Ham Radio, Walkie Talkies & CB

[Fresh_Start]

I know next to nothing about these topics. Did find the QRZ forum thanks to someone here, so that’s a start on ham radio. I met a guy recently who has 2 radios, one about the size of a big car stereo and the other looked like a walkie-talkie to me, but both were capable of multiple frequency bands. Sounds like the technology has gotten smaller and less expensive (like a lot of stuff).


I’ve got 2 different angles on this. Ham radio always interested me but never enough to dive in. Now approaching my dotage seems like a good time to dive in. It also seems like an alternate way of communicating might be a good idea these days…


The second angle relates to my birthday present to myself - a Can Am Defender side-by-side. I’ve been having a blast just driving in my woods across the road, but there are hundreds of miles of trails in Maine and a good buddy has one too. He’s talking about CB radio to communicate but I don’t even know where to start. Cell service can be spotty even where I live and is non-existent Downeast where his “camp” is.


I just found the QRZ forum for ham radio. Please let me know about other resources for getting started.


Any insight on CB vs walkie talkies for mobile communications would be great. For all I know, they could be the same thing at this point! 


Thanks,
Chip

[shooter]

I installed a CB in my camper earlier this year for a road trip I took.  In '82 (the last time I had a CB) the airwaves were full conversations everywhere.  in '22 after 2000 highway miles the airwaves are dead, nothing except a quick, ya, or OK.


anything that will help "find you" when you get separated or lost, or broke down is a good thing. 
when I was ORV'n with jeeps, and others with dirt bikes n quads in the '90s all we had were flip-phones that had no service in most places.  everyone had Topo's and a compass somewhere in their gear. 


Riding trails is more about enjoyment than comms.  tales of trails and cool sheet came later around a group fire and shared experiences.

[Fresh_Start]

Interesting about CB airwaves being silent. My only exposure was in the late 70s and early 80s when there was lots of activity. Makes sense that cell phones replaced that chatter.

The trail coms would primarily be for the “oh crap I’m stuck at ___” or “meet me by the bridge …” not for yacking.

Chip

[shooter]

in the '90s "oh crap I'm stuck" was expected.  Wenches and come-Along's were standard fare for that, along with jacks, 2 spares, enough parts to rebuild a jeep, hammers, glove-box welders........... all the normal "be prepared" carry-on 


12 miles was my longest walk-out.  10 minutes later a guy with a brand new, never been muddy truck stops, I ask for a ride to the gas station, explain my predicament, he laughs and says "hell, let's go pull her out"


those were some great moments, at 65, I wanna keep it that way... were!  I will give you a ride though, and laugh at you 

[ShoemanGB]

Several years ago I made the leap and got my ham license for the same reason you are asking about.  The local jeep club guys use CB's a lot but that's almost always for comms when on a trail ride as a group.  CB's don't have the range to reach out as compared to a decent SW radio.  I wanted to have at least a decent chance of getting a response if needed when I was 20 miles or more in the puckies and the cell was useless.  SW is the best answer unless you have $$ and get a sat phone.  You'l need to get a license but that's not hard and tests are available several times a year here in Maine where we live.
 Here's an example that should tell you just how good the SW thing is...  I was on a dirt road on the backside of Greenville once and had a solid contact with a guy in Old Orchard Beach!  Yes indeed.  If you can hit a repeater you can get out there for sure.  I know for fact that SW activity downeast, at least in eastern Washington county where my camp is, is sparse and I don't think the repeaters listed as being there are really working anymore, but SW will still be your best chance. 
 The handheld SW's like the Baeofung (maybe not spelled right) lack serous range, but a better antenna can help somewhat.  I have one of those that rides in my daypack as a backup and a better accessory antenna stashed in the 4Runner .  If you can figure a way, get a real moblle rig and solid antenna.  Make it easily removable and you can use it indoors in winter months with a decent PS.
If you do decide n SW please do the right thing and get a license.  No Morse code is required any more for a technician license and the test is easy.  A list of testing places is online and most clubs handle that and are helpful.

[PRR]

...Any insight on CB vs walkie talkies for mobile communications would be great. For all I know, they could be the same thing at this point!..

"WalkieTalkie" is anything small enuff to walk and talk. You can get a walkietalkie for almost any P-2-P radio service. The small ones may like to say "handheld".

"CB" is a radio band(s) set aside for general personal communication. I am reading-through this period in Electronics World; the 1945 original 460MHz(!) band was used somewhat, but late 1950s 27MHz (an old ham band) was allocated to CB, electronics costs came down (it picked-up slumps in the TV market) and then the 1970s; YOWSA! My T-burd had two CB radios (27 from Ford and then 40 channel aftermarket). Took all day to get the AM radio working instead of the CB (they all ran on one whip).

CB is NOT for "skip" or long-range contacts, nor for rag-chewing. In 1963 the FCC was taking guys to court. I suspect the band is now a ghost-town, although the less remote parts of Maine may be the place someone always has ears on. FWIW, the limit on CB power is (was?) 5 Watts, though SSB may use another number. Steven King WKIT has 5,000 Watts (on a slightly higher band) and is weak 30 miles away, so 5W may not be many miles, especially in dense brush and lumpy terrain.

Amateur radio, Hams, have many bands from low to high, and powers up to 1000W (you won't do that on a motorcycle, no matter how many wheels it has, prolly 20W or 100W; 2-5W in a walkietalkie). There is a test. I think the code test is dropped. Knowing code would let you punch-through really bad conditions, and there's probably an app for that.

I was gonna translate the "Greenville {to} Old Orchard Beach" path then remembered who is asking. (For lurkers: it's like 100 miles, on the edge of the 100 Mile Wilderness, to the sea, and a lot of wooded lumps along the way.)

[Fresh_Start]

Thanks guys! 

I’ve found several local clubs.  One of those should help.

I was gonna translate the "Greenville {to} Old Orchard Beach" path then remembered who is asking. (For lurkers: it's like 100 miles, on the edge of the 100 Mile Wilderness, to the sea, and a lot of wooded lumps along the way.)

Wooded and/or rocky lumps 😜

Chip