Redsky wrote:
Truckers use CB but very few motorists. Ham or amateur radio required individual licenses and hand held radios are limited as to signal output and antennas used by the Federal Government to protect the users' little gray brain cells. If you have a license the radio can only be legally operated by you and not by anyone else.
GMRS radios are a one time 5-year license (at this time) that provide the same output as the hand held Ham radios but anyone in your family can use the same license, even grandkids. They are a little bit better than the FRS radios which are good for only very short distances.
The radios sold in the USA will have false Watt output numbers that do not correspond to their actual signal output which may be 95% lower. The "4 Watt" radios often put out only 0.1 Watt of signal power.
The Ham, GMRS, and FRS are all line of sight transceivers so they are blocked by buildings, trees, rocky terrain, hills, etc. which is why 1/2 mile is the best that can be expected almost anywhere. They will work great in flat open areas like most of Texas for example but be poor when used in hilly or wooded country or in large cities.
The Ham have the advantage of being able to take advantage of some relay stations that are privately operated in some areas for a small group in a community. The Ham and GMRS can provide much higher signal output with a base 12v radio installed in a vehicle and can make use of an external antenna for communicating over a much greater distance.
The combo GMRS/FRS radios are the most versatile and easy to use but the quality and true range varies widely. The best ones will be over $100 each but some people are happy with the $20 ones when used around a campground area. Check the reviews on Amazon.com for the different models and you will get a good idea of which ones work better in actual use than others.
"If you have a license the radio can only be legally operated by you and not by anyone else." True, with exceptions. In the event of emergency, anybody can use the radio. Even if there is no emergency, anybody can use the radio with the Station Control Operator's permission and supervision.
"The "4 Watt" radios often put out only 0.1 Watt of signal power."
I have not found that to be true. Most of the radios (CB and Ham) that I have had came out of the box exceeding the rated power.
"The Ham, GMRS, and FRS are all line of sight transceivers..."
That is only true of FM transceivers. AM and SSB and other modes are subject to "skip", and will often talk around the world.
"The Ham have the advantage of being able to take advantage of some relay stations that are privately operated in some areas for a small group in a community. The Ham and GMRS can provide much higher signal output with a base 12v radio installed in a vehicle and can make use of an external antenna for communicating over a much greater distance."
Actually, they are called "Repeaters", and they increase the range of FM UHF and VHF radios to an incredible extent. For instance, around here we have two repeaters that are the most used, because they are linked together. One is on Red Lodge Mountain, the other is on top of the Bull Mountains. These two repeaters give us a communications range from Greybull, WY to Stanford, MT N/S; and from west of Big Timber almost to Sheridan, WY W/E. From my home station or my mobile rigs I can hit either repeater. Both repeaters (and several others in the area) require a 100Hz subaudible tone for access, and can be used by ANY licensed Amateur Radio Operator. Membership in the local club is not required. They can be found at 145.41 and 147.36 Mhz.
"The combo GMRS/FRS radios are the most versatile and easy to use but the quality and true range varies widely."
I had some of those things once. We used them on one trip from CA to MT, then got rid of them. A good CB rig with a good, well tuned antenna is MUCH better! An Amateur Radio license and a 35 watt 2 meter rig with a good antenna is even better!
No code is required for an Amateur Radio license, just get the books from the ARRL, study, and take the test. Most radio clubs have Volunteer Examiners that administer the tests on a regular basis. Or, you can find the test study guides online. The test will cost about $12 to $15, but if you pass the first one you can take the next one or two on the same day with no additional charge. That's what I did; took the Technician test, passed it, then took the General test and passed it. Maybe someday I will study for the Extra Class test. Then again, perhaps not. I don't really need it.
CM1, USN (RET)
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