- Joined
- Nov 15, 2018
- Messages
- 2,038
Hey guys/gals, thought I would start a thread on radio information to contribute to the cause. I will try to help someone the best I can. Whatever I don't know, I simply start researching and learning whatever it is that I'm not familiar with.
Anyways, the first, second, and third posts will be dedicated to updated information so it doesn't get buried in the thread (i.e. links, pictures, etc). I will try to update the thread as best I can.
Finally, there will be information on, for example, GMRS/FRS, CB, HAM, Scanners, etc. I will try to categorize/group topics.
I will briefly describe each category and then append some wiki links if one wants to learn more... So, here it goes:
GMRS/FRS:
General Mobile Radio Service and Family Radio Service are technically two different beasts. 1) GMRS, you actually need a license to operate, but there is no testing required. You basically just get in touch with the FCC, throw some cash their way (approx. $85, from what I remember or thereabouts), and they mail you a license that is good for 10yrs (it used to be 5yrs, but I just heard recently that they changed it to 10). The max wattage output varies from 0.5-50W depending whereas, 2) FRS you do not need a license and is literally meant as a free usable family radio service. see links below for more info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service
CB:
Citizens Band has a very rich history that I am NOT about to get into because even "I" get lost in the mayhem of its history and changes??? So anyways, not many people like CB mainly due to the fact that the max wattage is only 4W and that doesn't help matters regarding being able to really "reach out there" to your buddies that are miles away and hidden. I have various comm choices because I like to have back-up comms and on different bands. My truck has a setup to where I have a HAM, CB, and a "pigtail mount" antenna setup. The pigtail mount is simply an open access connector on the outside of my truck sitting on the back "rail" of the bed and then routes to the inside of my cab next to me so that I can connect just about any radio I want to... within reason. It is mainly meant to be an HQ (i.e. Head Quarters) type setup when the truck is stationary/camping. It just gives me quite a few options on how and what I want to connect to it and knowing what and what will not work, depending. Either way, CB's are basically cheap, for the most part, extremely easy to use/setup, and always just good to have back-up comms no matter what. There is also a thing called SSB (i.e. Single Side Band) and is 12W capable. I know the article states that they are not technically 3x separate "bands" or 120ch, but quite honestly, IT IS!!! I'm working with SSB equipment at my current work/job and you will be hard pressed to try to talk to someone on the "same freq", but on a different side-band. It sounds robotic or you won't hear at all. We literally treat them as separate channels, therefore... MORE CHANNELS!!! Anyways, as far as I'm concerned, they really are separate entities, but I'm not gonna get into a useless argument on the matter. Just know that it is also an option to have as a back-up comm, but a CB/SSB unit are around the +$200 range or more last I remember. The CB/SSB is in the link below for more info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio
HAM:
Amateur radio can be fun and extremely useful to have. I have a Tech Class license, but I don't venture on it as much as I should. Plus, the stuff I want to do I don't have the radios anyways as well as the cash. Anyways, being able to jump onto a repeater and/or utilizing repeater systems, again, can be extremely useful depending on the situation and/or what you want to do.
Radio Scanners:
to be edited later
NOAA Weather Frequency: (ALWAYS a good thing to be able to monitor, especially when out in a desert area)
Nationwide Station Listing Using Broadcast Frequencies
162.400MHz
162.425MHz
162.450MHz
162.475MHz
162.500MHz
162.525MHz
162.550MHz
Please understand that you will not necessarily hear all of the frequencies. Depending on what "tower" you're closest to is the frequency/information that you will hear from for that "area". As you move away from that area, another frequency will cover THAT area and so on. In short, they "overlap" one another, if you will. As stated, the frequencies are the same throughout the U.S. I believe there are a few more, but these are the most common ones that I know of...
NOTE:
I keep hearing that one can use a HAM radio for emergency situations and NOT get into trouble with the FCC??? Well, try telling that to the FCC!!! Oh, you will likely be able to jump on, but do not be surprised if they come back at you wondering if there was other means of communications that you could have done??? Anyways, believe what YOU want to believe and YOU take that risk. Just something I learned from my HAM teacher and a few stories, true stories, where people used radios, not licensed to do so, in "emergency situations" and then got into trouble for it. see link below for more info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio
NOTE:
Regarding SWR (Standing Wave Ratio), all radios are affected by, essentially, this performance/matching factor. Put in SUPER simple terms, you want, as much as possible, to transmit 100% of your transmission with maximum efficiency. If your antenna system is not "tuned" to transmit within a certain "frequency range", then you will get reflection of that non-transmitted energy back to the output of your radio, which is essentially unused reflected Power that will fry your RF finals or amplifiers on the back of your radio... essentially destroying your radio. Within SOME reason, you can TX with an antenna not meant for a particular frequency range. But this is something of a discussion that can go on with ENDLESS PAGES to try to explain and go into to detail on. But anyways, here is a for example, using your Baofeng radio to communicate to the GMRS/FRS radio, the Baofeng antenna is technically really only meant to transmit within the HAM band and not outside of band. You can TX outside of freq band within reason, but you should also connect a SWR meter when doing so. I have always been curious on what the SWR looks like utilizing a HAM antenna and TX'ing slightly out of band with said antenna just to see what the SWR reading will look like??? Anyways, there are antennas out there that have a wider freq TX coverage that you can buy. I just wanted to quickly point this out.
hint#1:
Did you know that if your HAM radio, for example, is able to TX (transmit) "off-band", meaning out of the HAM frequency range that it is normally locked with, you can communicate to other different types of radios. For example, if you have a Baofeng radio and you have a GMRS/FRS radio, you simply punch the frequency into your Baofeng to whatever channel/freq that the GMRS/FRS radio is set to. Channel 8 on the GMRS/FRS radio is freq: 467.5625 and by punching in the numbers into your Baofeng, you can now communicate to Ch8 of the GMRS/FRS radio. This just opens up some options with what you can do. Just know that the wattage output is the deciding factor with regards to range. The person with the HAM radio (i.e. typically at higher wattage output) will be able to talk to the GMRS/FRS radio, but "at distance" the GMRS/FRS might not be able to talk back to the HAM operator due to the fact that the GMRS/FRS radio has lower wattage output. Again, the wattage output varies depending, but just keep this in mind, regardless.
hint#2:
Regarding HAM radios, try to go more for a dual band type radio as it gives you greater options... regarding other frequencies and such. For example, if you get a 2m (2meter=144-148MHz) dedicated radio, then you're are limited to only in/around those frequencies.
This post will likely be updated with mainly links to more information? I'm still trying to figure out how I want to "organize this thread" with, hopefully, helpful information and hints/tips
Also, I will likely edit some info here as it comes along. I'm just typing down content to get things started here. Any input/suggestion is welcomed for sure!!! Also, if pictures pop up or a really helpful post, I will post a link to that post on the main page or one of the first couple of OP's at the beginning of this thread and simply trying to preserve info that won't get buried.
Anyways, the first, second, and third posts will be dedicated to updated information so it doesn't get buried in the thread (i.e. links, pictures, etc). I will try to update the thread as best I can.
Finally, there will be information on, for example, GMRS/FRS, CB, HAM, Scanners, etc. I will try to categorize/group topics.
I will briefly describe each category and then append some wiki links if one wants to learn more... So, here it goes:
GMRS/FRS:
General Mobile Radio Service and Family Radio Service are technically two different beasts. 1) GMRS, you actually need a license to operate, but there is no testing required. You basically just get in touch with the FCC, throw some cash their way (approx. $85, from what I remember or thereabouts), and they mail you a license that is good for 10yrs (it used to be 5yrs, but I just heard recently that they changed it to 10). The max wattage output varies from 0.5-50W depending whereas, 2) FRS you do not need a license and is literally meant as a free usable family radio service. see links below for more info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Mobile_Radio_Service
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service
CB:
Citizens Band has a very rich history that I am NOT about to get into because even "I" get lost in the mayhem of its history and changes??? So anyways, not many people like CB mainly due to the fact that the max wattage is only 4W and that doesn't help matters regarding being able to really "reach out there" to your buddies that are miles away and hidden. I have various comm choices because I like to have back-up comms and on different bands. My truck has a setup to where I have a HAM, CB, and a "pigtail mount" antenna setup. The pigtail mount is simply an open access connector on the outside of my truck sitting on the back "rail" of the bed and then routes to the inside of my cab next to me so that I can connect just about any radio I want to... within reason. It is mainly meant to be an HQ (i.e. Head Quarters) type setup when the truck is stationary/camping. It just gives me quite a few options on how and what I want to connect to it and knowing what and what will not work, depending. Either way, CB's are basically cheap, for the most part, extremely easy to use/setup, and always just good to have back-up comms no matter what. There is also a thing called SSB (i.e. Single Side Band) and is 12W capable. I know the article states that they are not technically 3x separate "bands" or 120ch, but quite honestly, IT IS!!! I'm working with SSB equipment at my current work/job and you will be hard pressed to try to talk to someone on the "same freq", but on a different side-band. It sounds robotic or you won't hear at all. We literally treat them as separate channels, therefore... MORE CHANNELS!!! Anyways, as far as I'm concerned, they really are separate entities, but I'm not gonna get into a useless argument on the matter. Just know that it is also an option to have as a back-up comm, but a CB/SSB unit are around the +$200 range or more last I remember. The CB/SSB is in the link below for more info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_band_radio
HAM:
Amateur radio can be fun and extremely useful to have. I have a Tech Class license, but I don't venture on it as much as I should. Plus, the stuff I want to do I don't have the radios anyways as well as the cash. Anyways, being able to jump onto a repeater and/or utilizing repeater systems, again, can be extremely useful depending on the situation and/or what you want to do.
Radio Scanners:
to be edited later
NOAA Weather Frequency: (ALWAYS a good thing to be able to monitor, especially when out in a desert area)
Nationwide Station Listing Using Broadcast Frequencies
162.400MHz
162.425MHz
162.450MHz
162.475MHz
162.500MHz
162.525MHz
162.550MHz
Please understand that you will not necessarily hear all of the frequencies. Depending on what "tower" you're closest to is the frequency/information that you will hear from for that "area". As you move away from that area, another frequency will cover THAT area and so on. In short, they "overlap" one another, if you will. As stated, the frequencies are the same throughout the U.S. I believe there are a few more, but these are the most common ones that I know of...
NOTE:
I keep hearing that one can use a HAM radio for emergency situations and NOT get into trouble with the FCC??? Well, try telling that to the FCC!!! Oh, you will likely be able to jump on, but do not be surprised if they come back at you wondering if there was other means of communications that you could have done??? Anyways, believe what YOU want to believe and YOU take that risk. Just something I learned from my HAM teacher and a few stories, true stories, where people used radios, not licensed to do so, in "emergency situations" and then got into trouble for it. see link below for more info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio
NOTE:
Regarding SWR (Standing Wave Ratio), all radios are affected by, essentially, this performance/matching factor. Put in SUPER simple terms, you want, as much as possible, to transmit 100% of your transmission with maximum efficiency. If your antenna system is not "tuned" to transmit within a certain "frequency range", then you will get reflection of that non-transmitted energy back to the output of your radio, which is essentially unused reflected Power that will fry your RF finals or amplifiers on the back of your radio... essentially destroying your radio. Within SOME reason, you can TX with an antenna not meant for a particular frequency range. But this is something of a discussion that can go on with ENDLESS PAGES to try to explain and go into to detail on. But anyways, here is a for example, using your Baofeng radio to communicate to the GMRS/FRS radio, the Baofeng antenna is technically really only meant to transmit within the HAM band and not outside of band. You can TX outside of freq band within reason, but you should also connect a SWR meter when doing so. I have always been curious on what the SWR looks like utilizing a HAM antenna and TX'ing slightly out of band with said antenna just to see what the SWR reading will look like??? Anyways, there are antennas out there that have a wider freq TX coverage that you can buy. I just wanted to quickly point this out.
hint#1:
Did you know that if your HAM radio, for example, is able to TX (transmit) "off-band", meaning out of the HAM frequency range that it is normally locked with, you can communicate to other different types of radios. For example, if you have a Baofeng radio and you have a GMRS/FRS radio, you simply punch the frequency into your Baofeng to whatever channel/freq that the GMRS/FRS radio is set to. Channel 8 on the GMRS/FRS radio is freq: 467.5625 and by punching in the numbers into your Baofeng, you can now communicate to Ch8 of the GMRS/FRS radio. This just opens up some options with what you can do. Just know that the wattage output is the deciding factor with regards to range. The person with the HAM radio (i.e. typically at higher wattage output) will be able to talk to the GMRS/FRS radio, but "at distance" the GMRS/FRS might not be able to talk back to the HAM operator due to the fact that the GMRS/FRS radio has lower wattage output. Again, the wattage output varies depending, but just keep this in mind, regardless.
hint#2:
Regarding HAM radios, try to go more for a dual band type radio as it gives you greater options... regarding other frequencies and such. For example, if you get a 2m (2meter=144-148MHz) dedicated radio, then you're are limited to only in/around those frequencies.
This post will likely be updated with mainly links to more information? I'm still trying to figure out how I want to "organize this thread" with, hopefully, helpful information and hints/tips
Also, I will likely edit some info here as it comes along. I'm just typing down content to get things started here. Any input/suggestion is welcomed for sure!!! Also, if pictures pop up or a really helpful post, I will post a link to that post on the main page or one of the first couple of OP's at the beginning of this thread and simply trying to preserve info that won't get buried.
Last edited: