Two-Way Radios....or CB radios???

[muddytaco]

I was wondering if you guys knew anything about the new Two way radios by motorola, Midland, cobra etc...?? I guess they have a new thing where they are able to talk up to 7-10 miles!! They are only like $50, so I was going to get a set.

But you have to have an FCC liscense to use them.

WHAT IS THIS BULL??

Thye are designed for families, hunting, and boating, etc... but you need a license to operate them??

Why dont' you need a license for a CB radio? They are like twice the Wattage? ANd I've heard of being able to talk across the counrty,not just a couple miles!!

Can anybody explain this crap?

I used two way radios last summer when i was doing some exploration work north of fairbanks. Yes the licence is bull. Its a user fee of some sort. I am sure if CBs were to come out new tomorrow some blockhead would decide to make some money off of it.
We decided to keep the radio on the lower power so we didnt have to worry about the licence and they seem to work pretty good. The only problem with them is that they need a general line of site to work so if you and your bud are in two differnt valleys then you are SOL.
We also tested the the higher power mode i think it 2 something GHz and the range was slightly more in hilly terrain. I am sure on rolling hills it would be different. Still i dont think i would buy the cross country claim.
The only signals that can get across country are i think shortwave radio and those can be bounced off the atmosphere.

just my two bits. If i find more i will let you know

I use a CB right now but i think i am going to add a set of two way radios since i can backpack and climb with them also.
cheers
Redbear

[muddytaco]

I was looking at some today, and for pretty much all of them you can buy now you have to have the FCC license. Unless you just use the lower powered bands, like you said!

Well ,in that case you would prbably be better off just to buy some cheapos that ONLY have the lower powered band!

The other ones are a waste of money unless you buy the $75 license from the FCC! They actually come with the order form in the package for the license!

[broken]

hey bro

fcc ha ha well there are so many freq`s out there and the goverment uses alot so there just trying to get some money but they actually do monitorr every chanel for terrorist situations and like if you cay the special words on a cell internet radio you will no Sh*t have some well dressed men pulling up your drive in an amasing amount of time but unless you threaten some high offical the gov will not d/f you and come get you i talk all the time on the high wattage on the civilian band and it really dosent matter just dont be stupid and talk sh*t or harass the police because there are computers that moniter everything?? i likr my radio but it is vhf so it is line of sight but you still can talk pretty good you can aleays modify your antenna [img]images/graemlins/AR15firing.gif[/img]

[jon_7248]

im pretty sure the licence is because of the freq they use. FCC is kind of a PITA on that. CB radios use a group of freqs that are for the public...hence Citezen band (i cant spell). CB radios cant go above 4 watts i think now because of FCC again. You can pushem higher, but they are illegal unless for govt, experiments, and research companies. There was a guy in houston that had a CB radio with 100 watts! but got busted after FCC caught him interfering radio stations, and the like.

Just study and get the 2meter or 10 meter FCC licence that's about the same price I think and you can have more fun with them than "Family" radios

[muddytaco]

Yeah I hear ya on that! The family radios aren't any thing special. My only reason was that most of my buddies don't have CBs. So I thought it would be cool to just get a set of those. Then when I go out wheeling I can just give one to whoever I go with!

But it looks to me like I might at well just buy the $20 ones that are only good for a mile or so. That way I don't need a license....... and I save a buttload of money.

Then I can spend the rest of the money I saved on a CB, and I will just talk my buddies into getting them too!!!

Muddy,
I went the same route you are thinking. i got a little handheld CB by cobra that i can run off one of the power ports and also a bunch of AA batteries and upgraded to a better antanna. So i get decent range a reception and something i can take with if i need to walk out. I also keep a set of the cheep 2way radio's to pass out to others with me and i am pretty sure the different brands can talk to each other if you have the right channel and security ferquency.
cheers
redbear

[trd03Cali]

I have an idea! Go get a Nextel!!!!!! Ya i have a cobra 29 nw tweeked and swings 51 watts! Also i have a Texas Star that dead keys at 300 watts and swings to a few over 450 w My garage lights up and everything else when i keys up! My range is just under too far. [img]images/graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]