Ham or CB?

[mr r2fj]

Just wanted to add, which I think has already been said, stay away from all handhelds. It will severely limit your range. No matter what the technology if you're antenna is inside the metal box (your car) it's really going to impact the performance. Unless of course you're planning on doing a handheld (HT) with an external antenna mounted to it. Even then, I think the difference between common 5w HTs and a 50w mobiles is hard to compare.

My vote is for HAM. It's a better technology with vastly more options for both fun and emergency use. Adopt it so others will have to use ham in order to talk to you and not the other way around. =)

Disclaimer: I don't hate CB at all, I've spent a good amount on my setup. I just think that amateur radio has more to offer. =)

 

[gary in ohio]

Very true. I would love to branch out into the HF world but the cost of equipment is the only catching point. Even for a low end used HF tranciever you're looking at least $400, not to mention the typically very large antennas. I believe the 2m/70cm bands are most popular for your average mobile operator because the antennas are small and radios are inexpensive.

HF need not be expensive. For mobile you are looking at $400-$500 for a smaller mobile size radio but the antenna need not be very large. You can get buy with a smaller antenna not much larger than a 8ft CB whip. Antenna's are band specific but its easy to change. For home use HF ham radio need not be expensive either $200 and up will get you a radio, antenna is a run of wire wherever you can get one to hang. I ran HF from a basement apartment before. You just need to be creative with antennas and sometimes sneaky as well.

Not sure I agree radio 2m/70cmh are inexpensive. Most dual band radio will set you back close to $300 as for small antenna, my 2m mobile antenna is almost 7ft long. HF antenna is only 8ft.

 

[alfio]

reviving this old thread (all things being relative) because it seemed much better to add here rather than starting my own thread with the same basic question.

i'm in the midsts of deciding HAM or CB and i would really not end up with both. my budget is very limited (probably limited to what i can find on craigslist or very cheap new) but fortunately so are my intended uses. the short of it is that i am looking for a CB because i want to listen to truckers on my way to work (there's a few speed traps and tons of potential traffic headaches) and it will likely see some use on off road trails when four wheeling the old toyota (noaa weather info would be very useful). btw, traffic info is much more important than trail use.

those were the reasons for looking into the CB but then i come on the expo forum and read all this stuff on HAM and it makes me wonder if i'd just be wasting my time with the CB... for instance:

HAM is definitely the way to go....

I could go on and on about how much better HAM is over CB. Not to mention after getting a decent CB rig, antenna, mounts, coax, etc. you are already looking at $100-$120 where as you could spend another $30 and have a good quality 2m Yaesu mobile radio or another $100 and have a dual band 2m/70cm mobile radio.

Personally for my situation I would not get anything other than a dual bander because all the repeaters in my area are pretty well split between the two bands. I have a linked repeater system on 70cm that gives me about a 200mile bubble to north/central KS and a 2m repeater tha give me another 100 mile bubble to the south.

HAM stuff is so unclear for noobs. i don't understand the bands and radio options. i know what a basic CB setup, can't say the same about a HAM setup or whether the latter would even satisfy my needs.

I do also have a CB radio just in case I'm ever out wheelin' with someone else that has one, but to be honest with you since I got my ham license and the Yaesu 7800 I raaaaaaarely evern turn the CB on anymore. With the CB in my area there is never anyone in range of me, I'll have the squelch up to block out interference from power lines etc. but end up blocking out everyone else, the audio quality sounds like a tin can and a string, and when I am in range of anybody it's usually on the interstate with truckers dropping the f-bomb every 4th word. Not to mention when the band opens up you start hearing all the illegal high power loonies from multiple states away. Espcially on channel 6. Talk about a weird bunch of people who like to yell into their mic's and talk for 15 minutes straight about absolute garbage if you can even understand them at all since none of them even know how to speak correct english or annunciate. (/rantoff)

i read stuff like this on HAM vs. CB (which is basically the decision i'm trying to make) and i know exactly what you mean, it makes perfect sense but in the end i'm still a bit concerned about only going with a HAM setup. i know there's more info coming your way on a HAM but i don't know if it will be the info i'm looking for.

 

[holidaynation]

reviving this old thread (all things being relative) because it seemed much better to add here rather than starting my own thread with the same basic question.

i'm in the midsts of deciding HAM or CB and i would really not end up with both. my budget is very limited (probably limited to what i can find on craigslist or very cheap new) but fortunately so are my intended uses. the short of it is that i am looking for a CB because i want to listen to truckers on my way to work (there's a few speed traps and tons of potential traffic headaches) and it will likely see some use on off road trails when four wheeling the old toyota (noaa weather info would be very useful). btw, traffic info is much more important than trail use.

those were the reasons for looking into the CB but then i come on the expo forum and read all this stuff on HAM and it makes me wonder if i'd just be wasting my time with the CB... for instance:



HAM stuff is so unclear for noobs. i don't understand the bands and radio options. i know what a basic CB setup, can't say the same about a HAM setup or whether the latter would even satisfy my needs.




i read stuff like this on HAM vs. CB (which is basically the decision i'm trying to make) and i know exactly what you mean, it makes perfect sense but in the end i'm still a bit concerned about only going with a HAM setup. i know there's more info coming your way on a HAM but i don't know if it will be the info i'm looking for.

For what you are looking for, use wise, stick with CB. Fairly simple, no license required and an abundance of good used equipment available, ebay, truck stops etc. The only advice here is to make sure to tune your antenna and you are good to go. Most of the topic discussion here revolves around back country touring, and the ability to reach out and touch someone. True Amateur radio is awesome and provides better quality availability etc, but can get expensive and does require a fair amount of knowledge compared with simple AM plug and play CBs. If you want to listen to truckers and traffic, CB is your easiest and cheapest route. You need not spend a fortune on an brilliant radio, but might want to look for a decent antenna set up.

hope this helps.
E

 

[holidaynation]

options

Having read this old thread, i think one of the best statements focused around, "what everyone else in your group is using". For most events i find the CB adequate, I use a SSB unit just incase there are others around with the same feature. The biggest fault I find with them, is the lack of knowledge about them or regulations, and therefore poor quality installs which cause other users grief. Amateur radio, being regulated does address this issue. There is also the FRS route, which is a true plug and play and gives clearer transmissions, albeit the distance may not be as great, but works well in a group environment. I would never solely rely on a HAM radio as my sole hope in the backcountry. although, IMHO, they are the way of the future if everyone gets on board, as previously mentioned, may not net you a contact in an emergency. One of the newer devices I like, solo or for a group is the SPOT GPS http://www.findmespot.ca/en/index.php?cid=102.

Nothing will ever replace training and planning and taking responsibility for your decisions, but being prepared with a back up plan sure can't hurt.

 

[AxeAngel]

Cb setup can be had for 50$. I just sold an entire setup on the classifieds forum for that. It can be done using craigslist and ebay and cobbling a system together.

As for ham, I'm finding it difficult to cobble a decent system together for under $150

-Sam