Ladies and Gents,
The subject of C/Bs gets brought up every so often and is debated whether or not folks still install and use them. But, not many mention too much about HAM radios. I know and understand that the use of HAM radios requires a license as, I have one. I've had it for 8 years and have dabbled only a small amount in it. But, from my short experimentation with HAM so far, mostly at home with a small hand held handy talkie but, also a tad bit of use of a mobile unit in one of my vehicles, I've found it to be considerably stronger in signal and capabilities.
There's all kinds of technical reasons why they perform better and I won't go into them now. But, this post is primarily for those who have experience with HAM radios, maybe use them from RV to RV while traveling and or, also my use them in say, Jeep to Jeep while venturing off road. My level of license is TECHNICIAN and, there are two levels higher.
For those of you that care and or, are wondering, the higher the level of license, the more frequencies you can use, different ranges, and a whole lot more.
While traveling in groups, even two or more, C/Bs in the past have been outstandingly helpful and, whether or not I (and anyone I may travel with, on or off road)migrate over to HAM radios for the same basic communications, remains to be seen.
For anyone interested, acquiring the first level of HAM license is phenomenally simple. There is no longer (and hasn't been for quite a few years)a requirement to know Morse Code. There are classes all over the U.S. that are one day classes and, at the end of the session, you take your 35 question test and, are issued your license. The folks that volunteer for teaching and helping administrate those sessions are outstanding people.
Anyway, just wondering, just how many might already be using HAM radios for coach to coach, Jeep to Jeep type communications and how do you like it vs the old "C/B" stuff?
Scott
The subject of C/Bs gets brought up every so often and is debated whether or not folks still install and use them. But, not many mention too much about HAM radios. I know and understand that the use of HAM radios requires a license as, I have one. I've had it for 8 years and have dabbled only a small amount in it. But, from my short experimentation with HAM so far, mostly at home with a small hand held handy talkie but, also a tad bit of use of a mobile unit in one of my vehicles, I've found it to be considerably stronger in signal and capabilities.
There's all kinds of technical reasons why they perform better and I won't go into them now. But, this post is primarily for those who have experience with HAM radios, maybe use them from RV to RV while traveling and or, also my use them in say, Jeep to Jeep while venturing off road. My level of license is TECHNICIAN and, there are two levels higher.
For those of you that care and or, are wondering, the higher the level of license, the more frequencies you can use, different ranges, and a whole lot more.
While traveling in groups, even two or more, C/Bs in the past have been outstandingly helpful and, whether or not I (and anyone I may travel with, on or off road)migrate over to HAM radios for the same basic communications, remains to be seen.
For anyone interested, acquiring the first level of HAM license is phenomenally simple. There is no longer (and hasn't been for quite a few years)a requirement to know Morse Code. There are classes all over the U.S. that are one day classes and, at the end of the session, you take your 35 question test and, are issued your license. The folks that volunteer for teaching and helping administrate those sessions are outstanding people.
Anyway, just wondering, just how many might already be using HAM radios for coach to coach, Jeep to Jeep type communications and how do you like it vs the old "C/B" stuff?
Scott
time_to_go_now wrote:
Nobody has mentioned the race radios? Like from PCI or Ruggedradios? I have a group of about ten rigs that travel together. We used to use CB's. That works for just a small caravan. But, if all ten were running together, there would be problems getting from the front to back. So, we all moved to race radios. We have them in our motorhomes, tow vehicles, and sand toys. The 50 watt radios are amazing how far they can get out. Easily 25 miles, and it is not line of sight. They get out over mountains and sand dunes. When we go out 4wheeling for the day, they can monitor us in base camp. Actually needed them to save us last year!
OP here,
My son has one of those "Race Radios". It's an "I-com" and, as of yet, I'm not sure what the story is on those. I'm not sure what band or frequency they operate on and, whether or not any or all of them are legal or not to operate on the bands and frequencies they do. Nobody's taken the time to explain to me, just what the story is on those, are the HF, FM, UHF, what? He doesn't really know, he just went along with the off road group he pits for and, bought the same one that most of them have and use.
Scott
Well Gang,
OP here. In all the past threads about "who uses" "who installs" "how do I install" "Where's the wires" and much more pertaining to C/B radios, it sure looks like many folks out there still use them. It's for different purposes, times, ranges and situations. But, the 'ole C/B is still alive and well.
As for HAM, apparently it too is used on a fairly frequent basis. While I am a HAM, and did past the test to achieve Technician about 8 years ago, I've since forgotten many of the things I needed to learn about in order to take the test and acquire that license. This "2, 10, 11, and more" meter thing has always perplexed me. Frequency, waves, spectrum, BAND, and a lot more, have to be embedded into my brain for a better understanding of how things work.
Electronics, unlike wood working, welding, plastics, mechanics, engines and anything else in this world that I can touch, feel and see, is INVISIBLE! I cannot SEE electronics. So, learning or, trying to learn about all this frequency, air waves, bands, gain antennas, 1/4 wave, short wave, watts and a zillion other terms pertaining to HAM stuff, is kind-a hard for an old goat like me.
I think that some of the group that we travel with are migrating over to HAM for even standard rig to rig communication so, I thought I'd try and know what I'm talking about when we're sitting around at the campfire. Not easy. I just spoke with a tester today who's pushing me to the "General" license, say's it's easy. That remains to be seen.
But, I want to thank all of you who've responded to this C/B vs HAM use thread. It's been an education for sure.
Scott
OP here. In all the past threads about "who uses" "who installs" "how do I install" "Where's the wires" and much more pertaining to C/B radios, it sure looks like many folks out there still use them. It's for different purposes, times, ranges and situations. But, the 'ole C/B is still alive and well.
As for HAM, apparently it too is used on a fairly frequent basis. While I am a HAM, and did past the test to achieve Technician about 8 years ago, I've since forgotten many of the things I needed to learn about in order to take the test and acquire that license. This "2, 10, 11, and more" meter thing has always perplexed me. Frequency, waves, spectrum, BAND, and a lot more, have to be embedded into my brain for a better understanding of how things work.
Electronics, unlike wood working, welding, plastics, mechanics, engines and anything else in this world that I can touch, feel and see, is INVISIBLE! I cannot SEE electronics. So, learning or, trying to learn about all this frequency, air waves, bands, gain antennas, 1/4 wave, short wave, watts and a zillion other terms pertaining to HAM stuff, is kind-a hard for an old goat like me.
I think that some of the group that we travel with are migrating over to HAM for even standard rig to rig communication so, I thought I'd try and know what I'm talking about when we're sitting around at the campfire. Not easy. I just spoke with a tester today who's pushing me to the "General" license, say's it's easy. That remains to be seen.
But, I want to thank all of you who've responded to this C/B vs HAM use thread. It's been an education for sure.
Scott
