Cb/frs/gmrs?

ronclark · Mar 29, 2011

I been thinking about getting a radio for camping/hiking/just out in the back roads for emergency.
I just cant seem to find what might work well.
I am thinking something in the truck and some handhelds.
CB seems to have good range, but the handhelds seem impractical.
FRS has a really short range.
GMRS seems it might be better but every one needs a license.
I thought about a cell booster, but that does not help unless you are in the truck.

Anyone have any thoughts?

strvger · Mar 29, 2011

i have both a cb and carry a pair of the small frs handhelds as well. you can get them all and an antenna for the cb for under $100.
cb is great for the roads and trails. frs is nice for hiking, fishing, camping, etc. with friends/family where everyone is within a mile or two of each other.

ronclark · Mar 29, 2011

I have two FRS/GMRS and it seems thy work for 2 blocks and that's it. I have taking them when boating too call back to camp there pointless. Do I just have a bad set?

Stxrangerbumper · Mar 29, 2011

these unit is good too

02RangerXLT · Mar 29, 2011

I have a Cobra 29 Army Edition ($70 on sale) and a Wilson 2000 trucker antenna... great setup, routinely get 6+ miles of transmit out of it, haven't had the chance to test further but I know I can do it.

If you're going to get a CB, don't skimp on the antenna...

4x4junkie · Mar 29, 2011

ronclark said:
I have two FRS/GMRS and it seems thy work for 2 blocks and that's it. I have taking them when boating too call back to camp there pointless. Do I just have a bad set?

If you want good range on FRS, you do need good quality radios (I know there's a lot of cheap crap ones out there lol). I would expect to spend at minimum $60-80 on a pair of good-name radios. Such radios should easily go 10 or more miles if you're within line-of-sight of each other. If there's obstructions in between though, the range will be considerable shorter.

CB is typically good up to about 10 miles mobile-to-mobile provided there's no interference on the channel. The range is much greater if you're talking mobile to a fixed base station with a high antenna. Don't bother with handheld CBs though, I've never seen one that worked worth a damn when used as a handheld.

ronclark · Mar 29, 2011

4x4junkie said:
If you want good range on FRS, you do need good quality radios (I know there's a lot of cheap crap ones out there lol). I would expect to spend at minimum $60-80 on a pair of good-name radios. Such radios should easily go 10 or more miles if you're within line-of-sight of each other. If there's obstructions in between though, the range will be considerable shorter.

CB is typically good up to about 10 miles mobile-to-mobile provided there's no interference on the channel. The range is much greater if you're talking mobile to a fixed base station with a high antenna. Don't bother with handheld CBs though, I've never seen one that worked worth a damn when used as a handheld.

That might be the problem i live in a hilly forested area. the FRS I have are Motorola talk about there were not cheap.

I think i might go and get a SSB CB and see how it works around here, but it really does not solve my hiking radios.

02RangerXLT · Mar 29, 2011

ronclark said:
That might be the problem i live in a hilly forested area. the FRS I have are Motorola talk about there were not cheap.

I think i might go and get a SSB CB and see how it works around here, but it really does not solve my hiking radios.

Just thinking outloud here... but is there such a thing as a CB repeater? Something you could setup at your home to help bounce CB radio signals around? :icon_confused:

We have them for our business band farm radios, and with the two repeaters about 10 miles apart, we can use handheld two ways about 10 miles away from any repeater... We can use the pickup and tractor mounted ones about 30 miles away...

ronclark · Mar 29, 2011

02RangerXLT said:
Just thinking outloud here... but is there such a thing as a CB repeater? Something you could setup at your home to help bounce CB radio signals around?

We have them for our business band farm radios, and with the two repeaters about 10 miles apart, we can use handheld two ways about 10 miles away from any repeater... We can use the pickup and tractor mounted ones about 30 miles away...

I am guessing not, since FFC says you can talk farther than 155.3 miles. I think it was.

02RangerXLT · Mar 29, 2011

ronclark said:
I am guessing not, since FFC says you can talk farther than 155.3 miles. I think it was.

Ah... I'd read about that somewhere... I think that crap is in my Cobra 29's manual.

ronclark · Mar 29, 2011

02RangerXLT said:
Ah... I'd read about that somewhere... I think that crap is in my Cobra 29's manual.

I know it stupid how are you going to stop the transmissions from going that far?

anyone know whats a good SSB CB and Antenna combo?

02RangerXLT · Mar 29, 2011

ronclark said:
I know it stupid how are you going to stop the transmissions from going that far?

anyone know whats a good SSB CB and Antenna combo?

Its not about stopping the signal... there has been numerous reports about those pushy asshats determining where someone is transmitting from, tracking them down and fining them for it... they just listen to stuff and figure out where signals are coming and going.

Cobra GTL 148 has SSB I believe, not sure on its quality or anything, but it is a Cobra...

407Link · Mar 29, 2011

Galaxy makes a good SSB.

--weezl-- · Mar 29, 2011

in canada, there are laws regarding transmit strength, none about signal distance...

honestly, get a ham license, and a vhf radio, or a uhf, i've got a uhf handheld in my truck (need a ham license, but i don't have one) frs and gmrs radios work within the uhf band, so with a uhf radio, you can talk to frs/gmrs radios, with much higher transmit power, most uhf radios (base unit) are transmitting at about 50 watts, handheld are between 2 and 7watts, (mine is 4) and your frs/gmrs radios are absolute max 1... typically they are in the 500mW range (1/2 watt)

vhf and uhf typically have repeaters in your area, with a good radio, you can reach a repeater 50+miles away... and depending on the repeater, you can actually make phone calls from your radio...

most repeaters have SOMEONE listening to them, so if you get into trouble, you can transmit an SOS for anyone to help, worst case scenario, someone will pick up the signal, and call 911 for you

ronclark · Mar 29, 2011

--weezl-- said:
in canada, there are laws regarding transmit strength, none about signal distance...

honestly, get a ham license, and a vhf radio, or a uhf, i've got a uhf handheld in my truck (need a ham license, but i don't have one) frs and gmrs radios work within the uhf band, so with a uhf radio, you can talk to frs/gmrs radios, with much higher transmit power, most uhf radios (base unit) are transmitting at about 50 watts, handheld are between 2 and 7watts, (mine is 4) and your frs/gmrs radios are absolute max 1... typically they are in the 500mW range (1/2 watt)

vhf and uhf typically have repeaters in your area, with a good radio, you can reach a repeater 50+miles away... and depending on the repeater, you can actually make phone calls from your radio...

most repeaters have SOMEONE listening to them, so if you get into trouble, you can transmit an SOS for anyone to help, worst case scenario, someone will pick up the signal, and call 911 for you

As far as i understand GMRS is not covered by a HAM license. so to talk on GMRS band you have to get a separate license its pretty stupid I think.

Cb/frs/gmrs?

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