Worldwide DX Amateur Radio Forums - Ham - CB - HF - VHF - UHF

I'm new here, and new to radio communication in general, so please forgive me if I am asking noob questions. I have been searching the internet for the past couple months trying to find the right answers, but most people have been less than helpful, because the answer I am looking for might involve breaking an fcc law somewhere. So let me preface this with the situation being completely hypothetical.

What if I wanted a radio that was easy to set up and use and doesn't require a license for any of the users? That's why I keep coming back to CB. Now, I need to be able to transmit and receive over 20-30+ miles, give or take, and it's between two radios that I will set up (ie, I don't need to be able to communicate to anyone else, and I'll need 2 identical setups). It's potentially rough terrain, mountains, forest, etc. So if I were looking for a CB radio with a high output, say 25+ watts, but looking to spend as little as possible (I'd love it if the radios were less than $200) - do I have options?

I'd really appreciate any sort of help you can give me.

A couple of things first. Terrain will always limit any kind or brand of radio effectiveness. Let's say you are behind a sturdy, large peak - and the person you are talking to is on the other side. That signal might be masked or shadowed; there is no guarantee that 2 way communication of any kind will work. Now, if there is 20 miles of this kind of terrain and it may be difficult if not impossible to make contact - regardless of linear power output. Radio waves follow the shape of the Earth and can bent in many directions; not the way you would hope for. Furthermore, radios might go as far as 20-30 miles in flat terrain; but it would really be pushing it to get 5 miles in hilly/mountainous terrain!

There isn't any getting around that - even with linear power usage. Oh - it may help some; but it is certainly no cure-all. Instead of looking twards the radio/linear as the solution, the antenna is going to be the weakest and greatest link! So - don't scrimp there. A 102" stainless-steel whip or a Wilson 1000 would still be my first choices always. Mounting a Wilson 1000 mag-mount antenna on the highest point of the vehicle would also be my first choice too.

The radio needs to be one with great receive capacity, such as a Cobra 148GTL, Grant XL, any of the Galaxy DX series. It is important to have a radio that produces clear, loud modulation and excellent receive that made these choices in that list. Of course, there are others; but these aforementioned brands of radios - are both rugged and proven units.

AS far as amp power goes, a used 250 watt linear will prove to be cost-effective and not be a strain on the electrical system of most vehicles. By the time you get to the 300 watt point of power and more, most truck electrical systems are getting taxed.

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What gear do I use?
BASE: Icom IC-718 & GAP Titan DX, Yaesu FT-8800R & Diamond X50A, Magnum OmegaForce S45 & IMAX 2000 w/Astatic D104/TUP9.
MOBILE: Galaxy DX99V & Wilson 1000 w/Astatic D104-M2, Yaesu FT-8800R & Diamond NR-770.
"...WR-11 San Jose CA - Standing By..."

As well as using radios with good recieve capabilities,top of the range antennas and extra power(linear amps),I would advise operating on SSB as opposed to FM or AM as this will also improve TX/RX range in difficult terrain via groundwave. Although when propogation(skip conditions) are high you could find your communications being wiped out by stations hundreds and indeed thousands of miles away.NB. The setup I have just advised is probably illegal in your area.(Dont know where you are!) Best of luck with it anyway.

Sorry! Just had to...

What is the purpose of this radio setup? Work, fun, emergency comm. ? Getting a Ham license is very easy now. You might have better luck going through a repeater. If that's not an option, Two good solid stations set up with yagi antenna's (beam) at both ends pointing at each other might serve you well.
JMO...

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I tried the phone solution and it didn't work - no signal. This is to be used mobile to mobile, and there are certain technicalities about what we are doing that may or may not exclude us from using ham bands. It's a bit gray, so I was looking for a different solution. 2m is still on the table as an option though.

You wont get what you want for $200.00 for both setups. If there is a 2 meter repeater located somewhere close to you then that would be all you would need. Sure both of you would have to get your ham ( if you dont already ) tickets,two 2 meter rigs and antennas for both vehicles but after all of this you could keep in contact with the other person anytime you want. Probably spend at least $450.00 to get all of this but it would be WAY more reliable then a CB setup would ever be and you would be able to talk a helluva lot further than 30 miles as well!

Now,if you live in a area that is flat then you may be able to get away with say 2 Connex 3300 hp's (or what ever) and a really good antenna. These are 40 watt radios and run around $200.00 each, you should be able to close the distance gap with them. But if you live and around a lot of hills then your going to need way more than 40 watts and that is where you are going to run into money!

And by the way. Don't worry about the legal thing that you hear all of these hams crying about. As long as you stay on the CB band ( no low or high channels ) and dont run a dirty radio that bleeds all over the band,the FCC will not do a damn thing to you! But if you act like an ass on the radio,going to those "other" channels and a ham gets your plate number and turns you in,then your in deep crap!

That $10.000 fine from the FCC is no joke but you really have to do something stupid to attract their attention.

End the end it's all about what you want and how much you want to spend to get it. Good luck!

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When will enough be enough?

you might want an cheap AM radio and an amp.
My suggestion
save some money and get something like a two transistor amplifier
They can be pretty cheap
The midnight special line of amplifiers are really cheap and will work great for your application. Its a little thing very small and works very well there is a review of it online and the guy really liked it.
I might buy one myself
http://www.xforceamps.com/shop/?cart=406463&cat=27
thats the link
You can order two of those and they will work perfect for you. and get you up to around 200 watts and THOSE ARE BRAND NEW AMPLIFIERS no used parts to worry about.
AS for radios
Find your self a good uniden or a cobra
Talk to SwitchKit send him a PM he will fix up something for you
I highly reccomend switchkit as i have bought 2 radios from him and they both sound fantastic.

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Galaxy DX2547
Midnight Special 700
Iota DLS-90
Antron 99
Cobra 21Ltd Switch kit special
ADX-202
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