CB or HAM?

[lnodal]

Almost the same

Hello, I just joined the site looking for answers too. I like to go into the woods and I would be using my radio in case of an emergency only. I know that CB radios range is shorter than a HAM and that I would need a licence in order to operate the HAM radio.

What should I buy CB or HAM?

Please advice.
Thank you

 

[lnodal]

Would a 2 meters transmiting with 5 watt output be able to talk to a CB?

 

[newsphotog]

Hello, I just joined the site looking for answers too. I like to go into the woods and I would be using my radio in case of an emergency only. I know that CB radios range is shorter than a HAM and that I would need a licence in order to operate the HAM radio.

What should I buy CB or HAM?

Please advice.
Thank you

Depends on your preference and what you're going to do with it. CB if you don't want to get a license, ham radio if you need more distance. If you are in the middle of the woods, isolated from population, keep in mind that you may not reach random people on either CB or ham regardless.

Would a 2 meters transmiting with 5 watt output be able to talk to a CB?

No. They are different bands/frequencies.

 

[lnodal]

Thank you

 

[w2txb]

Generally speaking, the ham radio bands are much more usable and effective for actual communications, but (as posted above) require a license to use. The license exams are not difficult, and the rules are more strict, but neither is a problem by any means. Listen to a CB signal from a few miles away and listen to an equally distant signal on a ham radio FM or SSB VHF or UHF frequency, and you will hear the advantage of the latter over the former.

My motorcycle has a built in CB radio, and I almost never even switch it on, let alone use it to communicate; too much noise and I have nobody there with whom I want or need to communicate. I usually carry the Yaesu VX-8DR with me, so getting help if needed would rarely be a problem.

 

[kf5qgf]

Well here's my double penny, if you already have a hobby then go with the cb. Of course you're likely to hear nothing but trashy people cursing every other word, which you won't be able to hear over microphone whistlers, sound effects, and stupid stuff like that. However when you get a ham radio, and you start talking on it, then your other hobbies will fall to the way side. Next thing you know you'll be taking vacation to go to field day, calling on the radio every off day to see who wants to sit around and talk radio, helping people build antennas, and many other aspects of radio that come with it. However what you will find is a hobby packed full of people who will break their back to help out, friendly group, and work hard to serve their community.

KF5QGF

 

[W5KVV]

Ham all the way. Just get a study guide & take the test. You'll be much more pleased with a 2 meter rig than with the CB.

KF5LCH

 

[lnodal]

Thank you all of you for your advice. I will take the test soon and hopefully will talk to you on the radio and not over the internet. Again thanks

 

[W5KVV]

Good luck to you. Just do a little study time & you'll ace the test no problem.

 

[ff-medic]

Hello, I just joined the site looking for answers too. I like to go into the woods and I would be using my radio in case of an emergency only.

1.) Before you go in the woods, let someone know where you are going, and when you plan to be
back. Even if they know the general area you are in, it will be easier for them to find you, and
hear you should you shout for help.

2.) Trips into the woods, more than an hour or two - take a small back pack with you.
Inside the pack =

A - First aid kit. It does not have to be expensive or elaboate. Don't forget some
medications, such as asperin/tylenol. You can get these at convenience
stores / gas stations...for about $1.49 in a two tablet pack. Bandaids, 4x4s small gauze, and
I like a mini-mag light, with extra batterys in mine. The mini mag light can be used as a
flashlight...OR a candle ( the head comes off and is used as a base ).


B - A lighter with a few pieces paper. Three or four sheets of folded notebook paper ( wad the paper into a base ball - it burns longer when
you use it for tinder ). If your transit in the woods is longer than you want it to be.. then a fire is nice. A campfire = Improves morale,
provides light, can be used for cooking, provides warmth and comfort. I keep two lighters in my backpack
in case for some odd reason...one lighter fails.

C - A few small cans of fruit, such as peaches and mixed fruit. The sugars provide
energy for the body. Also some ( ?? 4 ) energy bars come in handy. Take some plasticware, or mold the
"Pop Off tops" into a "V" and use them as a spoon. Just be careful you don't cut your mouth when you eat.

D - Two small plastic tarps. They sell 6'x6' plastic tarps at hardware stores. If you have a "Tractor Supply"
near you, then you can get them there. They are small, compact, and they do not weigh
much. One tarp for a ground mat to lay/sleep on, and one for a overhead shelter - Or one to wrap
up in as a blanket, and the second one for an overhead shelter. Plastic tarps do well as holding body heat in, so they
can be used for a sick/injured person.

E - Cord / rope, to use for making splints...OR to tie your tarp up for shelter. I prefer
"550" cord, but any will do....as long as it is durable.

F - Hard tack candy. Provides the body with sugars, and helps prevent you from becoming
thirsty.

G - A bottle or two of water.

H - Plastic bags ( Qty - 2 ). To make a rain poncho out of, or to use as a ground mat... and your two tarps as a shelter.

I know that CB radios range is shorter than a HAM and that I would need a licence in order to operate the HAM radio.

What should I buy CB or HAM?

Please advice.
Thank you

I do not know, of any place in the United States, where if you do not walk to the top of a hill, you
cannot get a good cell phone signal. Even with my cell phone, you can text with a weak signal,when
you cannot talk. Even with a CB, you would have to be near the top of a hillor near its crest to broadcast
at any distance, UNLESS someone was near, and monitoring for you to talk.

But if you want to go and do the HAM radio thing, then by all means - that is the best route.


FF - Medic !!!

 

[ff-medic]

.... which you won't be able to hear over microphone whistlers, .

Don't that just drive ya nuts? Along with all that skip from afar, due to linear transmissions.


FF - Medic !!!

 

[ff-medic]

Would a 2 meters transmiting with 5 watt output be able to talk to a CB?

2 meter HAM is 144-148 mhz. CB is 27 mhz. Two totally different radio freqs, and two totally different
antennas.

Basic consenus for determining "Meters" is to take 300 and divide by the number.

Example = 300 divided by 2 ( meters ) = 150.


FF - Medic !!!

 

[kf5qgf]

One thing after you get your ham license, and someone correct me/elaborate on this if i'm wrong. however if you're going to be within a few miles of a local repeater with an igate, try taking a portable aprs unit with you. it updates your gps position on a website that's easy to track your location with.

 

[W2NJS]

Since a CB is probably essentially worthless in your situation, meaning no disrespect to the activity, and you don't want to go to the trouble of getting a ham license, then a cellphone is probably your best short-term bet if you need to call for help.

 

[Dei2Racing]

I will add my take on cell phones. Where I live in Pike county pa they don't work 80% of the time. Its common place to have to find a house with a land line to call 911 for accidents on the road. Most of the county is state and federal land no cell towers will ever be built. The terrain here is a big the issue. EMS and police have radio they have to relay back to the com center . The PS cant use their open sky system up here. There are many roads here i cant get any cell coverage on. I even have a booster on my truck with the trucker cell antenna. I would get the HAM if you want to get in to that. what I carry now for hunting and going snow machining is a Satellite GPS Messenger unit. Its Basically a land EPERB unit. They are about 100$ now.. My cell phone eats the battery in under 3 hours if i take it in to the woods. It tries so hard to find a cell signal it gets hot. I have a directional cell antenna on my house but when it rains or snows the signal goes out.

 

[W2NJS]

What I meant to suggest was whether the OP would opt for a cell phone would obviously depend on what kind of cell service, if any, was available where and when he went into the woods. I'm well aware that there are parts of the country with poor/lousy/no cell coverage.

 

[ab3a]

One of the things they teach in hunter safety classes these days, is how to take a trek in to the woods. By far, the most common source of injury or death in hunting is not from shooting accidents (that's actually pretty far down on the list) but from people falling out of tree stands, and being unable to help themselves. They die of hypothermia. Some get lost and are unable to return to camp --and die because they don't even have basic supplies for sheltering in place.

So now you want a radio. That's a great idea. Who is going to hear you and what are you going to say to them? Are you going to call because your GPS batteries died? How are you going to power this radio?

I love tinkering with radio, but if your goal is to go in the woods, and be able to yell for help, I humbly suggest an EPIRB. But know that even if you set that thing off it may still take days to get to you, depending on where you are.

 

[gewecke]

One of the things they teach in hunter safety classes these days, is how to take a trek in to the woods. By far, the most common source of injury or death in hunting is not from shooting accidents (that's actually pretty far down on the list) but from people falling out of tree stands, and being unable to help themselves. They die of hypothermia. Some get lost and are unable to return to camp --and die because they don't even have basic supplies for sheltering in place.

So now you want a radio. That's a great idea. Who is going to hear you and what are you going to say to them? Are you going to call because your GPS batteries died? How are you going to power this radio?

I love tinkering with radio, but if your goal is to go in the woods, and be able to yell for help, I humbly suggest an EPIRB. But know that even if you set that thing off it may still take days to get to you, depending on where you are.

The new SARSAT epirbs on 406 mhz. are supposed to be able to guide responders to within 30 meters of a distress reported even nationwide now, although I personally have not used the newer epirbs.

73,
n9zas

 

[rapidcharger]

Both.

 

[ff-medic]

The new SARSAT epirbs on 406 mhz. are supposed to be able to guide responders to within 30 meters of a distress reported even nationwide now, although I personally have not used the newer epirbs.

73,
n9zas

EPIRBS.......TO ME.....seem like a useful item on the oceans, or extremely remote areas, like the pacific northwest. Not Florida, unless it was a life threatening situation.

A 406 MHZ ( ?? 406.025 mhz?? ) to a satellite. Then, If I am correct the corpas-sarsat satellite sends the distress signal to..If I am correct again = The U.S Coast Guard. Then they notify the state officials. State calls county 9-1-1 and says "Hey. We have a distress signal in your county. And we are notifying Search and Rescue, as well as the Civil Air Patrol. Amass your resources and emergency responders to this location."

One mile from a persons house, that person is injured. Alert, Concious, and with a sprained ankle.

One can be fined, for improper use of an EPIRB. A sprained ankle, one mile from their house, seems kind of ignorant to me, for the use of an EPIRB, when proper planning and common sense would have been could have worked. Maybe even taking a friend or relative to the remote location with you - I.E = The buddy system.

FF - Medic !!!