[Aguillard]

I don't undertsand why people are still installing CB's in their vehicles. Unless you get the hand-mic version, they take up alot of room, and then you have to install an antennae onto your FJC. CB's normally only have a range of 4-5 miles and less in mountainous terrain (unless you have an illegal amp).

With the GMRS Handheld radio, they are inexpensive, you can find them anywhere, small enough to put in your pocket or clip it somewhere. They have ranges from 8-22 miles, and they offer more channels with privacy, so that others can not hear your conversations with your friends. When your on Channel 5 of the CB, everyone one can hear you.

I often travel to events with a group of friends, and we stay in contact on the road with our GMRS or FRS radios, and then when were out in the field, we can spread out and still stay in contact while looking for things. Try that with your average CB radio.

The better brands of GMRS are Motorola, Midland, and Cobra. I personally have Midlands.

 

[RicoVerde]

$85 license fee...

Or you could be among the 20-50 million non licensed users in the US and take your chances

 

[FunJunkie]

actually there are specific channels you need to be licenced on but nobody is. lol truthfully though, CB's have infinitly better sound quality than gmrs. I have both because me and some freinds bought em for trails awhile back in Hawaii but even the nice cobra models that have a solar panel and cost over a hundred bucks is like listening to someone trying to talk over a swarm of bees and a shaken plastic bucket of pea gravel. If you are hiking they are a little better because you dont have the truck noises to compete with but I still prefer the CB. as for size my cobra 75 is all insside the handset. there is about a 2x1 inch box you need to plug into but that is under my center console. great little unit!!

 

[Aguillard]

yep-I guess I'm one of the millions of non-licensed people out there. As for sound quality. Mine are actually really good, and I can clearly hear everyone else that uses them. But again, I would range really matters, when the CB can only reach (legally) 4-5 miles, and the GMRS can reach over 20 miles.

Just my thoughts

 

[Sanderhawk]

I just put my CB in and it seems like it is working. I can hear some people real clear and some have alot of static i`m assuming its the range. I haven`t had a conversation yet with anyone but its mainly for out trail trips anyway.

 

[1SikFJC]

I have had my Radio Shack CB Radio w/ external speaker for almost 8 years now and it hasn't let me down yet. Sure I don't get the range that GMRS radios do, but I haven't been and don't plan on being 20, 10, or even 5 miles from who I am trying to speak with. I use it to communicate while on my way to trail runs, road trips, and when I am on the trail. So the people who I am speaking with, generally, are never more than a mile away. I just did a quick search on GMRS and FRS radios and this is what came up: FRS and GMRS Radio Guide. According to the site, GMRS systems don't get much more than a 1-2 mile range in most conditions. Just because I have read that doesn't mean that I don't believe they could get up to a 20 or even 30 mile range like the manufacturers claim but I don't feel like spending almost $200 between the radios and license just to find out. To each their own but my CB will do fine for me. ;D

 

[cruiserlarry]

actually there are specific channels you need to be licenced on but nobody is. lol truthfully though, CB's have infinitly better sound quality than gmrs. I have both because me and some freinds bought em for trails awhile back in Hawaii but even the nice cobra models that have a solar panel and cost over a hundred bucks is like listening to someone trying to talk over a swarm of bees and a shaken plastic bucket of pea gravel. If you are hiking they are a little better because you dont have the truck noises to compete with but I still prefer the CB. as for size my cobra 75 is all insside the handset. there is about a 2x1 inch box you need to plug into but that is under my center console. great little unit!!

Couple of corrections:

Privacy codes do not prevent someone else from hearing your conversation - they keep other conversations from interfering with yours. Any GMRS/ FRS radio has the same codes available, and most scan to find which you are using. The idea is to isolate groups from each other using the codes to minimize interference...

All GMRS channels require a license. While FRS and GMRS do share some frequencies, FRS radios are limited to 1/2 watt maximum output power, and any radio using more power on those share channels must be be a licensed operator. And only GMRS radios can use additional antennas and repeaters - FRS radios must have fixed length antennas and cannot access repeaters.

I suggest everyone have a CB because it is still the most prevelant communications method on the trail. Alos have a GMRS / FRS radio, as they are clearer (using UHF frequencies), and more efficient. And then, I suggest you consider getting your amateur radio technician license, which will allow you to use vhf/uhf ham radios and repeaters - a superior method for communicating in the field, especially trying to access emergency personnel...