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

[Slapping_Rabbits]

the dig at the flat earthers kills me. i can't believe thats still a thing. hilarious.

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[eaglerugby04]

That's hard to say as there are many variables..... just don't go by what's on the front of the box of those handheld radios you see at Walmart and outdoor retailers, you aren't getting 36 miles from two handheld radios unless you are both on the top of very high mountains.

Antenna height, terrain, and environment (vegetation, buildings, etc) all play a roll in how far your signal will go.

You can talk to the ISS (International Space Station) with a handheld radio 254 miles away because there is nothing between you however on earth one of the big factors that limits communication (with some exceptions) is the curvature of the Earth, unless you are a flat earther then this doesn't apply to you. Certain radio wave depending on their wavelength bounce off the ionosphere better than others, UHF (Ultra High Frequency, 300 MHz - 3 GHz, GMRS is 462 and 467 MHz) is not one of those that bounces off the ionosphere or at least it doesn't happen often. Though it may curve slightly around the earth giving you a little further distance than you can actually see, this is called Radio Horizon.

So you want to talk further, the antenna needs to be higher. This is why it is recommended to put the antenna on the roof of the vehicle, besides having a larger, flatter ground plane. Also getting up higher in elevation will help as well but in some places such as the flat lands of Kansas or west Texas that's not an option so antenna height is still key. But put a hill between you and communication will likely cease as radio waves can't travel through the earth.

Environment, vegetation will tend to absorb the radio waves and in this case having more power can help make those waves that do get through a bit stronger. Buildings will refract the waves in all sorts of directions creating a multipath signal which can decrease the signal strength should the two received signal paths be out of phase.

GMRS does have repeater capability though mostly near metro areas, again depending on height they can have a 50-100 mile range.

For mobile to mobile, 10 miles give or take would be about average. You may easily find a scenario where you can easily get 20-30 miles and then run into an area where 5 miles or so is about all you can get.

Sorry for the long reply, unfortunately though it's a simple question it's not a simple answer.

I think you just posted the answers to about 7 of the 35 questions I had on my technician exam.

 

[WhatExit?]

I think you just posted the answers to about 7 of the 35 questions I had on my technician exam.

Yeah, nothing like having to take a technical exam just so you can use a radio when you go off roading out in the middle of nowhere...

 

[wannajeep]

Yeah, nothing like having to take a technical exam just so you can use a radio when you go off roading out in the middle of nowhere...

Cart before horse thing. Ham radio wasn't intended to be an offroad communications solution.

 

[eaglerugby04]

Yeah, nothing like having to take a technical exam just so you can use a radio when you go off roading out in the middle of nowhere...

Knowing what you are doing and hitting a repeater has the potential to save you. Most people spend more time arguing about the test than the amount of time it would take to study it. You can even take the test from your house now.

 

[Murgatroid]

I wonder if the trucking community is also going that way? I used to always have CB in my trucks and it was helpful to monitor trucker talk on interstate trips, but I haven't actually had a CB for several years now. Are the commercial drivers using FRS or do they still use CB?

Anymore Google is like my old CB, it tells me more times than not when there is a "speed trap ahead"

 

[d k]

Im pretty sure I was talking to a girl on the iss last night.

It was amazing

That's hard to say as there are many variables..... just don't go by what's on the front of the box of those handheld radios you see at Walmart and outdoor retailers, you aren't getting 36 miles from two handheld radios unless you are both on the top of very high mountains.

Antenna height, terrain, and environment (vegetation, buildings, etc) all play a roll in how far your signal will go.

You can talk to the ISS (International Space Station) with a handheld radio 254 miles away because there is nothing between you however on earth one of the big factors that limits communication (with some exceptions) is the curvature of the Earth, unless you are a flat earther then this doesn't apply to you. Certain radio wave depending on their wavelength bounce off the ionosphere better than others, UHF (Ultra High Frequency, 300 MHz - 3 GHz, GMRS is 462 and 467 MHz) is not one of those that bounces off the ionosphere or at least it doesn't happen often. Though it may curve slightly around the earth giving you a little further distance than you can actually see, this is called Radio Horizon.

So you want to talk further, the antenna needs to be higher. This is why it is recommended to put the antenna on the roof of the vehicle, besides having a larger, flatter ground plane except not on removable top Jeeps. Also getting up higher in elevation will help as well but in some places such as the flat lands of Kansas or west Texas that's not an option so antenna height is still key. But put a hill between you and communication will likely cease as radio waves can't travel through the earth.

Environment, vegetation will tend to absorb the radio waves and in this case having more power can help make those waves that do get through a bit stronger. Buildings will refract the waves in all sorts of directions creating a multipath signal which can decrease the signal strength should the two received signal paths be out of phase.

GMRS does have repeater capability though mostly near metro areas, again depending on height they can have a 50-100 mile range.

For mobile to mobile, 10 miles give or take would be about average. You may easily find a scenario where you can easily get 20-30 miles and then run into an area where 5 miles or so is about all you can get.

Sorry for the long reply, unfortunately though it's a simple question it's not a simple answer.

 

[WhatExit?]

Knowing what you are doing and hitting a repeater has the potential to save you. Most people spend more time arguing about the test than the amount of time it would take to study it. You can even take the test from your house now.

I get it but I only want to use my Ham radio when I go off roading with others using Ham which isn't all that often. I'd like to use it more often but, like many, I've got lots of interests and not as much time as I'd like so Ham radio isn't anywhere on my list of priorities

Cart before horse thing. Ham radio wasn't intended to be an offroad communications solution.

I get that but it's still, as far as I can see, the best radio option when offroading as you can get help if/when you need it

But honestly I've thought a lot more about personal locator beacons and satphones way more than dealing with taking a Ham radio test and dealing with all that it involves. There are good options available:

https://www.off-road.com/blog/best-personal-locator-beacon-and-satellite-messenger-options/

 

[RealMcCoy]

my understanding is and what I also see getting pushed is the GMRS radios. You can purchase the license online. You can also take the Ham test online now too. So, dump that CB and get the upgrades.

 

[wannajeep]

Call me an old fart but I still find something very appealing about an old school, clunky, simple, compact CB with a big LED display and 3-4 simple big dials, hard wired power source. I've used modern battery powered walkie talkie type radios while mobile and find them small, fiddly, hard to read, prone to battery failure at the wrong time, and the buttons/menus are often multi-function and too much to deal with while trying to drive or navigate a trail.

Get off my lawn

 

[WhatExit?]

Call me an old fart but I still find something very appealing about an old school, clunky, simple, compact CB with a big LED display and 3-4 simple big dials, hard wired power source. I've used modern battery powered walkie talkie type radios while mobile and find them small, fiddly, hard to read, prone to battery failure at the wrong time, and the buttons/menus are often multi-function and too much to deal with while trying to drive or navigate a trail.

Get off my lawn

 

[RealMcCoy]

Call me an old fart but I still find something very appealing about an old school, clunky, simple, compact CB with a big LED display and 3-4 simple big dials, hard wired power source. I've used modern battery powered walkie talkie type radios while mobile and find them small, fiddly, hard to read, prone to battery failure at the wrong time, and the buttons/menus are often multi-function and too much to deal with while trying to drive or navigate a trail.

Get off my lawn

I wouldn't call you something like "Ol Phart" but do agree with you. There is just something about a nice CB radio that brings back great memories. Must be an age thing. Easy to use once you tune the antenna. CB radios are truly becoming a legacy product in the field of communication.
I really enjoy your perspective and the descriptions you used in this post.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I get it but I only want to use my Ham radio when I go off roading with others using Ham which isn't all that often. I'd like to use it more often but, like many, I've got lots of interests and not as much time as I'd like so Ham radio isn't anywhere on my list of priorities




I get that but it's still, as far as I can see, the best radio option when offroading as you can get help if/when you need it

But honestly I've thought a lot more about personal locator beacons and satphones way more than dealing with taking a Ham radio test and dealing with all that it involves. There are good options available:

https://www.off-road.com/blog/best-personal-locator-beacon-and-satellite-messenger-options/

I get that. Have had my license for almost 6 months now and have really done nothing with it except check in on a net once or twice. Just don't have the time to get that into it, but hey at least I have the license if I ever do end up with a group.

I love chirp. Without it that stupid radio would be smashed in thousands of small parts right now. Its like they tried to make the worst possible menu system they could

 

[annze0]

NO no @Mkcagle, Nearly 75% of professional drivers use a CB daily! According to the survey, 5.9 million CBs are currently in use.
A CB radio was a requirement for a 30-day commercial caravan tour into Baja California that we signed onto. I installed the CB in my truck. My sister broke her arm, the trip was canceled. This is a cheapie radio but works well. My recommendation is to buy from these guys at NRC radios
However, I have a magnetic base exterior antenna and I don't like it. I'm ready to remove the radio and forget about the whole thing.

 

[Timoleon]

And this is the reason why I'm stuck on CB. Every person I hit the trails with is on CB, so I'm stuck with it.

I effectively know nothing about the workings of radio transmission. A quick question, if I have a Firestik (or insert whichever brand) antenna and cabling that is being used for CB, can these items still be used for a later upgrade to ham? I'm anticipating an eventual phase out, but it would be great to retain as many items as possible. Further, is it possible to utilize the same antenna that could be split to CB and ham? I'm thinking yes as there are splitters out there that allow you to use the same antenna for both CB and FM radio (which I intend to purchase probably today).

This will work for CB/Ham Radios out to 440 MHZ band (good enough for FRS/GMRS. I use something called an ATAS 120 for comms on VHF/UHF and in the HF frequencies from 1 radio. I have mdded my FT-857D to operate in the CB/FRS/GMRS frequencies as well as the HAM bands. CjwKCAjw7cGUBhA9EiwArBAvoqigVAsjZ388vjh4zQy10GvJ_HpQdUXLurHeJQJmKij8r52aVLMmiBoChKMQAvD_BwE

Good luck.

Tim

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