CB radios

[5030]

I have to inject this...

I also own a SAT phone and SAT phones work anywhere, anytime in North America unlike cell service that relies on cell towers and repeaters, SAT phone are satellite based (kind of like your GPS you have works).

The issue again, with a SAT phone is the high initial up front cost (they aren't cheap) as well as payment for access. SAT communications are billed to you or your on file credit card on a per minute (of less) duration and it's not cheap either. Consequently I use mine for emergency communications only or if I'm say, in bum fug Egypt with no cell service and I need to place a call. They work everywhere, anytime and the connection to another cell phone or landline is always connected, but again, the price of communicating is high as is the unit itself. The high cost of airtime and equipment eliminates the riff raff entirely. A SAT phone is basically the same size as a cell phone but minus all the apps and no superfluous ads or crap either. All business.

 

[bmaverick]

We use them on woods roads to keep track of where trucks are. The range is limited though and there is so much chatter and skip that it's too easy to turn the volume down, defeating the purpose.

Lately a lot of companies have gone to MURS.


They are a bit longer range and have less static. Unfortunately there still are guys who have to get on there and chatter so you can't get away from it.

But MURS is so under powered with 2W and only has 5 VHF channels. It is extremely limited.

And you can not take them into Canada either, it's illegal. So if you wanted to have multi vehicles traveling into Canada, you can't use the MURS radio service for the vacation trip.

 

[Duds13]

What about Rapid Radios? Apparently they are like the old Nextel two-way "phones." I'm considering getting a pair

 

[RjCorazza]

What about Rapid Radios? Apparently they are like the old Nextel two-way "phones." I'm considering getting a pair

Make sure you read up on what the Rapid Radios actually cost. At least in the first few months of them coming out, the company was very deceptive in their advertising.

 

[Duds13]

Make sure you read up on what the Rapid Radios actually cost. At least in the first few months of them coming out, the company was very deceptive in their advertising.

The base cost for the actual radios or any monthly fees?

Edit: Just did a little bit of research, I'll be staying away from them, lol. Thanks Rj!

 

[AnotherBueller]

CB with SSB is the only way to go. Finding units are harder today with SSB.

GMRS is better, requires an FCC license that is easy to obtain. GMRS reaches the same distances on much clearer channels.

CB AM output power is 4W. 5 to 16 miles reaching range
CB SSB output power is 12W. 15 to 30 miles reaching range

GMRS output power 50W. 65 to 90 miles reaching range

CB Radio = 26.9650 MHz – 27.4050 MHz
One of the nosiest locations on the AM band.

GMRS Radio = 462.5625 MHz – 467.7250 MHz
Mainly FM and crystal clear communication.

CB antenna is around 4FT for the shortest, but to get the power to signal out a 5/8-wave is perfect, thus almost 7FT.

GMRS antenna is around 6-inches. Can be placed nearly anywhere and is STEALTHY.

Why GMRS and not 2M Ham license?
GMRS is just a fee. Ham is a minor fee and a radio electrical test to pass.

How Do I Get A GMRS License?​

You can apply for your FCC GMRS license online.
Get your FRN (FCC Registration Number) here:
FCC Registration - Login
Then go here to apply for the license online:
https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/licManager/login.jsp
Just follow the prompts. Basically just wants your name, address, and SSN. Then gives you a link to pay online when you’ve submitted the form.
Once approved, the FCC will email you an authorization link where you can download a copy of your license.

Ref,

CB Radio – vs – GMRS Radio – The Ranger Station

1/4 wave CB is 107 inches, you can make it directional (longer range to the front and rear, less range to the sides) like big rigs do by mounting one on each side mirror BUT they must be 107 inches apart exactly. Anything over or under will reduce the distance gained to the front and rear.
Anything shorter than 1/4 wave will have a coil somewhere on the shaft (called a load), back in the day we found that putting the load at the top of the antenna gave the longest horizontal range and at the bottom the shortest. You want to know more you gotta get into horizontal and polar wave radiation patterns.
It was fun at the time. Better than EW/ECM stuff the Air Force exposed me to.
You can also run a power mic, with the modulation set to just under 90%, that way YOU can be understood as far as your radio can reach. All of this is legal. There are other things you can do to increase YOUR talk range. Talk to the HAM operators for that kind of stuff, They can do that CB can not. There are issues.

 

[AnotherBueller]

People will always abuse any communications medium if they can get away with it and in reality the only deterrent is high licensing cost and high equipment cost coupled with stringent enforcement.

Anyone can go out and purchase a cheap AM CB radio, buy an antenna and start using it to 'communicate' on the air waves and abuse the right in many ways. Why I don't care for them. Not only is the effective range limited but the garbage talk abounds. When the cost of equipment starts going up as well as the licensing and enforcement increases, the abuse comes down.

Human nature will always play a factor but is increasing limited as the overall cost and technical skill to use them increases. HAM radio has stayed mostly garbage free because the 'price of admission' as well as the skill to use it coupled with the licensing procedures polices it.

High powered 'family radio' falls in the category. There is abuse on it but not every Joe public can afford the cost of equipment. Spending close to 500 bucks and sometimes a lot more on each unit kind of eliminates the low ball cost operator and the wide availability of channels does as well.

CB AM radio got a bad rap because of all the abusers. High powered Family Radio users, not so much because of the high up front cost of equipment.

Sure you can add a linear amplifier to the lowly AM CB radio to increase the range but again, the price of admission climbs and the abusers get less because of it.

Amen on the enforcement

 

[RayIN]

High output GMRS is the only way to fly plus you can do repeaters if necessary. I have a mobile in each of my tractors and a mobile / base unit at home and I can reach my wife from the next county quite easily and unlike a CB, it's quiet and not much squelch needed. Mine are Midland but lots of them on the market. FCC licensing is a snap as well. Much, much easier than the Drone pilot's license I also hold. CB's really require no license to operate, supposed to have one but I don't know anyone who does.

Citizens Band licensing was eliminated about 40 years ago, today you cannot get one. I do still have mine, issued to me in 1969; KEW0304.
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. Sun spots wreak havoc with CB band is a downside.
GMRS requires you give your call sign periodically, but it sounds like no-one does. I don't because i never bothered to obtain a license. I do like the convenience and range of GMRS, I have two Motorola handi-talkies ( dual CB/GMRS) we use to eliminate dialing the cell phone hassle, plus there is a delay with cell phones not present with CB/GMRS.
re: talking distance. Using CB-SSB I've talked from my truck to DW at home 40 miles away.
I don't like Ham radio due the restrictions, and others CQ'ing when they hear me talking to DW; consequently I don't use it these days.

I know a few farmers in the area that use Marine band radios, I'll not bother to explain, look it up if curious.

 

[Jstpssng]

I know a few farmers in the area that use Marine band radios, I'll not bother to explain, look it up if curious

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.

 

[5030]

What works for the farm. may not work for others.