To CB or Not CB...

[1911]

looks like a CB system is around $100... HAM is 500 clams...

Brand-new Yaesu FT-2900R: $149.95

Hustler mag-mount 5/8-wave antenna with coax: $49.95

$200 total for one of the better 2M mobile set-ups out there. Less than that if you are willing to go second-hand. You can spend as much more as you want for dual band, quad-band, APRS, D-STAR, etc. but you don't have to spend a fortune for a quality trail radio.

 

[marcfj60]

and to be fair all i did was ask lynn at least twice a day how the studying was going and if he was ready yet.

I guess I must be a lot more stubborn and less determined to take the test.

 

[BionicCruiser]

Brand-new Yaesu FT-2900R: $149.95

Hustler mag-mount 5/8-wave antenna with coax: $49.95

$200 total for one of the better 2M mobile set-ups out there. Less than that if you are willing to go second-hand.

that's my set up. 2nd hand unused radio NIB was $120, so $170 for me. way worth it.

 

[78Cruzr]

Much more reasonable! My problem is unfamiliarity with the tech and way too many choices...

I found the radio on the website but not the antenna

 

[subzali]

Just to throw my two cents in, if you can, go with both. Especially if you plan on leading trails. I just led a run yesterday (our annual Blow Off Work and Go Wheeling Run) and there were a bunch of new folks with CB only. We actually defaulted to CB for yesterday's run because there were so many more than Ham. But I did keep in touch with the tailgunner via Ham, because you just can't beat the range and clarity vs. CB.

 

[pappy]

I found the radio on the website but not the
antenna

You can get a dual band mag mount Comet or Diamond for $34-38 at Hamcity. I even saw a pair of 2M radios for less than the FT2900.

Cost should not be a major factor in going to ham. Yes, you could get into CB for less. But you get what you pay for.

Just keep in mind. Once you cross over to the geek side, there is no going back.

 

[sl33p3]

yeah my 500$ was a dual band with bells and whistles, sorry i should have specified...

i will say if you ever do the expo stuff, it is nice to be able to stay on simplex and simultaneous monitor repeaters. if you are looking for no more functionality then you ever got with a cb (ie single channel at a time) then the 2900 etc would be a no brainer. but don't be surprised if you end up fighting the upgrade itch

there ARE lots of ham options as you say. do lots of research and soul searching before you buy your ham rig. not that it has to be your last, but... where are you going to use it?, one rig?, trail com only?, etc... i started with a HT, had that for awhile. it's nice in that you can use them in various cars etc, and no strings attached. you can upgrade range a little with a magmount antenna to your HT (which i also did), but you will always hurt for power (5W typ max in HT, 50W in mobile). i still have the ht and have used it in other rigs, loaned it etc. problem with really nice HTs is they cost what a mobile does. there is a cheap HT made by Wauxon or something, i've posted a link before, that is supposedly decent and right at ~100. never used or seen it but heard megalink chatter that was favorable.

eham has a cool classifieds thing where you can get emailed whenever a new ad matches your criteria if you are thinking second hand.

 

[sl33p3]

Just to throw my two cents in, if you can, go with both. Especially if you plan on leading trails. I just led a run yesterday (our annual Blow Off Work and Go Wheeling Run) and there were a bunch of new folks with CB only. We actually defaulted to CB for yesterday's run because there were so many more than Ham. But I did keep in touch with the tailgunner via Ham, because you just can't beat the range and clarity vs. CB.

i've had that experience as well, course it was with a bunch of jeeps, and half of them didn't even have cb's ... i was tailgunner. the only other cruiser and i spent the whole time talking on ham, and i just checked in with cb and monitored leader.

 

[1911]

I found the radio on the website but not the antenna

Hustler MX-2 MX-2B Mobile Antenna MX2

I was wrong on the price, it's only $39.95

Here is where you can buy the FT-2900R for $149.95: R&L Electronics 800-221-7735

 

[1911]

Once you cross over to the geek side, there is no going back.

...but don't be surprised if you end up fighting the upgrade itch

+1! I started out with a single-band 2M radio (Yaesu FT-2800) and the same mag mount antenna I referenced. Still have and use them, but now a few years later I've accumulated a second FT-2800, a Yaesu HT, a Kenwood dual-band APRS rig, and most recently a Kenwood HF rig. This is definitely a hobby that can grow on you. The thing is, a good basic single-band 2M radio will always have some use even after you upgrade - for a base station, a second truck or car, etc., and you don't have a huge investment in it, so just keep it when you upgrade.

 

[pappy]

i will say if you ever do the expo stuff, it is nice to be able to stay on simplex and simultaneous monitor repeaters. if you are looking for no more functionality then you ever got with a cb (ie single channel at a time) then the 2900 etc would be a no brainer. but don't be surprised if you end up fighting the upgrade itch

John is correct. I started out with a FT-2800. After using it for awhile, the desirability of a dual band became very obvious. I sold the FT-2800, and bought a FT-8800. I have not looked back. Love that radio. You can't beat the ability to monitor the Megalink and HDC at the same time. On Cruise Moab, I had one side set to the trail frequency, and the other side set to the CM base frequency. If I could have, I would have monitored the Moab repeater too.

I just wish it would do APRS. I just might need a second radio for the 4Runner.

 

[sl33p3]

...bought a FT-8800. I have not looked back. Love that radio...

I just wish it would do APRS. I just might need a second radio for the 4Runner.

the 8800 has a lot of people happy with it, def agree you can't go wrong. i have the kenwood only for the aprs side of it (it handles it all internally). but if you are using it, you give up a channel. your 8800 will do aprs with a laptop and TNC jon, but you will give up a side of the radio for it like i do... i do think you need more radios

if you aren't perusing here guy, there is more info for you. Electronic Toys

 

[Beowulf]

looks like a CB system is around $100... HAM is 500 clams...

I will give a CB to any active HDC member that needs it. All you have to do is promise to get your amateur ticket within a reasonable time.
(Note to Onur and Marc... 3 years is not reasonable).

Quantities limited. YMMV. Yada yada yada.

-Mike-

 

[pappy]

the 8800 has a lot of people happy with it, def agree you can't go wrong. i have the kenwood only for the aprs side of it (it handles it all internally). but if you are using it, you give up a channel. your 8800 will do aprs with a laptop and TNC jon, but you will give up a side of the radio for it like i do... i do think you need more radios

if you aren't perusing here guy, there is more info for you. Electronic Toys

I have a TNC, but was unable to make it work with the FT2800. I haven't tried it with the FJ8800. Need to do that. Getting a radio like your Kenwood will be the way to go with me.

Yep, I check in on the forum often enough.

 

[pappy]

I will give a CB to any active HDC member that needs it. All you have to do is promise to get your amateur ticket within a reasonable time.
(Note to Onur and Marc... 3 years is not reasonable).

Quantities limited. YMMV. Yada yada yada.

-Mike-

I'll x2 what Mike said. I have three hand held CBs. Owned them for years. I'm willing to part with two of them. Same conditions as Mike's. GET YER TICKET. A reasonable time for me is no more than 6 months.

On the CB note. When I rolled da'40 I knocked off the CB antenna and mount. Now, I'm trying to justify replacing it. So far, I'm not convinced I should, and I might pull the radio out of da'40 and just use a hand held for those rare occasions when I need CB. Or at least rig up the radio to a mag mount and not remount an antenna.

 

[sl33p3]

I have a TNC, but was unable to make it work with the FT2800. I haven't tried it with the FJ8800. Need to do that.

kenwood DOES make it simple... bu that's strange you couldn't get the 2800 to talk... should be completely independent of the radio. assuming you can key the ptt etc successfully.

Getting a radio like your Kenwood will be the way to go with me.

you're welcome to check it out one of these days if you'd like

 

[marcfj60]

I will give a CB to any active HDC member that needs it. All you have to do is promise to get your amateur ticket within a reasonable time.
(Note to Onur and Marc... 3 years is not reasonable).

Quantities limited. YMMV. Yada yada yada.

-Mike-

That's why I haven't asked to borrow one from you in a long time.

 

[Beowulf]

That's why I haven't asked to borrow one from you in a long time.

I don't mean borrow Marc... I mean the CB is theirs to keep forever. The only attached string is to get the HAM ticket. I have about 4 extra Uniden 510s that I bought for cheap at various garage sales over the years. They were loaners when we were still using CB. Now they are just in the way but if I give them away then there is a chance someone would not be motivated to get a proper radio.

And for those of us that are unemployed, I'll pay the testing cost if you pass the test.

-Mike-

 

[alia176]

Guy,

Get a HAM radio and don't give me any bull about costing too much. You were going to buy a Hundy so

Get a Yaesu FT-8800 and be done with it. It can be modded so that you can talk to FRS radios. This is handy for folks who only has FRS radios on the trail rides.

Marc needs to give you John's HAM study book. He doesn't go wheeling so he won't ever need a HAM radio anyway. Meh.

 

[sl33p3]

Guy,

Get a HAM radio and don't give me any bull about costing too much. You were going to buy a Hundy so

Get a Yaesu FT-8800 and be done with it. It can be modded so that you can talk to FRS radios. This is handy for folks who only has FRS radios on the trail rides.

Marc needs to give you John's HAM study book. He doesn't go wheeling so he won't ever need a HAM radio anyway.

uh oh, who unbanned captain sensitivity??!!! <lmfao emote> i thought maybe your keyboard was broken from pounding on it...

he does make good points in a very direct fashion...