GPS / CB Choices

[CaptJD]

I need a GPS and a decent CB radio... So I need advice.

This past week I drove from CA to AR and back in 5 days. CA to AR was done in a rental car and AR to CA was done in a small Class C motorhome. Along the way, weather got really scary at few locations and at those moments I wished I had a CB to talk to truckers who're coming from W towards where i was and ask them the road conditions etc...

I was looking at few Trucking GPS models and also GPS models for RVers and couldn't decide which one of them will be more beneficial for me.

Also who installs CB radios to trucks? I stopped at least 5-6 Love's Truck Stops and few other Flying J locations and asked people selling CB equipment but none of them had an idea who does that kind of job around Central/Northern California areas....

Also I was wondering ill it be a good idea to use an iPad mini with a really nice GPS app instead of buying a dedicated GPS like Garmin models etc., ?

What to do, what to do???
,

[CaptJD]

Thank you for all the advise guys.
CB wasn't going to be my main radio since I am a HAM. I wanted to have the CB in order to talk to truckers along the highway and get a better road condition reports etc.

Last week we decided to buy a small motorhome at a dealership in Arkansas. We rented a car and drove there from CA and once we got the RV we drove it back to home in CA. about 4500 miles in 5 days. At some point along the route there and back weather got a little bit scary and at those moments I wish I could've talk to oncoming truckers to find out how was the conditions where they are coming from.

Otherwise my hobby activity is HAM radio. But I did not know about truckers using GMRS nowadays! That's good to know. CB technology is sooo ancient nowadays but I thought if that's the only way to contact maximum number of truckers along the routes, so be it!

I'll continue to investigate.

[Gdetrailer]

azdryheat wrote:
I guess I confused the issue with GMRS. The radio I'm talking about is a Dual-Band Two-Way Ham Radio Transceiver UHF/VHF 136-174/400-520MHz.

I understand that GMRS covers 462 to 467 Mhz, which is regulated by the FCC and requires a license and I see nothing about commercial use. The FMS also has frequencies in this range and a license is not required if the preset freq's FMS channels are used.

On the other hand, 136-174 Mhz also requires no license and truckers shouldn't have any issues using the particular channels in the freq range provided they are approved channels.

Egad's no.

Proper FCC type Ham radio equipment are designed to transmit INSIDE all the HAM band limits.

Any licensed Ham transmitting outside of Ham bands risks loosing their license, being fined and even including loosing their equipment.

Ham bands are..

2 Mtr (VHF) Ham is 140.1-148.0 Mhz

440 Mhz (70 cm)(UHF) is 420.0 Mhz to 450.0 Mhz

See ARRL chart for more details..

HERE

Some Ham radios may be able to LISTEN out of band, but they are not setup factory to transmit out side those bands. For some special groups like "MARS" which use frequencies slightly outside of Ham bands there is often a mod that can be done by factory but you must provide license proof..

There were some older Chinese import radios which DID transmit outside Ham bands, those radios after the flaw was discovered were banned from importation and ALL of the existing ones that were sold are considered not not FCC type accepted and are not legal to use.

Newer Chinese import radios do adhere to the FCC type acceptance and do not transmit outside of the Ham bands (although I suspect there might be mods but those would make the radio no longer FCC accepted and not legal to transmit.

Additionally frequencies from 136 Mhz to 174 Mhz ALL are LICENSED frequencies.. Those frequencies contain FAA Airport/airline radio audio and important radio location traffic, Marine radio frequencies, business radio traffic, NOAA, Government use and much much more. The is zero "unlicensed" use frequencies in there.. At one point some point there were VHF low power Microphone systems that were legal to use in the analog TV channels, not so much now days and they only had a few milliwatts of transmit power and barely gave you 100ft of distance..

Now if you really wish to lose your mind, HERE is from the FCC a chart from 2 Khz to 300 Ghz..

I think you will be hard pressed to find ANY "license free" spectrum available that would afford one with "CB" like useage other than Family radio (FMRS) but once again, FRMS and GMRS SHARE some of the same UHF frequencies and comes with very severe limitations in power and antenna creating a very short line of sight service which typically will end up a mile or two of distance.

FCC does not just "give away" radio frequency spectrum, they SELL IT. It is auctioned off, FCC makes money on auction frequencies, it is how they stay alive..

Ham radio back 10 yrs or so ago lost a chunk of 220 Mhz band to UPS (which UPS has never used).. So it is in the best interest of Hams to at least try to use the bands they have, or risk losing it..

But just because you don't hear anyone on a frequency, it doesn't mean you can or should transmit on those frequencies, they are owned by FCC..

FCC coordinates the usage.

Fines, prison time and loss of equipment..

Don't assume..

On edit..

FMRS while it is "unlicensed", it was designed for "family use" and was supposed to sort of "replace" the 27 Mhz CB wasteland providing a useful short distance communication method for folks to use like hunting, hiking type of thing..

With it, it comes with a power and antenna limitation which under goo conditions may get you a couple of miles (like CB).. Those radios are only available in low power handy talkies with integrated antenna (no external antenna possible).

FMRS units often include GMRS channels but in reality if you are transmitting on GMRS channels you ARE supposed to have a GMRS license.

GMRS radios tend to have higher power and a external antenna connection and share some of the FMRS frequencies.. But once agin comes with UHF line of sight limitations AND you need to pay for a license..

Overall neither is a good useful item unless you are preplanning some remote short distance communications with someone that you know.

[thestoloffs]

azdryheat wrote:
I guess I confused the issue with GMRS. The radio I'm talking about is a Dual-Band Two-Way Ham Radio Transceiver UHF/VHF 136-174/400-520MHz.

I understand that GMRS covers 462 to 467 Mhz, which is regulated by the FCC and requires a license and I see nothing about commercial use. The FMS also has frequencies in this range and a license is not required if the preset freq's FMS channels are used.

On the other hand, 136-174 Mhz also requires no license and truckers shouldn't have any issues using the particular channels in the freq range provided they are approved channels.

A few editorial comments on these statements:

Family Radio Service (FRS) also restricts the power output lower than GMRS.
136-174 MHz covers a variety of frequency bands that certainly DO require license & Type Acceptance of the equipment, such as Marine Radio, Public Service, Business Radio, Military & Federal Government radio services.

If it's truly a "Dual Band Ham Radio" transceiver, then it's covered under FCC Part 97 and cannot legally be programmed to transmit outside 144-148 MHz or 420-450 MHz.

If it's potentially programmable to transmit and not just receive on other frequencies in 136-174 MHz, then it would have to be Type Accepted for that purpose -- and cannot be simultaneously approved under Part 97 Amateur Radio Service.

Better check the specs for this radio carefully. It's probably saying Receive Only for 136-174 MHz.

(I won't even discuss why most Chinese-produced radios can't get Type Acceptance but why the Japanese-produced units scrupulously qualify.)

[azdryheat]

I guess I confused the issue with GMRS. The radio I'm talking about is a Dual-Band Two-Way Ham Radio Transceiver UHF/VHF 136-174/400-520MHz.

I understand that GMRS covers 462 to 467 Mhz, which is regulated by the FCC and requires a license and I see nothing about commercial use. The FMS also has frequencies in this range and a license is not required if the preset freq's FMS channels are used.

On the other hand, 136-174 Mhz also requires no license and truckers shouldn't have any issues using the particular channels in the freq range provided they are approved channels.

[Gdetrailer]

bgum wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
He said he wants to talk with truck drivers and other motorists. I've never seen any truck drivers use GMRS.

Take another look. "And other motorists"
Gmrs is quickly sending CB to the garage sale piles.
Gmrs transmits and receives at much longer distances.
Gmrs is F M which means no static.
Gmrs can hit repeaters which means you can communicate hundreds of miles.
Gmrs antennas are much smaller.
One of the reasons you don't hear as many truckers on CB today is that they are going to GMRS and ham radio.

Truckers CANNOT use "Ham radio" for BUSINESS PURPOSES, PERIOD. Heck if you tightly adhere to the FCC Rules, you cannot even even use Ham radio to order a Pizza from a Pizza shop because you ARE doing "business" on it.

GMRS is a VERY LIMITED communication system by design, sure they have a few more watts of power but to get considerable distance they need to use REPEATERS.. It was never intended for COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC like in "truckers". GMRS frequencies around 462 Mhz and 467 Mhz which IS LINE OF SIGHT UHF frequencies, doesn't bend around hills, mountains or other obstacles.

See FCC website for more details.

The advent of CHEAP unlimited talk CELLPHONE packages are what has consigned "CB" to the briny depths.. Not GMRS and not Ham radio.

SOME truckers may have a CB, They might have it since SOME places they go to may use it for their yard, but it is not typically a truckers primary means of communications anymore. My neighbor is a truck driver, his truck does not have a CB, has a commercial business band radio.

On top of that MANY trucking companies went to COMMERCIAL BUSINESS BAND frequency radios which are not GMRS capable.

Traditional 27 Mhz AM/SSB CB was a 1960s-late 1970's "cool factor" fad that due to constant abuse was totally abandoned by the FCC and pretty much anyone that didn't want to listen to the junk spewed by the abusers.. By the 1980s it was dead, now days very few manufacturers make them..

And as the OP has found out, very few places will install them.

I wouldn't and I do have a favorite CB leftover that I had bought from a friend who is now deceased so it has a sentimental attachment. That CB hasn't seen a vehicle since 2003 when I pulled it from my old truck and never reinstalled it since I could not find anyone on it worth while listening or talking to.

I would not and will not encourage anyone to buy a CB or GMRS, they will be highly disappointed, not a lot of trucker chatter now days.

GMRS is OK if you are two or more family members or friends using for communicating hiking/biking or traveling together (multiple vehicles going to same camping place as an example). But overall a very limited radio service with a lot of limitations. That IS what GMRS was designed for.

[bgum]

KD4UPL wrote:
He said he wants to talk with truck drivers and other motorists. I've never seen any truck drivers use GMRS.

Take another look. "And other motorists"
Gmrs is quickly sending CB to the garage sale piles.
Gmrs transmits and receives at much longer distances.
Gmrs is F M which means no static.
Gmrs can hit repeaters which means you can communicate hundreds of miles.
Gmrs antennas are much smaller.
One of the reasons you don't hear as many truckers on CB today is that they are going to GMRS and ham radio.

[KD4UPL]

He said he wants to talk with truck drivers and other motorists. I've never seen any truck drivers use GMRS.

[azdryheat]

My Samsung S8 makes a great GPS; I use Google Maps exclusively.

A CB might be a good idea but I wonder if truckers still use it. I just bought a GMRS (Baofeng brand) handheld radio for talking to other off-roaders. CB is only allowed 4 watts to transmit while GMRS is allowed up to 50 watts. BTW my new GMRS is 5 watts, already has the CB beat in power. Get a handheld and nothing needs to be installed. I understand truckers use channel 7 GMRS.

[bgum]

Look into GMRS in lieu of CB.

[Fizz]

I'm sure any body shop can install a radio, call around.

[KD4UPL]

For a CB stick to Uniden or Cobra. The Cobra 19 DX is a simple and compact unit. If you want a few more features the Cobra 25 LTD would be a nice upgrade.
For CB antennas stick with K40 (which used to have a life time warranty) or Wilson.

[Community Alumni]

In Fresno there was The Red Monkey but I think they are closed. I think there was one at Kline's but that has moved too.

I do remember seeing the sign for CB Repair along Highway 99 at the old truck stops not the Flying J or Loves as they were not there yet, I think that was on the north side of Fresno at Kline's.

There is Walcott Radio, Walcott Radio, that is online. There are still some radio shops in Fresno and Merced that are more commercial but they may do an install for you.

JimR

[navigator2346]

One word for a GPS, Garmin. You don't need the most modern, fancy one but buy one with the traffic and lifetime map updates.

For a Chicken Band radio, do not get the all in one mike,radio. Cobra is a good brand and you can install yourself. Watch some uTubes and do a little reading and you can figure it out. Otherwise look around some of the larger truck stops. There is usually a cb shop close by

[BB_TX]

Did you google cb radio and your city for nearby cb dealers/installers?

[Lwiddis]

I use my iPad mini and sometimes tie into my truck’s screen. Works great both ways.