Comtek! CB Radio Coolness....sssss

[freeze]

So I just went over to Comtek Services (Satellite, care stereo, CB & Two way radio)

Two people working there are really helpful and nice. I picked up a new (old looking) CB for the Tacoma as from the Intro Course about logging roads...

They mentioned they will help out the Association and perhaps organize a day at Comtek.

Who'd be in for visiting Comtek for some communication stuff?

[Winch]

I knew it would only be a matter of time before I throw in my two cents on coms. I have all three "systems" - FRS, CB and VHF. I refuse to bring the FRS on any run because that is just simply no way professional people should try and communicate with each other. How many commercial truck drivers do you see going by in Semi's chatting with each other on little FRS's? :)

CB's unfortunately also don't work when off roading. Their reception is poor and unreliable. The other day at waiparous when our groups split up, there was a need for us to communicate, but we couldn't do that with either FRS or CB.

So, I'm a huge fan of VHF, and anyone who is serious about communicating (whether you are a police officer, a semi-truck driver or an offroader) should save their money and invest in one of these. It is also a safety issue. If you are ever in an isolated area where you (or the group) don't have cellphone coverage, an FRS or CB won't help you either, but you are just about guaranteed to find some help on a VHF. :)

[Brazenhead]

I don't know if I could make it for a visit to Comtek. However I am very interested in getting a handheld CB unit.

This is the one i've been contemplating.
http://www.starelectronicsandcommunications.com/images/products/detail/midland75822.2.jpg

[RedApe]

ALL over this visit.

Echo Gary's comments on VHF...having said that, I'll take traditional CB over FRS. It's a preference thing :)

[Tarzan]

Funny how we all have different takes on this subject. For the longest time I used CB and it works well for a group in close contact. CB does have limits but back in the day it that's all we had. FRS and later GMRS came along and perform similar or sometimes better than CB again for a close contact group. FRS/GMRS biggest benefit was you did not have to install anything and it's portable. Lately FRS/GMRS seems to be what most people are using and cb has dwindled in popularity. This club seems to mostly use FRS/GMRS so I am surprised they recommend CB. The best way to communicate is still VHF but cost and license are limiting factors for many. I will try and track down a story about a fellow who aided injured people using his 4x4, GPS, FRS and VHF but it comes down to he came across people in serious trouble needing medical aid and using his gps he relayed co ordinates of the site (where he 4x4d into and out of VHF range) to his VHF using FRS.

[BeachBoy]

I need my licence before october, therefore, I'm in for the visit

[freeze]

I've got my VHF, however, I'm going for my license as the more difficult our trips become the more our members will have to go in that direction.

FRS radios are cheap and easy to obtain so it became easy for our group to use, however, now that we have a pretty serious sized trail run groups... we will have to adapt.

Tail gunner can't even talk to the lead when we have that many trucks spaced out and like Gary mentioned.. if we take two different trails it really doesn't work with FRS.

This is where I got my VHF radio a while ago:
http://www.ntfc.ca/

Really nice people there also.

I have a Yaesu waterproof handheld for the backcountry. I think a solid unit with a whip would be better for the truck. I'm making the centre consol the "communications centre!" CB and VHF. I really dislike wiring projects but this one is going to top it all!

I agree with Gary.. I believe our direction should be in the VHF (Ham) direction as we've had internal meetings about this also.

I'm reading over the course materials and it really isn't much fun....

Keith... I just read a PDF saying the logging roads are on VHF and not CB anymore... we will upgrade our course to reflect.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/engineering/documents/brochures/Guide-for-Safe-Travel.pdf

Perhaps we should organize a HAM license course with CT4WD members... this is becoming more apparent that we will be going in this direction.

[Tarzan]

http://www.eham.net/articles/21266

[RedApe]

Keith... I just read a PDF saying the logging roads are on VHF and not CB anymore... we will upgrade our course to reflect.
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/engineering/documents/brochures/Guide-for-Safe-Travel.pdf


Yes...in BC, it's been VHF for years. Having said that, many management areas still use CB as well to broadcast, as public penetration of VHF is limited. Call it a grandfathered practice.
The signage on the logging road, if active, will state which VHF and CB channels to monitor. Even saw this as recent as June in the Kelowna area.

I'm all for getting VHF and certified...been procrastinating this for a while now

[Tarzan]

I have my hand held VHF adapted to run in my vehicle. I have a magnetic dual band antenna with cable adapters that allows me to monitor frs while I communicate on vhf and it is 12v powered. The radio converts back to hand held easily so it's the best of both worlds mostly. I also have cb and it can get very busy trying to figure out who is talking to me on what radio. VE6HRY - Added perk you get a free plate!

[freeze]

Hmmm now that's an option too! Thanks Harry.

Here's a question. I've read that you're able to use a CB dual antenna with a VHF. Does anyone have first hand experience with this? I already have a whip fir the CB on the truck now and not really keen in having two seperate whips. I suppose if you're doin it properly you'd have two seperate antennas.

I use my VHF for listening to the crews clearing the avalanches in Rogers Pass and at the backcountry glacier lodge in Revelstoke to communicate with the base.

My knowledge is super limited! I'm learning...

[Tarzan]

With my antenna I can hear cb, frs and vhf, only on vhf can I transmit. VX-7R has dual band recieve so I can listen to frs and vhf at the same time. There are unamed people that can transmit on frs and vhf but you didn't hear that from me.:cool:
I could come out and demonstrate the radio at the Crowsnest run :cool:

[uriedog]

VHF is the way to go in my mind. 60watts O power in your truck, up to 7 in a handheld. as compared to a little 4 watt max CB

also if you lay out a few extra bucks for a quad band radio you can RX/TX to all the FRS, and GMRS frequencies.

[oriontaco]

I would be in for a group VHF license,

This post has been really insightful, great stuff

[fergy4]

vhf is the way to go it is good for close and long we used it out in fort mac all the time doing heavy equip way better than cb i have run cb's for years in my trucks and always found they are big and do not work all the time but i have also known alot og guys are going to vhf for the simple fact longer range better reception and comtex is where i go for all my stuff neede for radio also i have 2 cb whips for sale and 18 feet of cable go with them

[fergy4]

i was wondering where to get licanceing for the ham radios and what is a good one i have been doing some reseach but i cant find anything

[Tarzan]

The club Pres should contact the Calgary Amature Radio Association (CARA) as they hold classes and the one I went thru had lots of members from the Cruiser club and the Nissan club. Cara also supports Rally West as has the Nissan club and it' a good synergy of hobbies working together. Rally West uses radio support to run their events and 4x4's to perform recovery of race cars gone off course and can not get back onto the road. Great way to practice radio operations, winching and see some great driving.

[Hounddog]

i was wondering where to get licanceing for the ham radios and what is a good one i have been doing some reseach but i cant find anything

You can also do the ol', " self directed" study route. That's what I did. Buy your book at: http://www.ntfc.ca/ , down load the exam generator and have at 'er.

If you have a schedule that affords you to have evenings, and weekends off , then you'll have no problem passing the exam. In fact, I'll guarantee that if you can study for an hour or 2, plus a few hours on a weekend, you'll pass the exam with only 2 weeks of studying.

My problem was that I didn't have evenings and weekends off, so I was literally studying 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, then maybe 12 minutes here... I spent soooo much time backtracking due to the fact that I only had very small pockets of study time that it was counter productive. It took me a month with that awful study pattern.

Anyways, I passed the exam but I found that really a guy should have a schedule that will allow decent study time - either that, or take the course.

[Doc McCoy]

Good to know. You're the latest in a long line of people to say how easy it is if you put some time in studying. And for some reason, still nervous about the test. I'm such a pussy.

[Hounddog]

Good to know. You're the latest in a long line of people to say how easy it is if you put some time in studying. And for some reason, still nervous about the test. I'm such a pussy.

Dave, I totally forgot one very important part! You can download what's called the," exam generator" It's essentially the exam! It has a 1000 questions, but the actual exam is only a 100 questions. The generator, will cycle through 100 questions exams - meaning that each time you do the exam generator, it'll spit out a different test each time.

So really, after you've read your course material, you go through the exam generator over and over and over until you start to consistently pass 70% (that"ll get your basic amateur license) or 80% (which will in addition to your basic, allow you to hold your HF - high freq-) The exam generator also provides all correct answers - next coffee night I'll bring my laptop and show you just how cool it is.

Really, it's the ability to cram this material into your noggin in a short time, run out and write the exam. Another suggestion is to set a date to write it. That will put a fire under your butt to diligently study so you make your own deadline.

When you write the test, and you fail, no worries, study for another week, go back and rewrite it. I think it costs $20.00 to write each time? It's a very casual atmosphere where you write the exam - they'll usually tuck you into an empty board room all to yourself.

This route obviously is steering towards perhaps more memorization, then comprehension, so if you want to know a little more between the lines, then taking the course is a good route too. I figured my hands on experience farting around with the radio, and just observing some of the other guys that hold their license would eventually fill in between those lines - and it is, but on a slower level (grin)

[Doc McCoy]

So did you take the exam at Industry Canada?

It would be super cool if you could bring that to the next coffee meet.

[BeachBoy]

I am about half way in the notes, I am doing a first quick pass then I'll start on the internet demo exam and see where I need to study more

[Andyl]

Gotta say, while the FRS/GMRS radios are a little less pro looking... Garmin's Rhino's with the built in mapping & position reporting - would be really sweet on a trail run... I've been watching for a good deal on the Rhino 520HCx for a while now... (Have a nice uniden CB in the 4runner; we wont discuss why it's warranty void if removed stickers are broken - lets just say range isn't an issue for me).

VHF of course is nice; ability to call civilization from the bush is sweet - but it's not exactly needed for truck to truck communication on a trail run...

Andy

[freeze]

We're trying to shift into the direction of VHF as our trail runs have gotten larger and have been breaking into different groups to make things run a little more smooth. The trail leaders at this time will be bringing the VHF radios to talk a good distance away from each other incase they get lost, someone gets injured or a break down.

We're still using the FRS radios between the smaller groups.

[Hounddog]

So did you take the exam at Industry Canada?

It would be super cool if you could bring that to the next coffee meet.



So did you take the exam at Industry Canada?

It would be super cool if you could bring that to the next coffee meet.

Yes I did.

Spectrum Management - (Radio Industry Canada )

#639 5th ave SW Suite 400

403-292-4881

Andrew is the contact there. When you're feeling good and confident give him a shout. You can write the exam anytime during normal business hours I believe.

[mookie]

Just a note to add regarding exams. You don't have to go to Industry Canada for the exam. You can go online and find an examiner that resides close to you and take the exam in the evening or weekend. This may suit folks that can't make it for core hours.

[mookie]

VHF is the way to go in my mind. 60watts O power in your truck, up to 7 in a handheld. as compared to a little 4 watt max CB

also if you lay out a few extra bucks for a quad band radio you can RX/TX to all the FRS, and GMRS frequencies.


Even at 0.5 watts, my handheld VHF will out power my CB.

[mookie]

...here's a question. I've read that you're able to use a CB dual antenna with a VHF. ...

You can, but it's a compromise. You'd be defeating the purpose of the full potential of VHF. CB resides in the 10meter (technically 11meters) and VHF is in the 2 meter bandwidth. CB is in the 26-28mhz range while VHF is 144mhz. The spread here would result in basically a CB like performance....not good. Unfortunately you have to run two antennas. Just hope you don't want an HF radio...then you have three antennas...

[freeze]

I took a quick glance at your Tacoma the other night... how many antenna's are you running?

Is there something low profile for a VHF that does good range?

[Winch]

I am about half way in the notes, I am doing a first quick pass then I'll start on the internet demo exam and see where I need to study more

Where did you guys get the study material? Is it something that can be downloaded online?

[Hounddog]

Gary,
I bought just one book from NTFC in the NE. (Nathan posted the link to it at the begining of this thread)

I think there are more books you can buy, but this one seemed to cover the fundamentals for the exam. I'll post the title of it when I get home tonight.

Also, I'll bring my radio geek stuff this Wed for coffee night.

[BeachBoy]

I'm almost done reading!!!

Some parts are way too hardcore, but I guess with practice exams I can see how deep I have to know this stuff (electronics mainly)

[Hounddog]

Way to go! The exam generator also cross references with the study guide so you"ll be able to review quickly if you like. You're well on your way!

Gary, the book I bought is called:

Ham Radio Study Notes for the Canadian Basic Exam.

Written by, Ron Kolody

$35.00

[mookie]

I took a quick glance at your Tacoma the other night... how many antenna's are you running?

Is there something low profile for a VHF that does good range?

One antenna for the HF radio (it's off when I wheel)
One antenna for the VHF radio
And I have a mount for the CB, but I rarely put that antenna on since most of us have VHF now.

Yes, there are several low profile antennas you can get. They have this really tiny one that you can barely see-but as you know, range/performance takes a hit.

Hounddog has a nice shorter lower profile VHF antenna. It's just on the boarder of great/fair because of it's length. It's the one I'm going to go to for VHF.

[Jacked Up]

i'd be very interested in this venture. I want a radio/cb unit in the FJ, always a good extra peice of communication equipment regardless.

Keep me informed I'll attend.

[Hounddog]

Hey, does anyone want to take a spin over to see Ray at NTF Communications this Saturday morning? I"m thinking of upgrading my handheld to a dual band, as well to take a peek at the latest mobiles out there. They close a noon I believe Saturday so, it would be a mid morning meet.

[BeachBoy]

Some of us will be at the 2 day run.

[Hounddog]

Oooops! I forgot all about the 2 dayer. Never mind chaps, carry on!

[Tarzan]

What 2 dayer and where? Is Gary leading another 2 hour tour (you had to be there) if all goes well?

[freeze]

.... we've gotta get you in the courses ASAP so you can make the trips! If you register now you can still get the cheapo price until September 1!

[Winch]

Gary, the book I bought is called:

Ham Radio Study Notes for the Canadian Basic Exam.

Written by, Ron Kolody

$35.00

Thanks Kim - will check it out.

[Winch]

So, I started scouting out some call signs:
VE6SAS - Solid axle swap
VE6SAC - Solid axle conversion
VE6TOY - Toyota

All taken - bummer!

[Tarzan]

How about VE6GRY or my fave VE6LST as in lost ba ha ha ha....