What radios are you using?

looking to get radio for my truck for the back roads in BC,
whats everyone using?
thanks

 

I have a President Bill for the CB and run an Icom ID 4100 for the ham radio.

 

Hams require and licence right?

 

FT-2900r Ham.



Had a Cobra 75wxst in my 2nd Gen as well, just didn't need to put it into this truck.

Yes, get a ham ticket to run vhf. Don't be a goof with an illegal baoufung.

 

thanks for that, im just looking to do vehicle to vehicle, maybe listen in on the FSR's if a logging truck is coming or not and also if im in a emergancy i can get help.

 

Yeah. Ham you need a license. Study for a technician’s class and take the test. Pretty easy. Or Pay the $70 to the FCC for your GMRS license and put a mobile GMTS radio in. All depends who uses what in your area.

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Which radio did you go with ? Currently on Vancouver Island.

 

That's interesting. I live on an FSR, have never heard anything about it requiring a licence but... I just checked and apparently you do. The community I live in uses them like home phones, and no one has a licence. That being said, I've NEVER had a negative comment for calling my kms and I have had negative comments when I wasn't. Guess it depends what the local users of that road expect.

 

What radio do you use if you dont mined me asking

 

I like your setup in particular the Icom ID 4100.

 

Thanks. I moved the cell phone holder down onto the center console. And moved the ham radio over.

 

Commercial radios, probably mostly forestry rigs in a spot like that.
Technically a proper FCC approved Ham won't transmit on the FSR channels - they can scan and receive but not talk out.
Unless your buying some grey market radio from ebay/aliexpress..

Any radio with the RR channels programmed have paid for them, and are commercially licensed to use them.

 

I have a TAD M10.... and the RR channels are programmed in, and I can receive and talk... but I did buy mine secondhand. Like I said, every truck up here has one though, and people even have radios in their homes. I've never asked how they get them though.

That being said, my work truck also has one and we don't have licenses to operate those either

 

I was thinking about getting a handheld/portable CB radio (the ones that look like a talkie walkie but is a CB)

How good are they? Any recommendations?

 

I know some people who run them, I think they're generally crap. Range is usually only 1-3 miles, then you throw in the terrain, and it doesn't give you much warning at all. Especially since a lot of FSR's have up traffic only calling must calls every 10 km or so.... and down traffic isn't always so diligent about calling as often as they should be. Just my experience in this particular area though

 

Those are Commercial Mobile VHF radios, not Ham. They have been licensed and programmed for commercial use.
You're not kosher with the law using them for fun, and whomever owns the channels (Forestry Company or Ministry) could come after you for interference if you are transmitting on their channels.

CB is different than Ham or Commercial VHF. CB get 40 channels between 26.965 MHz and 27.405 MHz. They are also limited to 4w. You're only going to be able to hear and speak to other people using a CB.

If you are using any handheld radio with a ducky antenna beside your head expect line of sight to 1-2km in ideal conditions. Cobra makes a ton of different CB models, the Cobra 75wxst is decent because the entire radio is in the mic -so install is easy. Midland 75-822 is comparable. You would need to install an antenna on your vehicle and wire it. You would still be limited to those 40 channels and 4w.

GMRS are similar to CB and FRS but need a license.

Calling km on a CB doesn't make much sense. I'll assume you are talking about a Baofeng or Wuoxon Chinese ebay handheld. These are 4w but do not have the FCC limits on transmitting. They would also be illegal and not certified or legal to use in North America- crappy, short range, cheap, but popular.

Ham (Amateur) mobile radios are either 2m or dual band (2m and 70cm). Those are the bands they can transmit out on. My dual band will scan 108 to 520 MHz, and 700 to 999.99 MHz including the RR channels. So while I can scan and hear the RR channels I can't talk out on them.

 

I'm going to guess the band owns the channels then, probably through their forestry company. Now I know, I won't use it elsewhere (not that I've ever needed to), but I wouldn't come in and out of the village without it. I certainly wouldn't say I use it for fun, I use it to get in and out of my home alive.

Edited to add: I wouldn't mind knowing what law actually regulates this. I haven't found any act that says you can't use them, only articles online.

 

Fill your boots;

Radiocommunications Regs;
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-96-484/FullText.html

RadioCommunications Act;
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/R-2/

Ooh this part talks about chinese ebay radios;

(2) No person shall manufacture, import, distribute, lease, offer for sale or sell any radio apparatus, interference-causing equipment or radio-sensitive equipment for which a technical acceptance certificate is required under this Act, otherwise than in accordance with such a certificate.

(3) No person shall manufacture, import, distribute, lease, offer for sale or sell any radio apparatus, interference-causing equipment or radio-sensitive equipment for which technical standards have been established under paragraph 6(1)(a), unless the apparatus or equipment complies with those standards.