AFTER MARKET CB ANTENNA MOUNTING BRACKET

[Nokones]

Isn't the range of FM CB even less than that of AM CB?

Good question, I don't exactly know but wouldn't think so. The wave length and signal propagation should be essentially the same of the two. I believe it would depend on the noise factor with both modulations. The AM signal would be more noiser than FM, so I would think the FM signal would get you more FARZ because of the better signal-to-noise-ratio. I'll have to test that and get to you on the results.

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[Mark75H]

No. FM will be clearer until it drops completely out. AM will still be there, but possibly unreadable or partly readable where FM is gone.

So, with squelch turned down, volume up and "please repeat" AM has longer range. With FM, you don't get to hear that scratchy message that you don't understand.

 

[zouch]

sorry, while FM sounds better if you have contact, it absolutely does not have the same range as AM, and that's not what the RRW are using, or why.

Single Sideband (SSB) would have the best range by far, and even allow multiple people to be heard at the same time without 'stepping' on each other and cancelling each other out. but the radios are more expensive and aren't as simple to use since you have to tune in the Receiver for best audio, and most people don't seem to be able to deal with the Star Wars-sounding audio that comes from poor equipment and/or poor operation of the equipment. (a little-discussed bonus is that SSB limits are 12W, whereas AM is 5W max.)

i've advised for years that if someone wants range out of a CB, they need to be using SSB. i wouldn't buy any other kind of CB other than a SSB-capable rig, not just because of the additional power capability, but because of the superior Receiver circuitry they have to have; the difference is apparent in audio quality even if you're not using them on SSB.
and any transceiver is going to work better with an externally mounted antenna.

if you really want range, the new digital Amateur radios are rather impressive, even in handheld form. but those require a license... and most people aren't willing to make the effort in order to earn one.

With the capability of FM for CB now, it is very possible that CB radio may see a resurgence in the use of CB radio, especially for Trail Comms. The FM CB signal does not have all the static like the old AM CB signal and may be a better communication tool than the cheap little FRS radios for off-road trail comm because the signal will propagate better over the terrain than an UHF FRS signal. The UHF signal essentially needs a visual line-of-sight to propagate

The old AM CB signal down-fall was the signal-to-noise-ratio was very poor and the signal-to-noise-ratio for the FM signal is going to be a whole lot better.

One negative factor for most CB users that it will require a radio to be hardwired and mounted in a vehicle however, the radio will be connected to an external antenna for better reception than using a little FRS with a poor antenna inside the vehicle.

As for Moab, it's very possible that the Jeep Safari organizers may be using the CB in the FM mode for better point-to-point communication for longer distance because of the uneven terrain conditions whereas the UHF signal would be a problem.

 

[2nd 392]

sorry, while FM sounds better if you have contact, it absolutely does not have the same range as AM, and that's not what the RRW are using, or why.

Single Sideband (SSB) would have the best range by far, and even allow multiple people to be heard at the same time without 'stepping' on each other and cancelling each other out. but the radios are more expensive and aren't as simple to use since you have to tune in the Receiver for best audio, and most people don't seem to be able to deal with the Star Wars-sounding audio that comes from poor equipment and/or poor operation of the equipment. (a little-discussed bonus is that SSB limits are 12W, whereas AM is 5W max.)

i've advised for years that if someone wants range out of a CB, they need to be using SSB. i wouldn't buy any other kind of CB other than a SSB-capable rig, not just because of the additional power capability, but because of the superior Receiver circuitry they have to have; the difference is apparent in audio quality even if you're not using them on SSB.
and any transceiver is going to work better with an externally mounted antenna.

if you really want range, the new digital Amateur radios are rather impressive, even in handheld form. but those require a license... and most people aren't willing to make the effort in order to earn one.

Is the top tier “pirate” CB equipment no longer available ? I had a “Galaxy” 800 channel 40 watt when barefoot radio pushing either a 1KW Messenger or my old 3 tube Falcon. On a clean channel I talked direct to another driver with the same equipment from the grapevine to Roseville, (~300 mi.), or skip to Australia, etc. A Messenger 400 didn’t use to much power for my Bronco….. “pirate” equipment was widely available at the time.

 

[zouch]

i'm not familiar with what all's available now, but with the proliferation of '10M radios' that are programmable to work on 11M, i'm sure there's still illegal stuff available on the market.

good contacts are more about conditions than power; while using SSB, i was able to routinely talk around the world with must a stock mobile CB and a good antenna when the Solar Cycles were in the right phases (like they are right now).

Is the top tier “pirate” CB equipment no longer available ? I had a “Galaxy” 800 channel 40 watt when barefoot radio pushing either a 1KW Messenger or my old 3 tube Falcon. On a clean channel I talked direct to another driver with the same equipment from the grapevine to Roseville, (~300 mi.), or skip to Australia, etc. A Messenger 400 didn’t use to much power for my Bronco….. “pirate” equipment was widely available at the time.

 

[Johnny B]

i'm not familiar with what all's available now, but with the proliferation of '10M radios' that are programmable to work on 11M, i'm sure there's still illegal stuff available on the market.

good contacts are more about conditions than power; while using SSB, i was able to routinely talk around the world with must a stock mobile CB and a good antenna when the Solar Cycles were in the right phases (like they are right now).

There are a ton of radios out there. A lot of folks grab Galaxy models cause they do look good. Sadly, they ALL have an instability issue after they get modified (mostly when you ramp up the watts, the rest of the radio gets weird, drifts, becomes unstable with both transmit and receive). Ranger/RCI is a sure fire bet for good rock solid communications. I mean, they are an actual 10 meter rig (some even have 6 meters as well) that can get to the 11 meter (CB) band easily. I run both GMRS and a CB. GMRS actually gets way less usage, cause it is so limited.

 

[Mark75H]

GMRS is limited, but it's good for what it's good for.

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