Advantages of HAM radio over CB radio communication:
More Power - CBs are limited to 4W, HAMs are legal up to 1000W
More Clarity - FM provides a clearer, more understandable signal than AM (CBs)
Less Interference - CB is subject to severe interference from lightning, engine ignition noise, and other natural and man-made sources. Due to use of illegal amplifiers, CB signals often interfere with adjacent channels. Also CB signals often "skip" across long distances making it difficult to use some channels
Greater Distance - One consequence of greater power is greater distance of communication. In addition hams can use repeaters, which are special receive-retransmit stations placed high on towers and buildings
Modern - AM hogs frequencies, is noisy, and is subject to interference between stations. Hams use crystal clear narrow band FM for short distance and very efficient single sideband for long distances
Courteous Operators - Generally speaking HAM operators are more courteous, 'trash talk' is virtually non-existent on HAM
ARES Participation - ARES provides emergency communication for local government and community service agencies.
RACES Participation - RACES is a public service provided by a reserve (volunteer) group of Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) Operators that is administered by local, county and state emergency management agencies, and supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the United States government
Skywarn Participation - Skywarn is a concept developed in the early 1970s that was intended to promote a cooperative effort between the National Weather Service and communities. The emphasis of the effort is often focused on the storm spotter, an individual who takes a position near their community and reports wind gusts, hail size, rainfall, and cloud formations that could signal a developing tornado. Another part of SKYWARN is the receipt and effective distribution of National Weather Service information
IRLP / EchoLink - A HAM can connect to a repeater and dial an IRLP or EchoLink node that makes a connection over the Internet to a repeater in another state or country.
AutoPatch - A HAM can use the repeaters AutoPatch that allows them to make a phone call where cell service isnt available. They can call loved ones and let them know they will be late.
Listen Weather Channels (maybe CBs can do this too, i am not a CBer)
APRS - this technology allows your HAM radio to beacon your GPS position to other HAMs or over the Internet so your family can see where you are in the backcountry
Talk to Astronauts - with a HAM you can talk to the International Space Station as it comes overhead in orbit!
Great for Parent/Child activities - my son (9yrs old) is studying for his license, this has been a great tool for us to grow closer and get smarter at the same time.
AND I AM SURE THERE IS MORE, I am a new HAM but I have learned about all of these so far... it's very exciting...
The downsides are: You have to get a license, and the equipment generally speaking is a bit more expensive. But these are minor, the test is pretty easy and a good HAM radio can be had for < $200; The benefits highly out weigh the cost!
Please don't flame me because I'm serious in this inquiry.
Equipment and license aside, I use my CB to chat with other FJ's/rigs on trail runs and that's about it. So my range is generally line of site. You could get away with tieing two soup cans together with a long string in many situations (and doing a daisey chain with 5 other FJ's perhaps). THEY won't have HAM radios for the most part and the conversations go something like this == "There are 3 motorcyles heading down the trail your way"; "Take the line to the left when you pass the forked tree"; "I'm hungry, do you want to stop at the next ridge and crack a soda?"; "You all go on, I'm going to stop to take a leak". I don't think that's appropriate conversation for the highly regulated HAM network.
I have an Irridium SAT phone for work so I can talk from anywhere on the globe to anywhere with any phone. I use the cell phone when in range (cheaper).
Is there any advantage to me getting a HAM radio set-up? If so, what and why?
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There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unaltered, to find the ways that you have changed.
Please don't flame me because I'm serious in this inquiry.
Equipment and license aside, I use my CB to chat with other FJ's/rigs on trail runs and that's about it. So my range is generally line of site. You could get away with tieing two soup cans together with a long string in many situations (and doing a daisey chain with 5 other FJ's perhaps). THEY won't have HAM radios for the most part and the conversations go something like this == "There are 3 motorcyles heading down the trail your way"; "Take the line to the left when you pass the forked tree"; "I'm hungry, do you want to stop at the next ridge and crack a soda?"; "You all go on, I'm going to stop to take a leak". I don't think that's appropriate conversation for the highly regulated HAM network.
I have an Irridium SAT phone for work so I can talk from anywhere on the globe to anywhere with any phone. I use the cell phone when in range (cheaper).
Is there any advantage to me getting a HAM radio set-up? If so, what and why?
i think the type of conversation you described is totally fine for the HAM network and i wouldnt describe it as highly regulated, it is regulated whereas CB is completely unregulated, but the regulations (as you learn for the test) are pretty basic, common sence stuff, about not causing interference, and not using frequencies outside the amatuer bands unless it is a TRUE emergency.
if the other bullet points i make in the first post dont interest you at all then as far as i can tell there wouldnt be much advantage for you specifically, but it's a lot of fun getting involved in things like ARES and RACES, etc...
thats my take, and the SAT phone sounds cool, i have never used one of those.
I can say that trying to use CB's or FRS on the trail works (for our groups) about 60% of the time. That's not bad. That being said, for the times when the group is more than 1/2 mile apart (in the mountains) - a 2m HAM rig putting out at least 10watts gets me 3-4 miles of coverage in the mounatains. This means no more losing rigs on the trail. It's pretty minor when you do lose contact, but I like it for the convenience.
Also, enroute to the trail is much better when you're on HAM vs. cb or even cell phone. Again, better sound quality, distance, etc,e etc.
Do I expect every 4x4 enthusiast to be a ham? No...but I bet with a concentrated effort we could get a lot more than we have now. For large organized runs (FJ Summit), having a HAM setup & using it for the event would be a HUGE advantage.
The downsides are:[/u] You have to get a license, and the equipment generally speaking is a bit more expensive. But these are minor, the test is pretty easy and a good HAM radio can be had for < $200; The benefits highly out weigh the cost!
Clicked on the practice test....can you please post where the info is located that you need to study for this test, and all the licensing info?
The issue here is not whether HAM is higher quality and you get more bang for your buck. The issue is that the majority of wheelers have CB. When the AZ group goes wheeling, there might be one or two that have FRS. Guess what? They're screwed.
Personally, if everyone had HAM then I would've gotten a HAM. But I wheel with a network of CBers. Would you bring a PC to a Mac party?
Chances are I'll get a HAM someday. When the rest of the group starts dropping $200 on those radios as opposed to $75 on a CB. And when I start doing more wheeling, camping on my own or in more remote areas.
Oh, and I realize this thread might bring about more wheelers converting over to HAM and I appreciate you taking the time to upgrade the communication system within our network. Who knows, in a few Summits... HAM might be the dominant form. Until then? I'll milk my CB for all it's worth and wait for Lance to upgrade his HAM (again) so I can steal his old one.
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"I'd like to die in my sleep like my grandfather. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car."
lol todd....you're right--CB's aren't going away any time soon. Hopefully we can increase our HAM numbers so that we're at least recognizable. I've not had a mobile ham rig in years, but now I'm going to get one so that i'll have it when i'm on a run and another ham is around. Fact is...usually only the trail leader + tail gunner need comm, this can easily be done by hams if we want.
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