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Just wondering if others have these handheld devices???


I am wanting one for car cruises that I will be attending to talk to others while driving.

Can anyone give me advice???

If you want one in the vehicle, go ahead and get a mobile unit (one that goes in the car and is wired in) instead of a portable (handheld) unit. Mobile units are much better in terms of reception, TX power and clarity. I'm not sure what the laws are down in Oz, but you are limited to 4 watts of TX power here in the states. Most if not all of the units you can purchase have the maximum legal wattage already.

I have several, including a base station with a nice 3' antenna (RIP 18' shakespeare ) on top of my chimney. I'm in a valley, and can converse with anyone in the basin before they flip to the backside of the mtns.

As for equipment, use an antenna properly tuned for the frequencies of the radio. In the US, citizens band radios operate on assigned frequencies in the mid-upper 20mhz range. Technically, the full wave antenna for these frequencies borders on 40 feet!! Obviously you can't stick that on your car, so most use 1/8 wavelength annenae that clock in at around 3', a bit more acceptable for your car. You can buy any prefab antannae and have it work pretty well. Also, use the largest gage wire you can, these carry the data much better than smaller wire.

As for the transiever itself, it's up to you. I prefer Cobra and Midland equipment myself, as i've had great luck with both for many years. My mobile unit right now is a Cobra 41 Plus. You can get a variety of features on yours, and that's up to you what you get. I tend to look for instant channel 9 (channel 9 is the universal emergency channel, so i can be on it or scan it instantly), a noise filter of some sort to cut down on the background noise, and the weather channels built in. Other features on the higher end models will feature a built in SWR meter (a method of tuning you antenna for optimum range) and scan feature so you don't have to stay on one channel.

Design and looks will depend on your tastes

Look for a good solid unit that you won't mind looking at and that maybe has a dimmer for night driving, install antennae and get to chattin'!

Hi,
I suspect that we could be mixing apples and oranges here.

Here in the states, we have Citizens Band (CB) radios
that are limited in power and operate (40 channels) on
HF or High Frequencies (around 27Mhz).
Antenna heights and sizes are severly limited as is
the distances you are "supposed" to operate over.
Fallout addressed many concerns and options.
A license is/was required to operate these radios. To get
a license one simply filled in the blanks on the form
that comes with each radio and mailed it in to our
Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

We also have completely unlicensed public radios that
operate in what is called the "Family Radio
Service (FRS)."
These are 14 channel, palm sized, hand held, units that
operate in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range.
the 14 channels span from 462.5625Mhz in 14 channels to
467.7125Mhz. These radios are easy to use and program.
The operate with a maximum output power of 500miliwatts
effective radiated power (ERP). The antennas are built in
and you cannot add on, extend, or lengthen them. What you
see when you look at it, is THE way it has to stay.

My wife and I use these radios to communicate over a 6 acre
tract of land with absolutely no problems. They are powered
by four "AA" batteries.
We have also used them when communicating between
vehicles when on trips.
Especially, when "My Navigator" turned the "other" right.

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 10-Jul-2005 17:07

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

OK thanks. But I not any wiser!


I am looking at a 40 channel 1/2 to 1 watt handheld device that is portable.

Anyone have these??? or know of someone who can comment???

Hi,
The biggest problem is that you arn't in the states and
so far the only responses have been from there. You need
one of your countrymen to reply. Despite your "UHF"
comment in the initial request for information, what you
describe in your last comment is a garden variety, 40
channel, Citizens Band, portable. Most commonly furnished
now days with a flexible rubber antenna commonly called a
rubber duck.
It's not UFH but HF.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

We used to have a CB radio mounted under the glove compartment in our car for chatting to people on rally days etc.

I can't remember much about it.. its still laying around somewhere.

I do not believe you need licencing, but i could be wrong.

I have only been using the marine radios recently, so i'm not much use to you.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

No the handheld ones you don't need a licence to use it.

THey are only a 40 channel device.

Am looking about still for them. Just need one for this weekend.

You mean you can't find a place that sells them?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

in the US, you don't need a license to operate a CB radio. check out [link=Midland]http://www.midlandradio.com/comersus/store/comersus_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=42" style="COLOR: #FFFF00[/link] for some good radios.

Cobra also makes a good line, as does uniden/bearcat.. but i don't know what's available there.

You won't find much with .5-1 watt, they'll all have around 4-6. More the merrier!!

Yeh I have found where they sell them but just wondering which one to get???

They usually come in pairs but they are only 1/2 watt for about $40 - 100 or there are a single one which is 1 and a half watt for $69.

I think you're not talking about a CB radio, but more along the lines of a general two way radio, however since we're in diff. countries i could be mistaken. If not, check out [link=Motorola]http://www.motorola.com/governmentandenterprise/northamerica/en-us/public/functions/browseproduct/transnavone.aspx?navigationpath=id_803i/id_1388i" style="COLOR: #FFFF00[/link] (scroll down a bit) for some high tech two way radios that work on assigned frequencies so you can talk to a group or just two people with use of CTCSS (continuous tone control squelch system), or, as motorola likes to call it, PL (private line). Long story short, only the person you want to talk to will hear you.

You can get these at most every communications store, radio shack/general electronics stores and some high end home/car audio shops.

Hope i'm not too far off,
Tim

He is going to need a CB (big aerial, lotsa channels, compatible with all the other radios) unless he intends on buying 10+ car owners 2 ways.

unless you can get something that can get on the CB channels... but i'd say thats what he wants, a handheld device that will allow him to chatter with other car drivers on their CB radios (because most weekend cruisers and bushy drivers already have the units installed)

can a 2 way do this?

If not, the description would be right, a hand held CB/CB compatible radio suitable for conversations between vehicles.

Last edited by Callatya at 14-Jul-2005 11:44

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett