this was either the radio the guy told me about (that he could reprogram), or it's similar. I think he said that because I wanted to comm with friends, and they MIGHT have to have the same radio, or same type otherwise. What type are these?
Icom IC-F5011 VHF Mobile Two Way Radio

The Icom is a multichannel programmable 50 watt VHF hi band mobile radio. This would typically be set up for you on one of the general business channels, like 151.835 Mhz for example. You will need a business band license. You will need an antenna installed for the vehicle, (I like Larson products the best) and of course if you intend to operate a base station you will need a license for that and an antenna (tower or pole to support it) and a power supply for that 12 volt radio. The ranges you mentioned see about right for average terrain for this power level .

You are building a radio SYSTEM here, so your friends are going to be a part of your system. This is not an "off the shelf" radio that anyone can buy and use. All of this will need to be set up and licensed. Keep in mind I have been out of the business for many years, but this is how I remember it. Perhaps others still in the 2 way business would care to comment.