Cb/frs/gmrs?

[--weezl--]

gmrs should be covered by ham licenses, but a ham license is not the same as a gmrs license... ham covers the UHF band, of which gmrs is a part of... i'm not 100% sure though, and that being said, ham licenses in canada and the us are going to be different, in canada they are issued by industry canada, in the us, it's going to be the Federal Communications Commission

 

[ronclark]

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 found the answer, its not legal on the CB band, but can be done.

TITLE 47--TELECOMMUNICATION

COMMISSION (CONTINUED)

PART 95--PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES--Table of Contents

Subpart D--Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service

Sec. 95.419 (CB Rule 19) May I operate my CB station transmitter by remote control?

(a) You may not operate a CB station transmitter by radio remote
control.
(b) You may operate a CB transmitter by wireline remote control if
you obtain specific approval in writing from the FCC. To obtain FCC
approval, you must show why you need to operate your station by wireline
remote control. If you receive FCC approval, you must keep the approval
as part of your station records. See CB Rule 27, Sec. 95.427.
(c) Remote control means operation of a CB transmitter from any
place other than the location of the CB transmitter. Direct mechanical
control or direct electrical control by wire from some point on the same
premises, craft or vehicle as the CB transmitter is not considered
remote control.

 

[--weezl--]

so essentially, you can have a cb repeater, if you get a license for such, from the FCC

i'm a little surprised that they don't define CB by frequency range to be honest with you (29mhz)

 

[ronclark]

so essentially, you can have a cb repeater, if you get a license for such, from the FCC

i'm a little surprised that they don't define CB by frequency range to be honest with you (29mhz)

FCC says CB is falls in the 26.965-27.405 MHz band. is Canada different?

As far as i can tell the FCC require a separate license for GMRS and that costs $85 for 5 years and it covers your family and lets you use 50w radios.
which is funny since HAM costs next to nothing but everyone had to have a license.
I guess nothing in life can be simple

 

[ronclark]

I was looking on ebay for a deal on CBs. WOW, There are tons of illegal radios on there, running 55w echo things build in. is there that many people out there just messing up the cb band?

 

[--weezl--]

FCC says CB is falls in the 26.965-27.405 MHz band. is Canada different?

As far as i can tell the FCC require a separate license for GMRS and that costs $85 for 5 years and it covers your family and lets you use 50w radios.
which is funny since HAM costs next to nothing but everyone had to have a license.
I guess nothing in life can be simple

i am 99% sure it's the same... the cb radios are the same... channel 1 is 26.965mhz, but it's virtually 27 (sorry, i said 29 by accident) it's more or less the 27mhz band...

I was looking on ebay for a deal on CBs. WOW, There are tons of illegal radios on there, running 55w echo things build in. is there that many people out there just messing up the cb band?

yes there are lots... cb radios typically run around 4-5 watts of power, when we go 4x4ing, as we are headed through the foothills, to the local winter park (about an hour outside of town) we almost ALWAYS pickup someone with a strong southern accent transmitting on channel 11... so heavy of an accent that i have trouble understanding him most of the time... best we can figure is he's got some ridiculous over powered radio, something like 100+watts of power... and managing to hit a huge skip, for the record, we are about 400km north of the border (250 miles)

i THINK the highest power cb radio legally allowed in the states is 12 watts... but i could have that wrong...

cb is good for moderate distance, but don't get one for long distance...

 

[Stxrangerbumper]

Uniden Bearcat

Uniden PRO-538W

When you purchase a CB radio be sure you do your homework. Ive been a CB'er for many years and believe me,you need to get one that fits your application as well as your budget. Think of it like purchasing a TV set. If you are going to be using it constantly like me, a professional truck driver, or security guard or avid CB enthusiast DONT BUY A CHEAP RADIO! Usually you get what you pay for. I personally use a radio called a FlameThrower. It may bee overkill for some, but when you are in front of it 24/7 it becomes a part of your life, livelyhood and work. So you need to get one that's right for you.I know i learned the hard way struggling with cheap radios that just didnt perform. Hope this helps any readers to make the decision on that new radio companion.

Very true , generally you get what you pay for ! I see lots of used CB's at yard sales , some old 23 channel jobs for $5 and a few times seen some top quality rigs SSB Cobras and Galaxy radios with the extras channels above 40 and below 1 going for $20 ,Years ago while living in Honlulu I purchased a used Galaxy CB and worked the mainland many times using just alittle home brew wire antenna from inside my Waikiki apartment and just 10 watts !



the better place that I've seen is mounted

yeah, that's it does not skimp on your antenna, the important part of the receive your given

 

[Spott]

I think the legal limit is 4 watts on CB in the states, but some people think the rules don't apply to them, and they can do anything they want. They throw out a huge signal and drown out dozens of legit stations just so they can feel superior.

Even on the ham freqs, where some license classes are permitted up to 1.2kW, the FCC rules state you're only allowed to use "the minimum power necessary" to effectively communicate. Most base-station ham rigs only provide 100W max on frequencies under 30MHz (less at higher freqs), and lots of hams enjoy making worldwide contacts with less than 5W, or even 1/2W, when conditions are right.

Spott

 

[ronclark]

well I am going to keep my eye out for a Cobra with weather Channel and start with that. I'll have to figure out how i want to setup in my truck.

I am still kinda leaning toward a GMRS system for hiking, since it sounds like i can cover a few radios in my party and i can get a nice mobile for the truck and get some nice range with that if I have too.

 

[--weezl--]

personally, i don't know ANYONE who has a gmrs specific radio, i know many with the frs/gmrs hybrid radios, and they are crap, don't expect help from trying to radio to someone else with the gmrs ones though... i doubt anyone will just happen to be on any channel you try to pickup...

 

[ronclark]

Are SSB CB worth the extra money? its seems like a good idea, but if no one else had a SSB CB why bother?

 

[Stxrangerbumper]

and this beautiful kit ,when you think

Cobra's HH ROADTRIP

https://www.cobra.com/category/cb-radios.cfm
http://www.hitechwireless.com/Roadtrip-Handheld-CB-Antenna-Included-P294C228.aspx?UserID=6352790&SessionID=dpvcgOKLvelZ{Y1BEtE6

 

[--weezl--]

almost got that handheld, but it was about double the price of the midland one, which i picked up, and have in my center console

 

[4x4junkie]

Are SSB CB worth the extra money? its seems like a good idea, but if no one else had a SSB CB why bother?

Unless getting into the radio as a hobby, I'm not sure I would bother with SSB.
With SSB, you have to fine-tune your receiver to everyone you're talking to so they don't sound like "donald duck", and if two or more people happen to be slightly off frequency from each other (this happens very often because of FCC's stupid rule no one can market a radio having a variable TX freq adjust, or a tied-in clarifier control), you'll be trying to chase people back & forth across the channel (this is fun while trying to drive lol).

However there is one possibility you'd have with a SSB CB (or even better, an "export" type CB with all modes), that wouldn't be as likely with a straight AM radio... If the band is "open" (meaning atmospheric conditions that support radio propagation are active, A.K.A. "Skip"), you might be able to raise someone in another state who could make a phone call to help for you. To do the same on the straight-AM channels would take having an external amplifier to get a signal out that wouldn't otherwise get drowned out in the background noise such conditions bring (plus you'd have to be able to hear someone too). SSB radios typically are bigger physically than straight AM radios though, so that might have to be a consideration as well.

 

[Stxrangerbumper]

SSB = Single-sideband --- I'm lost everything., tell me if I'm wrong
fcc = Federal Communications Commission