cpsTN
Member
I have used mobile CBs (car versions) but not hand-helds before. What is the general range (Transmitting AND Receiving) compared to FRS or a CB in a STATONARY car for that matter?
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Hand-Held CB Range?
- Thread starter cpsTN
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I have a Midland 75-785 40 channel plain jane walkie talkie unmodified . I was able to talk with a base with moderate to weak signal 1 mile away. He was running a dipole antenna 20 ft off the ground. Walkie to Walkie with the 6 inch antennas maybe 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Mobiles 1/2 to 1mile with 1.5 miles in good conditions. To a good base maybe 2 to 3 if there is no noise or skip.
Its kinda relative as there is alot of factors that must be put into the equation. The UHF FRS/GMRS will out perform the CB walkies in most conditions. Walkie to Walkie with the 6 inch antennas. In the past I have been able to talk over 10 miles to a big stick 60ft up from a walkie with 5 watts and a 60 inches telescoping whip. The portables antenna plays the largest part of the equation...
Have Fun with your Hobby!
Its kinda relative as there is alot of factors that must be put into the equation. The UHF FRS/GMRS will out perform the CB walkies in most conditions. Walkie to Walkie with the 6 inch antennas. In the past I have been able to talk over 10 miles to a big stick 60ft up from a walkie with 5 watts and a 60 inches telescoping whip. The portables antenna plays the largest part of the equation...
Have Fun with your Hobby!
No easy answer
Too many variables to give an accurate answer. Depends on power out of HH CB. Some are low wattage, others do put out 4 watts AM. You may be able to RECEIVE signals up to 15 miles away and if skip 1000s of miles. Transmitting is a complete othdifferent story. Never, ever tried talking skip. In most cases, HH to HH will be 1 to 2 miles at best. HH to a mobile or base would be limited to maybe 10 miles at best if conditions, lack of interference which seldom occurs on CB. As with FRS/GMRS hill top to hill top might get you futher than 1 to 2 miles. In summary, good comms. only up to 5 miles.
Too many variables to give an accurate answer. Depends on power out of HH CB. Some are low wattage, others do put out 4 watts AM. You may be able to RECEIVE signals up to 15 miles away and if skip 1000s of miles. Transmitting is a complete othdifferent story. Never, ever tried talking skip. In most cases, HH to HH will be 1 to 2 miles at best. HH to a mobile or base would be limited to maybe 10 miles at best if conditions, lack of interference which seldom occurs on CB. As with FRS/GMRS hill top to hill top might get you futher than 1 to 2 miles. In summary, good comms. only up to 5 miles.
Inside a car the distance is merely a few yards at most. Even Vhf hi band is severely degraded inside a vehicle.
cpsTN
Member
I meant for you to compare mounted in-car radios with OUTSIDE antenna with hand-held CBs used outside the car.
rfradioconsult
Member
Lack of an adequate antenna and no counterpoise on the HH CB, you may (maybe) can talk about as far as a FRS radio.
With the duck antennas preforming so poorly, I've had a few hundred feet with the HH CBs, half a mile outdoors with FRS and about 2 with GMRS @ 4watts, we won't even get into the routine 700+ miles with HAM radios.
Now put a decent mag mount antenna on a larger ground plane and you can take that few hundred feet and get a mile or two out of the HH CB, but I've found the mobile CBs to have much better reception.
I have the Midland 75-822 handheld, which is convertible to mobile, and have been very, very unhappy with it. I tested it and got about 10 feet, at best (handheld), and if I'm lucky, I'll get 1 tenth of a mile (mobile). I have never owned any other CBs, but I can tell you this one is pretty bad. Hope this helps!
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