I have nothing so any suggestions for the ride?
typed badly on my iPhone using IH8MUD
typed badly on my iPhone using IH8MUD
Trail Communication (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter bhmmapping
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- Thread starter
- #22
This sums it up very concisely. I like the idea of the FRS radios, they are cheap, simple, can be taken out the truck, clearer than cb - but if no one else has one they are not very useful. The other good thing about these is that they are sold in packs of 2 so if a few people buy them there are usually enough extras to hand out to people who show up to a ride without any comm equipment. I will probably reinstall my CB since it is just sitting there but if everyone is starting from scratch I think the FRS/GMRS would be better.
justbecause
perpetually lost.
x2, Ill check out a FRS
is there anything short of a HAM that is adequate to rely on when SHTF? 10 mile range?
- Thread starter
- #24
not really, but do a search on GMRS licensing and you will have a guaranteed headache from all of the arguing on the internets over it.
What's a good cheap (I know those don't go together often) cb that I can throw in and use for now?
typed badly on my iPhone using IH8MUD
typed badly on my iPhone using IH8MUD
- Thread starter
- #26
uniden 510 - but then you have to get the antenna, cable, mount... and then you have to get it tuned. On the later 80's the 510 will fit in the ashtray but not on the early ones.
- Thread starter
- #27
Good info in here - something to consider for the future.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/522299-2-meter-radio-offroad-use.html
https://forum.ih8mud.com/electronic-toys/522299-2-meter-radio-offroad-use.html
ClankBang
Internet Excogitator
...nothin
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justbecause
perpetually lost.
ClankBang said:
??
posted with my thumbs.
- Thread starter
- #30
Yeah, what gives. Saw the other one on my phone, didnt see anything odd
Ham is good. .We tested 2meter ham stuff at the cove a month or so ago. Very clear audio, easy to understand. We had a few issues but there were only two of us with functional ham radios and both of us are novices at ham. We were using simplex which in ham language means direct radio to radio.... duplex refers to using a repeater. Ham is the way to go...but you have to get the license and the equipment is more expensive.
I finally got my cb working well apparently and my ham. I have an old pair of FGR or whatever radios...never really used them but those would be a reasonable choice if range is short and everyone has one... I've only seen so called handi-talki models.
ClankBang
Internet Excogitator
Just posted with out seeing the second page.... I really just repeated what was already said....
Cbs just don't cut it (in the south) except to talk to the group you are already in....
I going 2 meter... You have the choice of using up to 75 watts, that coupled with a good antenna and proper install has plenty of reach.. 10+ miles ideally then you cam also hit a repeater and hey much greater distance.....
As far shtf ham is Hungary the best but not 2 meter with (uhf?) You cam literally talk to to the other side of the world...
I remember my dad driving down the road doing morris code....
( first version of texting while driving)...
Cbs just don't cut it (in the south) except to talk to the group you are already in....
I going 2 meter... You have the choice of using up to 75 watts, that coupled with a good antenna and proper install has plenty of reach.. 10+ miles ideally then you cam also hit a repeater and hey much greater distance.....
As far shtf ham is Hungary the best but not 2 meter with (uhf?) You cam literally talk to to the other side of the world...
I remember my dad driving down the road doing morris code....
( first version of texting while driving)...
Land Speeder
InstaH8R
I've never gotten a CB to work "good". Even allowed CB experts at events try their luck.... no go.
So I don't use a CB anymore. I really don't sit in my rig much anymore either though. Most riding I do is obstacle type stuff and not expedition riding.
So I don't use a CB anymore. I really don't sit in my rig much anymore either though. Most riding I do is obstacle type stuff and not expedition riding.
- Thread starter
- #34
That has been my experience also. Sometimes can't even hear the rig right in front of you clearly. The only time I have seen the FRS/GMRS radios in action was at skyline at the SMC ride and they worked great in the group and OK between two groups miles apart. 2M is the best solution looking forward and I am glad to see we have more than one moving that way. I will go that route but it is not in the budget right now.
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I bought a pawn shop cb and k4 magnet antenna to wire in for the ride. But like others have said depending on the reception of this $50 set up I will be seriously looking at the 2 meter stuff.
typed badly on my iPhone using IH8MUD
typed badly on my iPhone using IH8MUD
ClankBang
Internet Excogitator
It's all line of sight though (technically) so if you are winding through valleys or canyons nothing will work well...
The way people talk around the world with the other ham radios is to bounce the signal off the atmosphere (or at least that's how I understand it)....
How well any radio works depends on the sun spot cycle and we are at the bottom of a ten year cycle so nothing is going to.work as well as it will in five years... But all that is beyond me so at this point I'm spewing crap.
The way people talk around the world with the other ham radios is to bounce the signal off the atmosphere (or at least that's how I understand it)....
How well any radio works depends on the sun spot cycle and we are at the bottom of a ten year cycle so nothing is going to.work as well as it will in five years... But all that is beyond me so at this point I'm spewing crap.
well stated
in my view cb is all about how the antenna is grounded and or ground plane associated with the antenna. A great magnetic antenna is the wilson 5000 version. Cobra 29 and I think 25 models are good. On top of the roof in the center is the best place for a magnetic antenna..but then it gets knocked off by tree branckes.. etc.
You need the SWR checked too (related to the antenna length).
I found that the mounts for the fiberglass antennas make a huge difference. I had one previously that I thought was well made and it was...just the design was poor. Went to the "cb shop) near cullman and bought a generic mount which was a game changer and worked right from the start.
CBs dominate the trail ride business from anything I've seen....as you move out west Ham radio seems to be more popular. (wide open spaces).
Issues with grounds for the antenna relate to powder coated brackets/bumpers..etc, paint, and poor contact with the actual metal.
of course if everyone gets one of the FRG (i keep forgetting the right word) but anyway...whatever. Get one and get some batteries and we'll see what happens.
I would advise people to get a CB though...because for now that's the most popular device.
- Thread starter
- #38
It is all line of sight but the transmit power and frequency plays into it also. The FRS is just basically a toy walkie talkie for someone right next to you. GMRS is currently licensed(no exam but expensive $85) but it goes up to 4 watts and covers several miles. It seems to be just a step below 2M which would be 5 watts for a handheld? With the current licensing requirement for GMRS it makes more sense to me to just go 2m, since you could get licensed and get a handheld for about the same cost as the GMRS + license from what I have seen. Supposedly they are going to drop the license requirement for GMRS this spring. I am guessing that when I saw the GMRS/FRS radios working over distance at skyline with the SMC guys they were probably using the GMRS bands of the radio unlicensed.
none of them are going to work if everyone has something different. How much is the technicians license now? Is it difficult?
none of them are going to work if everyone has something different. How much is the technicians license now? Is it difficult?
ClankBang
Internet Excogitator
I might be wrong but I thought GMRS uses cell towers to get there reach.... There for if you are out of cell range you won't ne doing well with GMRS. You are right that power helps but it still won't get you through a mountain or even heavy trees.. 2m is by far better than cb.. and 10m is meter is better than 2m...
Im pulling from old memory here (days helping my dad set up his hams)
By the way the 2nd that's waiting on me has a peak of 40 watts I believe and was something like 65$ so not much more than cb..
Im pulling from old memory here (days helping my dad set up his hams)
By the way the 2nd that's waiting on me has a peak of 40 watts I believe and was something like 65$ so not much more than cb..
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ClankBang said:
I'll check on lic fee and ill post more info when I get home. Ham licences have a tiered heirchy... You can only transmit on the grew range the lic allows, when you go beyond the 144.0 and 440. Range you are talking pretty serious money in equipment.
2 meter is the quasi hands down standard for off road stuff for now. Plus I doubt many here including me want to learn morsel code which is a requirement for higher level ham license.
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