C. B. radio users??????????? question.

[Marshall R]

My father and I have communication problems. When we pass each other in the hay field, he makes all kinds of hand gestures of what he wants me to do.

Of course, I most of the time have no clue what he is trying to get across to me. He has now resorted to calling my cell phone every 3 minutes it seems, which is driving me crazy.

I know a bunch of you larger farmers have radios in your tractors and trucks. Have any of you found a good deal on a decent set of radios that we could mount in the tractors and the two trucks?

Oh, we are usually in the same field working, so the range is very minimal. When we are not in the same field, we usually are no more than 1/2 mile apart, woods between us, no further than 1 mile, tops.

Thanks for your replys.

Marshall

 

[beenthere]

Maybe a few one-on-one training sessions to get the hand signals down.

I'd think the cell phone would be as handy or handier than the CB radio.

Seems like too, if you are haying, that each of you would know what needs to be done and when. Other than waving in acknowledgement, just getRdun.

 

[banjodunn]

G'day if you are under about 3 mi apart then the little hand held units are great we use them if we don't have uhf radios in any of the vehicles and over here you can get a pretty good set for about $100 pr


Jon

 

[/pine]

for $50 or less you can get some very nice walkie-talkie's...

check Sams club or Costoc etc...I think even Northern tool has some that reach 20 miles in that price range...you can get a set good for a couple of miles for $25...

leave them on low power stand by and the batteries last a very long time even with moderate use...

or wally-world

Search results for walkie talkie - Walmart

 

[Marshall R]

My father is 74 years old, I am 42. He is the micro-manager from, h.........ll. I dont care if I have stepped up on the tractor 1 million times, he will still tell you to step up on the bottom step, before stepping onto the second step. :laughing:

I think he just like telling me what to do. Anyway, he hasn't gone to the same hand signal school. He changes his had signals about every 5 minutes for the same thing that he is trying to get across.......:laughing:

I am used to using radios from my first profession, so I suggested to him for us to get c.b. radios and he was all over that.

Marshall.

 

[KB9UDE]

A good set of Family Radio Service or FRS radios can go up to several miles. These should work good and would be portable. You can get them at Wal Mart or Radio Shack or...any consumer electronics store and no license fees.

 

[Marshall R]

I have a set of the walkie talkies. They work ok, but pop has a hard time understanding what I am saying, and he has a hard time pushing the recessed button and then,,,,,,,start talking.

Usually, I get the reply from him in mid sentence because he wont push the botton first and then start talking, He likes to start talking and somewhere in there, oh, push the button. :laughing:

Marshall

 

[Hawghauler]

Get a third one for his wife to monitor him. :laughing: Even the micro manager has his Kryptonite.

 

[/pine]

Some of the walkie-talkie's have setting so one party does not have to do anything to listen or transmit... i.e., you hear everything going on around the "monitoring" unit...but if you TX from the other unit it over-rides the monitor setting...

 

[jenkinsph]

I agree that the FRS radios are the simple best choice.

But are you really sure that is what you want to do?:laughing::ashamed:

I would stick with the hand signals and stop get off and go the house if I didn't know what I was doing.

 

[beenthere]

.................... He has now resorted to calling my cell phone every 3 minutes it seems, which is driving me crazy.
.....................Thanks for your replys.

Marshall

Marshall
Not sure why this cell phone isn't the best system for you.
First, your father apparently will use it.

Second, seems no more of a hassle than a CB radio or walkie-talkie system. Still have to push the button to talk on the CB.

Third, any system can be ignored by the other.

But wish you well. Nice to have your dad in the picture here able to help.

 

[buck12]

As others have said cheap hand held units would work. Stick it in a pocket. Most have a call feature that can be set to beeb or virabrate.

 

[newbury]

If your dad is 74 I'd suggest you try to get him a unit with a handheld mike. Used to be a lot of the handhelds could accommodate a mike. Just make some holder for the unit on his tractors, this way he won't have to fumble much.

A lot of us old f@rts have dwindling eyesight and I actually find it easier to use a hand held corded mike. Get the unit for your dad set up with the channel so all set up so all he has to do is grab the mike, squeeze and talk.

 

[2fast2]

I recommend the handhelds too.
Motorola MR350 35-Mile Range 22-Channel FRS/GMRS Two-Way Radio (Pair)
I just bought these from amazon for around $50 per pair and they are the real deal, with rechargeable batteries or AA, and operate on FRS or GRS frequencies. They are highly rated, read the reviews.

 

[wedge40]

I agree with hand held mic or corded mic. Find something he feels comfortable with, and if you have to ask him to repeat him self.. Maybe you can still teach an old dog new tricks.
But always remember you are a very lucky fellow to still have your dad around to be in your back side. Many of us would kill to have your problem.

Wedge

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Just give him the thumbs up signal so he thinks that you know exactly what he wanted you to do and you are fixing to do it:thumbsup:, it works for me sometimes.

 

[Marshall R]

I know what you guys are saying, I am thankful to still have pop around, even though he stills yells at me like I was 14 years old.

Sometimes, I want to give him the thumbs up, the one fingered peace sign.....

He sometimes gives it to me, so I give it back. He is a mess sometimes, but other times, he can stomp on my last nerve with that micro-managing of his.

Marshall

 

[k0ua]

I agree with hand held mic or corded mic. Find something he feels comfortable with, and if you have to ask him to repeat him self.. Maybe you can still teach an old dog new tricks.
But always remember you are a very lucky fellow to still have your dad around to be in your back side. Many of us would kill to have your problem.

Wedge

+1 on the hand held microphone, much easier to use, with one hand, especially if the main transciever unit is in a holder, like on the rops behind his ear. Keep in mind that noise levels are going to be high on a tractor both from a receive standpoint and transmitted noise levels. Think airplane. on airplanes there are noise canceling microphones and the audio amplifier sections of the radios and speakers are very robust. The noise level being so high is why so many use headsets instead of of the speakers and microphones If you could test the intended radios first for audio level and quality of the speakers to reproduce speech clearly that would be great. Typically Motorola products have a good reputation for ruggedness and good engineering, but I am not saying other units are not good also. When you say CB, we are really talking about FRS.. Family radio service, on 462Mhz(UHF) not the old 27Mhz (HF)CB . That is still a playground. and prone to long distance radio propogation,(skip) which in your case is unwanted. you just want to talk across a field. not across the country!

Good luck, and feel free to PM me if you need help, I have been around radio for a year or 40.
James K0UA

 

[buck12]

I understand what you mean about your father. I am 38, husband, father, boss at work (not home) but when I help Dad I am his slave labor like I am a kid. I remember as a kid the other kids were excited when thier fathers were on vacation because they actually went on vacation. At my house Dad on vacation = barn roof, new fence, paint the house, cut fire wood, etc. I will add that he taught me how to work hard. He is now 64 and still works harded at work and home than most people much younger.

 

[jesnic]

We use the Motorola MR350 as well. We have about 8 of us on our hunting land and when doing shredding or clearing and spred out over the property, they sure do come in handy. We have about 1300 acres and usaully have one or two of the younger ones riding the golf carts with coolers and drinks for everyone. It's a call away for refreshments.