Like the title says I am new to all radios I have a CB but i don't know to much about what frequency it runs on or anything. I am looking for a Ham radio that can get the same frequency as a race radio gets if that's possible. I am into off-road and every now and then I go to a race and I would like to listen in and see were all the activity is, but when i am off-road with friends I want to be able to communicate with them. We all have CB now but they loose reception very easily. I would also like to get a hand held and be able to communicate to the truck. what is a good Ham radio to get that can do all this, I know i have to get a license, but i don't want to get it until im sure ham is what i want. Please help !!!!
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NEW to radios period
- Thread starter alexyz450
- Start date
Get a scanner from Radio Shack; that should work. Finding out the freq they use will be another problem, you will need to ask around for that info. They won't all be on the same freq, but they should all be fairly close - IMO . . .
I second what Robb and Doc said. Look into FRS or MURS radios as well. Just google each of these and read up. This is probably what you need until you are sure you want and can dedicate yourself to getting an Amateur Radio license.
CB frequencies are 26.965 to 27.405.
If you want a radio that allows you to monitor who's winning at the Indy 500, you need a scanner. I do not know what freq's they use.
If your CB loses reception easy, then perhaps you should look into why. Is it because you run a real short antenna? You need a 9 ft antenna on top of the vehicle to hear the best. Any shorter or not on top of the vehicle doesn't allow you to hear as well.
Also if your buddies SWR's are high that hinders how well he can transmit out which in turn affects how well you can hear (him). Plus if skip (distant communications other than in your local area) are commencing, that can hinder your immediate range, but might let you talk to someone a few states away.
Hand helds have their merits but they're not as good as a mobile or a base. They run short antennas. The antenna makes or breaks the radio.
On ham radio, if you end up getting your ticket, you'll have access to 2 meter (144-148 MHz) and 70 centimeter (440-450 MHz) bands, which use repeaters, which lets you talk reliably farther distances (locally) than you can on CB. It costs you nothing to get your ticket, except your study time and $15 for the exam material. And the ticket is good for 10 years. You even get a little sliver of talk area on 28.300-28.499 on USB which sometimes will let you talk to other countries.
Just know that you cannot legally transmit on ham AND CB from the same radio. Doing such puts you at risk for a fine.
If you want a radio that allows you to monitor who's winning at the Indy 500, you need a scanner. I do not know what freq's they use.
If your CB loses reception easy, then perhaps you should look into why. Is it because you run a real short antenna? You need a 9 ft antenna on top of the vehicle to hear the best. Any shorter or not on top of the vehicle doesn't allow you to hear as well.
Also if your buddies SWR's are high that hinders how well he can transmit out which in turn affects how well you can hear (him). Plus if skip (distant communications other than in your local area) are commencing, that can hinder your immediate range, but might let you talk to someone a few states away.
Hand helds have their merits but they're not as good as a mobile or a base. They run short antennas. The antenna makes or breaks the radio.
On ham radio, if you end up getting your ticket, you'll have access to 2 meter (144-148 MHz) and 70 centimeter (440-450 MHz) bands, which use repeaters, which lets you talk reliably farther distances (locally) than you can on CB. It costs you nothing to get your ticket, except your study time and $15 for the exam material. And the ticket is good for 10 years. You even get a little sliver of talk area on 28.300-28.499 on USB which sometimes will let you talk to other countries.
Just know that you cannot legally transmit on ham AND CB from the same radio. Doing such puts you at risk for a fine.
thanks guys for all the reply. I did some research and it looks like most races i go to are on vhf 150-157 MHz and I also found out that i can mod the ham radio to get 148-174 they called it (MARS) if I understood correctly. I am willing to take time and study for the test I just want to make sure I can listen to the the race...Thanks again
yeah, MARS is a nice way for polite law abiding amateur radio operators to say, EXPANDED COVERAGE. MARS actually stands for military auxiliary radio system and some of the freq they operate on are just outside the edges of the amateur bands. Military Auxiliary Radio System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sometimes they call expanded tx mod mars/cap or cap, cap is the civil air patrol which also operate close to amateur freqs.
Its really not much of a mod either, its more to me like unlocking than modding as the radio had the capability the whole time.
I am not by no means complaining about most radios having this capability, nor if you ever do use ham gear for murs, vhf marine, public safety or whatever, i just think its kind of disrespectful to those who serve to pretend like that hidden feature of your radio was intended for MARS.
Sometimes they call expanded tx mod mars/cap or cap, cap is the civil air patrol which also operate close to amateur freqs.
Its really not much of a mod either, its more to me like unlocking than modding as the radio had the capability the whole time.
I am not by no means complaining about most radios having this capability, nor if you ever do use ham gear for murs, vhf marine, public safety or whatever, i just think its kind of disrespectful to those who serve to pretend like that hidden feature of your radio was intended for MARS.
