rf_patriot200
Active Member
You're right, unlicensed ops have the 2 watt restriction on those. I've always used my 5 watt setting on my Kenwoods, since I'm licensed and never used the store bought bunch.
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Is there an obvious primary 'CB' radio system in America?
- Thread starter bitmorechoke
- Start date
bitmorechoke
Newbie
Thanks for all the detailed info. It looks like FRS is probably the closest - many of the family-oriented UHF retail packs here are only 0.5w or 1w transmit power anyway, with 2w and 5w (max) available as you move up towards more trade-oriented units. In-car and desktop units are invariably 5w, but I'm guessing the detachable antenna rule for FRS rules them out altogether?
There is definitely some value in having a single popular platform, a lot of people do buy into it, but the 5w car unit is probably the kingpin. Take that away and you'd have a very different proposition.
There is no great respect for (or even knowledge of) channel rules here, at least in my experience. In the cities it seems like a hectic mix of businesses using any channel they want. Away from towns most people accept that ch40 is the 'road' channel - you might be able to hail the truck ahead of you to let him know you're overtaking, but most often not. Helpful souls will sometimes announce a hazard on ch40 for the benefit of anyone nearby.
Ch10 is often used by 4WD groups and folks in national parks for general situational awareness. Caravanners sometimes have a channel number posted on the back of their van so you can say hello or negotiate a safe pass. Otherwise, most groups just pick themselves a channel and use that. Anyone open to chatting with strangers will generally be scanning anyway.
Our volunteer fire brigades do have their own dedicated radio systems, but the trucks all have UHF units too. In rural areas the members are generally farmers who will turn up to the scene in their own utes (fitted with UHF), so it just makes more sense to use it. A lot of volunteers own cheap handhelds too. Bigger incidents or those involving more 'sensitive' communications would generally see a switch to the official system.
There is definitely some value in having a single popular platform, a lot of people do buy into it, but the 5w car unit is probably the kingpin. Take that away and you'd have a very different proposition.
There is no great respect for (or even knowledge of) channel rules here, at least in my experience. In the cities it seems like a hectic mix of businesses using any channel they want. Away from towns most people accept that ch40 is the 'road' channel - you might be able to hail the truck ahead of you to let him know you're overtaking, but most often not. Helpful souls will sometimes announce a hazard on ch40 for the benefit of anyone nearby.
Ch10 is often used by 4WD groups and folks in national parks for general situational awareness. Caravanners sometimes have a channel number posted on the back of their van so you can say hello or negotiate a safe pass. Otherwise, most groups just pick themselves a channel and use that. Anyone open to chatting with strangers will generally be scanning anyway.
Our volunteer fire brigades do have their own dedicated radio systems, but the trucks all have UHF units too. In rural areas the members are generally farmers who will turn up to the scene in their own utes (fitted with UHF), so it just makes more sense to use it. A lot of volunteers own cheap handhelds too. Bigger incidents or those involving more 'sensitive' communications would generally see a switch to the official system.
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
In the USA, correct. The true FRS rules state that the antenna must be non-removable and power levels must be under 2 watts (and 0.5 watts for 7 of the channels).
Stepping up to GMRS, which requires an FCC issued license gives the user 50 watts on the primary channels, repeater access, and removes the antenna restrictions.
A long time back, Radio Shack used a novel approach to the non-removable antenna rule for FRS by producing a radio where the RF section and the antenna were mounted in an enclosure with magnets that sat on the roof. A cable carried power and audio to a handset in the car. Wasn't very popular, but was a good way to get that limited power outside the vehicle.
FRS became very popular here. GMRS is growing. I've been slowly making my way across the Southwest USA over the last few days on my way to a work conference and have had the radio scanning these frequencies. There's been a lot of traffic, including some from networked repeaters. Well disciplined users on those systems. Quite a bit of low power simplex traffic also.
I agree. GMRS has been picking up a lot of users in the last few years since Midland started selling some reasonably priced mobile radios. It's becoming very popular with off roaders.
In order to use 5 watts on the 462 MHz Interstitial channels, you have to possess a valid GMRS license otherwise you're limited to two watts ERP.
We just got back from SoCal vacation. Out and back, I monitored the FRS/GMRS freq's as well as the MURS. Several families traveling in groups heard on FRS. Found a couple onion haulers using GMRS. And I heard about 5 car haulers (headed west) using ch17 FM on the CB. Ch19 I heard a few truckers, but nothing like the midwest.
AND I found several local drivers (legit ham ops...hauling rock/sand) on 2 meter simplex. That shocked me!
That was all between talking on local ham repeaters driving thru the major metro areas. And not much traffic on those at all!
I would like to see CB Radio make a come back in the FM mode.
rf_patriot200
Active Member
I heard 3 drivers monday, going thru my area in Illinois on ch.32 fm . I think two of them were escorting the 3rd which sounded like a wide load. It's the first time I've heard local cb on FM. Sounded fair.
The first generation bubble pack FRS radios with only 14 channels such as the Motorola Talk Abouts were only a 1/2 watt on all 14 channels.