Hand Held CB radios

[G.T. Smith]

I use the little walkie-talkies I got as a gift one time for working 5 years welding aluminum for the DOD. Big spenders. They do work good and every year since I've had them I give one to my Son and one for me. I programmed my police scanner at home to one of the frequencies and if I should run into trouble or need help dragging a deer, I can call for help to the house or my Son that is usually within range. If you hold down on the call button while turning them on, they go to a silent operation mode. I've never had to use them for anything except to call the kid and tell him it's time to head out.
Just check your area for reception before you head out on a hunt. My cell is on vibrate only and we text when the coverage allows. They do make some real hot rod walkies nowadays.
Peace,
gordon

 

[RonJ]

RonJ -
Do you have a reason to suggest the Motorolas over Midland?
I have been watching the sale ads for a set, and no one so far has even advertised Motorola. Dick's and Gander had a rebate on Midlands but nothing on the Motorolas.

Myron

I don't really have anything bad to say against Midland, they make really nice weather radios. I used to sell FRS/GMRS radios and very seldom had a return on the Motorolas. Schools used them to communicate from the school house to the bus parking lots. Fire houses used them for local use around the engine house. The firemen got them wet pretty often and they held up well. The teachers just mistreated them. They came back defective often, which meant they needed new batteries or recharging.

 

[mountaingun629]

RonJ,
Thanks for your input. I used to see a bunch of them in schools, but seems now they are using something else - probably more expensive to boot.
I take it that you don't see a distinct quality or durability difference between brands?
I had a pair of Motorolas, but one of them went missing, so need to replace. I'm just using the lone one as a weather radio now.
Do the Midlands have a weather band?

Myron

 

[jlrhiner]

The ones I saw today did. (Actually several)

I didn't mean to imply any slight to Midland. I just don't know enough about them. I always saw Motorola on job sites and was just more comfortable with that brand.

I can be swayed.

 

[CW Spook]

Motorola FRS radios are good quality, but the Motorolas you saw on job sites were likely commercial business band units, a whole 'nuther class of equipment. They're about as different from their FRS as an Iver-Johnson is from an S&W. The Motorola XTS5000s I use on my DMAT job are about $3-4k each, and we have 15 of them...the cheapest Motorola business band handheld that's roughly equivalent to FRS/GMRS will be at least $300 and won't have the weather band.

 

[jlrhiner]

Now that you say that, I remember one of our Superintendents having a high-speed come-apart when one got dropped in the boiler. Cost was several thousand dollars then.

 

[Roadtrash]

A lot of the high dollar ones also have phone capabilities. But as mentioned they are quite expensive.

 

[Ogandydancer]

Also remember too that FM is basically line-of-sight and so the more power you have the better off you are or the higher the antenna and clear of obstructions. However on handhelds the antenna is short and attached to the unit so the higher powered ones are your best bet.

 

[PDL]

As others have said, they didn't work all that well.

I found that they were useful while camping. The truck had a CB in it. When someone was out walking or fishing etc., we could stay in contact.

The family band types are good for two way taking. But for general use, the CB has more folks listening.

 

[Ilike9mm]

Amateur radio would open us a new world of possibilities. Many different mode of communication. HF, VHF, UHF and with the use of repeaters the communication can be limitless.

License required, but the test ain't that bad. The test questions and answers are available. Check your area for testing sites.

 

[kennyb]

i would also suggest ham radio...the test to become licensed is not bad at all...sitting here beside me now is my yaesu ft 270 handheld...its light and quite small...cost less than $150.00 new..you can program in hundreads of frequencies on fm2 meter....it has about a dozen weather bands...its certainly weatherproof as it can stay submerged in 3'of water for 30 minutes....
it can operate simplex (transmitter to transmitter) or more often through the use of repeaters...simply put ,your signal from the handheld goes to a repeater where it is greatly enhanced..it then leaves the repeater and travels to whomever you are talking to...talking 30-50 miles in this manner is rountine....
yep...you must have a federal license...there are three levels
1) technician
2) general
3) extra
using a ham base or mobile unit its easy to talk all over the world.....yesterday from my base here in va.i talked with a pilot as he was piloting a jet over texas...also to england,s.africa,s.america etc.
to obtain a technician license you must score at least 26 correct answers out of 35 multible choice
the general is a seperate test and also requires at least 26 out of 35 multible choice
the extra test is 50 multible choice questions
amateur (ham) radio has been around nearly 100 years and is a lot of fun....i started with cb radio many years ago and still use it on occasion....
if interested,contact me or take a look at the ARRL site for a ton of information
73's!
KK4EMO

 

[Jellybean]

The biggest problem with handheld CBs is they require too much energy, which means a lot of batteries. They are usually rated at 4 watts output, the same as the ones mounted in cars, but with the antenna mounted on the radio they will not give the coverage of a car mounted radio. But the antennas are detachable which will enable you to get better reception depending on conditions. Cherokee used to make, I don't know if they still do or not, a sideband handheld that had an output of 12 watts, but then again, the more power it puts out, the more power it takes in. I would still take a HH CB over a bubble pack FRS/GMRS radio any day.

New FRS/GMRS radios are not worth the money I paid for any of mine. The early FRS radios were well built compared to most of the toys put out today. The combination FRS/GMRS radios are mostly ad hype and no matter if they are camo or not, they just aren't that good, especially comparing them to a "real" GMRS radio. FRS radios must have an antenna that is not detachable, which means any FRS/GMRS radio is going to be compliant. Also, no matter how many channels the package tells you the radio has, it really only has 22. Real GMRS handhelds would be the best way to go, 5 watts of output and a detachable antenna, but they require a license, just like operating a FRS/GMRS radio on the GMRS channels/frequencies.

There is another option too. MURS radios. They are allowed up to 2 watts of output power and can have detachable antennas. They have been legal for a long time but have not gained the popularity of the FRS/GMRS radios, probably because there are only five channels in the MURS class, but did find favor for use with security devices. (google "MURS compatible radios" and you should be able to find some.)

Of course cell phones would be the best if you are in an area that is covered. There are other radios that are better than the CBs, MURS and GMRS/FRS, but they require an FCC license and I'm not going to discuss them on an open forum. But the best suggestion is to look into getting a ham license. Pass a 35 question test and you're in the door, then if you feel you want to go further you can, after that the possibilites are endless.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I'm going to agree with Kenny... it doesn't take much studying to pass your Tech class Amateur license. You don't need to know code. I have several dual band (2 meter and 70cm) radios that didn't run much over fifty bucks, and aren't much bigger than a pack of smokes. I'm currently General class and working on my Extra.

One of the groups giving the tests here in NoVA doesn't even charge for them, just to make it even easier to get into the hobby.

 

[K1500]

Ham is best, but the problem with ham is everyone who operates a radio must have a licence (unless they are within arms reach of a licence holder).

 

[Jellybean]

There is a licensing problem with the FRS/GMRS radios too. The FRS, Family Radio Service, is no license required, but the GMRS, General Mobile Radio Service does require a license. While the users manuals do have a warning that a license is required it usually isn't made as big of an issue as the eight "higher powered channels". But there are a lot of parents that don't like to read owners manuals that will tell you, if there are some licensed GMRS operators that are getting walked on in the area, you can expect a knock on the door from the FCC.

 

[K1500]

Bubble pack pirates on the GMRS channels...illegal but I doubt the FCC cares unless they are hitting a repeater. I do not advocate using GMRS unless licensed, but a quick scan at your local ski area reveals almost everyone on the GMRS channels are not licensed.

 

[jlrhiner]

I finally pulled the trigger, and a pair of Motorola MR-355 GMRS capable radios came home. All the features I thought I needed, along with extra bright orange faceplates so they can easily locate the body.

I registered myself with the FCC, as I'm basically a law abiding type of person and fully intend to use the GMRS features. $85.00!!! So, plus tax, I've got just under $200.00 in these puppies.

GADZOOKS!!!

 

[kennyb]

jim...let us know how they work out for you...and consider getting your ham license

 

[Roadtrash]

Yeah, ham is the best way to go but you do need the license although it is not hard to get. The advantage you have then is you can talk so much further and you have a lot more "channels" that you can use. Been a ham for many years myself and it is fun when traveling, hunting or just sitting around the house chatting.

Just my two cents. KD5EXY

 

[jlrhiner]

UPDATE!

They worked well during the convoy down, getting about 4 miles range in varying terrain. Once we were in camp, (which is in the Missouri Ozarks) about 2 miles in hilly ground. The weather radio reception was around 40 miles, not sure what's typical.

The controls on the radio were easy to operate, even for a nit-wit who is not a radio guy. Instructions were straight forward and easy to read. The battery life on the NiCH battery pack was 12 hours plus.

Overall, very satisfied with these little guys for what I needed them for.