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? Best Comms. for 30 miles on limited power ?

xm49north7

xm49north7

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2019
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I got back into radio in some measure via prepping. I chose ssb cb radio as my comms, with frs for walking comms. My reasons were cost, simplicity, and the lower power required. I have solar backup for my radio. So what IS the best type of radio in your opinion for local 30 mile comms ??? I chose 30 miles as, it is my belief that in a shtf situation/ world, that is all that is required. That is the maximum distance I could travel on foot, or bicycle. In my mind anything further out would not be of any use to me, as it would be outside my ability to get there and back. I find cb radio, even on am 4 watts, with a good gain antenna, gets me out 30 miles quite well. The other reason I think cb radio is the best choice within 30 miles, there would be many people dusting off their cb radios giving somewhat of a community. Other freq. such as ham would have very few operators in said 30 mile circle. I am up to hear what others think and use.
 
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Location: Carleton Place
Frequency: 147.270 +

Location: Smiths Falls
Frequency: 147.210 +

Location: Kemptville
Frequency: 146.850 -

Location: Mississippi Mills
Frequency: 444.100 +

Location: Kingston
Frequency: 146.940 -

Location: Kingston
Frequency: 147.090 +

All Amateur systems that would be accessible from your location with modest power and antenna system.
Plus with that many systems, would venture to say there would be Simplex operation also.
Just a thought
 
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BJ radionut said:
Location: Carleton Place
Frequency: 147.270 +

Location: Smiths Falls
Frequency: 147.210 +

Location: Kemptville
Frequency: 146.850 -

Location: Mississippi Mills
Frequency: 444.100 +

Location: Kingston
Frequency: 146.940 -

Location: Kingston
Frequency: 147.090 +

All Amateur systems that would be accessible from your location with modest power and antenna system.
Plus with that many systems, would venture to say there would be Simplex operation also.
Just a thought
Click to expand...
Simplex would be all that would be of interest for sure. I did have a uhf/vhf for listening at one point, did not hear much in my area. Did not enjoy the radio either, so traded it of for cb. For arguments sakes how would 4 watts uhf/vhf compare, simplex point to point for local 30 mile comms in your opinion. Which would perform better, or are they equal. I have heard that cb is better on local, gets through the terrain better , at normal working antenna heights say 36 feet above ground. My understanding is uhf/vhf needs clearer lines of sight.
 
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yes ; not the towers, cb will be up and working as well! On 4 watts, for local 30 mile comms. Which would work better. Keep in mind 4 watts, about 36 feet to the feed, point to point. What would be the go to, cb, vhf/uhf , fm, what would be the best performer?
 
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I can only relate to my experience. I live in a River Valley 750 ft ASL. The average terrain 2-mile radius is about 1050 ft ASL. So living in the bottom of the Coffee cup!
I have a modest 2 meter FM (145-148 MHz) radio and antenna. I paid $130 USD(about 7-8+ yrs ago) for my radio NIB.
The rig runs 75 watts, the antenna is a Diamond mono-bander at 48 ft.
Even at the bottom of this coffee cup. I can readily do 60 miles Simplex. 30 miles on 10-25 watts. I often work friends at 100 miles or more. (normally mornings and evenings) when conditions are better. I have worked stations are far away as 500 miles. 200-300 miles in Spring or Fall mornings is done also. (TROPO conditions).
I can hit repeaters most mornings 80 to 100 miles away. I have to lock out some local systems 35-40 miles away most mornings as I try to use them I will bring up 3 or 4 other systems twice that range or more. Or drop down to 5-10 watts to keep from doing so.
I keep those in memory as they are the local SKYWARN systems.
The handheld HT with a flex rubber duck (dummy load) antenna for VHF/UHF is a 2 to 5-mile Simplex set-up at best.
VHF/UHF radio like anything else takes some effort. One just needs to try.
I easily work mobiles in the 40-50 mile range with my set-up.
So my 2 cents worth.
All the Best
Gary
 
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xm49north7 said:
I got back into radio in some measure via prepping. I chose ssb cb radio as my comms, with frs for walking comms. My reasons were cost, simplicity, and the lower power required. I have solar backup for my radio. So what IS the best type of radio in your opinion for local 30 mile comms ??? I chose 30 miles as, it is my belief that in a shtf situation/ world, that is all that is required. That is the maximum distance I could travel on foot, or bicycle. In my mind anything further out would not be of any use to me, as it would be outside my ability to get there and back. I find cb radio, even on am 4 watts, with a good gain antenna, gets me out 30 miles quite well. The other reason I think cb radio is the best choice within 30 miles, there would be many people dusting off their cb radios giving somewhat of a community. Other freq. such as ham would have very few operators in said 30 mile circle. I am up to hear what others think and use.
Click to expand...

Keep this frequency written down, near by: 27.402.50
 
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I’ve been thinking AM/SSB in every vehicle plus at home. Then HAM as a base.

It’s the power draw without the grid working that’s of interest. Eventually, one runs out of gasoline/diesel to charge a battery set.

What solar can & cant do isn’t as simple as some think it to be (I’m learning).

Battery choice seems at least as important. EDISON Batteries, for example.

.
 
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I hate to say this as I am a " Legal Beagle " when it comes to infringing on my legal ham friends . I have radios that will transmit on ham frequencies ( I do not , just listen ) but as far as this " Prepper " thing ,if it ever really hits the fan ... ? Who's going to be around to enforce the rules ? jmo;):eek::)
 
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Slowmover said:
I’ve been thinking AM/SSB in every vehicle plus at home. Then HAM as a base.

It’s the power draw without the grid working that’s of interest. Eventually, one runs out of gasoline/diesel to charge a battery set.

What solar can & cant do isn’t as simple as some think it to be (I’m learning).

Battery choice seems at least as important. EDISON Batteries, for example.

.
Click to expand...
Well not being one of any great means , my set up is simple, I have a 40 watt panel to a lawn tractor battery, to my cb radio, works like a charm on 4/12 watts on my uniden 980. gives me minimum 4 or 5 hours of talk time, charges in a day, so alI I need for comms, and battery charging, the rest of my prepping is all old school, I heat with wood, grow a huge garden ( 4000 sq feet) I have hand tools, oil lamps, manual water pumps, most of my food is canned or root cellar, so I am prepared as best I can. Only had to do it once, was without phone, power and water for 12 days 20 years ago; no hardship at all really, even enjoyed it. More ready now than I was back then. Comms just seems like a nice extra if it happens again. I have the 980 in the house and another ssb radio in the truck, and an am only in reserve, it will go in an emp proof cabinet. I dabbled with the uhf/vhf, but decided on cb/ssb for myself. But very interested in other peoples ideas an opinions.
 
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357magnum said:
I hate to say this as I am a " Legal Beagle " when it comes to infringing on my legal ham friends . I have radios that will transmit on ham frequencies ( I do not , just listen ) but as far as this " Prepper " thing ,if it ever really hits the fan ... ? Who's going to be around to enforce the rules ? jmo;):eek::)
Click to expand...
My understanding is that in a shtf situation anybody is allowed to use the ham, even without a lic. as long as it is for true emergency comms, So ther should be no issue there at all. I just did not figure ham much of a benefit for myself, again I will not ned to talk 100's of miles, in fact I would prefer not to, I will just need to talk with family/friends and people within hiking distance for trading purposes. I do of course have weather, shortwave, am/fm receivers, tv etc.
 
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CB might get you 30 miles NOW at the bottom of the cycle but it won't get you much beyond 3 miles at the peak of the solar cycle.CB has it's place but I would not rely on it for that simple reason. The huge advantage that VHF has over CB is that gain can very easily be made up with the antenna system as well as the fact it is not subjected to the noise like CB is at the height of the solar cycle. I myself would prefer five watts on VHF into a good yagi over five watts on CB onto an omni antenna at the peak of the solar cycle.
 
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