should I skip cb and just go to HAM?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

I would refine that statement a bit and say everybody should start off with a handheld, cheap one preferably.
If you like HAM, then you can get a permanent setup for the car.
Once you move on to a different radio, the handheld would have a secondary purpose.
 
I watched a youtube tutorial and it seemed easy programming it. Can't remember all the menu subprograms, so if I ever need to do some more programming will watch the tutorial again. Menu 13, menu 26, menu 26, it get's crazy. But if you do it a couple of times, you realize there is only a small number of menus you need to use.
 
The "best" choice is the one that lets you talk to the people you need to talk to.

BUT ham is miles better than CB. Remarkably clearer at close range and still clear way past when CB will no longer send/receive.

Think Cherokee vs Land Cruiser...
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
CBs are for people that have never used HAM:hillbilly:

Chirp software/cable (<cheap) makes programming very easy. With that said most will only use one simplex channel frequency, so programming:meh:
Click to expand...
Fixed.:flipoff2:
Channels are for Chicken Band.
 
rusty_tlc said:
I agree except that I would urge people to start with a single band radio then move on to a unit that covers 2M and 70cm. There are many repeater systems that use 440MHz, Rubicon for one, IIRC Moab also has a 440MHZ system.
Click to expand...

If someone has the budget for a good dual band or quad band mobile then I would encourage them to go that route rather than a single band radio. A nice dual band radio that has 2 sides that can receive at the same time like a yeasu FT-8800 (discontinued new but available used) is a great starter radio for any new ham. It can be useful to monitor two 2m frequencies at the same time, for example the call channel and then a club channel, or if you want to still monitor but have a side conversation with another rig and still monitor the main.
 
opg4759a said:
If someone has the budget for a good dual band or quad band mobile then I would encourage them to go that route rather than a single band radio. A nice dual band radio that has 2 sides that can receive at the same time like a yeasu FT-8800 (discontinued new but available used) is a great starter radio for any new ham. It can be useful to monitor two 2m frequencies at the same time, for example the call channel and then a club channel, or if you want to still monitor but have a side conversation with another rig and still monitor the main.
Click to expand...
The issue I have with that is that beginners can get overwhelmed by the complexity and subsequently turned off to the activity. Something like the Kenwood 281 or Yaesu FT2900 are easy to understand and use. They are also about the price of a good CB and have a great re-sale value if the user decides that ham isn't for them. I use an FT2800 in my rock crawler because it is so simple, I really don't want a lot of distractions in that rig. Just something for rig to rig comm.

I have an FT-7800 and FT-8900 as well as a VX7R. I rarely use the dual mode on any of them. The exception is the FT-8900, I have used it in cross band repeat mode which is useful if you want to say monitor the club frequency from camp and use an HT to hike around. (BTW this practice is not strictly legal.)
 
Yaesu has, now, a direct competitor to Kenwood 281. Two of them actually.
FTM-3100R and FTM3200DR Priced competitively too.
I would really consider one of those over 1900 and 2900 since they also have a cooling fan besides the front firing speaker. I am not interested in a multitude of options and I don't ever plan on talking across the country. I have other hobbies. Simplex is all I need.
 
Dragos80 said:
Yaesu has, now, a direct competitor to Kenwood 281. Two of them actually.
FTM-3100R and FTM3200DR Priced competitively too.
I would really consider one of those over 1900 and 2900 since they also have a cooling fan besides the front firing speaker.
Click to expand...

On a dusty, dirty, or muddy 4WD trail, I would consider the radios without a cooling fan (but with big heat sinks/cooling fins) to be a plus. But they do need to be mounted out in the air somewhere, not in a closed-in space. Always good to have options anyway.
 
FT-2800 Mounted in my roll cage. Never over heats even on very hot days.
DSCN1483.jpg
 
rusty_tlc said:
FT-2800 Mounted in my roll cage. Never over heats even on very hot days.
DSCN1483.jpg
Click to expand...

Exactly where I put mine, too. Though I later replaced it with a Kenwood TM-D710A. Still have the 2800, I use it for my base station (shack) 2M radio now. Great radio for 2M only.
 
The 1900 and 2900 (2800 perhaps too) series are regarded as being very robust. If used on a lower power setting for brief communication, I don't see how it would heat up to the point where it would shut down automatically.

1900 is being said to have better reception.
I haven't yet decided to get anything else to replace my HT. I would consider 1900r or 3100r. The later for the front firing speaker. Not sure where to mount them in my 80. Probably by the e-brake.
 
Dragos80 said:
The 1900 and 2900 (2800 perhaps too) series are regarded as being very robust. If used on a lower power setting for brief communication, I don't see how it would heat up to the point where it would shut down automatically.

1900 is being said to have better reception.
I haven't yet decided to get anything else to replace my HT. I would consider 1900r or 3100r. The later for the front firing speaker. Not sure where to mount them in my 80. Probably by the e-brake.
Click to expand...
The FT-2800 takes a hell of a beating in that location. I have used it at full power for some fairly long exchanges with no issues, this in the summer time so many 85° or more sitting in full sun under a black bikini top.

Going with a detachable face plate radio increases your mounting options. If you have some experience with ham already I would. encourage you to look at a 140/440 MHz model. As I mentioned in an earlier post there are many repeater networks that operate on 440MHz.
 
They funny thing is that I never used any forms of comm while off road. Either by myself, or with others in the group.
Looking at my past experience I have to ask myself if I really need to spend a few more bucks on something I never had to use in the past. My HT should still be fine for the task... if it ever gets any use.
It's just like with everything else regarding these rigs.
Do I really needed or do I just want it? Do I really need a 4 inch lift, or does my 2" do the job just right? "Ummm, yeah but it looks cool."

Something out of sight would be preferable. But, we all know unless I go with TYT, it probably never happen. I can't justify the price.
I don't ever talk to anyone on HAM. It's just not my thing. Maybe once every 2 months I listen to a local "crazy" repeater here in LA for probably no more than 2 minutes. The infamous 435 in LA.


 
I never use the local repeaters, once in a while I'll check into a net for a radio check but that's about it.

On the trail it's more of a convenience thing. If somebody gets turtled or breaks it can be communicated before the group gets spread out and peoiple have to back track to link back up. As a courtesy we try to let faster groups by and get off trail to let oncoming traffic pass, radios helps with that.
A HT works fine for all those things. I usually pack a HT to loan out to non-hams so they can monitor comm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom