CB Radio and Ham Radio

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
The external ant. connector looks like an RCA. Just because you normally see a certain connector in a certain application doesn't mean it can't be used differently.
 

Cameron23

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Kansas
So what would my range be with this using the antenna shown


Looks to be 5 watt

Sent from my super secret fall out bunker
 

knightrider

Bought an X
Location
San Diego, CA
200 ft, honestly there's no way to tell. People say 1 mile per watt but that's in ideal( you'll never see them) conditions. That's if the thing even still works and is still putting out 5 watts. If you use it for trail comma inside a vehicle, good luck because your in a metal cage that's going to block signal getting in and out of the radio unless you use an external antenna

Not sent with the stupid auto guide app
 

Cameron23

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Kansas
200 ft, honestly there's no way to tell. People say 1 mile per watt but that's in ideal( you'll never see them) conditions. That's if the thing even still works and is still putting out 5 watts. If you use it for trail comma inside a vehicle, good luck because your in a metal cage that's going to block signal getting in and out of the radio unless you use an external antenna

Not sent with the stupid auto guide app

So it's no good for using in a car to listen to truckers?


Sent from my super secret fall out bunker
 

dhyde79

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Amarillo, TX
So it's no good for using in a car to listen to truckers?

Sent from my super secret fall out bunker

It'll work fine, especially on trails, remember, old radio gear wasn't built as a "throw away" like most current radio gear is...

The vehicle will reduce range, but, not that drastically...at worst, find a local cb shop and get a magnetic external antenna, and put it out when needed, pull it back in when not.
 

CrazySteve911

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Loris, SC
It'll work fine, especially on trails, remember, old radio gear wasn't built as a "throw away" like most current radio gear is...

The vehicle will reduce range, but, not that drastically...at worst, find a local cb shop and get a magnetic external antenna, and put it out when needed, pull it back in when not.

This. That'd be your best bet.

I can get a magnetic antenna for $12 at a local pawn.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
BUMP this to the Front... I failed to find the Thread in search Quest.. OOp's..

The thread was old.. Many new Ham updates.. and uses.. With the Other site, Ham Thread was wealth of Information and idea's With new users joining the ranks..

I got my Ham Radio in Xterra, home and hand helds.. Never out of reach of one.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Ham radio.. is the way to go.. Cheap to get into the hobby now..

If questions.. More then happy to answer or point yea down the Path.. Terry D he will chime in too... as with others.. some more skilled then Me!.

In my Xterra.. ICOM 2730A Dual band 2m/70Cm, With Browning Mag mount Antenna. Range simplex average 19 miles, Use Repeaters 500 miles ( depends if Linked Repeaters Or just a Local Repeater).. Local Repeater If stand alone.. can range 60 mile radius. PRETTY good when you need help!!.
Added a APRS unit.. for Tracking me.. Works great!..

I have Hand Helds.. ugh too many now..
Bofeng's best entry into the market for New ham. $25 bucks.. Ham Lic $10 bucks for 10 years
Range: simplex 15 miles ( Unless in concrete Jungle or Deep Canyon ).. If can hit Repeater Range goes way up. Some one monitors Radio's 24/7
Programmed one Bofeng just for Kayaking.. if I go swimming.. its D.O.A. But otherwise, if I need to contact Patrol or COAST Guard.. I have that ability, plus scanning them.

I have 7 Bofengs,
1 Yaesu FT1xd ( Junk hate the thing.. Works! but just poor design and set up Paper weight )

Icom 2300 For base, and a Icom 2730A, Plus Fancy HF Kenwood 549T ( think was model).. I can talk to the East coast But normally every day at 18:00 I Check into the emergency Net for the state.. 3.980.00 Mhz


My area. and Local ham clubs.. Everyone knows my Call sign and Voice.. IF I require medical help Or other.. good chance one will hear me.. and respond. As I to them.

whew.
 

Tay-Lo

I'm the king of junk food!
Location
Upstate SC
Ive done some studying but never enough to take the test. In my area its basically just a bunch of old guys jaw jackin during the nets. I have some baofengs that i listen to repeaters during storms and since if theres an emergency and other forms of comms are down its still legal to use them to call for help.

Maybe one day ill actually take the test.....
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
Ive done some studying but never enough to take the test. In my area its basically just a bunch of old guys jaw jackin during the nets. I have some baofengs that i listen to repeaters during storms and since if theres an emergency and other forms of comms are down its still legal to use them to call for help.

Maybe one day ill actually take the test.....
Go for it! Check out Laurel VEC. They do free testing all over the country. I'm ome of their VEs here locally.

Join in with them, they're just passing time till they have someone interested in learning. There's lots of things to do. I like doing remote operations in contests.

We did an overnight a few years ago, operating out of my big tent, in a very rare county for the Va QSO Party. That was a ton of fun! Cooked up some good ribeyes on my buddy's Skottle and drank a couple ice cold (literally, it was snowing) 807s!
 

Tay-Lo

I'm the king of junk food!
Location
Upstate SC
Go for it! Check out Laurel VEC. They do free testing all over the country. I'm ome of their VEs here locally.

Join in with them, they're just passing time till they have someone interested in learning. There's lots of things to do. I like doing remote operations in contests.

We did an overnight a few years ago, operating out of my big tent, in a very rare county for the Va QSO Party. That was a ton of fun! Cooked up some good ribeyes on my buddy's Skottle and drank a couple ice cold (literally, it was snowing) 807s!
I see youre in VA....are you able to hit the Mt Mitchell repeater? It covers like 5 states and is in the mountains of NC. Its roughly 50 miles straight shot from me i think.... like i can hit it with the cheap little handhelds.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I see youre in VA....are you able to hit the Mt Mitchell repeater? It covers like 5 states and is in the mountains of NC. Its roughly 50 miles straight shot from me i think.... like i can hit it with the cheap little handhelds.

I've never tried. What's the tune info for it. I'm in a hole here, so I have trouble with distant repeaters...
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
No way I could hit it. There's too many mountains between me and it. Even if it was a clear shot, I'd need 300W and a good yagi to have a chance unless the band opened up.
 

Tay-Lo

I'm the king of junk food!
Location
Upstate SC
No way I could hit it. There's too many mountains between me and it. Even if it was a clear shot, I'd need 300W and a good yagi to have a chance unless the band opened up.
You might as well try. Im in a hole and can atleast ping it with 4 watts (maybe its 5) its the highest point anywhere around here.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Test is the easy part.. Learning the Radio's Repeaters how to program, Etc.. is a bugger. Unless your around other hams.. that can help.

Good site for Learning the Ham. https://www.eham.net/exams/

some say learn the Question Learn the Answer.. in the test only.. NOthing else.
I Read the book, Made it Yellow with notes.. take Practice test.. Failed. Read book again.. on my weak points..
Past main Test.. They gave me POWER to play on ham Freq!!.

General so I can Work HF.... Made my Antenna farm Grow With more antenna's.
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I started by reading the books and taking the tests afterwards. I feel like a ham should be at least mildly active in the hobby by itself. Participate in Field Day and your state QSO party in some way and try to join in on nets when you can. There's a lot to be learned beyond just being able to key a mic and talk to someone and if you need to use it to get out, you'll have more knowledge to help you.

For the radio part, I like to sit down and program in repeaters by hand when I'm traveling just to stay up on my radios input procedures. Having to rely on someone to program your radios for you is not really in the spirit of ham radio, especially when our forefathers had to build their radios from spare parts or military gear.

I've met some interesting people and had a good bit of fun as a ham. This weekend will be a good bit of fun too! Bunch of my radio buddies are going to these ham fests and it's always a good time with those old coots!
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
You might as well try. Im in a hole and can atleast ping it with 4 watts (maybe its 5) its the highest point anywhere around here.

Can't touch it from here. Just too far and I'm in too bad a spot. Could give it a go from the repeater site sometime maybe, but have to find a day when I could get the keys to get up there.
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Spent the Week-end Camping on the high ground. Brought My Yesue Radio, two Bofungs, Roll up J-pole antenna. With using a 23 foot Painters Pole & 100 feet of 550 Cord. Tied the ladder line To the Painter pole, with a 5 foot offset. ( alum Pole). Height was 22 feet, using Coax stung inside my Pop up Canopy. Next to The Chair & beer cooler. Life is good!!!.
With that set up, able to Talk to few Friends Via Simplex & Repeaters. Did notice The 8 Watt bofung works way better Vs the Bofung uv5.
UV5 (3-4 Watts?? )could not reach Repeater 30 miles away.
UV8 ( 6=8 Watts?? ) Easy hit to the Repeater 30 miles away
Dam Yaesue Radio. With Tech Spec's 5 watts.. No problem hitting repeater 30 miles away.
Listen in on the coast Guard up and down the coast.. Hearing Boaters whine about bad motor and needing CG to send life boat out..

ALL was great.. till battery died in ht.. Did not bring Spare battery Nor radio charger.. OOP's. BUT, I did have Vehicle Radio with 50 watts. Could have plugged ladder line in.. But eh more work.. That was sunday night..

Forgot to add.. was also testing out the set up.. So I can say it was all good Results.
Drank beer, used Ham radio & Knowing I had two state Range..
I deemed it a good Week-end playing With Remote antenna set ups.

My set up.. hope it works. ;-) DSCF5244 (Medium).JPG Tower (Medium).jpg
 
Last edited:

scoyoc

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Fort Collins, CO
@CHUG @TerryD and anyone else...

I want to put a vehicle mounted antenna for my new Baofeng UV-5R on the X, like I have for my CB. I'm not really into mag mounts, but not totally opposed to them either.

My primary form of communication with this radio will be vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-handheld (family walkie talkies). If I really get into it I'll upgrade later...

What antenna setup would you you suggest for mounting to my X?
 

TerryD

Total Tease
Supporting Member
Location
Covington, Va
I'm running this mount up high on my rear gate on the driver's side. The coax is routed above the head liner to the driver's side b-pillar then across to my radio under the passenger seat.


It's been a great mount. You can get a GMRS frequency antenna for it that'll work great for you.

 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
^^^
Depends on the range your seeking Vehicle to Vehicle. if with in line of sight.. just the rubber ducky antenna comes with Radio will work just fine.

I use these to gain me more range. BUT I use the Ham Freq.. which are cleaner and travel further.
Linky: Hunted down a link..
They do make a short 15" mag mount with 13 foot cable. That you can plug into your Radio.. They work good, just do not expose to extreme summer heat.. ( I think the Chinese used HOT glue to seal Magnet to base ). One I had fell due to summer heat..

getting antenna outside of the Vehicle( faraday cage).. your range will increase allot. VS inside Cab.

Having this radio is fast way to learn the Ham Freq and impressive Range they can Perform really good. for a $25 Radio..
 

CHUG

Lockers Installed
Supporting Member
Not sure if i had bad linking skills Or what.. When I look back at this page.. the Amazon Links I added are just a blank spot..
I noticed Terry Post same thing..
Did I miss the New Memo at the Whiskey fountain?.
 
Top