What kind of 2 way comunications

[w0g0w4r]

I want to install a radio in my mj. The question is which kind (CB, FRS, GMRS) what are the merits and drawbacks of each? Are there radios that switch bands? If I got a couple could I plug different ones into the same connecters/wires depending who I was out with that day?

 

[gary in ohio]

Well the key is who do you need to talk to and what are they using. GMRS require license but can talk to non licensed FRS users on 7 channels. CB is common and cheap.

 

[brussum]

Like Gary mentioned, it all depends on who you run with and what they're using. It seems most folks are using either CB or 2M ham radios. Personally, I have both in my F350, but only a ham radio in my TLC. Ham is better than CB, but it does require a license and can get expensive quickly. Ham has a lot more frequency options and the ability to use repeaters, even if you limit yourself to the 2m band. The license is fairly easy to obtain and a really good, basic, used radio can be had for cheap on eBay or QRZ. You can probably use the same wiring in your vehicle and just swap out radios, but you also need to change out the antennas (a CB antenna is considerably longer than a 2m antenna). You can get some good advice on installing mobile systems in the forums on QRZ.com...it's ham focused, but the principles are the same.

 

[Stainless_EP]

Not sure where you live, but GMRS radios don't require any licensing here in Canada and they're available at virtually every electronics store, cheap. The audio quality and portability are better than CB, but CB tends to have more range, pound for pound (proper installation and tuning, good antenna, etc).

There are radios that will do HAM/CB/GMRS/FRS, but they're spectacularly expensive and might require hacking that's technically illegal. Your best option is to have a conversation with your wheeling/exploring buddies and agree on a method to use, or keep a CB and GMRS in the truck if you're trying to hedge your bets in the wilderness. You can make a harness that allows a plug-out-plug-in switch between different kinds of radios, but as others have said, they all require different antenna lengths (and connectors, I believe), so it would be a pretty crappy task.

S

 

[1911]

I want to install a radio in my mj. The question is which kind (CB, FRS, GMRS) what are the merits and drawbacks of each?

The drawback of each radio service you mentioned is lack of power and therefore range. CB and GMRS radios are only 5 watts, and FRS radios are only 0.5 watt. They might be suitable if you're only trying to talk to the other trucks close by you in a trail group, if the terrain isn't too steep or obstructive. But if you're wanting to reach help outside of your group in an emergency or you have more than one trail group, then none of those services will suffice.

Here is a link to a table that another ExPo member (user name "Mashurst") made that shows the relative power, range, cost, etc. of the radio services available to most civilian folks, that you may find useful: http://kj6euo.com/

 

[gary in ohio]

There are radios that will do HAM/CB/GMRS/FRS, but they're spectacularly expensive and might require hacking that's technically illegal.

There are NO radio that will legally do ham/cb/gmrs/frs. In fact there are few radio that will even do it illegally.

 

[gary in ohio]

The drawback of each radio service you mentioned is lack of power and therefore range. CB and GMRS radios are only 5 watts, and FRS radios are only 0.5 watt.

At least in the US. CB radio is 4watts max. Typical range is 5 miles, more if your away from the radio masses.
GMRS radio can use upto 50 watts depending on the freq, 5 watts on the shared channels and 50 on the others. Range is 10-20 miles mobile to mobile depending on terrain. 20-50 bases to base with direction antennas. FRS is only 1/2watt Range to 1 mile at best.