Comms?

[Bertalmio]

What comms is everybody using and how/why did you make that decision.

Anyone do their own slick install? (pics welcome)

Ham, cb, GMRS, cell only?

Anyone have a scanner?
I’ve found that you can get NPS, BLS, state park/forest service, local fire, sheriff, et al., but never really heard too much useful chatter when I’ve been out (poor reception?) but maybe in an emergency situation would be more helpful…

 

[Bill Gustus]

Cell phone, Garmin In-reach. Looking at Motorola Mototrbo with several other photographers and Iridium sat phone for an upcoming trip to Alaska.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

No offense to you Bertalmio...

But does anyone search the forums before asking these questions? There's a metric sh!t-ton of threads relating to this very topic, many of them recently active.

For the record...CB with weather, FRS/GMRS also with weather. HAM has obvious advantages but I havent found such need where I got off my ass and got a license. Probably would make more sense outside of New England. And I like the InReach idea but dont have one yet

 

[M Rose]

No offense to you Bertalmio...

But does anyone search the forums before asking these questions? There's a metric sh!t-ton of threads relating to this very topic, many of them recently active.

For the record...CB with weather, FRS/GMRS also with weather. HAM has obvious advantages but I havent found such need where I got off my ass and got a license. Probably would make more sense outside of New England. And I like the InReach idea but dont have one yet

One of the most successful DXpedition groups is based out of New England. I get a lot of HF chatter from people Overlanding throughout your region on 20,40 and 80 meters. Also a lot of 2m DMR portable going on out there as well.

 

[M Rose]

What comms is everybody using and how/why did you make that decision.

Anyone do their own slick install? (pics welcome)

Ham, cb, GMRS, cell only?

Anyone have a scanner?
I’ve found that you can get NPS, BLS, state park/forest service, local fire, sheriff, et al., but never really heard too much useful chatter when I’ve been out (poor reception?) but maybe in an emergency situation would be more helpful…

I have CB (no clue why as I haven’t heard chatter on it in over a decade), FMRS hand talkies, 2m, 70cm, all HF Bands from 80m-6m, cell phone… I haven’t gotten into GMRS yet because out here in the PNW we don’t have enough public repeaters to make it worth my money… possibly after the FCC fees change next year I MIGHT possibly think about GMRS.

as far as pictures go… I’m currently redoing my mobile coms station in my Bronco to be permanent instead of just a deployment box. If everything goes as planned it should be done today, or tomorrow at the latest.

 

[Dusther210]

No offense to you Bertalmio...

But does anyone search the forums before asking these questions? There's a metric sh!t-ton of threads relating to this very topic, many of them recently active.

For the record...CB with weather, FRS/GMRS also with weather. HAM has obvious advantages but I havent found such need where I got off my ass and got a license. Probably would make more sense outside of New England. And I like the InReach idea but dont have one yet

Just thought I would share the repeaters on APRS in New England. I drove from NJ to Canadia last week with consistent Repeater access on VHF/UHF. Interestingly enough most of the repeaters in the NY area are linked together into one huge network that reaches into PA, NJ, CT, VT and Canada as well. I didn’t have cell service for days on my trip last week

 

[M Rose]

Just thought I would share the repeaters on APRS in New England. I drove from NJ to Canadia last week with consistent Repeater access on VHF/UHF. Interestingly enough most of the repeaters in the NY area are linked together into one huge network that reaches into PA, NJ, CT, VT and Canada as well. I didn’t have cell service for days on my trip last week

Funny how I hear UHF/VHF is dead out East, but these linked repeaters you are talking about some have DMR capabilities and I listen in and chat on them all the way here in the west coast.

 

[Dusther210]

Just thought I would share the repeaters on APRS in New England. I drove from NJ to Canadia last week with consistent Repeater access on VHF/UHF. Interestingly enough most of the repeaters in the NY area are linked together into one huge network that reaches into PA, NJ, CT, VT and Canada as well. I didn’t have cell service for days on my trip last week

Funny how I hear UHF/VHF is dead out East, but these linked repeaters you are talking about some have DMR capabilities and I listen in and chat on them all the way here in the west coast.

I’m JUST within the southern reach of the network and there is 24/7 chatter. Sometimes hard hard to jump in. I don’t do DMR, just occasionally I’ll hop on EchoLink. Do you listen to KQ2H?

 

[M Rose]

I’m JUST within the southern reach of the network and there is 24/7 chatter. Sometimes hard hard to jump in. I don’t do DMR, just occasionally I’ll hop on EchoLink. Do you listen to KQ2H?

Yes I do listen in on KQ2H from time to time… haven’t in a while though… my dog ate the antenna for my DMR hotspot… I might fix it one of these days, but Bronco has been taking all my radio play time lately… I have a simulated emergency test this weekend that I need to have my Bronco set up for HF coms.

 

[RoarinRow]

I have all 3 (CB, Ham, and GMRS) because I would like to have the least common denominator for anyone in the group (plus I like a kinds of comms for the hell of it).

 

[ThundahBeagle]

One of the most successful DXpedition groups is based out of New England. I get a lot of HF chatter from people Overlanding throughout your region on 20,40 and 80 meters. Also a lot of 2m DMR portable going on out there as well.

Very well, sir. Yes there is. Someday

 

[ThundahBeagle]

I have all 3 (CB, Ham, and GMRS) because I would like to have the least common denominator for anyone in the group (plus I like a kinds of comms for the hell of it).

View attachment 211694

View attachment 211693

Said it many times, Roarin'. I like your setup

 

[RoarinRow]

I have all 3 (CB, Ham, and GMRS) because I would like to have the least common denominator for anyone in the group (plus I like a kinds of comms for the hell of it).

View attachment 211694

View attachment 211693

Said it many times, Roarin'. I like your setup

Thank you! Hasn’t changed cause I haven’t gone out lol.

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Funny how I hear UHF/VHF is dead out East, but these linked repeaters you are talking about some have DMR capabilities and I listen in and chat on them all the way here in the west coast.

We need tutorials on all this alphabet soup from you, @M Rose

 

[M Rose]

We need tutorials on all this alphabet soup from you, @M Rose

UHF=Ultra High Frequencies (70cm Band, GMRS/FMRS, commercial band are all UFH frequencies)

VHF= Very High Frequencies (2m, 6m, some commercial band, emergency band, weather band)

HF= High Frequencies (CB, 10m-160m)

DMR= Digital Mobile Radio- Used by amateur radio operators through all amateur radio bands, but most commonly on the UHF/VHF 70cm/2m bands.

xCM and xM refer to the wavelength of a signal in one complete radio frequency cycle measured in centimeters and meters. So the 70CM band (440MHz) is a wavelength of 70cm. The 2m Frequency is 144MHz… CB is 26-27MHz and often referred to as the 11m Band.