Vehicle Communications (CB?)

[JesseS]

I bought the radio and the cable last year before they were banned. Kinda wish I had another to set up as a repeater. I saw someone here in Houston set one up as a repeater to listen in on the ISS when it flew over last month.

Where are they banned?? You can still find plenty of them on Amazon.

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[JesseS]

I loved the old days, I ran a MARS station in Germany (DA1YM) for several years, making phone patch calls for soldiers. Trouble was propagation limits made the calls best in the middle of the night, so many calls made after too many German beers . This was before packet switching or 10mtr repeaters so all HF. All computers now, not a Swan 350 to be seen.

 

[Peter Gosenya]

As much as I love my old citizens band, most of the guys I’m wheeling with are all running GMRS now. Cross communication with HAM and FRS (walkie talkie). $70 for a 10 year license, covers your whole family and just pay & play, no test.

My buddies and I just made the jump to gmrs. Haven’t wheeled with them yet just some testing here in the city of Atlanta. We all bought the midland 15 watt and at a range of 5 miles with skyscrapers all around me in Buckhead we could talk. I have no doubt the trails will be no problem.

 

[chtucker]

From memory, Aluminim will not act as a ground plane either. At a minimum you need to ground the mount. Worse case, run it to whatever grounding post is available, but that could be inconvenient from the potential mounting spot.

Aluminum makes a fine ground plane.. Biggest issue is that you can't mount an antenna to the roof. It will be interesting to see if there is a way to do front fender mount... Or more than likely someone will come up with a rear tire carrier mount.

 

[Tarjea]

Aluminum makes a fine ground plane.. Biggest issue is that you can't mount an antenna to the roof. It will be interesting to see if there is a way to do front fender mount... Or more than likely someone will come up with a rear tire carrier mount.

I'm going to see if i can mount whips to the mirrors like my old Bronco had. If not then I hope you're right?.

 

[vrewald14]

FRS and GMRS 2-way radios all the way.

I will never buy another CB piece of equipment.

Even Jeep Jamboree no longer is running CB -they have transitioned to FRS/GMRS.

 

[chtucker]

I'm going to see if i can mount whips to the mirrors like my old Bronco had. If not then I hope you're right?.

Likely plastic housing/mount... Difficult to mount to and no ground plane..

 

[Tarjea]

Likely plastic housing/mount... Difficult to mount to and no ground plane..

It is very plastic. I'm scared for the mirrors let alone whips which is kinda the joke. Best place would be just in front of the mirror arms on the body if you want it in the front or on the back somewhere. I think the rear bumper is plastic, too.

 

[Mattwings]

Aluminum makes a fine ground plane.. Biggest issue is that you can't mount an antenna to the roof. It will be interesting to see if there is a way to do front fender mount... Or more than likely someone will come up with a rear tire carrier mount.

I guess I was thinking back in the day how we couldn’t find a way to ground to aluminum (connect the coax shield) and how magnet mounts wouldn’t work. Also a problem with galvanic corrosion if/when you do. It’s been about 30 years since I worked in that field (family business when Inwas a kid).

 

[stedydrizl]

Got to agree with handhelds, the BAOFENG are pretty good bang for buck. Antennas are tough on Aluminum and plastic, my Sirius went down hill when I bought Aluminum F150.
But in the end, the CB would still be more stable than Fords SYNC system

 

[JesseS]

Aluminum makes a fine ground plane.. Biggest issue is that you can't mount an antenna to the roof. It will be interesting to see if there is a way to do front fender mount... Or more than likely someone will come up with a rear tire carrier mount.

Yes, most GP antennas are Aluminum, options for the Bronco will be base loaded or dual band cowl mount (in place of the Am/FM that is never used), a spare tire mount, a magnetic base load for the roll bar (if a suitable spot is available), or a 1/2 wave whip mounted to a rear 1/4 panel (best performance, and my option)
(Nightwalker, N5CRK, DA1YM (retired))

 

[AZbronco1]

I work a 3 letter agency helping with their LMR (Land Mobile Radio) on boats/aircraft/cars. I can see the government buying some Broncos in the future so I’ll probably be starting a project with a company like “Sti-co” (located in NY state) to develop a covert tri-band antenna(VHF, UHF, 7/800). Most likely will just replace the factory antenna. Should work great with ham and FRS radios. Other antenna options will be numerous since the Bronco is metal.

 

[chtucker]

I work a 3 letter agency helping with their LMR (Land Mobile Radio) on boats/aircraft/cars. I can see the government buying some Broncos in the future so I’ll probably be starting a project with a company like “Sti-co” (located in NY state) to develop a covert tri-band antenna(VHF, UHF, 7/800). Most likely will just replace the factory antenna. Should work great with ham and FRS radios. Other antenna options will be numerous since the Bronco is metal.

Except those vehicle specific antennas from Sti-co are stupid expensive $500+ each-- Aok when the .gov is paying. But not for the Everyman... reality is most of us are worrying about CB or 2M/440/dmr and there are plenty of good options short to talk with a variety of mounts for less than $150.

Heck a super flex 1/4 wave from Sti-co us under $50

 

[AZbronco1]

Except those vehicle specific antennas from Sti-co are stupid expensive $500+ each-- Aok when the .gov is paying. But not for the Everyman... reality is most of us are worrying about CB or 2M/440/dmr and there are plenty of good options short to talk with a variety of mounts for less than $150.

Heck a super flex 1/4 wave from Sti-co us under $50

Obviously comms for my work purposes are considered critical items so quality and performance matter to me.
I’m still debating what radio I’ll be putting in my Bronco. Definitely will not be a CB.

 

[wrbix]

Pics of the Badlands that ran the Baja NORRA race were posted today under that thread and show two antennae - one on mirror mount and one appears to be on the attachment point for roof mounted light bar......one by mirror may just be the OEM AM/FM

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