CB or FRS

[Mongo]

Brett hit the nail on the head when he said that he's dealing with people that really don't care to get a ham ticket, plain and simple. I'm sure it has nothing to costs, just the fact most will either run illegal or find it a waste of time to get a license to use a radio 3 or 4 times a year. To think that making it a requirement to have ham and license will cause Brett problems, not the group, because more than likely he'll be told to fuck off...

so back to the original question, a properly installed CB will out perform a FRS handheld, but frs will be the simplest solution...

Back to the Ham Fest...

 

[fishEH]

Bingo. This isn't actually about ME at all. I have a CB that works great. It isn't a huge trucker special and didn't cost $500. But the install IS clean and done well. Depsite the lack of a headliner I like to keep my shit tight. If I were to join the Dweb Utah trip I'd have no problem getting a HAM because I do see the benefits and if that's what the group is running then I'll obviously want to be able to communicate.

But, this is about the 1-2 times per year wheelers. The guys that I'm lucky if they have recovery points. When someone is new to wheeling you don't want to tell them to "Fuck off until you get your HAM license". CB's most people have heard of and have familiarity with.

What I'd like to know is what the LRNR, Conclave, Wilds events do for communication? It would seem to make sense to require the same communication form these events require.

Brett hit the nail on the head when he said that he's dealing with people that really don't care to get a ham ticket, plain and simple. I'm sure it has nothing to costs, just the fact most will either run illegal or find it a waste of time to get a license to use a radio 3 or 4 times a year. To think that making it a requirement to have ham and license will cause Brett problems, not the group, because more than likely he'll be told to fuck off...

so back to the original question, a properly installed CB will out perform a FRS handheld, but frs will be the simplest solution...

Back to the Ham Fest...

 

[1920SF]

What I'd like to know is what the LRNR, Conclave, Wilds events do for communication? It would seem to make sense to require the same communication form these events require.

Rick and Gustavo had a network of runners they employed for communications at Conclave...mostly immigrants brought in from Maryland that Gustavo picked up the day beforehand.

---
In all seriousness there really wasn't much of a mandate there, but CB would be the most common communication platform. The VOT folks mandated CB's in each truck, which most folks seemed to use for intra-team comms and limited inter-team discussions.

 

[p m]

I think he's coming from my direction, and suggesting that CB is enough for most trail rides.

Kennith - pretty much so.

Any comm setup is better than none, and between CB and FRS - CB hands down for me (although I usually have one or two FRS walkie talkies in my trucks, as well as a handheld CB brick). I have now, and have had a CB in my trucks for about 15 years now - the much-maligned traffic on CB died down to a whisper. In the same time span, FRS handhelds became cheap as dirt and commonplace - and the combination of dead batteries, annoying random bleeps, people not being able to sort out CTCSS settings, and incessant clutter makes CB a great alternative. Besides that, the combination of FCC-limited power, radiation pattern of common mobile CB antennas, and receiver sensitivity is great for 1-5 mile range optimal for the trail ride.

A ham setup is a whole another level above CB rig, and possibilities are indeed endless - at the expense of the whole new level of complexity. Between a Yaesu dual-band mobile box, a Yaesu handheld and a Kenwood handheld - there's no way I could remember how to set them up properly and do it quickly. Before this year's Colorado trip, it took me about an hour to make sure both handhelds stayed put with the same settings - absolutely not something you would want to do while driving.
You also don't want to go cheap on the equipment - you can get a Baofeng dual-band handheld for 30-50 bucks, but you'll find the difference between that and a $180 Yaesu in a hurry.

Brett - LRNR doesn't require comms, so you may easily come to a run where the trail leader doesn't have a radio. I have.

 

[DiscoPhoto]

I installed a CB because it was a requirement for VOT, and it came in handy during Conclave as that is what everyone I rode with was using, with the exception of some 2-way guys.

 

[Mongo]

We use the chinese crap radios as throw away's...better than thrashing a $500 Yaesu vx-8

 

[LRflip]

What the hell were you thinking?

I'd rather put my balls in a vice than go out with more than a dozen trucks; and that number is pushing it.

 

[kennith]

One must complicate it first.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[ukoffroad]

I think for many folks who only get out 2-3 times a year a CB is fine. FRS is useless unless you are working with a spotter too far away to yell or just use hand signals. HAM quality is better but in my experience very few folks have them. A well tuned decent CB setup and a set of FRS as a back up has done everything I have needed.

IF you run with the same group repeatedly HAM is worth the $$$ I would think.

 

[chris snell]

I don't run with people new to four wheeling so I've never needed to accommodate those types.

I'm with Mike: I just don't see what's so hard about getting a ham license. It takes just a lazy afternoon to study enough to pass. The test itself can be knocked out in an hour. The installation is as easy or easier than CB. The cost difference is nominal. The improvement in capability is tremendous. In terms of bang for your buck, a ham ticket and two meter is one of those best investments you can make for you and your truck when going anywhere beyond the local off-road park.

...still, understand why noobs won't do it. It's the same reason that most of them carry no tools, no spares, etc.

 

[kennith]

I don't run with people new to four wheeling so I've never needed to accommodate those types.

I'm with Mike: I just don't see what's so hard about getting a ham license. It takes just a lazy afternoon to study enough to pass. The test itself can be knocked out in an hour. The installation is as easy or easier than CB. The cost difference is nominal. The improvement in capability is tremendous. In terms of bang for your buck, a ham ticket and two meter is one of those best investments you can make for you and your truck when going anywhere beyond the local off-road park.

...still, understand why noobs won't do it. It's the same reason that most of them carry no tools, no spares, etc.

It's best to have the best radio you can, but I'd never require it on a trail unless I was being paid to lead some dealership instructional off road group, and I was responsible for their safety.

The odds of that happening are... Well... Not high.:rofl:

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Mongo]

We lead several dealership runs every year, we do it for free and never require anything but common sense and a positive attitude...We provide the recovery gear and make sure the that the leader and tail gunner have comms, whether cb or ham, license or not...

Requiring guy's to get a ham ticket is, well stupid, especially if they are just going out 3 or 4 times year. Our group basically doesn't give a shit if you have a license or not, and won't be chastising those who don't have one (even if they a mobile mounted in their truck)

waiting for the ham police to chime in next

 

[Keanan]

waiting for the ham police to chime in next

Ham Police are occupied at the moment.

 

[Mongo]

I thought this was the guy...

 

[fishEH]

Mmmmmm, ham.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KjkiKAucA8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[pdxrovermech]

I'm a CB guy, but like many of you I dont like to wheel with more than 6 rigs so getting spread out isnt a big issue. Having been on some larger events and dealing with the coordinators I can definitely see the benefits of a ham when needing to communicate across miles of varied terrain. A basic set of walkie talkies are also great for team events.

 

[Rover831]

What nobody has taken into consideration is M.U.R.S. (Multi-Use Radio Systems). This is 5 frequencies set aside for ANYONE to use with a few limitations. All the advantages of 2m ham but without the license. Ham is great but I don't think it is the best idea for off roading. To much BS and oppertunities to say things over the air that shouldn't be said on ham bands. I use Ham, MURS, and CB.

KE5ZKF

 

[Mike_Rupp]

MURS is kind of a odd choice. Nearly everyone has FRS radios, but MURS is completely unknown. If you have a group of regulars who want a decent way to communicate and don't want to get a license, it's not a bad way to go.

To say that it has all of the advantages of 2 meter Ham is completely off base though. MURS has no repeaters, it's limited to 2 watts and there is never going to be anyone monitoring it in case of emergency.

 

[ptschram]

I have an old school bus radio that is programmable for use on FRS frequencies.

20-25 watts, a real microphone, a real speaker and an external antenna.

Works wonderfully!

 

[Rover831]

MURS is kind of a odd choice. Nearly everyone has FRS radios, but MURS is completely unknown. If you have a group of regulars who want a decent way to communicate and don't want to get a license, it's not a bad way to go.

To say that it has all of the advantages of 2 meter Ham is completely off base though. MURS has no repeaters, it's limited to 2 watts and there is never going to be anyone monitoring it in case of emergency.

If you are trailing, you won't be using repeaters at all. It is poor radio protocol to keep a repeater in use when you are just chit chatting on a trail. If you want repeaters without a ham license then you need GMRS, but the same still applies. Apples to apples here……