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Decent CB handheld with CTCSS/DCS capability?
- Thread starter BinaryMode
- Start date
niceguy71
Active Member
not sure if FM will be any better than AM in the woods .... sounds like a scanner will still be able to hear your conversation even with the CTCSS/DCS ..... lot of money to have a pair of these radios versus a GMRS set up? I believe you can buy from this UK company, and they will send them to you in the USA.... but $225 each???? call them and ask.
President Randy III Handheld CB Transceiver
ton of money for merely family/recreation..... you could buy each member of the family a cell phone that comes with with a tracFone card that has ONE YEAR FREE SERVICE for $49.99!!!! Samsung Galaxy A03s 6.5" HD+ Tracfone Bundle with 1500 Min/Text/Data - 22420799 | HSN ( this is what I do for my cell phone and get a new one from HSN every year.)
and the cell phones have privacy and unlimited range.... just my two cents worth ( might only be worth a penny)
if I has was out camping deep in the forest and thought I wouldn't have any cell service... and thought the kids would be off exploring different parts of the place I would get every member of the family a AM only handheld CB and the 51 inch antenna from Amazon... I have an Amazon return center near me and always see handhelds returned that look brand spanking new in the box... I've bought several Cobra HH50 and similar CB handhelds for $40 bucks each... all work great. I could care less who could hear us on the CB... who is out in the middle of the woods within the 2 or 3 mile range listening to CB's that hardly anyone uses anymore???
but I know it's a hobby and it must be something you enjoy... good luck
https://www.amazon.com/HYS-Telescop...ords=hys+51"+CB+antenna&qid=1714565925&sr=8-1
slowmover
Active Member
Randy to Randy might not be impressive range, but same to pickup/SUV with improved system or to RV with seriously good antenna is a valid approach.
surfacemount
Member
QYT CB-58 apparently has CTCSS in it. About $94 USD on US eBay
slowmover
Active Member
Coning soon. AM/FM Handheld USA CB WITH CTCSS/DCS
Coning soon: https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-s72c.html Wouxun KG-S72C Features 40 CB Channels Up to 400 Custom Channels AM and FM Modes Up to 2 Watts Output Power (AM) Up to 4 Watts Output Power (FM) 50 CTCSS Tones / 105 DCS Codes (FM Mode) Standard and Non-Std CTCSS/DCS (FM Mode)...
I know what a subcode is and how they work. I've been using them since the mid '90s...
Interesting about the atmospheric skip theory, because I read in Police Call many decades ago that a lot of forest loggers, utilities, oil production were using low band stuff in the 40 to 50 MHz range. Thus if skip was such an issue I doubt they'd be using it.
If I'm talking to my party a mile or two away on FM using a subcode it should work reasonably well, no? I'll be using them on the water, and in forested areas.
surfacemount
Member
I was using 37.26 sheriff's low band in the 80's. Some times, I could talk to dispatchers in other states hundreds of miles away. Of course, I was using a 60 pound, 110 watt radio that used jumper cable wire to the battery and a 102" whip. google 'tropospheric ducting'. Fascinating stuff for sure!
'subcodes' are a red herring and not really part of the equation. CB works well in the forest. I've never really used them in a marine capacity, I can't see why they wouldn't. If you want to use CB type gear, and not be interfered with, freeband is the place to be. I haven't seen a mod page in a long time, so I can't say if any of the modern handhelds are capable of that, legalities and morality aside.
Biggest thing for a handheld CB radio is the antenna. Google 'cat's tail counterpoise'.
We used handheld CB radios in the civil air patrol in the late 70's. They worked very well in the mountains for search and rescue. But the bands were crowded then, you may not hear anyone local now. But you will be competing with people using a TON of antenna and power who like to transmit on multiple frequencies at the same time.
I have a similar antenna for about 30 years. When I had my Cherokee with SSB, talked skip from Minnesota to Alaska one evening when conditions were great. Put it on my Randy, helped with receiving. Am still waiting for the Randy to come out with SSB.
surfacemount
Member
Wouldn't it be something if CB manufacturers had a board presence here like the scanner ones do?
niceguy71
Active Member
if they did.....
listen manufacturers
take the little itty bitty Radioddity CS-47.... great radio with 8 watts on AM 15 watts FM and tons of channels... every option under the sun plus Noise reduction technology... it's only the size of a pack of cigarettes..... smallest CB out there with all the best options....
please repackage it into a handheld CB ..... keep the all in one microphone but make it slide into and out of the handheld with it's short cord.... make sure the PTT button is on the side so you can use it as a walkie talkie or you can pull the microphone out like a base station.... add a replaceable powerful battery pack and a great antenna like the old radio shack 48 inch center loaded antenna's and you will have the greatest handheld of all time... it could easily be done... and will make someone a million dollars.
please email me to get my address to send $10 bucks for the great idea!
PS I want the first production one made.
