Rick,
I have a couple questions first about ham then about CB. I'm really concidering starting hamming and I've contacted my local ham club. But I would like to know if you can contact people over CB with a HAM radio. How do you commmunicate fourwheeling if not everyone has a HAM radio? My next question is how can I fine tune my CB? Is there anything I could do to make it send or recieve a stronger signal? What's the best way to tune the antenna? Could an amp or different wire improve my signal any? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Joe http://www.4x4central.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

An inexpensive handheld CB works great for fourwheeling. You can take it out of the truck with you to give spotting directions.

Optimially you need to get your four wheeling buddies licensed in ham radio so you can use that to communicate.

If you have any more questions about ham radio give me a call 602-896-8813.

You need an SWR meter to tune your CB antenna. You need to tune for the lowest possible Standing Wave Ratio. You can get an SWR meter at Radio Shack or have a CB shop tune your antenna for you. It's a one time deal.

Antenna location is importatant for any radio. The best location is near the center of your roof.

Amplifiers for CBs are illegal. Another good reason to use a ham radio. A CB puts out 4 watts on AM. A ham mobile rig puts out 50 watts on clean clear sounding FM. A ham handheld radio puts out 5-7 watts FM.

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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com (http://www.explorer4x4.com)

Rick:
Been thinking of getting some kind of mobile communication device. The choices are:
1. 2-way radio (I guess that would be a handheld CB)
Two options: Small unit up to 2 miles or the more powerful units up to 5 miles range which require a GMRS license. Does this license require a test like a Ham license?
2. CB installed in truck.
3. Ham radio.
4. Satellite phone (to expensive right now, but who knows in a year or two.
Can CB and/or Ham radio in truck be used as base unit to rebroadcast using a handset some distance from the truck?
Can the regular commercial handhelds (the 5 mile units are 2 watts, I believe) be used as the mobile unit with a base unit in the truck?
Any advice would be appreciated.
TIA




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Peter
'99 Sport stock 4X4

GMRS is much like the FRS, both use UHF frequencies and are low output. The range that you stated are under optimal conditions. Real world fourwheeling situations will greatly reduct the range due to hills, trees, etc.

Having a hand held CB is great for communicating with those without a ham radio within a group setting. Any CB is practically useless for emergency communications unless you are in a populated area.

Satellite phones will be great for emergencies, but won't be helpful for talking to the group or individuals within the group unless you want to place a phone call...

Many mobile ham radios can be set up as repeaters to rebroadcast signals from handhelds or other mobiles. My mobile ham radio can transmit across the entire Phoenix Valley without using a repeater (simplex).

"Can the regular commercial handhelds (the 5 mile units are 2 watts, I believe) be used as the mobile unit with a base unit in the truck?"

I'm not sure what you mean by this. I can tell you that 5 miles is again under perfect conditions and that the actual useful range will be much less. They are also not useful for emergency communications.

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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com (http://www.explorer4x4.com)

Rick,
I'm planning on getting a good CB antenna and mount it to the roof rack (my last mag-mount scratched/wore the paint off). My question is, since it will be up a few inches from the roof, do I need the no-ground plane type?

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2000 4x4 XLT SOHC V6

Gerry, the anwser to your question is yes.

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Rick Horwitz
Editor
explorer@4x4central.com
www.4x4central.com (http://www.explorer4x4.com)

Rick,
Thanks for the info on HAM and CB Radio. I found it very helpful. How would you reccomend grounding a roof rack mounted CB? What gauge wire do you reccomend using? That's where my CB Antenea is mounted right now. I'm going to tune it with a friends SWR meter sometime soon. I can get a decent signal from other drivers in the area but it seems to be very limited. Would grounding my antenea help solve that problem?

Thanks again for your help,

Joe http://www.4x4central.com/ubb/smile.gif
94 Explorer XLT
4" Superlift Suspension
33x10.50 BFG AT KO's