CB & Handheld Radios
Do any of you use (or just listen to) a CB radio when travelling? If so, what kind do you use? I'm thinking of using a magnetic antennae to mount on the roof of my pickup. Any suggestions on brands an...
Forum Discussion
since we travel in lots of places w/o cell service, cell phones don't do much good for communication when parking or between vehicles when traveling.
What I have found works best for us is radios with MURS or GMRS/FRS channels.
MURS gives good distance when OUTSIDE a vehicle, but since it is relatively low frequency, (140ish MHz) vehicles act as a faraday cage and limit range.
FRS/GMRS are higher frequencies (400ish MHz) so they work between vehicles.
MURS doesn't require a license. GMRS does. FRS doesn't but is limited to 0.5W IIRC, while GMRS allows 5 Watts handheld.
For off road motorcycle communication we use Standard horizon marine radios that we have eliminated the marine bands and reconfigured with standard horizon SW for MURS. very rugged waterproof radios but spendy. But we can easily get 1/2 mile range in heavy woods, 5 mile range in open area.
But as a in car or at the campground radio we use Baofeng UV-5R dual band radios. inexpensive, easy to configure for MURS and FRS/GMRS.
About $30 each on amazon or ebay.
IMHO either is way better than the box store GMRS/FMRS radios. with the baofeng or the Standard horizon you can set CTSS/DCS codes for each channel so you won't get interference from others on the same channel. And with the baofeng you can set it up or scan to listen on ham frequencies.
And yes, I do realize the baofeng is not type certified for GMRS/FMRS/MURS since they are preconfigured for those channels only.
What I have found works best for us is radios with MURS or GMRS/FRS channels.
MURS gives good distance when OUTSIDE a vehicle, but since it is relatively low frequency, (140ish MHz) vehicles act as a faraday cage and limit range.
FRS/GMRS are higher frequencies (400ish MHz) so they work between vehicles.
MURS doesn't require a license. GMRS does. FRS doesn't but is limited to 0.5W IIRC, while GMRS allows 5 Watts handheld.
For off road motorcycle communication we use Standard horizon marine radios that we have eliminated the marine bands and reconfigured with standard horizon SW for MURS. very rugged waterproof radios but spendy. But we can easily get 1/2 mile range in heavy woods, 5 mile range in open area.
But as a in car or at the campground radio we use Baofeng UV-5R dual band radios. inexpensive, easy to configure for MURS and FRS/GMRS.
About $30 each on amazon or ebay.
IMHO either is way better than the box store GMRS/FMRS radios. with the baofeng or the Standard horizon you can set CTSS/DCS codes for each channel so you won't get interference from others on the same channel. And with the baofeng you can set it up or scan to listen on ham frequencies.
And yes, I do realize the baofeng is not type certified for GMRS/FMRS/MURS since they are preconfigured for those channels only.
