CB's communicate with walkie talkies?

[Brew211]

Question, can CB's talk with Walkie Talkies?

I want to install a CB radio however most of my off-road buddies still use hand held walkie talkie two-way radios. Will I be able to communicate with them?

Thanks for the help

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[DanW]

You'd have to get a bulky hand held CB.

I'm running CB, but also GMRS. GMRS works with FRS on some channels and GMRS walkies. They have better range than CBs. Check out midlandusa.com and look at the micromobile radios and gmrs walkies. They sometimes run package deals on a vehicle radio and two walkies.

CBs are more common for talking to other vehicles on the trail, though.

 

[xtraham]

First find out what the others in your group are using. Then make a purchase. FRS/GMRS will be slightly better than CB, amateur radio (FCC licensed ops only) will be far better than FRS/GMRS/CB. However, all are VHF/UHF which is line of sight only. Amateur radio allows for more power output and the use of repeaters. Occasionally you'll come across a GMRS repeater, but they are few and far between.

 

[Brew211]

wow, you guys know your stuff. I had to look up what FRS and GMRS means...... I'm still confused. I did find that most of the two ways everyone is using, including myself, are able to communicate with FRS/GMRS radios. Really don't know what that means, but it sounds like I should keep using those because they are more powerful (?) and that's what my buddies use, otherwise I would need both, which means I would very rarely use the CB.
Is that correct?

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

 

[Djmatt85]

Hypothetical situation here... If you know you’ll encounter both types in different groups, is it reasonable to get a CB and then a GMRS walkie? Or have both larger output systems with antennae. I know the GMRS walkies aren’t as powerful, but I figured this would possibly be the best of both worlds.

 

[Arrowhead]

Hypothetical situation here... If you know you’ll encounter both types in different groups, is it reasonable to get a CB and then a GMRS walkie? Or have both larger output systems with antennae. I know the GMRS walkies aren’t as powerful, but I figured this would possibly be the best of both worlds.

I'm in the same boat, one group uses talkies and a club I belong to requires a CB. I got the Midland hand held so I guess I'll have to get a walkie too now.

 

[DanW]

I'm in the same boat, one group uses talkies and a club I belong to requires a CB. I got the Midland hand held so I guess I'll have to get a walkie too now.

Yep, I just went with everything: CB, GMRS, and GMRS walkies (2). I even bought another GMRS mobile unit with magnetic antenna for trips with friends who don't have one.

 

[Brew211]

Yep, I just went with everything: CB, GMRS, and GMRS walkies (2). I even bought another GMRS mobile unit with magnetic antenna for trips with friends who don't have one.

WOW!!!! You went all out! I'm not willing, actually too cheap to do all that.

 

[DanW]

WOW!!!! You went all out! I'm not willing, actually too cheap to do all that.

Yeah, I went through a modification frenzy with this thing, but I've slowed waaaay down since then. The JL is now right where I want it. The only thing I want to do now is mount a camera underneath facing the front, to spot my front tire placement and differential pumpkin. I've already got the camera, Tazer, and wiring. I was just waiting to find a way through the firewall for the wires and @gfrodge showed me that last Sunday. I'm just waiting for warm weather.

It is nice, though, to have the two options for radios. The walkies worked beautifully in Moab for the spotter, too.

 

[Brew211]

Yeah, I went through a modification frenzy with this thing, but I've slowed waaaay down since then. The JL is now right where I want it. The only thing I want to do now is mount a camera underneath facing the front, to spot my front tire placement and differential pumpkin. I've already got the camera, Tazer, and wiring. I was just waiting to find a way through the firewall for the wires and @gfrodge showed me that last Sunday. I'm just waiting for warm weather.

It is nice, though, to have the two options for radios. The walkies worked beautifully in Moab for the spotter, too.

Thanks.
I wired in my front camera a month ago and found the easiest way was to use the passenger floor grommet. Super easy to do. I then ran the wire through the chassis all the way to the front bumper where my camera is. You can't even see it.

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