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cb as a temporary radio system for taxis

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cycradio

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Feb 1, 2010
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I need to build a system that i can use with a 10 mile radius that isn't too terribly expensive for a small taxi service to ensure that several cabs can communicate with each other and with dispatch... What would I use thats cheap also what can I use as a base station and how could I get enough juice to power them up.
 
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MURS 19-1210 mobiles can usually be found on ebay. they are 2 watts 2ch VHF. use some 5/8 wave antenna's on the mobiles and a good high gain colinear vhf base antenna with some high quality coax like Times LMR-400 or comm-spec. the mobiles can be user programmed for 154.570 or 154.600. cheap, legal and license free. as long as you are not in a heavy urban environment with lots of tall steel buildings you should get your 10 miles out of them. they are your absolute best bet. CB is useless, GMRS is illegal for your application, FRS is just as worthless as CB.
 

bezking

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I would also advise MURS instead of CB. The band is generally much quieter. There is a 2-watt power limit, though.
 
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2 watts using VHF FM gets about the same range as 4 watts on 27 mhz am.

just like CB you pay attention to your coax, antenna connections and antenna.

thats the key to good range.
 

ArtU

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Feb 12, 2010
Messages
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MURS 19-1210 mobiles can usually be found on ebay. they are 2 watts 2ch VHF. use some 5/8 wave antenna's on the mobiles and a good high gain colinear vhf base antenna with some high quality coax like Times LMR-400 or comm-spec. the mobiles can be user programmed for 154.570 or 154.600. cheap, legal and license free. as long as you are not in a heavy urban environment with lots of tall steel buildings you should get your 10 miles out of them. they are your absolute best bet. CB is useless, GMRS is illegal for your application, FRS is just as worthless as CB.

Good Advice, but I am pondering this...

CB does not seem unless during this low sunspot time around here. I get 15-25 miles on a 5 watt mobile with truck roof mounted antenna to someone elses base station. Almost all channels other then 6/15/19/20 are never in use around here.

Of course all that will change as the sunspot count moves up and skip starts happening a few years from now.

What is your experience on the CB channels in your area. Are you saying its useless as your channels all have interference, land noise, or too many users ?

ArtU
 
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Location
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
till some local trouble maker notices you and starts harassing you and your drivers every time he ties one on.

don't think your riders want to hear an endless stream of profanities and name calling coming from your radios. and some taxi commissions prohibit the use of ham or cb radios while on duty.

option 2 is get a nextell contract and dispatch via nextell PTT. you have have the phones neutered so that they can only phone 911 and dispatch and receive calls from dispatch.
 

kc2rgw

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Premium Subscriber
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option 2 is get a nextell contract and dispatch via nextell PTT. you have have the phones neutered so that they can only phone 911 and dispatch and receive calls from dispatch.

That is probably your best bet.

Also any competitors won't be eavesdropping on your fares that way.

AND, you will be able to see at any given moment, where a cab is as well via their GPS locator service for business/fleet contracts.
 
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