I would like to use CB for some work in africa and don't know where to start

[tommyz4]

Hello, experts
I have a question, b/c of the high cost of cell phones in Africa I would like to use CB for communication for some projects I am doing there. I need to know where to start. For example:
- What kinda equip do I need to get roughly 25 miles to cover a city..if longer better
- How much do you think something like this would cost
- Where is the best place to purchase the equip

Thank you for your time..

 

[74IN]

Where are you in Africa?

VHF might be a better way to go.

While CB is quiet now, when the solar cycle picks up, you'll be able to make contact with Europe and not 10 miles away. Just the nature of HF.

Look into others near you that are using radio for communication and go from there.

 

[tommyz4]

Location

This will be in Malawi Africa, If we went the VHF route what steps would you take to get started. Licensing if needed for any of these projects will not be a problem

Thanks in advance

 

[W5LZ]

How important would this communications thing be?
How much area would have to be covered?
How big is your wallet?
and...
Legality of the project?

Last one first, that's going to be up to you to find out and solve. Not knowing anything about that aspect, I can't comment on it. I would think it isn't exactly the most straight forward process in the world though.

How important is this ability to communicate? The greater the importance of reliability, the greater the cost (to some ridiculous extent). With all types of radio communications, "Mother Nature" has a large 'say' in the matter. Sometimes it can take next to nothing to make her 'happy', other times, forget it. Plan on the "forget it" circumstances and be 'safe', sort of.

I think you are looking at an area with a radius of about 25 miles. Several frequency bands are usable for that type of coverage. The 'CB' band will work most of the time, but probably isn't exactly the most reliable in most circumstances. There's a lot of qualifications with that, lots of "if's" and "but's". Vhf bands might be a more reliable alternative. The 'trick' with VHF is antenna height, mostly. Due to "mother Nature" again (propagation, etc.), there can be 'dead spots' where something 'blocks' a signal. Unless you can get a very good "radio survey" thing done, it's a sort of try it and see thing. Which brings us to the...

How large is your wallet? No matter how 'large' it is, prepare for it to start shrinking. Even if you find the 'perfect' solution the first time, that wallet is going to be shrinking all the time. There are continuing expenses which are typical/normal. Those thingys can run from someone stretching a cord just a bit too much, to some bird wanting to use part of the system to make her nest. (Sort of a 'stretch' there, but not as much as you might think.)

Not a very satisfying answer, huh? No, it isn't, but it is very close to what you can expect. 'CB' radio is certainly one option. I have no idea if it would be the 'best' one for your circumstances. Good luck!
- 'Doc


[Saw very similar question on the "use" net. Hope this may help.]

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

One thing you should do is contact the proper person or department responsible for radio communications in the respective country and make some inquiries as to what is available to you and what the procedure is to obtain the proper operating permission.You may want to start here:

Mr Mike KUNTIYA
Director of Telecomms. Services
Malawi Communications Authority
(MACRA)
P Bag 261
BLANTYRE, Malawi
Telephone: +265 1 883611
Fax: +265 1 883891
Email: mkuntiya@macra.org.mw ​

 

[9C1Driver]

I agree, don't want to get yourself in hot water in some underdeveloped unstable third world country.