Channel 19 full of chatter. Local channel 28 AM Topeka, Kansas also has people on it nearly any time of day/night.
if truckers knew how nice the and dependable 2 meter rigs were i think there would be many more hams and radio sales woulde soar
I started looking at all the trucks I pass by lately and most are running multiple antennas. Not dual 11m, but varying lengths. So most have moved over to differnt freqs. Granted, most of these appeared to be long haul guys and not local.
If CB is dying out where the hell is all this skip coming from?
I don’t think the word reliable is appropriate here. The radios themselves are built better generally and the range would be slightly better because of the higher base wattage. Most 2 meter antennas have much higher gain then the typical "cb" antenna and they are smaller. The signal would be more line of sight and have a lower angle of radiation because of the higher gain. Mobile to mobile coms can easily be up to 50+ miles based on terrain. Base to mobile can easily exceed 100+ again based on terrain. I had a contact once on 146.520 using my 5 watt HT (walkie talkie) that was well over 60 miles. Of course that was good conditions and the base I was talking to had his antenna 125' up.I have no experience with 2 meters so don't get me wrong, but how are 2meter rigs more reliable?
Wow this is some of best info on ham radios I have read. I go back and forth on getting my ticket or sticking with CB...
Don't know whether to stick with what I know and like or leap of into unknown ham land. Haha!
That's because everyone isn't crammed on 40 distinct channels.Even on 10m you seem to be able to get further than 11m for reasons I cannot explain. Maybe its because there's more people running proper antennas at the other end.
I will agree with that statement. Because of the congestion on 11 meters (legal freqs) amps and a beam are almost required just to get through were on 10 a simple dipole will allow you to work the world on 100 watts.That's because everyone isn't crammed on 40 distinct channels.
I'd venture to say there are more dedicated 11m beam antennas in the air than 10m beams.
I don’t think the word reliable is appropriate here. The radios themselves are built better generally and the range would be slightly better because of the higher base wattage. Most 2 meter antennas have much higher gain then the typical "cb" antenna and they are smaller. The signal would be more line of sight and have a lower angle of radiation because of the higher gain. Mobile to mobile coms can easily be up to 50+ miles based on terrain. Base to mobile can easily exceed 100+ again based on terrain. I had a contact once on 146.520 using my 5 watt HT (walkie talkie) that was well over 60 miles. Of course that was good conditions and the base I was talking to had his antenna 125' up.
Do both! I would say though not just to get technician and a cheap chinese HT and think that talking through repeaters and local is all there is to amateur radio. You need to progress to at least the next license level to get access to more HF bands.
The only thing is that once you get HF privileges and start on the HF bands such as 15,17 and 20m then you'll find 11m DXing rather lame in comparison. Even on 10m you seem to be able to get further than 11m for reasons I cannot explain. Maybe its because there's more people running proper antennas at the other end.
The advantage is that as you progress through the licenses and learn more it'll benefit your CB station as well.
I have travelled with 2 meters in the car, you get outside of a city and its deader than dead. HF when travelling is good as there is always someone somewhere to talk to.This is not directed to w9cll, Agree with everything...
However, his comments got me thinking how nice 2 meter FM would be on the road without all the noise. Then I realized maybe not so much.