Commercial Gear for CB?

[prcguy]

The Anytone Smart CB is completely illegal for use in the US, so my question stands, why would you recommend a commercial business use an illegal radio on a full time basis and subject themselves to potential fines?

Its pretty clear the only way you can get comms to and from a CB to any other device and stay within FCC rules is via manual phone patch, no cross band repeater is allowed, no using speaker audio from one radio to the mic of another, etc. Now if you want to drop the comment about staying legal then the sky's the limit but you can't have it both ways.

In my opinion, you don't want to be making a decision on a companies behalf to operate something illegal that subjects them to fines. Even if its a million to one chance the company gets caught, the guy that said "lets go with this CB repeater thing" is going to be in the hot seat if and when it happens.
prcguy

I understand that there is a misunderstanding of understanding.

The Anytone Smart CB is a super compact commercial grade radio, albeit with a single MOSFET final. Max power is around 10+ watts.

 

[BBB007]

CB is the Industry Approved method of commercial vehicle communications in the US at most Quarries, Dispatch Centers, Warehouses as well as peer to peer communications Over the Road.

"The Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is a private, two-way, short-distance voice communications service for personal or business activities of the general public. It also may be used for voice paging. It is authorized 40 channels between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz"

The FCC just doesn't care much in this particular instance. They have much bigger fish to fry. So please let us suggest CB (or other) universally accepted communication equipment that is familiar and functional to the Trucking Industry without lambasting us. Thank you.

 

[TheSpaceMann]

It's a great system. This is what all quarries in our area do. As CB operators we share the frequencies and understand that it is necessary for Triaxle, loader and dispatchers to communicate properly for their businesses to operate. One big happy 11 meter family if you will.

Since this is the CB section of the forum I suggest using 10/11 meter radios with dual finals. 4 watts will not ever cut it, plain and simple. Fact: Too many man made sources of radio interference exist today for a 4 watt transmitter to be effective during the daylight hours.

A dual final radio will net 10-30 watts AM and run on a cigarette lighter plug. You can use one as a base station with a 15 amp 12 volt power supply. DO NOT worry about the legality. Nothing is enforced on 11 meters anymore. (Why folks beat the anti-export radio drum always baffles me and no, please, do not explain it to us again. Thank you )

This is your business; you want consistent communication abilities with your workers and customers. Again do not not waste your hard earned money and try to mess around with the 4 watt toy CB stuff. Also, invest in good 95% rated coax and good quality antennas. Sirio and Stryker make some good antennas.

This is a tried and proven performer in the industry:

http://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-DX-29HP-Dx-29hp/dp/B005C48614

I don't think the DX-29hp has single sideband.

 

[Rred]

I seem to remember a number of FCC letters asking for heavy fines for Galaxy users. It would be illegal to use this as a CB. Illegal to advertise it as a CB or ham radio. And hams would be personally liable for the performance of the unit. Even worse, if the other guy is not using a similar illegal high power unit, you won't be able to hold a 2-way conversation any more than a legal 4-watt unit could. But hey, if it is worth $10,000 to you, by all means, break the rules and waste your money.

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I still laugh at the can't perform with 4w guys. You really can. The problem I've always ran into (on mobile installations) is that you can't talk to the vehicle within a hundred yards of you due to desense…at 4 W.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BBB007]

I seem to remember a number of FCC letters asking for heavy fines for Galaxy users. It would be illegal to use this as a CB. Illegal to advertise it as a CB or ham radio. And hams would be personally liable for the performance of the unit. Even worse, if the other guy is not using a similar illegal high power unit, you won't be able to hold a 2-way conversation any more than a legal 4-watt unit could. But hey, if it is worth $10,000 to you, by all means, break the rules and waste your money.

Your comments have nothing to do with the topic about Commercial Grade CB radios such as the Anytone Smart CB that the original poster asked about. Obviously folks commenting about legality issues have nothing better to do than take the stance that they somehow know more than the common CB operator and try to instill fear in its ranks. On the other hand, I'm trying to add relevant information about communications equipment and related hardware of which I assumed was what this forum was all about.

Yes, The Space Man, the Galaxy DX-29hp does not have SSB. Most commercial operators, including myself, use AM. Not many mobile CB operators utilize more than 50 watts PEP anymore due to the RFI sensitivity of the newer ECUs and lack of metal cabs in the late model tractors. Most trucking firms only give a 20 amp courtesy outlet for CB use which is another limiting factor on power output selection of the transceiver.

 

[byndhlptom]

Commercial Grade CB

I didn't know there was such a thing as "Commercial Grade CB". Aren't they all 4 wt (AM) and 15W pep (SSB). Anything more is not legal in the US. Is the OP outside the US?

There were some Motorola CB units back in the 70's that were a little better built, but they had no more power than any other unit.

Isn't encouraging others to flaunt the legal limits to be frowned upon (at the least)?

Working with radios since the 60's, haven't found a need to use more power than what's allowed.....

$.02