Walkie talkies

[myakka]

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Ow, we usually agree on most things but not on this one.
cb radio is in the lowest frequency range, which equates to being the easiest for any physical object to block. Also it is the one that will be the most clogged up with users.
I think for the money, ham is a step up from cb. Imho.

[Oscar Wilde]

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.... ham is a step up from cb. Imho.

It's a giant leap .... but AppleJack's priority is establishing communications. I'm not saying CB is on equal footing with amateur radio, my point is for the sake of expediency and cost, I vote CB; she and her folks can learn and build from there.

Amateur radio shares the same limitations in propagation in the 10m range.

We still agree Myakka, I'm attempting to share with her my perspective prior to stepping up, given that there is now a greater sense of urgency.

O.W.

[myakka]

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We still agree Myakka, O.W.

Whew!!! I had to check my compass!!!!

Well as long as we agree we can keep thinking differently!

[Oscar Wilde]

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Whew!!! I had to check my compass!!!!

The pole shift .... sooner than we expected?.

[Defcon090]

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Ow, we usually agree on most things but not on this one.
cb radio is in the lowest frequency range, which equates to being the easiest for any physical object to block. Also it is the one that will be the most clogged up with users.
I think for the money, ham is a step up from cb. Imho.

I agree also that ham radio is a step up from CB. But, I also agree with OW that urgency is approaching and I'd bet more people have an old CB in the closet more so than a ham tranceiver. I'd say get or set up a CB even if a walkie-taklie net and start studying for a ham test and take it ASAP. Now the tech class will only get you on VHF but you got something to work with. CB would be as good as 10 meters. So use the VHF as a ham and CB as a...... a ...... CB operator. Depending on where you are located CB may or may not be jammed. The non-prepper may not be aware ant 2-way comms will get them information and if the CB is in the closet then it's not used. Sooooooo preppers get them out.

[coyotee]

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Bue

I have the same radios. Here in the wild, wild West of Colorado, we use these things more than our debit cards. They have their limits, and so do the radios. HA!

Local knowledge of your communication source (hand helds) and learning it's capabilities is key.

Mine work fine for me where I live, camp, fish and hunt. Your's may not in your area.

Ultimately you have radios to stay in touch, not to survive. Use your radios to keep in touch and avoid a survival situation initially.

Be safe and keep in touch.

[Chefsimms]

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Ihave a set of Cobra walkie takies , that I take in my bug out bag when I am going into the woods, four wheeling,hiking etc... they were cheap and its better then not having any thing if my cell phone is not working.

[Applejack]

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I just talked to my son in law yesterday and he reminded me that he has his CB. He had to go to help out in an area that had to establish comunication after a hurricane hit a few years ago. everything was out. He is going to help me, hubby, daughter and grandchildren so we can all stay in touch. we will be using other ways as well but he is going to work on that. He is in the process now of getting his antennas back up and getting everything going again and will be helping us to buy our cb equipment and setting it up for us. so this will be a big load off of us. We are working on the test now.
Aj

[jezcruzen]

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The Family Radio Service portables are great for their intended purpose - short range radio communications that is basically unaffected by atmospheric noise being they are FM rather than AM like CB. Do not believe the range data. Five mile distances are more realistic than the claimed 30 - 35. Cheap and usually sold in pairs with chargers, everyone should have a couple.

CB is prolific but a very poor dependable communication choice. Cheap but not dependable simply because they are subject to massive atmospheric interference. No CB transmits more that 4 watts legally. I have experienced radio communications limited to just a mile or two during "skip" conditions - the trapping of the radio wave between atmospheric layers where it bounces some times hundreds of miles distant.

I have two 2 meter amateur mobile radios. One will transmit at 5 watts, 10 watts, and 50 watts. The other at 5 watts, 10 watts, 30 watts, and 75 watts, both on FM. Quiet and dependable. (CB at 4 watts. Two meter at 75 watts on FM. No contest!)

Two meter benefits from literally hundreds of privately-owned repeaters around the country that increases the range of 2 meter exponentially. (You know my location. I have hit repeaters in Suffolk and communicated with other hams in Hampton... but I can't do it every day) Many repeaters have solar/battery backup, so a loss of electrical power does not disable the repeater. Simplex (unit to unit) is much better than any CB. Communication with your family member 15 miles away would be no problem unless active jamming is employed by "someone".

Portable 2 meter handhelds transmit at a max of 5 watts. Simplex range is very limited. However, if they can hit a repeater, handheld range is extended same as a stronger mobile or base radio.

KE4YLT

[Defcon090]

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[QUOTE=jezcruzen;87102]The Family Radio Service portables are great for their intended purpose - short range radio communications that is basically unaffected by atmospheric noise being they are FM rather than AM like CB. Do not believe the range data. Five mile distances are more realistic than the claimed 30 - 35. Cheap and usually sold in pairs with chargers, everyone should have a couple............................................

Pretty good breakdown of the various services. Although I believe your review of FRS is actually GMRS. FRS is a 14 channel 1/2 watt talkie with a (line of sight) range of 2 miles. My first direct experience with these was maybe 12 years ago when my son and I were directing traffic backed up due to a serious accident. We could not see each other because the accident happened on top of a hill with a turn at the top. We were about 1/3 mile seperated but the signal was loud and clear.

Another forgotten service is the MURS which uses some of the old VHF business channels in the 151/154 mhz band. These are 5 channel 2 watt talkies which would compare to a 2 watt 2m ham talkie. Some benefits in this service is that a base station (limited to 2 watts) can be set up and on an antenna limited in height, to give it range with the walkies. No license required. May be worth looking into for some people.

KC4YIH