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GMRS or CB
- Thread starter RemydaCat
- Start date
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If you're operating radio-to-radio (simplex) without a repeater and you're in a relatively inactive C.B. environment and wide open spaces I'd go with C.B.
You wouldn't be able to reach any of those repeaters with a Wouxun KG-805G.
How Far can a GMRS Radio Transmit?
nd5y
Member
It depends on location, terrain, antenna type and antenna height at each end. There is no easy answer.
A repeater is only good if
A repeater is only good if
- it actually works properly (designed, installed and maintained by a technically competent person)
- it is in a location that has good coverage
- you have permission to use it (many are closed private systems)
My guess if you poll RR members that have attempted to use GMRS for reliable communications at reasonable distances, 9 out of 10 were disappointed.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Depends on who you are trying to talk to and what your expectations are.
GMRS versus CB isn't an apples to apples comparison.
When atmospheric conditions are right, CB will have much greater range, however reliability is hit and miss.
If you have access to GMRS repeater, it can work fairly well, but as stated above, GMRS repeaters are not a free for all, you would need the owners permission to use it, and often they don't appreciate random rag chewing on them. Many are just used for family communications and they won't want to listen to someone yakking on it all the time.
If talking with random verbose strangers is your desire, amateur radio is a better choice.
If you are just looking for making random contacts and getting a license isn't your desire, then CB is a better choice. Most GMRS users are just using it within their own family and have squelch coding in use to limit other users they hear. CB, on the other hand, would give you higher chances of making random contacts with others.
Performance on either CB or GMRS is going to depend entirely on your location, ANTENNA, location and location. Don't overlook the importance of the ANTENNA.
And don't forget, you will need to get your GMRS license.
Thoughts?
Yeah, Cheap Chinese Radio.
Will it work? Yes, it should, but if you are going to want to make longer distance contacts, or work any of those repeaters, you are really going to want an antenna outside your home and/or car. Portable radio coverage on GMRS is going to have fairly limited range, unless you are outside and standing on top of a hill.
If that is the only radio your budget will allow, then it's probably a good choice. If you are serious about getting into GMRS, you can easily do much better.
Do you have a scanner or receiver? If so, monitor the Citizens Band, FRS/GMRS, MURS and Amateur VHF/UHF bands to determine what is active in your area. Then by listening, you can determine what radio service is active and interests you before you make a purchase decision. You didn't specify whether you will be transmitting from home, in a mobile or portable. I would AVOID any type of handheld as a first radio 5 watts of TX power and a compromise antenna = disappointment for the new radio operator.
CaptDan
Member
People have hit on it, the answer to your question lies in what do you want to accomplish with the radios ?
Depending on that and the path you choose to take, there maybe licensing requirements.
if you are looking for a radio hobby without going the HAM route, then CB would most likely be your best bet, just as if you are looking to use it for contact on the road for road condition reports, local directions etc.
If you want it for personal communications - either between your family or others in a specific group where everyone will have a radio - then perhaps look at FRS - GMRS - MURS systems.
One major advantage to FRS - GMRS - MURS choices is the antenna can be significantly shorter than a CB antenna. That's especially important on hand held units. If you want the radio's for group travel & activities like a convoy to a location or use at a location like a campground or resort area GMRS or MURS might be good choices.
I could go on and on but without any idea of what you want to accomplish it could take pages and pages.
Depending on that and the path you choose to take, there maybe licensing requirements.
if you are looking for a radio hobby without going the HAM route, then CB would most likely be your best bet, just as if you are looking to use it for contact on the road for road condition reports, local directions etc.
If you want it for personal communications - either between your family or others in a specific group where everyone will have a radio - then perhaps look at FRS - GMRS - MURS systems.
One major advantage to FRS - GMRS - MURS choices is the antenna can be significantly shorter than a CB antenna. That's especially important on hand held units. If you want the radio's for group travel & activities like a convoy to a location or use at a location like a campground or resort area GMRS or MURS might be good choices.
I could go on and on but without any idea of what you want to accomplish it could take pages and pages.
RFI-EMI-GUY
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2013
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- 7,448
They were over sold by a box store vendor and they have little knowledge how radio works.
russbrill
Member
If you're traveling on the Interstate highway or back country roads, it's CB Radio all the way!! There are still Millions of CB's in use today...
houstonstroker
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2020
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- 5
We just did a comparison between our CB radios and GMRS. We were traveling this weekend in a RV caravan. Six RVs rolling down the road. I have a Cobra CB with a no ground plane antenna. The motorhome is mostly fiberglass. I also have a 40 watt GMRS with a 6 inch antenna on the roof. The last guy had a mobile GMRS 15 watt with a mag mount on his roof. Not sure what CB he had. Anyway the range on the GMRS radios was far superior to the CB. There were several instances when the group got separated (red lights) and we were spread out. No communication from the CB but the GMRS worked the entire time.
There are far too many variables and unknowns to draw any reliable or technical conclusions.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Not surprising.
Getting CB antennas to work correctly requires more than just an SWR meter. Proper ground planes make a big impact on performance. Noise level and funky propagation impacts performance.
On GMRS, the UHF antennas are more efficient and it's much easier to get a good ground plane.
About 20 years ago I wasn't able to get the rest of the family to get their ham licenses, so we migrated from CB to GMRS. Easy to get several miles of range on simplex. Of course we were using permanent mount antennas on the roof tops of full size trucks and SUV's. Even with permanent mount CB Antennas on the roof, we were seeing nothing like that.
Glad to hear it's working out for you. GMRS was always an under utilized radio service. Now that Midland is selling the pre-programmed radios, it seems to be picking up some steam.
I'm considering purchasing a radio for the first time. Will the GMRS have a further reach than a CB radio? If so, is that due being repeater capable?
Any brand suggestions? I have been looking at Wouxun KG-805G. Any thoughts?
Thank you
On VHF & UHF (GMRS) frequencies, there are repeaters that will enhance coverage. The FCC recently deleted the rule that dis-allowed talking for over 150 miles (which can happen periodically with skip conditions) on C.B., and skip conditions can get further than repeaters although range is limited to the whims of propagation...
SargeAF
Member
I’m a member of the North Georgia GMRS group and I talked with a gentleman this afternoon in Chattanooga that was getting into the Lookout Mountain repeater with a BTech GMRS V1 HT (earlier version with 5W high power) and I was hitting a repeater on Pine Log Mountain (GA) that is 24 miles from my house in Acworth, GA with a 4W Kenwood TK-380 HT (linked repeater network). I can also hit the Sassafras Mountain repeater that is 40 miles from me with the same HT. Both repeater antennas are on towers on both mountains. With 15W or more I am booming into both. I’ve recently setup a simplex repeater at my house with a Midland Micromobile 15W, Argent Data Systems ADS-SR1 Simplex Repeater and a GMRS tuned J-Pole antenna at 20 feet with LMR-400 feed line and I can hit it from 7 miles away in most directions with my 25W Kenwood TK-880 mobile. We have a NGGMRS NET on Thursday nights, and I talk with folks regularly that are hundreds of miles from me. Our repeater network is much more active than the local 70CM and 2M repeaters that are near me; not trying to make a statement, or suggest that GMRS is better than Amateur, that is just how it is here in my area Acworth, GA...near Atlanta). I think with GMRS it’s all about the repeaters, antenna height, etc., but our network of repeaters is a very effective means of RF communication. Both repeaters that I can hit from my house have excellent coverage, even when not linked.
Sarge
Sarge
CB is AM. AM introduces noise. Also, there are many, many people running illegal power to talk long distances. This covers up any local communications. It is essentially useless as a communications medium anymore.
GMRS is FM. No noise. The nature of the frequencies GMRS is on, it only works as a local communications medium. GMRS would be my first choice.
GMRS is FM. No noise. The nature of the frequencies GMRS is on, it only works as a local communications medium. GMRS would be my first choice.
houstonstroker
Member
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2020
- Messages
- 5
Yes agreed. This was my experience. I have been suing and installing CBs for years. The SWR was always hit and miss and sometimes I was never able to get a really low SWR. These GMRS appear to work correctly right out of the box. And the ground plane required is smaller and not as big of a deal breaker as with CB.
I think it depends a lot on where you live. In S.E. Michigan, Northern Macomb County I've had a C.B. scanning all 40 AM channels for 4 days and nights and I've heard absolutely nothing. No noise, no illegal power, very quiet overall. This makes if perfect for my car to home communication needs.
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