I'm looking for recommendations for compact CB to install in a side by side which my son is going to be driving around and a small hand held CB that I can have so we can keep in touch.
Peter
Peter
Looking for compact CB for Side by Side
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- #3
thanks for that. I was trying to figure out the difference between the 505, 510 and 520. Are the guts the same and there are just more features on the front panel? Never mind, figured out how to use the comparison feature. What antenna would be appropriate, there are so many on the uniden site. I found this
http://www.amazon.com/ANT-feet-KIT-16GA-BLACK/dp/B001JT0MJA/?tag=ihco-20
but wasn't sure it if was the right thing.
http://www.amazon.com/ANT-feet-KIT-16GA-BLACK/dp/B001JT0MJA/?tag=ihco-20
but wasn't sure it if was the right thing.
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That 505 looks like an updated version of the 510/520. They're good little radios.
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- #6
Thanks for that, I ordered a 505 - it really is quite small.
How about a handheld for me to have back at the campsite. I found lots of hand held 'scanners'. Are they capable of transmitting?
Peter
How about a handheld for me to have back at the campsite. I found lots of hand held 'scanners'. Are they capable of transmitting?
Peter
Scanners monitor only, no TX possibility.
CB is limited to 5 watts so you are probably going to be disappointed with its ability to keep in touch. FRS is even worse (0.5w) and pretty much demands line-of-sight. You may want to consider getting your Ham license (even the lowest level Tech license opens up UHF/VHF to you.
x2, and the radios are not more expensive, and you can use repeaters, so your range is often much bigger than you would ever need. Studying for the test will be a bonding experience as well.
The problem with hand held CB's is the antenna. You would be better off getting a mobile unit and running it from the car or RV battery
The better the antenna the better any radio will work. Wilson has a good reputation among the CB users I know.
That said I'll trade the best CB and antenna set up on the market for my 5W 2M hand held ham radio. You can get into ham radio pretty cheap and the end result is a much better comm system and a heck of a lot of utlity.
Take a read of this thread
https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/581637-ham-cheap-little-one.html
You mentioned you will be in the Sierras, there is a pretty good network of repeaters that cover much of the range.
Ham on 5, hold the mayo.
CB is a joke compared to 2 meter ham as far as distance and clarity. Many folks in our local club have removed CBs from their trucks altogether. I still have both, but I very rarely use the CB unless checking traffic conditions on the highway.
I was very resistant to switching over from CB, which is the defacto standard on the east coast. I realized how ineffective it was when I spent some time in Moab. Got my license as soon as I could and have a neat 2M mobile setup along with 2 of those cheap Baofeng units.
Once you go ham, you never go back.
CB is a joke compared to 2 meter ham as far as distance and clarity. Many folks in our local club have removed CBs from their trucks altogether. I still have both, but I very rarely use the CB unless checking traffic conditions on the highway.
I was very resistant to switching over from CB, which is the defacto standard on the east coast. I realized how ineffective it was when I spent some time in Moab. Got my license as soon as I could and have a neat 2M mobile setup along with 2 of those cheap Baofeng units.
Once you go ham, you never go back.