CB Radio

[Optimystic]

So.. Im thinking about communication issues in a SHTF situ... what are everyones opinions of CB radios? can they be run on a battery for instance? Solar powered?.. Does anyone else have one?

[moocher]

got one in me vehicle ,

[lasttruebreed]

you get cb's that run off car batteries, double A's or a mains supply. Same as anything just shop around and check up on reviews for the best deal that suits your needs.

[moocher]

i found most the older style handheld cbs to be ineffective really with poor range.

[metatron]

CB is fairly dead, its cheap enough to fit one in your car but I'd not bother creating a base station unless you have other people in your area that are willing to also set up an alternative communication system. Get modern units they have ssb support.

If I were looking for a local comms system, I'd go with a UV-3R Plus (£26), Nagoya NA-666 antenna (£5), interface cable (£4 to make or £26.50 from http://m0aqc.co.uk/digi%20modes.htm), IBM Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (£120 used, other laptops are fine this is just well made).

If you just want voice you can use the UV-3R on its own, if you are worried about snoopers use free software like hamscope to send text or easypal or MMSSTV to send images/maps, also making it hard for the normal man on the street to listen in.

sending text
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLHmImaBWew

sending an image
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khEYEZiMI9A

Using a cheap £25 rtsdr (tv turner) to get an image
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBb2s9CA2So&feature=plcp

Two or more similar transmit systems are ideal for two way talk.

[Optimystic]

Well.. lots to consider from all of you.. thanks...

My main thinking to get something like this would be incase no electricty for long periods.. as phones etc run off the mains, it might be handy to have communication with the outside world so to speak

[metatron]

Well.. lots to consider from all of you.. thanks...

My main thinking to get something like this would be incase no electricty for long periods.. as phones etc run off the mains, it might be handy to have communication with the outside world so to speak

I'd think in a grid down world, being that no high street stores besides Maplins (who don't have many) stock CB radios, the main radios people will having via buying/looting would be PMR446

[Optimystic]

LOL Think i might need to book a training session with Metatron

[Justin Time]

I'd like to see someone who is knowledgeable about cb and HAM radios give us a down to earth layman's type tutorial on the pros and cons of each type ie , range, antennas, cost..etc

What's the consensus of opinion about a national HAM type network?

[metatron]

I'd like to see someone who is knowledgeable about cb and HAM radios give us a down to earth layman's type tutorial on the pros and cons of each type ie , range, antennas, cost..etc

What's the consensus of opinion about a national HAM type network?

Ham radio is a massive area and can get alarmingly expensive fast, CB can get expensive when we are talking home setups with amps and massive antennas, PMR446 are a mix of commercial and consumer level kit all low power (0.5Watts).

CB and PMR446 are both unlicensed, but nothing stops anyone buying ham equipment and could use it without a licence if a shtf situation happened. "Ham" is a massive area as I said but in the grand sceme of things it can be simplified down to its main areas which are 2m/70cm and HF.

CB - Pro's:
Radios and mobile antennas are cheap (no need to spend more then £160)
Easy to wire up in a car,
Some radios even offer hand free and bluetooth support (not cheap units)
Its unlicensed
Now has SSB (gets you a little more range)
Can be used for sending data (not really allowed, plus you will need to make a cable)

Con's - Fairly low range, we are talking about 4 miles reliably.
Not many people have them.
Anyone can listen in with a scanner.
You really need to buy them online, high street stores sell extremely poor kit
If you want a in home setup, the price can be high as you need a power supply, more cable and antennas can be in the hundreds of pounds. If you want an amp that's more cost.

PMR446 Pro's:
VOX support (voice activated transmission) which makes it easy/cheap to wire to a PC to send text and images/other data. Also easy to use with a ear piece.
Extremely cheap (no real need to spend more then £25)
Some units allow you to scan all the channels to find other people.
Very easy to get hold of.
Licence free
You can get very cheap repeaters which allow you to put one very high up giving you better range.
They use AAA or AA

Cons:
Very low power, you are looking at 2 miles reliably (unless you use a repeater and you can see 4 miles)
Can use very low quality plastics so they break (unless you get commercial kit but that £60 and up)
Fixed antenna (you can cut it off and make your own but that could get you a fine, although its unlikely)

Ham is a big area I'll do a break down when I have some more free time.



What's the consensus of opinion about a national HAM type network?

Well we need a map of people that want to be in it, then we can work out what is needed/ the cheapest way to allow each other to contact each other.