ham or cb radio

Can anyone make some suggestions for a newbie and where to go to learn more about HAM radio operations, hand held models, and licensing procedures? Always been mildly curious about it, but the emergency usage communications is what interests me perhaps the most, after becoming more familiar with it. without an EE, I can imagine there is a lot to learn... Key to me is to not become overwhelmed by the technology, while still learning.

Hiking Hunter wrote:
Ham radio is primarily intended for those interested in amateur radio communications as a hobby or avocation. The amateur radio community welcomes anyone with that interest, and if that is yours, then welcome! It is truly a fascinating hobby with many different aspects.

If you are interested in communication for other purposes like communication between vehicles, etc., then I agree with TucsonJim, the Family Radio Service (FRS) would probably serve you better. FRS radios are much less susceptible to noise and are more reliable for that purpose. I also agree with him, CB radio has turned into a wasteland for the most part.

Also, some of the apps available for smart phones now, such as Inrix, are very helpful for urban traffic information.

Add WAZE to the list also, for urban traffic conditions, as an App for your smart phone, or one of the overlays for traffic on your Google Maps app too.

SCVJeff wrote:
My guess is you are primarily an HF'er, and that is a completely different world,and there you are correct. But on the upper bands there are LOTS of people who just want to chat, and not about their new antennas or how adjust pre-emphasis on the modulator... They just don't care, and that's fine. Some people could care less about all the technicals. If it works for them, that's good enough.

No, I'm primarily an experimenter and builder, not a "communicator". And no, I'm more active on VHF than the low bands, although I've done a fair amount of experimenting with HF antennas. I know what you are saying and agree with you about how some people would rather chat than experiment. Some are not interested in the technical side, and that's fine - it's all part of the hobby.

I think you are missing my point. Go back and read the OP's question, then my first post. I am advising the OP, in a subtle but friendly way, that a ham radio is not the best tool for the job. The best tools for what he has asked is an FRS radio set for communication between vehicles, AND smart phone apps for reliable urban traffic info. Ham radio is not. Yes, ham radio is a more reliable form of short range communication. But you have to be licensed to use it, for good reason. If you call for traffic information on 2 meters without a call sign, most likely no one will answer you, or if they do, they will want to know where you stole the radio. This is the self-policing nature of ham radio.

I cringe when I see the ham radio bands misused. Look what has happened to 11 meters. Pick the right tool for the job.

Hiking Hunter wrote:

SCVJeff wrote:
Amateur Radio is NOT primarily about the hobby (sorry Hunter).

With all due respect, Jeff, I have to disagree with you. Amateur Radio IS primarily about the hobby of communications. But that encompasses many aspects of communications as I mentioned in my original reply. Hams communicate over many frequency bands, using many different modes of transmission – all for the fun and education of it and without financial reward. Just a few of the many aspects of ham radio are satellite communications over satellites that the hams themselves developed and built, experimenting with antennas, building transmitters and receivers and various other electronic circuits; even communicating by television and different types of data. Some hams are interested in the communication aspect itself such as working all states, or working 100 different countries or handling health and welfare traffic for areas that have no other means of communication. Hams are also extremely valuable when handling emergency communications after a disaster; often when there is no other communication available. Throughout the years, many important communication developments have come out of the ham radio hobby such as new modes of transmission, better antenna design, better circuit design and even improving methods for handling emergency communication traffic in the most efficient method.

All this, and more, is the amateur radio hobby. It was originally set up to provide non-commercial segments of the frequency spectrum for experimentation, public service communication and development of the communication art. It was intended to be a hobby when it was originally set up. It is not intended to be used for professional communication.

Yes, some truckers, and others, have begun to use some VHF bands because the Citizens Band (CB) service that was allocated for this purpose has been ruined through the misuse. If the Ham radio bands are misused they will end up like the wasteland that CB radio has become.

There are services and frequencies available, and intended for the type of communication the OP asked about. But it is not Ham radio. That’s why I recommended the Family Radio Service (FRS).

As you well know, Amateur Radio is much larger than just talking between vehicles on one band. In fact the latter part of your post makes my point:

There is discussion on just about anything you can think of: Weather, travel, high seas nets on low band, obviously computers, etc... ...While it's true the tech types maintain the repeaters and links, the normal folk are FAR less technically oriented than years past

Amateur Radio IS about the hobby of communications.

You need to listen around off of HF a little more because that simply ain't true any longer. And that is the exact reason the FCC relaxed the 6 MTR and above license requirements. This is a dyeing hobby and something needed to happen to interest the masses into the hobby that otherwise would never bother with it.

My guess is you are primarily an HF'er, and that is a completely different world,and there you are correct. But on the upper bands there are LOTS of people who just want to chat, and not about their new antennas or how adjust pre-emphasis on the modulator... They just don't care, and that's fine. Some people could care less about all the technicals. If it works for them, that's good enough.

Without knowing your communications needs, it's hard to say. We use 2m/70cm dual-band handheld ham radios when communicating between vehicles doing off-road stuff (licensed). They are awesome for that and the el-cheapo Baoefeng UV5RA for $32 is unbelievably good for the price and does just fine.

That's about the only use I have for it though. Listening to the common simplex frequencies on the road and chatting is not my thing. As an emergency communications device where there is no cell service I suppose it would be useful, but you will need to have the local repeaters dialed in for any hope of reaching someone. Agree with the others to avoid CB altogether. FRS is fine, but vastly inferior to ham as far as distance.

The key differences are:

- Ham radio is about communicating with OTHER licensed Ham operators. Unless all the parties you'd like to talk to also have a license, its rather useless. While you can build your own HAM gear, the majority of HAM operators today are "appliance operators".

- FRS has much more limited possible communication distance, however ANYONE can purchase a FRS radio and begin using it. We often use these while 2 or more people/rigs in a group are traveling together.

- CB is fairly to completely useless. I would not waste any money on this.

- While I carry a VHF/UHF handheld HAM radio in the camper, I can't recall the last time I actually used it as its fairly rare that I don't also have a CELL PHONE signal which includes Text, Internet and direct communication with anyone else whom has a cell phone (and useable signal).

In conclusion, if you wish to chat with folks who are not licensed HAM's, get a FRS radio. If you have a license and have a extra HAM handheld/mobile, toss it in, some of the more modern smaller ones don't take up much space.

N7GHI

SCVJeff wrote:
Amateur Radio is NOT primarily about the hobby (sorry Hunter).

With all due respect, Jeff, I have to disagree with you. Amateur Radio IS primarily about the hobby of communications. But that encompasses many aspects of communications as I mentioned in my original reply. Hams communicate over many frequency bands, using many different modes of transmission – all for the fun and education of it and without financial reward. Just a few of the many aspects of ham radio are satellite communications over satellites that the hams themselves developed and built, experimenting with antennas, building transmitters and receivers and various other electronic circuits; even communicating by television and different types of data. Some hams are interested in the communication aspect itself such as working all states, or working 100 different countries or handling health and welfare traffic for areas that have no other means of communication. Hams are also extremely valuable when handling emergency communications after a disaster; often when there is no other communication available. Throughout the years, many important communication developments have come out of the ham radio hobby such as new modes of transmission, better antenna design, better circuit design and even improving methods for handling emergency communication traffic in the most efficient method.

All this, and more, is the amateur radio hobby. It was originally set up to provide non-commercial segments of the frequency spectrum for experimentation, public service communication and development of the communication art. It was intended to be a hobby when it was originally set up. It is not intended to be used for professional communication.

Yes, some truckers, and others, have begun to use some VHF bands because the Citizens Band (CB) service that was allocated for this purpose has been ruined through the misuse. If the Ham radio bands are misused they will end up like the wasteland that CB radio has become.

There are services and frequencies available, and intended for the type of communication the OP asked about. But it is not Ham radio. That’s why I recommended the Family Radio Service (FRS).

As you well know, Amateur Radio is much larger than just talking between vehicles on one band. In fact the latter part of your post makes my point:

There is discussion on just about anything you can think of: Weather, travel, high seas nets on low band, obviously computers, etc... ...While it's true the tech types maintain the repeaters and links, the normal folk are FAR less technically oriented than years past

Amateur Radio IS about the hobby of communications.

Amateur Radio is NOT primarily about the hobby (sorry Hunter). While it's true you need to pass a basic test, over the years it has become much easier as it was clear the hobby was in trouble and they needed to do something. There is discussion on just about anything you can think of: Weather, travel, high seas nets on low band, obviously computers, etc.. There are plenty of truckers that are now hams trying to get away from the low class on CB. While it's true the tech types maintain the repeaters and links, the normal folk are FAR less technically oriented than years past.

I have one it my rig. Great for finding out about road conditions etc. Also some still use them on the beach passing fishing info. Yes sometimes need to shut off if the talk gets nasty.

My CB has saved me travel problems many times,I like it.