FM on CB - Are you working it?

[Rick330man]

How many of you are operating on CB in FM mode? Is there a group in your area? Are you working skip in FM mode on any of the standard 40 channels? With 2025 predicted to bring us the peak of this cycle's skip activity it would be great to know where the FM activity is so that we can make skip contacts with each other.

Thanks.

 

[19wrc333]

Down here in The Netherlands, everyone is on FM.
Officially, we're just on the 40 channels (26.965 to 27.405), but then on FM.
We do hear US stations on AM sometimes when there's skip, obviously the channel 6 stations, but also channel 11, sometimes on 28.

Locally, we're on channel 14, but in other areas they use different channels.

The other day I was also listening to 26.805 on FM and could hear a US station talk to some folks here in Europe somewhere. They could not hear me it seems, oh well.. will keep on trying.

 

[sp5it]

Here FM only sometimes for local QSO's
AM mostly. Zeroes channel raster.
Mike

 

[Brother DXer]

How many of you are operating on CB in FM mode? Is there a group in your area? Are you working skip in FM mode on any of the standard 40 channels? With 2025 predicted to bring us the peak of this cycle's skip activity it would be great to know where the FM activity is so that we can make skip contacts with each other.

Thanks.

As you know, at one time we had a FM32 net in my area and I can't say enough great things about talking on FM. I loved it, but due to some guys moving away and various other reasons, it just slowly ended. Now if I'm on FM it's down lower and like the other modes, when conditions are good, FM skip is great. It's also much calmer, friendlier, etc...

73
Rodney

 

[BC Coyote]

I feel like a stuck record saying this again...... There are hundreds if not thousands of FM operators on 26.805. I've talked skip all over the world on FM on that frequency as have hundreds of others.
26.805 is the international FM call frequency. There aren't any others that I know of, and I've never ever heard FM on the regular 40.
So, if you want to hear FM, talk FM, or work skip on FM, 26.805 is the frequency. Check it out, and then you (or others) won't have to say you've never heard FM on 11 meters!
By the way, it's the frequency I monitor most often so if you make it down there give me a shout, you never know, I just might hear you !

 

[Henry HPSD]

Hello !

What BC coyotes said....26,805 is well known.. and perhaps to add to his post:
In europa 27,315 FM is also often used !

For myself:

I think i have now about 70 DXCC's on FM mode using 40channels and 4 watt maximum. But i do have to say.. most of them were contacted in the 90's and 00's.

The "old" charley tango DXing group was ones dedicated to FM DXing. https://charlietangodxgroup.forumotion.com/ You will find lots of dedicated FM dxers there.

Although the "DXing" activity isnt as it used to be ...(the band was loaded) but you will still find stations calling there. (channel 31) .
I must have had thousands of QSO's there.
When i was in 234 div (afghanistan) i remember making a number of QSO's with Europa using FM.....loads of fun !

As 19WRC333 pointed out ...the regular (local) FM calling frequency in 19div is 14.
There are always Dutch guys around there, and with the skip rolling you will also find other countries there last year i have heard roemenia, brazil, crete, turkey, uk , gemany etc just by "sitting' on 14.

For "state side" stations it could be of help to lissen to the UK FM frequencies. As normally UK "comes in first"... they run from 27.601,25 to 27.991,25 ( 10Khz spacing). You will also find "church radios broadcasting 24/7...so a good indicator from propagation. Just like we used to monitor WFLA in Tampa (FM broadcasting on 25870 ? or 25970?) ... no idea if that is still active though lol, that one springs to mind.. .i do know there are other "broadcast" feed channels
Another "indicator" from Europa (Denmark) would be the WORLD MUSIC RADIO on 25,800 AM ... active 24/7 https://www.facebook.com/WorldMusicRadioWMR/

Im confident if skip is rolling... you will be able to find lots of EU in FM.

Kind regards, Henry

 

[AudioShockwav]

Hello !

What BC coyotes said....26,805 is well known.. and perhaps to add to his post:
In europa 27,315 FM is also often used !

For myself:

I think i have now about 70 DXCC's on FM mode using 40channels and 4 watt maximum. But i do have to say.. most of them were contacted in the 90's and 00's.

The "old" charley tango DXing group was ones dedicated to FM DXing. https://charlietangodxgroup.forumotion.com/ You will find lots of dedicated FM dxers there.

Although the "DXing" activity isnt as it used to be ...(the band was loaded) but you will still find stations calling there. (channel 31) .
I must have had thousands of QSO's there.
When i was in 234 div (afghanistan) i remember making a number of QSO's with Europa using FM.....loads of fun !

As 19WRC333 pointed out ...the regular (local) FM calling frequency in 19div is 14.
There are always Dutch guys around there, and with the skip rolling you will also find other countries there last year i have heard roemenia, brazil, crete, turkey, uk , gemany etc just by "sitting' on 14.

For "state side" stations it could be of help to lissen to the UK FM frequencies. As normally UK "comes in first"... they run from 27.601,25 to 27.991,25 ( 10Khz spacing). You will also find "church radios broadcasting 24/7...so a good indicator from propagation. Just like we used to monitor WFLA in Tampa (FM broadcasting on 25870 ? or 25970?) ... no idea if that is still active though lol, that one springs to mind.. .i do know there are other "broadcast" feed channels
Another "indicator" from Europa (Denmark) would be the WORLD MUSIC RADIO on 25,800 AM ... active 24/7 https://www.facebook.com/WorldMusicRadioWMR/

Im confident if skip is rolling... you will be able to find lots of EU in FM.

Kind regards, Henry

Good to see you Henry, hope you are well.

73
Jeff

 

[Henry HPSD]

Good to be around Jeff !
(ill PM you als i dont want to hyjack the toppic.)
TU fr asking !

Kind regards,
H.

 

[somicide]

I feel like a stuck record saying this again...... There are hundreds if not thousands of FM operators on 26.805. I've talked skip all over the world on FM on that frequency as have hundreds of others.
26.805 is the international FM call frequency. There aren't any others that I know of, and I've never ever heard FM on the regular 40.
So, if you want to hear FM, talk FM, or work skip on FM, 26.805 is the frequency. Check it out, and then you (or others) won't have to say you've never heard FM on 11 meters!
By the way, it's the frequency I monitor most often so if you make it down there give me a shout, you never know, I just might hear you !

can confirm, i modified my cobra 2000 gtl to work with FM and uppers / lowers channels. 26.805 is the freq where i hear FM all the time, sometimes its rapidfire (capture effect) so be prepared to jump the hell in when or if you get a chance

edit: before someone asks, the kit used was from spectrum communications. scroll down this page and look for FMD455 https://www.spectrumcomms.co.uk/CB_Kits.htm

 

[TM86]

edit: before someone asks, the kit used was from spectrum communications. scroll down this page and look for FMD455 https://www.spectrumcomms.co.uk/CB_Kits.htm

Just curious, what was the difficulty level on that installation?

 

[somicide]

Just curious, what was the difficulty level on that installation?

apologies about oversimplifying this, but its two solder connections. i would personally rate it as a 7.5/10 on a 148 gtl / 2000 gtl since you need a frequency counter, minimum.

the IF amp that the above site refers to is located near the L12 and L13 cans. L12 is 7.8MHz and L13 is 455KHz. it should be done properly - the length of wire used needs to be the absolute minimum for example

edit: if you doubt your ability to solder, then dont do it. sometimes its not even you or your ability, eg triple check your soldering irons tip before you plug it in. you can lift the traces only one time...

 

[Wire Weasel]

No

 

[somicide]

for reference about the fmd455 mod, heres a schematic

note the signal deviating into 455KHz in the big yellow circle. this is the most critical aspect of the mod on a cobra 148 gtl / cobra 2000 gtl. the same logic can supposedly be applied to any radio which lacks fm

anyway not trying to derail this thread, i will post this with more photos in the actual cb radio modifications forum at another point to fully elaborate on how to do this. i knew i had a color coded schematic of either / or of the aforementioned radios somewhere on my computer but couldnt find it last night