CB Radio and Ham Radio

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
I had to turn off my ad blocker and anti-tracker to see them. We don't use ads here so it shouldn't be an issue.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
I had to turn off my ad blocker and anti-tracker to see them. We don't use ads here so it shouldn't be an issue.

nuts.. I am using Firefox.. all the ad stuff is off, and honey badger (Err privacy badger) thingy is also off..

Darn.. will have to keep looking at the settings..

IPad.. all works.. Leaning towards firefox.. is issue.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Oh yeah, I'm not personally familiar with the terrain around Moab but food for thought.

A lot of mobile antennas tout a lot of gain and while that looks good on paper, the terrain you'll be using it in has a lot to do with how useful that gain will be.

High gain limits your high angle radiation where a standard 1/4 wave antenna is nearly omni-directional with only a slight null off the very tip. In flat land or on a mountain top, that's great! In the mountains and foot hills, high gain can actually limit your ability to get out.

Here where I live, there's almost no horizon. Everywhere you look you're just staring at the side of a mountain. I've had a 5/8w on 2m tri-band antenna on my X and didn't have much better results than my 1/4w Tram anywhere but high on a mountain top. But even at that, it was a wash because I could easily raise the same repeaters with either antenna.

My point of all this is don't shop for antennas based solely on gain numbers. My $13 Tram dual band from Amazon has been a tough antenna to beat and I'm not going to be heart broken if it snaps off on the trail...
 

scoyoc

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Fort Collins, CO
@TerryD Thanks for the heads up. I'm fairly familiar with the NPS radios we use for work; they work great when you are out in the open or up on a mesa, but lots of dead spots when you are down in the canyons.

I ended up getting a $15 Tram that was suggested with the Opek hitch mount you linked to on Amazon. There was a good review that used it with a UV-5R so I thought I'd just get it. It looks good enough to get started and I won't be too sad when a tree rips it off the X.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Rule of thumb: Antenna makes the radio. ;-)
seek the high ground your signal will travel. IF no high ground.. You must adapt with what you have and apply Terrain skills, so the Radio wave has best path to the outside world.

Once you achieve Geek status, you will have a secondary antenna system like a Roll up J-pole, to toss in tree For added height. Just to gain more Easy pathway for the radio waves.

Ham Radio.. so much to learn and The system is so basic. They are currently using the HAM Freq in the East coast due to the hurricane. Pretty sure the land lines are down, as with CELL PHONES.. YES... CELL phones the New age Baby pacifier for humans. NO cell phones Humans become Slobbering Goo mess. LOST.. Thus, one must have Plan B!.. BEER= Plan B!. Or other means of comm's. ;-)

Never know when you will need Comms on the trail. I rather be that Guy that has the toy's, and able to make Emergency Comm's when I need it.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
I stole this from the OTHER site.. We had a nice Ham Thread going for all sorts of info..

A good Resource to have in the tool box. Spent many years in SAR, and Radio's were always Needed. Got my Ham ticket, to further speed up Rescue and or contact S.O. office for Various items. Like LUNCH.. to the Searchers.. Or Detectives to the scene.. Law Radio would not work.. BUT my $25 one did, and I was able to talk to another ham. For Getting information out that was needed.

just another tool to carry.. and plus its fun.




One posting. from a "Samuel313". back in 2016ish.. He was in MOAB.. and He is a HAM too. For being Prepared on the trail, saved a Life. That is what counts a life saved, using Ham Radio skills.

Doing this as cut & Paste.. if it fails.. to post correctly .. Blame it on the Cheap Whiskey Machine Slot #2. IRISH Whiskey aged 11.5 years. ;-)

added Screen name.. just in case he should be lurking over on this site..

CUT & Lick & Paste.. Photos are just a few.. But gives idea on the events.

A good Read!. had to share.

POSTER: SAMAUEL313 Year 2016 Era

Long Story to follow:

I decided to hit up Rattlesnake trail in Five Mile Pass, Utah yesterday with a friend. We got up to an obstacle called Wayne's World that I was thinking about attempting in my Xterra. There were two ATV riders ahead and one was attempting the obstacle unsuccessfully. His father had ridden a bypass to the top of the obstacle to watch. When it was apparent the ATV attempting the obstacle wouldn't make it up, the father decided to back down the adjacent hill to the bottom to help extricate the ATV. As the back tires of the father's ATV came off a 6" rock ledge, he locked up his rear tires and the ATV's nose started pointing skywards. The man fell off and the ATV then rolled on top of him (this is a 650+ lb utility ATV with several gear bags on the back and a winch in the front), continued and landed on its wheels, rolling down the rest of the hill. I was standing about 10 feet away on the hill when it happened and ran over to him. He was conscious and in incredible pain. Either the handlebars or his motocross helmet lacerated his lower lip and he was bleeding profusely from his mouth. He was also complaining of severe lower back pain. I told him to lay on his back, to keep his helmet on, and that we'd get him medical attention ASAP.

Nobody had cell service up the canyon so I pulled out my trusty HAM radio and pinged a repeater that I know has lots of traffic in Utah and Salt Lake Counties. Immediately, a fellow responded and called 911 on my behalf.

By this time, the gentleman had insisted on getting to his feet in search of a comfortable place to sit, despite my protestations. Being that all of the other vehicles were huge JK's on 40s and Razr's, the front seat of the Xterra was obviously where he would be most comfortable. His son other individuals helped him into the front seat and adjusted the back to where he was most comfortable.


The dispatcher relayed the information to the local fire department and DNR (Department of Natural Resources) and within about 30 minutes we had DNR officers arrive in their side-by-side and a little while later some off-roaders had brought the EMT's on site from the parking lot in their personal side-by-sides.


X 1.jpeg


The small rock ledge on the upper right corner is where the ATV flipped. The ATV can be seen on the left.

X 2.jpeg



Once the EMT's had attended to the individual, it was determined to bring in a helicopter to life flight him out of the canyon to the hospital.


X 3.jpeg

The helicopter picked a landing site about a 1/4-mile away. The flight nurses considered carrying him out on a back board, but ultimately asked if I wouldn't mind driving the patient, EMT and flight nurse back to the helicopter on an access road as gently as possible. I acquiesced and a convoy of vehicles followed.

X 4.jpeg


I am glad I was able to help and get the man the medical attention he needed. Having a HAM radio in my vehicle got him to the hospital at least an hour sooner.

TLDR: Used my HAM radio to call for help for an injured ATV rider. Helicopter came and I transported the patient to the landing site in my Xterra.

BTW, is there an Xterra achievement for using your Xterra as an ambulance?
 

Brunnie

Bumpers Installed
Supporting Member
Location
Colorado Springs
OK.... I have a question about tennis balls and antennas. How do ya'll fasten the tennis ball to the antenna to keep it from moving?
I drilled a hole through the tennis ball and got the ball over the end of the antenna, but it seems to me that the ball will want to move out of position as I drive, or as it gets banged around out on the trail.

Is silicon glue the answer?
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
hope it works.. for yea.. Might leave slight tail to the zip tie, as a add means to prevent ball form sliding up.

worth a shot.. zip ties are cheap, BUT UV light does kill them.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
The Royal Air Force were doing AIR show my way...
sipping whiskey and watching the event. using camera.. Taking photos of the formation as they were flying over me.
CAUGHT great photo.. Formation flying up into my 6 meter Antenna Following up the Ground plain rods.

Truth to be told. I opened a Gate way to 1886 Era, for the Jets to create Havoc on the Zulu Army.
Wire lower left corner is for HF Freq

;-)DSCF5278 (Large).JPG
 
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TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Got some more use from APRS this weekend. Was camping with no cell service and used it to get some messages back to the rest of the group who hadn't arrived yet.
 

Me!Here!

Bought an X
Location
Somerville, MA
My old man pulled out an older CB of his garage and gave it to me knowing I'm working on the overhead console, all it is is the radio and mic, what would I be looking at for wiring (power & antenna) needs?
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
My old man pulled out an older CB of his garage and gave it to me knowing I'm working on the overhead console, all it is is the radio and mic, what would I be looking at for wiring (power & antenna) needs?

You will need a Power cable ( 10 Guage?? ) to Battery ( Straight is better Vs tapping into Fuse panel, Less chance of RF noise).
Inline fuse of sorts. I think CB is 10amps? I think.. have not messed with a CB in years.. With good ground.
Good antenna mount, Lots to choose from. Coax cable distance and keep away from other Electrical wires.. Less RF bleed over. Ferrite Beads will Help kill that RF noise. ;-)
Antenna will require Tuning . Find someone with a SWR meter.. For a Low SWR reading.. High numbers= Heat & Signal loss.
Range for CB is short. Vs Ham.
hope that helps
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
You will need a Power cable ( 10 Guage?? ) to Battery ( Straight is better Vs tapping into Fuse panel, Less chance of RF noise).
Inline fuse of sorts. I think CB is 10amps? I think.. have not messed with a CB in years.. With good ground.
Good antenna mount, Lots to choose from. Coax cable distance and keep away from other Electrical wires.. Less RF bleed over. Ferrite Beads will Help kill that RF noise. ;-)
Antenna will require Tuning . Find someone with a SWR meter.. For a Low SWR reading.. High numbers= Heat & Signal loss.
Range for CB is short. Vs Ham.
hope that helps

I think most CBs pull like 2A full tilt. Maybe less. They don't pull much. I ran one on a 5A supply at the house for a while.

Get us some info on the CB. It may not be worth using depending on what it is.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
You need to make sure it will use the same mount as a newer model before you design anything around it. There's a good chance one that age won't live long in a vehicle.
 

Me!Here!

Bought an X
Location
Somerville, MA
You need to make sure it will use the same mount as a newer model before you design anything around it. There's a good chance one that age won't live long in a vehicle.

Yeah I think I'm going to just go with a new one, the old man has an electronics background in addition to being a body man for him no problem he'll just F with it, me not so much
 

Me!Here!

Bought an X
Location
Somerville, MA
I'd look at a Cobra 19DXIV or a Uniden 520XL myself. For what a CB is useful for, they offer the most bang for your buck.

A Cobra 75WXST is a good option too but pricey.

the 19DXIV is much less expensive then the 20Lx, I don't really need to bells and whistles...is it bad that I leaned towards that on cuz it has red lighting...with the exception of my "Hulk Mode" rocker switch all the rest will be red lit
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
nice radio a Icom 2 meter radio with 65 watts $175.00.. ah more toy's..

GMRS radio.. Need License for it.. I think its $90 bucks for 10 years.. Just to use that Freq range. ( I was right.. )

Ah Found INFO:
The FCC is divided into bureaus, and the bureau that governs GMRS is the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, phone (202) 418-0600, FAX (202) 418-0787. The bureau that enforces the Rules and Regulations is the Enforcement Bureau, which can be reached through the FCC general phone and fax numbers listed above.

The FCC web site is found at www.fcc.gov, and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau page is found here. General information about GMRS is on this FCC web page.

FCC licenses for GMRS are issued for 5 years, and require a $90 filing fee (as of June 6th, 2014) ($18/year). Renewals of 5-year licenses likewise currently cost $90. The cost of the license is set by federal law passed by the United States Congress, not by the FCC. This fee is subject to periodic automatic cost of living increases. For more information on the fee, go to this NSEA page and also this NSEA page. A GMRS license allows you, and members of your family, (see §95.179 of the Rules and Regulations) to use UHF 2-way radios to transmit VOICE communications.

The complete current FCC Rules and Regulations for GMRS can be found at this U.S. Government Printing Office site. Note that GMRS is Part 95(A) of the FCC Rules and Regulations.


If your going to spend that much on Radio.. Buy Bofengs, for $25.00 . Get Ham License. $10.0-$15.00 for 10 years Distance now 15 miles to 600 miles Way more options.. and using a $25.00 radio.. Chimp made. Chimp simple to use.
 

IM1RU

Skid Plates
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, UT
Thanks for the feedback.
Although some info is outdated.... Licence is now 10 years, and $70, but regardless I appreciate it.

The ham test just has so damn much useless info that I couldn't care less about, I've found it nearly impossible to remember, not mention understand.... It has just made me really not care enough to bother.

Truth is I just want a radio I can turn on, pick a channel, and talk.... Thus the thought of this.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
NO problem. Ham does have lots of info to learn Least on the test wise.. Does help to keep control of the Freq.. Or ends up like CB radio. chaos..

Radio technology has come long way's..
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
The Wilson Firefly is a good antenna but I'm a fan of the 102" whip. They're tougher and work better than a stunted fiberglass one. But most people don't like how much they move around.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Just make sure to tune it well. As with good grounding.
If you should happen to get lots of loud squeal Feed back noise. BEEN thar Done that!!!. Ferriate bead chokes are your friends..

If your antenna is 102", and not in use.. Whip up some 550 cord and Rubber O-Ring to secure antenna into a Loop when not in use.. and avoid the drive up windows, They tend to have low ceiling lights.. THwack POP. OOP's. Cough cough .. I know nothings!!.
 
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