FRS/GMRS vs. CB?

[Red October1984]

Looking again at radios now that car shopping seems to be winding down and I'm trying to decide what I want here.

I know that you have to have a license to use GMRS Channels. I have some FRS/GMRS Motorola Walkie Talkies but they don't work like they did when they were new. Plus, the charging base doesn't have an adapter cord with it. At least one of the two battery packs is bad and won't hold a charge.

My question is now...should I get another couple of FRS/GMRS radios or invest a bit more in getting a CB Radio walkie talkie or two. Getting a big, huge 9 ft. antenna is not really my style...so I'm looking at the more portable walkie talkie style.

As far as usage, I'll be using it for talking between cars on the highway, hunting, weather, and general use kind of stuff. Whenever I find it might be useful to have them...

Plain FRS radios are definitely NOT what I want. Those little .5 watt things are too weak. The FRS/GMRS hybrids (like what I have now) are at least 1-2 watts.

I'm looking for an improvement over what I have. This is the FRS/GMRS set i'm considering...and something like this would be along the lines of what i'm looking at for CB.

I know i've asked about it before...but now i'm actually serious about buying one.

EDIT: Just realized that this is pretty much a US Members only thing...since in Europe I'm not sure they have this sort of thing as available if at all.

[Stealhead]

Dude a 9ft antenna that is redneck gold. A peaked CB can range up to 10 miles course that would not be a hand held. There are CB bands in Europe,Russia,Australia,Japan to name a few.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Dude a 9ft antenna that is redneck gold. A peaked CB can range up to 10 miles course that would not be a hand held. There are CB bands in Europe,Russia,Australia,Japan to name a few.

I had read that different countries have similar things but they run on different frequencies and regulations and such. So a British radio might be illegal to operate in the US, for example.

A 9 ft. antenna does not go well with a Ford Focus.

Maybe in the next two years i'll buy an old piece-o-crap farm truck too and we'll talk.

A handheld CB unit would not be as powerful, true...but it's more accessible and I can easily use it all over the place.

[Wolferz]

Set up a base station, tie in a 500 watt lenier and drive a signal out of a nice set of triple beams. Then have fun walking all over the truckers on the interstate every time you key the mic.
You will want to learn Morse code for the license.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Set up a base station, tie in a 500 watt lenier and drive a signal out of a nice set of triple beams. Then have fun walking all over the truckers on the interstate every time you key the mic.
You will want to learn Morse code for the license.

I hate people like you. Well, not really, but someone of your ilk gave me a funny story. Way back when I was still married I was listening to some music and reading a book when the Devil himself possessed my stereo. A loud growly voice started coming out of the speakers, and I jumped a good six inches while still sitting. A few days later it happened again. I could not figure out what might be causing it, and the words were unintelligible. The next time it happened, though, the words were more distinct: "Breaker, one-nine..."

Turned out someone had a CB base station just a couple blocks away, and he was "walking all over" my radio reception.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I hate people like you. Well, not really, but someone of your ilk gave me a funny story. Way back when I was still married I was listening to some music and reading a book when the Devil himself possessed my stereo. A loud growly voice started coming out of the speakers, and I jumped a good six inches while still sitting. A few days later it happened again. I could not figure out what might be causing it, and the words were unintelligible. The next time it happened, though, the words were more distinct: "Breaker, one-nine..."

Turned out someone had a CB base station just a couple blocks away, and he was "walking all over" my radio reception.

Not really funny in the eyes of the FCC. He wasn't using legal power to broadcast his signal. If they catch you doing it, mass penalties will ensue.
My current wife's late husband was a ham operator and he was scrutinized more than once because a neighbors' TV was picking up a stray signal. He was an ex-navy radioman and his gear was all legit. The cable guys traced the problem to a bad connection in their gear, not his.
If you had notified the FCC, they would have tracked the guy down and busted his chops. You probably weren't the only one getting bleed through on your receiver. He must've been pushing 1k watts or more. Trying to raise a trucker on the bloody moon?! NASA doesn't use those frequencies. Did he ask for a radio check?

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

You will want to learn Morse code for the license.

I read that they dropped that requirement. They say it's useful to know but not required anymore.

[Gargamel]

Short wave is also a fun one to listen in on.

I had a receiver that I would take camping, it did MP3, FM/AM, weather band, and short wave. We spent one night in the adirondacks of New York listening to a news broadcast for American nationals from Beijing. The traffic reports were very interesting, he basically said stay off al lthe roads, they're all jammed up.

[Jimbuna]

I once had a CB user nearby who would unintentionally set off my car alarm....two broken arials later he changed his operating frequency to a legit one.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

I once had a CB user nearby who would unintentionally set off my car alarm....two broken arials later he changed his operating frequency to a legit one.

Aerial. Is that code for nose?

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Wolferz

Aerial. Is that code for nose?

Could be