communication

[kingmantraveler]

I have a Midland 75-785 CB handheld with a small antenna. It has 4watts of output.
Does anyone have experience using this type (or similar) CB on foot in a desert environment?
I'd like to know the approximate maximum distance I could expect a transmission to carry.
Many thanks

[reptilist]

My own limited experience with CBz was not impressive. Probably not worth the weight.

[SteveS]

On flat dry-lake type terrain you will have good range, in a tight twisty narrow canyon you will have almost no range.

What do you plan to use the radio for?

IMO for short range talk between fellow hikers FRS radio is better for unlicensed communication. Power on FRS may be less, but moving up to UHF form HF will make communication a lot more predicable.

If your goal is emergency contact, you should go with one of the current PLBs on the market. You could get an FCC license and then decide on something in that market.

Of course if you and your fellow travelers have CBs, and you travel in a tight group, the CB is a very handy tool.

[kingmantraveler]

Thanks for the responses, Terry and Steve.
I'm going to use it for commo between a SAG partner and myself down south. The terrain's level, with nothing, (telephone lines etc) to cause interference. We'll start out each day NMT 15 miles apart.
From what you say, my handheld will be adequate. I've used it on the AzT, in the woods north of Jacob Lake, and it was useless.

[SteveS]

.... We'll start out each day NMT 15 miles apart.
From what you say, my handheld will be adequate.

I doubt you be able to communicate dependably (or at all) over that distance with your handheld. Of course it could happen, good luck.

[MMM]

Most HT's (a common name for hand held radios), be it CB, GMRS or FRS are pretty much line of sight useage. I know you can see many radios saying that they have a 5, 10 and even 20 mile range. I would higly suggest you take that with a grain of salt. Maybe over water (which increasses the range a lot) but on land, or if you are in any place where you have mountains, buildings, trees (trees hate radios, they absorb a lot of radio power) or anything else and your range goes down fast. If you really want effective communication, get a amature radio license and with a 2 meter radio you can do ok. (again line of sight) or get a general or extra license. Remember unlike a FRS or even a GMRS license you MUST take a written test and study for any HAM radio license and the tests are NOT easy. But you can have a lot more power available to you when you need it.

Mike

[kingmantraveler]

You're probably right, Mike. Doesn't look like I'll be able to communicate with the SAG until I visually spot him.
That's okay. There'll be BP all over the place, and I'll be walking parallel to but south of the trail, close enough for commo with them if necessary. Thank you much.

[johnnymichaels]

I am planning to go on a desert adventure, but I need to have a mode of communication. Did your handheld get good reception? Thank you.

[kingmantraveler]

Nope.
I started off with both the CB and one of those Motorola "Walkabouts".
One wasn't any better than the other. They were useless for transmissions extending more than a half mile.
Next time I'll carry wood, matches and a blanket.

[LeeVW]

The only time I have been impressed with CB is when we have been on a hilltop. A friend was able to talk out more than 20 miles with his handheld, but we were on Santiago Peak in Orange County (5,687' ASL) while the other person was only a few hundred feet ASL. Altitude is everything when it comes to radios. Same is true with cell phones, which are starting to work in more remote places these days.

Lee