CB'ers & PMR Users

[tom_tom]

Top of the morning to ya all!

Can anyone tell me what the approximate range for the standard 80 channel (40uk + 40 Euro) rigs

I know it depends on serveral factors, terrain wheather conditions etc.

We some times stay at camp site in the Lakes which is off the beaten track, and out of mobile signal range from the main road just past Borrowdale/Keswick area
Does anyone know if we would be able to make contact by CB at all?

Can anyone recomend a decent set of two way radios with a decent working range idially with VOX. (Ideally 2-3 miles vehicle to vehicle)

Any info will be greatfully received :)


Cheers

T

T

[SILVERMAN35]

If you are not exceeding the 3 miles and within line of site a pair of pmr s will do they are relatively cheap they work on the 446 uhf -- have a look on pmr site http://www.446user.co.uk/ so you can see some reviews as well

adrian (malta)

[tom_tom]

Hi Adrian,

Thanks for the reply mate! whats on offer if I need a range over three miles?

[|androver]

Can anyone tell me what the approximate range for the standard 80 channel (40uk + 40 Euro) rigs


It does vary greatly on terrain and conditions and equipment set-up. Using small <=30 watt RF amplifiers might be best for you to make sure (illegally though).
In my experience...
Typically with mobile CB radio (vehicle installation and whilst moving) you easy obtain upto 3 or 4 miles without issue as long as there is not a big mountain between.
With one vehicle static in a good location and one vechicle moving this will increase to typically 10 miles but will a bit of one sided conversation.
I have talked to my misses driving to work 14 miles away (just about) but no signal in the valley between after 3 miles.
Last night on high ground between Bath and Cold Ashton whilst moving in the landrover I got a radio check from a guy who was static parked on a mountain in Wales, near Blackwood, Caerphilly area. His signal was 7 and crystal clear, I was getting back to him on a 2 or 3 with poor/quite audio. That distance is over 40miles!
Base station <> base station comms then 20 miles is the norm with excellent signals, 40mile getting to limit. That is my experience from when I was based at the edge of the River Severn lowlands talking up to Gloucester and across to Avonmouth and parts of Bristol. Bristol although 20 miles closer was much harder to copy than someone up in Gloucester. No contact with Newport but easily copied into Cymbran.

[Marc Lurie]

Hi,

All radio communications by ground wave (the type you're most likely to use) are ENTIRELY dependant on the terrain that you're in. Two six foot men, on a perfectly flat surface (the sea, for example) should be able to communicate by walkie-talkie over a distance of around 9km. Greater distances can only be achieved by putting one (or both) transmitters higher up.

If you raise one of the men by as little as a meter, you increase communications distance by around 25%.

If you put a hill between the two men, you drop the communications distance to as little as 200 meters.

Essentially, if you can see the other guy, you can talk to him.

The average tiny 446MHz or 464MHz license-free portable COULD easily be used to talk to the Space Shuttle because there are no obstacles between the Space Shuttle and earth.

Higher power radios improve the signal in marginal areas only. They DO NOT increase communications distance, but they do make marginal signals easier to understand.

Adding vehicle mounted antennas is a significant advantage because they are far more efficient than walkie-talkie antennas, and are physically higher than the walkie-talkie antenna.

Cheers,
Marc

[tom_tom]

Mornin guys!

Many thanks for the replies and info esp to Marc!

Cheers

T

[Marc Lurie]

Many thanks for the replies and info esp to Marc!
My pleasure. I am in the radio industry, so I deal with the issue of coverage on a daily basis.

I'm currently in the Congo installing a radio system for a copper mine. Should be home in about 10 days.

Cheers,
Marc

[andyd1]

i use a db7 airiel with my tristar777 cb and i cant sit in glasgow up the braes and here ppl in stirling no prob and vice versa that 25 miles and static