CB radio is dead. Stop installing them and get a VHF/UHF instead!!!

[WhatExit?]

I was told with my pacemaker I can’t be around a HAM radio anyone here can confirm that or help with info on it ?

Google is your friend
http://www.arrl.org/pacemaker

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[N6WT]

I was told with my pacemaker I can’t be around a HAM radio anyone here can confirm that or help with info on it ?

My sister-in-law lives with my wife and me. She has a pacemaker. I operate at the legal limit of 1500 watts all the time and nothing has ever happened to her. I also have a friend that is a ham and a cardiologist, He says he has never heard of a modern pacemaker being affected by ham radio transmission. That being said, here is a link to the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) with some links for this subject.
http://www.arrl.org/pacemaker

If I had a pacemaker I would not be worried.

 

[Oscar Indy]

Just spent some time with a buddy who is big into Wheeling on the east coast. He's wholesale switching to GMRS. He owns CartoTracks out of Alabama. It seems he is seeing lots of movement to them on the east coast to where it's beginning to be more prevelant than CB. It seems even Jeep Jamboree is doing away with CB next year.

In the comments for a recent post I saw a good reason for why GMRS over Ham and there is no reason not to have both but GMRS will work with anyone not willing to go take an in person test. If you have a ham radio that will work on VHF it's a simple process to add GMRS to it.

 

[12BNNT]

To be honest. I used to drive a truck over the road (years ago) and having a CB in my Jeeps for Jamborees or wheeling with friends has come in handy on the interstate more than once. Traffic starts to crawl, turn it on and ask what’s going on ahead or what lane you need to be in. Bad weather scenario, ask a driver going the other direction how the roads were behind him and he let me know of several accidents around mile marker ___. Tells me the roads are pretty bad there.
I did look at the Jamboree website. Used to say CB mandatory but now said suggested with a note that they are looking into better communication systems for participants. So with that in mind, I’m thinking I will do both. Stack the head units (smaller one on top) keeping the 3’ firestick for the CB and adding a short driver front fender antenna like the one shown in this thread for the GMRS radio. Then I can have my cake and eat it too.
Don’t have to choose. I’ll take one of each, please!

 

[sarguy1941]

I agree FRS/GMRS is a good way to go especially if you have a group or club involved. As a valid GMRS license holder I encourage you to take the time to get the license. Not only is it the right thing to do, but also allows you to use the 50 watt power level on some channels. With a decent mobile that will help being we cant really mount an antenna in a good location on most of our trucks. For me I run both GMRS and CB. Still lot of folks that use CB as other mentioned and now the size of the radios are tiny hand held mics just like my GMRS radio. YMMV

 

[WhatExit?]

I agree FRS/GMRS is a good way to go especially if you have a group or club involved. As a valid GMRS license holder I encourage you to take the time to get the license. Not only is it the right thing to do, but also allows you to use the 50 watt power level on some channels. With a decent mobile that will help being we cant really mount an antenna in a good location on most of our trucks. For me I run both GMRS and CB. Still lot of folks that use CB as other mentioned and now the size of the radios are tiny hand held mics just like my GMRS radio. YMMV

Thanks for sharing your experience. Can you post up pics of your radios and antennas so we see how you've got them both installed?

 

[Econn2000]

I heard bulkier, more intrusive, cumbersome and underperforming. But a good GMRS FRS radio is very simple to use. Think of it as those bubble pack radios that every outdoor store trys to sell. Same frequencys just more power on GMRS. You can make it more complicated if you want to but it's really easy. Complexity wise there is no tunning like the CB.

I do get what you are saying tho.

I have a mobile GMRS and my license. But with the affordability and compact size of modern electronics, I've decided to keep both. I love the ability to use more power and repeaters, and the convenience of talking to those folks who only have "bubblepack" combos. I even keep 4 hand-helds in my JT to hand out to people who don't have coms.

However, you said earlier that more and more people are moving away from CB; this is precisely why I'm going back to it for certain situations...NOBODY'S ON THE THING ANYMORE! Even channel 19 is sparsely populated. Redundancy and options can't hurt!

 

[eaglerugby04]

Took my HAM test a week and a half ago, studied maybe for 5 hours total in the 3 days before and passed. It is easy to do.Handhelds like the baofeng are also dirt cheap as well. still goes up to 8 watts as a handheld.

 

[12BNNT]

Got my HAM also. Have a Stryker 10/11 meter set to “D” mode which is cb channels only with a firestick antenna in the back and then a dual band 2m/70cm ham that ranges up to the 462 mhz frequency to hear FRS radios.
I’ll post pics of all my mods including the radio setup at some point in the near future.

 

[sarguy1941]

I have a mobile GMRS and my license. But with the affordability and compact size of modern electronics, I've decided to keep both. I love the ability to use more power and repeaters, and the convenience of talking to those folks who only have "bubblepack" combos. I even keep 4 hand-helds in my JT to hand out to people who don't have coms.

However, you said earlier that more and more people are moving away from CB; this is precisely why I'm going back to it for certain situations...NOBODY'S ON THE THING ANYMORE! Even channel 19 is sparsely populated. Redundancy and options can't hurt!

Im in same boat. When I got my JT I installed the CMX750 that I have in my other jeep and work truck. Its perfect for jeeps. I also installed the midland MXT275 for the same reason. CB is so quiet when i travel now half the time i forget its on. In my rural area the oly time i hear chatter is near a logging platform.

 

[eaglerugby04]

Got my HAM also. Have a Stryker 10/11 meter set to “D” mode which is cb channels only with a firestick antenna in the back and then a dual band 2m/70cm ham that ranges up to the 462 mhz frequency to hear FRS radios.
I’ll post pics of all my mods including the radio setup at some point in the near future.

Would love to see some pics of your setup

I am currently struggling looking for options. I of course have to be difficult and am looking for a water resistant way to get something installed since I have accepted the fact I will get rain in mine at some point. currently behind the back seat is looking like the best option for me with a head unit that can go in the glove box when I am not using it. Luckily most of them using standard RJ-45 so I can run jacks somewhere in the dashboard for my connections and easily remove when I am not using it.

 

[kahuna357]

As per Jeep Jamborre USA, starting in 2021 Jeep Jamborees will stop using CB's on the trails. All communications will be with FRS/GMRS radios.

 

[Jellygladiator]

I

As per Jeep Jamborre USA, starting in 2021 Jeep Jamborees will stop using CB's on the trails. All communications will be with FRS/GMRS radios.

interesting, I was told HAM will mess with my pacemaker

 

[kahuna357]

I

interesting, I was told HAM will mess with my pacemaker

Dont know if there is a specific frequency range that cause this problem. Ask your cardiologist if this is true and what frequency range would be a problem. Then check the FCC frequency chart and see if it falls in the FRS/GMRS bands.

 

[Slapping_Rabbits]

What kind of real range are you getting with your frs?

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