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Message |
    
Msommo
New member
Username: Msommo
Post Number: 1
Registered: 2-2010
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 10:32 am: | 
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Hi All,
Very little experience with CB's/radios etc so I am looking for some advice.
I am looking to purchase a pair or CB's/radios (handheld preferably) that will consistently work in the 5-7 mile range in a suburban environment between 2 homes. MURS seems like an interesting technology, just unsure how they work in the real world and I'm hesitant with new things. FRS and GMRS just will not get the needed range. Which leads me back to CBs. I like the idea of the SSB technology, but cannot find any units.
-I would have the option of hooking up an antenna at both houses or in our vehicles.
-I Plan on using these for hiking and hunting as well.
-Preferably a unit that has an available AC power cord and can run on NiMH batteries.
Appreciate the guidance here. If you need any additional details, please let me know. Thanks in advance! |
Milkman21218
Intermediate Member
Username: Milkman21218
Post Number: 402
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 03, 2010 - 12:57 pm: |
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You will not get CB handhelds that will work in the 5-7 mile range. In fact many mobile units won't. Without know just what your exact needs are I can't really help. Get 2 base antennas. A-99 with a good coax should help for the base. And a wilson for the car. Both of these can give you everything that you need and more. As for the radio Copper sells many fine CB radios. That will give you what you want and more. Some you can use in the house and vehicle. |
Msommo
New member
Username: Msommo
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2010
| | Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 2:04 pm: |
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So even with a handheld connected to a good antenna on my house I cannot get to the 5-7 mile range?
In an emergency, assuming phones are not working, I was hoping to be able to communicate with my brother's home which is 5 miles away. We'd both have good antennas at our homes that we could connect to the handhelds via coax.
We would really prefer them to be handhelds so we can use them when hiking and camping.
Thanks for the help. |
Ironmike
Junior Member
Username: Ironmike
Post Number: 40
Registered: 6-2007
| | Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 6:06 pm: |
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It would be cheaper to get seperate radios for that.
If you are going to use good base antennas, cb is the way to go for cheap ~7 mile comms.
Cheap FRS/GMRS for hiking, etc.
Unlicensed MURS and FRS do not allow for external antennas, and licensed GMRS to 50 watts costs $75 for the license, plus commecial UHF gear.
A99's and used eBay base stations is where I would go. |
Joey_migs
Member
Username: Joey_migs
Post Number: 85
Registered: 9-2009
| | Posted on Thursday, February 04, 2010 - 6:11 pm: |
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handheld 11 meter are not the way to go, 5 or even 2.5 watts eat up the batteries fast. Two base station w/ antenna at 30~40 feet @ 5~7 mile not a problem, SSB or AM. For hunting, use FSR (462 MHz range). A good midland or cobra will cost you $75(at most) for two hand-helds. You will achieve 1/4 ~ 1/2 mile reliability.
Good luck,
Migs |
N8fgb
Member
Username: N8fgb
Post Number: 85
Registered: 5-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 12:18 pm: |
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Or you both get ur tech license and use 2 meter.
That way u can use repeaters to extend ur range.U will also have contact to outside world during an emergency.
Rich |
Milkman21218
Intermediate Member
Username: Milkman21218
Post Number: 403
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 12:24 pm: |
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With a handheld connected to a good antenna on your house you can get to the 5-7 mile range. You can always get a Ham License. And run a 2 meter walkie(HT)talkie. You'll get a lot more range for your buck. And cheaper too! |
Dale
Senior Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 1538
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 05, 2010 - 3:41 pm: |
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if ya already have good antennas at ya home
than id just buy a cheap mobile uniden 510
or cobra19 and a 3-5 amp power supply no batteries this way.ive tried handhelds in
the mobile with a wilson 5000 i got around
3miles this was out in the country though.
as for hiking,camping,i find frs to be better
i used to use handheld 11 meter but locals kept
keying on us so frs is really nice for hiking,camping,walking,even in the store..lol
let us know what ya decide you got me thinking now
dale/a.k.a.hotrod
cef426
cvc#64
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Philuk
Junior Member
Username: Philuk
Post Number: 15
Registered: 4-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 8:20 am: |
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If you have the cash to spare try the Yaesu FT817ND, HF, VHF and UHF all mode set and has built power cell with small front mountable antenna or can be used home based with the included wallwart psu and external antenna rear connection, it is a QRP set with only 5w output but Ive found mine great for field use, with an easy mod it will give wideband TX on both 11mt CB and PMR frequencies (although this is not legal!) as the set is not type approved for this.
I often use mine as a family PMR base station connecting with our two little Motorola Talkabouts on 446Mhz (UK PMR) while on fishing trips but it also covers the 462Mhz used in other countries. Lots of FT 817 user groups on the internet with more info.
Phil
Yaesu FT817nd, Kenwood TS 140s, Origonal Midland Alan 8001 plus.
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Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 1327
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 9:30 am: |
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NOTE:What Philuk mentions IS ILLEGAL... and may end up costing you more than buying decenmt base station cbs, antennas and matching mobile units.
I do agree n8fgb get you tech licences, they are almost given away these days, buy a couple of good hf/vhf ham radios and use 2m and parts of 10m.
You get 2m repeaters and simplex operation (and rare as it maybe at times you can work 1000miles plus on 2m. You also get 28.300 to 28.500 (hey that just happens to include the Copper 10m net), plus CW privileges on 40 and 15m..
I am not disparaging legal CB, as a CBer and Ham (Ham first and then became a CBer- so per most people, I did it backwards), but what you're describing ham will do it a whole lot better.
BTW a decent 2m base antenna an 7miles simplex is easy and reliable.
Tech237
N7AUS
God only made some many perfect head, on the rest he put hair.
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Philuk
Junior Member
Username: Philuk
Post Number: 18
Registered: 4-2009
| | Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010 - 12:19 pm: |
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I do state it is illegal (the mod) in the post but if you use the FT817nd with a tech or foundation ticket it is legal and blows the socks of the little 1.5w handies. Just had a 15 mile simplex contact on 70cms rural conditions, each to their own I say, how many people out there over the pond transmit on 27.555mhz? that is also illegal, open clarifiers are said to be illegal and its one of the most common mods on old CBs.
It was just a sugestion (very expensive one) but a sugestion anyway.
Yaesu FT817nd, Kenwood TS 140s, Origonal Midland Alan 8001 plus.
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