I see most people are using HAM instead of CB

[RickR]

I gotta figure because it has a longer range? I used CB because it was more than enough for my jeep club when we had meets.
Plus if it bounces off the atmosphere correctly you can talk to the past.

 

[RoarinRow]

Just got my ham license over the weekend. Haven't used my radio on any trips of course, but while I'm waiting to use it off-road, I am listening to emergency activity in my area. The fire channel along dispatches emergency services almost every 5 minutes if not less. If our OB club here switches to ham, I'll be somewhat ready. But most people I believe have CB and GRMS because it's easier to access the devices. Of the two GRMS has a license you pay for and not have to study for like Ham.

 

[Prerunner1982]

Ham is preferred due to it's capabilities.
It is FM so it's clearer than CB and less susceptible to RFI, you can run higher power if needed, using repeaters you can talk across multiple counties, using linked repeaters you can talk across a state, multiple states, across the country, or across the world all with an entry level Technician license. You can also track your vehicle, send SMS text messages, and emails though not available 100% of the time it can be useful. VHF/UHF ham radio also requires smaller antennas so they are easier to mount and typically require little if any tuning. A ham license is good for 10yrs and free to renew.

GMRS is also slowly gaining popularity for those that don't want to take the ham test. It is also better than CB as it is FM, has more power if needed, and the antennas are WAY smaller than a CB antenna. The off the shelf GMRS radios require little programming and are pretty much plug and play. And as Rolando mentioned the license is pay to play. The $70 license is good for 10yrs and covers your immediate family.

 

[RickR]

mmm... I may look into GMRS, thanks

 

[Prerunner1982]

It all depends on who you are wanting to talk to and what they use.
GMRS is better than CB in pretty much every way, but if nobody else is using it..it's worthless.
Ham is good to have as ham are generally monitoring local repeaters, even if you don't hear anyone talking it is likely someone is listening.

 

[M Rose]

It all depends on who you are wanting to talk to and what they use.
GMRS is better than CB in pretty much every way, but if nobody else is using it..it's worthless.
Ham is good to have as ham are generally monitoring local repeaters, even if you don't hear anyone talking it is likely someone is listening.

My radio is set to three local repeaters and national call frequency 24/7... I’m one of those guys listening to static. Just three weeks a go, another Ham and I were cruising the back roads when we got a distress call from 80 miles away... 20 minutes later we were back in town and recovery gear loaded up ready to help the stranded motorist... no way we would have heard his call on CB.

 

[Hyppee and Ziggy Show]

I'm looking to get my HAM license and I am wondering, which HAM radio would be a decent one. I've looked on the interweb, and frankly, I'm more confused than before I started looking.

 

[Dilldog]

Dont fully discount CB. Lots of logging, oil, and road outfits use CB, and if you're in an area where they are active its nice to communicate with them for safety.

 

[Hyppee and Ziggy Show]

Dont fully discount CB. Lots of logging, oil, and road outfits use CB, and if you're in an area where they are active its nice to communicate with them for safety.

I do have a CB in the Jeep. It is out of my Semi, when I was over the road. It's been peaked and tuned. Works well, I was just looking to upgrade to not be the only one at a meet without HAM.

 

[M Rose]

I'm looking to get my HAM license and I am wondering, which HAM radio would be a decent one. I've looked on the interweb, and frankly, I'm more confused than before I started looking.

I knew what radio I wanted before getting my Tech license, and now own three radios, none of which are the one I initially wanted. I got in a hurry and bought a 2 meter only rig to get me on air, knowing 2 meter is where all the OB activity is. Then when I was able to afford the radio I really wanted, a deal came up on radio that I wanted even more. And then one of my Elmers gave me an HT. And now that I can afford the radio I really want, it’s out of stock. But I’m not too worried because I can do everything I want to do with my three radios for now. And now that I Have my General, my needs changed a lot.

With that said, what are you wanting to do? Are you wanting to go digital? If going digital what digital repeaters are available in your area? each brand of radio has their own digital network so an Icom with D-Star can’t talk on a Yaesu Wires-X Node and vice versa. Are you wanting to do APRS? Are you wanting long distance DXing on HF?

My rig of choice was the Yaesu FTM-400xdr. It takes care of all of the 70cm/2m operation, dual receivers with one transmitter. It can do APRS, with a simple mod can be made to listen in on MURS, and so much more. For an Overlander it’s a great radio. It’s the next mobile rig I will get...and the first rig on my list of radios.
My first radio I got was a Yaesu FT-2900 (now upgraded to the FT-2980) Which is a great 2m radio. The new 2980 has access to the Wires-x nodes and boasts of 85 watts of power. I’ve made contacts 80 miles away on simplex, and links up easily to local repeaters. The radio is easy to program without the need of a computer (which is why it’s in my Overlanding rig). And the lists of greatness goes on. What it’s lacking is 70cm use, Dual band monitoring, and APRS.
My second rig works great as a base station but was designed as a mobile rig. It’s an Icom IC-7100. 100 watts of power, APRS ready (just need a gps antenna), full HF/VHF/UHF capabilities. It’s not an easy radio to program without the software, but once it’s programmed it’s very easy to get to the menues to change bands, modes of operation (CW, Voice, Digital). When I bought it I knew it was more radio than I needed at the time. Getting my General License opened up the whole radio for me.
Lastly I was given a cheap Baofeng and a sound TNC to operate digitally and send packet mail with. I was also given Bluetooth TNC3 that allows me to do APRS through my iPhone, as well link up to my new Laptop for working digitally.

I hope my rambling is of some use. @brien is our official coms guy, and @Prerunner1982 is also a great source of coms information. @Dilldog and @J.W. are also full of great advice.

 

[Downs]

Dont fully discount CB. Lots of logging, oil, and road outfits use CB, and if you're in an area where they are active its nice to communicate with them for safety.

Nothing saying you can't run more than one radio. I run HAM/GMRS and CB. I may or may not have an "open" radio to cut down on the how many radios I have installed at any one time.

 

[Dilldog]

For sure, I wasn't meaning to say only run one radio, just to not get rid of the CB because youre seeing more HAM usage. Anyway, I think you see more HAMs because sound quality is better on VHF and UHF and with more power comes more flexibility and range. Being limited to 4watts AM really reduces your capability, but is still plenty useful.

 

[MidOH]

The giant AM antenna is a pita. CB isn't worth the investment here. Everyone's running a ham or gmrs. It's a shame that one radio can't do both ham and gmrs.

As for the ''ham license''? Yeah ask around, all you'll hear is laughter.

 

[Graeman]

I'm looking to get my HAM license and I am wondering, which HAM radio would be a decent one. I've looked on the interweb, and frankly, I'm more confused than before I started looking.

Ham radios can be very expensive when you look at all of the fancy bells and whistles that come with them. You can start out with a cheap $25 handheld or step up to the $100 mobile radio or go for the bells and whistles for $500. It is all up to you and the way that I see it talking is talking so buy what you can afford and get out there on it.
I had all 3 radios in my Jeep, but wanted more room so I took the CB out and now just have GMRS and Ham.

 

[Graeman]

The giant AM antenna is a pita. CB isn't worth the investment here. Everyone's running a ham or gmrs. It's a shame that one radio can't do both ham and gmrs.

As for the ''ham license''? Yeah ask around, all you'll hear is laughter.

Not legally, someday hopefully they will allow the hams to talk on GMRS.

 

[M Rose]

Not legally, someday hopefully they will allow the hams to talk on GMRS.

Won’t happen, because they took the GMRS frequencies from the ham bands.

 

[MidOH]

 

[Prerunner1982]

Neither you or the person on the other end will notice a difference between 5 and 8 watts. You could buy four UV-5r/UV-5r+ radios for the price of two 8 watt versions.

 

[reaver]

I have 3 radio's in my rig. My trusty CB (which doesn't get used much these days), midland mxt275 (15w gmrs), and a baofeng UV-5R.

This allows me to communicate with pretty much much anyone I would come across.

I recently did a 4 day trip with several other OB members. We used a combination of ham/gmrs for our coms. I had the baofeng set to monitor the OB ham frequency, and broadcast on my gmrs. The ham guys set up their radios to monitor gmrs, and they broadcast via ham.

This worked out to be a very effective, seamless solution, and it felt like we were all using one band. I don't have a ham license, but you don't need one to monitor ham, only to broadcast.

Btw, a single UV-5R can be had for $35 or so.

 

[Downs]

The giant AM antenna is a pita. CB isn't worth the investment here. Everyone's running a ham or gmrs. It's a shame that one radio can't do both ham and gmrs.

As for the ''ham license''? Yeah ask around, all you'll hear is laughter.

Many radios, mostly from China, can right out of the box transmit on those frequencies. Nearly any radio can be moded via a "MARS/CAP MOD" to run on those frequencies.

There are tons of HAM guys out there running radios with that mod.

But thats a decision each person has to make for themselves. You wont find any FCC actions against anyone in regards to this, its another one of those things thats unenforced.