What about CB radios?

Trevillian

Trigger Trash
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Charter Member
Benefactor
Life Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
2,949
Location
Jackson county, NC
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
ive used them off and on for companies I worked for but don't know much about them.

If I just want to maintain contact with my "group" or some such. Why wouldn't CB be fine? No license needed, etc.

I've been looking into ham a lot. I've noticed none of our posts in this area ever mention CB. So I'm just curious
 
Good idea. I used to like the CB years ago as most folks did. Last set up I had was a Sears SSB 40 + with VFO in my truck.

Had another Sears SSB in the house plus a Siltronix 10/11 C. Shakespeare Big Stick and a PDL2 quad on a rotor.

Some of those things were not legal on 11 meters then and are probably not now.

Different house now for the last 24 years. Still have some of those boxed up though.
 
The range issue is a function of frequency, and power. With FM the power is typically distributed into a wider bandwidth so it may not provide an intelligent signal as far out.

The CB frequency, about 27MHz is actually a good distance band, at least when the atmospheric conditions are right. This is mostly a left over effect of the technology limits back in the 70s when it wasn’t feasibke or economical to make transistor based oscillators and DSP processors didn’t exit. CB is legally limited to fairly low power 16w PEP / 4 Watts AM which will limit your range to several miles unless there is a band opening (10/11 meters can be fickle - I did 10 meters at field day last year and it would move around the country a lot), but a lot of people run illegal amplifiers.

If you’re wanting a local talk group, there is nothing wrong with CB. Give it a try. It’s not even expensive.
 
If only one didn't have to take an exam and get a license for ham.
Like any hobby, ham can get very expensive very quickly. Base stations, tower antennas, mobile......

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
the question and answers are out for everyone to see and read.
They change in July if my memory serves.

Yep.. my g/f got her tech and general, no problem (with no previous electronic/radio background).
A few glasses of Riesling helped with the ohm’s law and power calculations :p
 
I'm liking all of this. I want (will get)a ham license but as I said originally, CB just seems like an obvious, if old school way to keep in touch regionally:)
 
Illegal amplifiers?

You mean, like a Texas Star 667 with a 3 3/4 Watt input that dead keyed at 800 Watts and modulated at 1,000 Watts?

Don't know what you're talking about.
Neither does my friend Jack. Neither does he know about the crystal change to get the upper 40 channels.
 
"Buy" the way..."CB" really means "Continually Buying".

If you're going to go with CB's (or ham radios), then I recommend you invest in a decent setup from the start.

A good radio isn't all that difficult, or expensive. You don't have to go overboard, here. But you absolutely can NOT skimp out on the antenna. A cheap $10 antenna will pretty much be useless once you leave the parking lot.

There are, I imagine, plenty of good choices. Years ago, I found the Wilson 1000 magnetic mount antenna to be an excellent choice. They're still available, and less than $100.
 
I still have 2 like new Cobra handhelds. Take AA batts. They're perfect for me and my neighbors in a shtf.
The range they afford is the range I'm concerned about monitoring, and me & the neighbors already got the code.
"Meet me over by cranky bob's fence"
If you're not from here you'll never know what the hell we're talking about.
 
I still have 2 like new Cobra handhelds. Take AA batts. They're perfect for me and my neighbors in a shtf.
The range they afford is the range I'm concerned about monitoring, and me & the neighbors already got the code.
"Meet me over by cranky bob's fence"
If you're not from here you'll never know what the hell we're talking about.

If there's anything I've learned from the time I ran a radio in my car, it's that it really doesn't matter what "code" one speaks...it'll eventually come out in the wash.

A bunch of redneck wannabes learned this lesson back in the early 90s.
 
You mean 1,000 Bird Watts?

I mean 1,000 Light-Up-A-4-Foot-Flourescent-Light-From-Across-The-Street Watts.

I mean 1,000 Holy-Cr*p-Don't-Touch-The-Antenna Watts.

I mean 1,000 Listen-To-The-Engine-Bog-Down-When-I-Key-The-Mike Watts.
 
Last edited:
I still have 2 like new Cobra handhelds. Take AA batts. They're perfect for me and my neighbors in a shtf.
The range they afford is the range I'm concerned about monitoring, and me & the neighbors already got the code.
"Meet me over by cranky bob's fence"
If you're not from here you'll never know what the hell we're talking about.
This applies to all radio communications and is something to be aware of if you’re concerned about it, especially in a SHTF scenario.

It is very easy to directionally locate a transmission. You just need a directional antenna which can be made from a piece of pvc pipe and a tape measure. A lot of ham radio clubs practice this skill in a game called fox hunting. The technique was also employed to confirm the location and identity of a local (Truad area) ham who is no longer permitted to use the Greensboro repeater as a result of intentionally causing interference.
 
Last edited:
This applies to all radio communications and is something to be aware of if you’re concerned about it, especially in a SHTF scenario.

It is very easy to directionally locate a transmission. You just need a directional antenna which can be made from a piece of pvc pipe and a tape measure. A lot of ham radio clubs practice this skill in a game called fox hunting. The technique was also employed to confirm the location and identity of a local (Truad area) ham who is no longer permitted to use the Greensboro repeater as a result of intentionally causing interference.

If you have a mobile radio with a signal meter and a variable sensitivity adjustment for reception, you can also track down signals by following the signal strength as you're driving. When you get close enough to peg the meter during reception, dial down on the sensitivity to back the meter to mid-range and continue driving. Takes a little longer, but if you're already driving a lot it's pretty easy.

This is the tactic I used years ago during pizza delivery to track the locations of the redneck wannabes that thought they were hot sh*t harassing me on the radio. I had a book full of addresses, vehicle and plate descriptions, names, etc in short order.
 
Don't even think about using it on ham frequencies without a license.

Actually...there's not really much consequence in this UNLESS the user makes himself a real nuisance by, say, interfering with other electronic equipment with your equipment. Other radio users, hospital equipment, television, etc. In other words, if you're just using the ham radio to communicate with other people and not otherwise causing a problem, the likelihood that any legal consequences will come of it are exceedingly small.

Doesn't mean it's right, nor that there will never be any possible consequences.

Probably, people are most likely to be caught if turned in by other Ham users themselves.
 
Last edited:
That's a ham only radio. Cb is in the 27 frequency range.
It's more than a ham radio. The specs show transmit capability outside of the ham bands. Here's what it says:
Ideal for Fire, Police, FEMA, CAP, security patrols, business communications, schools, construction crews, universities, and other organizations that have FCC licensed frequencies. Includes 2.5 KHz channel step for FCC 2013 narrowband compliance.
It looks like it's designed to transmit in some of the licensed fixed/mobile or possibly marine or aeronautical spectrum. One would need to be careful that you use it in the correct bands, per ones license.
 
Yes there is.

Get a license or play elsewhere.


Actually...there's not really much consequence in this UNLESS the user makes himself a real nuisance by, say, interfering with other electronic equipment with your equipment. Other radio users, hospital equipment, television, etc. In other words, if you're just using the ham radio to communicate with other people and not otherwise causing a problem, the likelihood that any legal consequences will come of it are exceedingly small.

Doesn't mean it's right, nor that there will never be any possible consequences.

Probably, people are most likely to be caught if turned in by other Ham users themselves.
 
Don't even think about using it on ham frequencies without a license.
CFF members: "The Second Amendment is my permit."

Also CFF members: "Don't dare use these electronics without your permission slip from the government."

Sent from my XT1565 using Tapatalk
 
CFF members: "The Second Amendment is my permit."

Also CFF members: "Don't dare use these electronics without your permission slip from the government."

The license shows you have basic working knowledge of the radio theory and how to use it, we as amateur operators share
the radio spectrum with military, aviation, emergency services and governments, domestic and international.
Very easy to end up causing interference to the above services. The license also serves as your unique identifier
and is only required to transmit, anyone can receive to learn how it is done.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom