Icom Radio VS cb radio
Marine VHF radios, such as the one's made by ICOM, do have the added ability to transmit on the Land Use channels (146–174MHz). You do not need a license to use a Marine VHF on the water. You DO need a license to use the Marine VHF radio's Land Use channels. You can't legally use the Marine VHF bands while on land. If you're a kayaker, a portable Marine VHF is the perfect tool for the job. If you work at a port/dock/oil rig, then you'd be more likely to have a need to use the Land Use band feature as well as the Marine channels. As a Jeeper, you have no need whatsoever for using a Marine VHF radio, and will open yourself up for huge fines and legal trouble if you get caught.
FRS/GMRS radios operate in the 462 and 467 MHz bands of the UHF spectrum. You do not need a license to use the FRS freq's, but technically you do need a license to use the GMRS channels (although 99.95% of the people buying these off the shelf don't get a license). These radios are limited by their wattage and antennae to pretty much close, line-of-site distances. A CB will reach farther, but the FRS/GMRS radio has the ability of private conversations (secure transmission with both radios key-coded), where-as with the CB everyone can hear. These radios are great for hiking and communicating while camped during a Jeep outing.
A CB Radio is what the majority of Jeepers need in order to communicate while in the vehicle. That's where you should start. Then, approach upgrading to HAM radios as you would any other Jeep Mod. Meaning, a never-been-offroad Jeeper doesn't need 6"Lift/40" tires/Dana 60's. What he needs is to wheel his rig, and from this wheeling determine where his Jeep is deficient, then modify to over-come the deficiency. So, if while using your rig you determine that a CB doesn't work for your needs, then by all means learn about HAM radio use, take and pass the license exam, then buy/install/use a HAM radio like the ICOM or Yaesu. But please don't try to use a radio where it's not legally intended to be used, that would be like the newbie taking his 40" rig to the mall and driving over the cars in the parking lot. It's bad form
FRS/GMRS radios operate in the 462 and 467 MHz bands of the UHF spectrum. You do not need a license to use the FRS freq's, but technically you do need a license to use the GMRS channels (although 99.95% of the people buying these off the shelf don't get a license). These radios are limited by their wattage and antennae to pretty much close, line-of-site distances. A CB will reach farther, but the FRS/GMRS radio has the ability of private conversations (secure transmission with both radios key-coded), where-as with the CB everyone can hear. These radios are great for hiking and communicating while camped during a Jeep outing.
A CB Radio is what the majority of Jeepers need in order to communicate while in the vehicle. That's where you should start. Then, approach upgrading to HAM radios as you would any other Jeep Mod. Meaning, a never-been-offroad Jeeper doesn't need 6"Lift/40" tires/Dana 60's. What he needs is to wheel his rig, and from this wheeling determine where his Jeep is deficient, then modify to over-come the deficiency. So, if while using your rig you determine that a CB doesn't work for your needs, then by all means learn about HAM radio use, take and pass the license exam, then buy/install/use a HAM radio like the ICOM or Yaesu. But please don't try to use a radio where it's not legally intended to be used, that would be like the newbie taking his 40" rig to the mall and driving over the cars in the parking lot. It's bad form
Just to clarify....... You DO NOT need to have a FCC amateur radio license to own a HAM radio. You DO need said license to TRANSMIT on the HAM bands using a HAM radio. That being said, anybody can own a HAM radio to be used as a RECEIVER only. Many unlicensed people use very expensive HAM radios as receivers to listen all over the world.
I have both an Icom 2700H, and an RCI 2950. The Icom is a HAM radio operating on 2 meter and 440, which requires that you are licensed to use it. The RCI is a CB (11 meter), which doesn't require a license to operate. Do you have your HAM radio license? If not, then the Icom is not an option to you. Most clubs will use CBs to communicate with each other while on the trail. Amatuer radios will be less likely.
-Ted (N9ZWS)
-Ted (N9ZWS)
Last edited by AK4Dave; Oct 30, 2009 at 11:39 PM.
I don't know what radios, or what VHF frequencies the guys you know have been talking on, but if they are transmitting on the HAM bands without licenses then it is illegal.
The question you need to ask is...what do you want the radio to do? If you only want to talk to your buddies in a caravan and on the trail then the CB radio is the way to go. Most Jeepers have them anyway because they are required in some off road areas and traditionally Jeepers use them.
Ham radios are also popular with SOME Jeepers because Jeepers tend to be the self sufficient sort and Ham radio has many advantages. But, the ham radios are much more expensive and you DO need to study and pass a licensing exam to be able to use them.
There are some small walkie talkie type radios such as the FRS/GMRS radios and the MURS VHF radios but these are not popular with Jeepers. The walkie talkies tend to be more popular with hunters, skiers etc. Some Jeepers keep a set with them for use around camp or with a spotter, but as others have said, the best thing to do is start with a CB radio that is properly installed and tuned. A good CB that is installed properly with a good tuned antenna will work much better than you might think. CB's are also much cheaper and you will get more use out of it if you plan to go off roading with others and or on the highway listening and talking to truckers and others on the road.
Hope this helps.
B
Ham radios are also popular with SOME Jeepers because Jeepers tend to be the self sufficient sort and Ham radio has many advantages. But, the ham radios are much more expensive and you DO need to study and pass a licensing exam to be able to use them.
There are some small walkie talkie type radios such as the FRS/GMRS radios and the MURS VHF radios but these are not popular with Jeepers. The walkie talkies tend to be more popular with hunters, skiers etc. Some Jeepers keep a set with them for use around camp or with a spotter, but as others have said, the best thing to do is start with a CB radio that is properly installed and tuned. A good CB that is installed properly with a good tuned antenna will work much better than you might think. CB's are also much cheaper and you will get more use out of it if you plan to go off roading with others and or on the highway listening and talking to truckers and others on the road.
Hope this helps.
B
Last edited by JKGuy; Nov 2, 2009 at 06:14 PM.
but as others have said, the best thing to do is start with a CB radio that is properly installed and tuned. A good CB that is installed properly with a good tuned antenna will work much better than you might think. CB's are also much cheaper and you will get more use out of it if you plan to go off roading with others and or on the highway listening and talking to truckers and others on the road.
Hope this helps.
B
Hope this helps.
B
I understand what you are saying, but I have to disagree to a point......meaning yes it does depend on what he wants to do, but....if he wants the best coms possible "as a whole," then why not go for the best? And btw......a good plain jane 2m moble isn't much more than what they're getting for these cheap CBs.


