Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX General Discussion => Topic started by: Ghost65 on April 25, 2013, 04:36:51 PM
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There has been some discussion recently as to which form of communication people prefer to use on SCCX Xcursions.
I would like to throw it out to the masses here at SCCX and see what the people have to say...so please vote your favorite/best/most convenient/safest/easiest form of trail comms, and then post up some comments supporting your vote if you like.
This poll with run for thirty days, so hopefully we can catch as many folks as possible.
Thanks in advance for your vote and interest!!
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I'm torn.
At this moment, I have to vote CB because I have one.
BUT....
I have 2 different HAM radio's on my amazon wish list, and I'm already doing the math as to how long it will take me to pick one up.
I bring all this up because I know that HAM to CB is 4wd to 2wd. Home cooking to fast food.
Dare I say Denver Broncos to Oakland Raiders LOL! :P
Back to the point; I wish I could vote twice, so instead I'll not vote and skew the numbers by blabbing in an incredibly long, boring post.
CHEWDONKEY!
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I am on the Board now so my vote does not mean sh**. But I will cast a vote of CB for the wishy washy Christiann
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I voted for CB. For the group in general, think that it is the best communication method to "standardize" to. It is cheap, reliable and easy for new people to get connected.
But I also endorse HAM as a secondary communication method with the group. Ham provides far more reliable long range communications not only within the group but also the capabilities to communicate with people many miles away, incase of emergency on the trail.
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Broncos to Raiders...LMFAO!!!
Sent from Planet Claire using Tapatalk
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FRS is the easiest. It's very easy to buy and no installation. So for initial purchase I like FRS. Once you install a CB it's pretty simple to use and doesn't require a special license. I was able to hear people who were miles away, so I think it covers most of the trail usage necessary.
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Can't vote on tapatalk but I vote cb for ease and reliability
Sent using Al Gore's internet
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CB gets my vote - seems more universal for off roaders (and I'm closer to a CB than my HAM license/set up). Seems the true veterans who have their HAM set up - obviously better but not as common for the rest of us. ::)
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I need to get a CB radio, I had a bunch of store credit at REI so I just got a set of new FRS radios last week and i like them, they're practical for me since I've only been off roading with one other car, so we weren't far enough apart as to where we'd need a CB radio. But I'll definitely get one before joining my first Xcursion.
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I vote for CBs with the caveat that it's always good to space some Hams throughout the line of Rigs (heck they can even bring their radios). It's easy to require that all participants have a CB to participate on a given run. Having 2 or 3 Hams helps with the longer separation during a run and can really aid in calling in emergency help as needed. I think that the way the runs of late that I've been on with SCCX have had the communication element very well dialed in! Thanks for that...
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i agree, cb is best as far as cost and ease of use, ham just allows us to talk about the cbers without them knowing, and that whole we can talk to the space station is great too. :D
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CB as well
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I vote for CB, now that I have one, even though I think it needs some fine tuning. Go Raiders!
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I'm torn.
At this moment, I have to vote CB because I have one.
BUT....
I have 2 different HAM radio's on my amazon wish list, and I'm already doing the math as to how long it will take me to pick one up.
I bring all this up because I know that HAM to CB is 4wd to 2wd. Home cooking to fast food.
Dare I say Denver Broncos to Oakland Raiders LOL! :P
Back to the point; I wish I could vote twice, so instead I'll not vote and skew the numbers by blabbing in an incredibly long, boring post.
CHEWDONKEY!
Go Broncos!
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Looks like I'll be getting a cb soon.
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I carry a CB(mounted and handheld), it seems to work for line of sight.
I carry 4 FRS handhelds and they work well where CB's have static and interference.
I carry a SatPhone for way out in the middle of nowhere.
I carry a SPOT for the same circumstances.
I will have a Ham for Gone( passive monitoring)since no license yet.
redundant backups is the game plan.
my vote for a single unit would have been FRS due to its clarity and ease of use.
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Trail comm CB for everyone. Nice to have a couple of HAMS front and rear
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I know this poll is closed and CB is easier being that you don't need a license.
However, I can't stress the need to reliable communications. Someone in this thread mentioned that there should be a couple of HAM radios within the group on an outing and that's a great compromise.
If there's ever an emergency, you'll wish you had HAM radios! For example, you can hit a repeater in the area that you're in and relay emergency traffic or do phone patch with your HAM radio through the repeater to call for emergency services(911, forest dispatch to report a fire etc.)
I have a wired in CB radio, mobile HAM radio, and handheld HAM radio my vehicie at all times. I also carry a handheld CB in case someone shows up without any communication device. My HAM radio is also programmed to communicate on FRS frequencies if need be.
In my opinion, there's no viable substitute for HAM, especially if I'm the trail guide.
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I know this poll is closed and CB is easier being that you don't need a license.
However, I can't stress the need to reliable communications. Someone in this thread mentioned that there should be a couple of HAM radios within the group on an outing and that's a great compromise.
If there's ever an emergency, you'll wish you had HAM radios! For example, you can hit a repeater in the area that you're in and relay emergency traffic or do phone patch with your HAM radio through the repeater to call for emergency services(911, forest dispatch to report a fire etc.)
I have a wired in CB radio, mobile HAM radio, and handheld HAM radio my vehicie at all times. I also carry a handheld CB in case someone shows up without any communication device. My HAM radio is also programmed to communicate on FRS frequencies if need be.
In my opinion, there's no viable substitute for HAM, especially if I'm the trail guide.
Olaf...I couldn't agree more.
The challenge we face is that getting a group of tuned and hard wired CB's to show up with this group is a major miracle (but it seems to be getting better).
I have heard all the excuses in the book about why we should adopt FRS because of it's entry level convenience, and that CB installs are expensive and "complicated," not to mention that HAMs are only for "the cool kids."
The truth is, HAM radio is the easiest install and comms of the bunch.
Who can't tackle 70% passing at 35 questions?
AND...entry level radios and antennas can now be had for just under $200. That might seem like a lot of dough...but how much did you spend on your last suspension mod/stereo upgrade/set of tires???...and those mods can't help save a life in an emergency.
I hope more and more people see the relevance/convenience and sheer superiority of HAMs in their vehicles for trips to the outback.
The list of licensed HAMs in SCCX has tripled in the last two years...a very good trend which I hope continues. All elitist joking aside, I will continue to promote the positive attributes of amateur radio to all SCCX'ers.
In my mind, being prepared with the best for the worst should be the philosophy.
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I have 3 Ham radios that cover 15 bands and 2 levels of licenses. I agree with the last two posts that nothing beets Hams for comms. But for just having fun on the trail, CBs do pretty good. FRS is OK if everybody in the group has one. None of these are manditory. It is completely up to the trail leader to decide what his group should or must have. The last few runs I was on, we had at least 90% CBs and 30-50% Hams and growing. As for the 'Cool Kids' comment, Hams are the coolest nerds you will ever meet. Thanks for all the great input.
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SO... In MY OWN OPINION, HAMs rock on the trail, CBs are alright, and FRS..... I've got a PA in my X now, I can yell at people that way! :)
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I have 3 Ham radios that cover 15 bands and 2 levels of licenses. I agree with the last two posts that nothing beets Hams for comms. But for just having fun on the trail, CBs do pretty good. FRS is OK if everybody in the group has one. None of these are manditory. It is completely up to the trail leader to decide what his group should or must have. The last few runs I was on, we had at least 90% CBs and 30-50% Hams and growing. As for the 'Cool Kids' comment, Hams are the coolest nerds you will ever meet. Thanks for all the great input.
Disclaimer: my comments were in no way meant to slight anyone's efforts to support all forms of communication...SCCX is not my way or the highway in any shape or form.
Trail Leaders make the call when setting up the runs.
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I can tell you when we had 20+ trucks going across Death Valley at all level and speed it helped with the HAM if someone is broke, you don't need the entire group to stay, two to three would stay, one with a HAM to relay and the larger group would wait at the next check point.
There are plus and minus for each radio. I can carry all 3, but will need an operator to monitor them as I will be driving.
For most trail CB will do, but FRS should be required because if you don't have one I will have to nerf you to let you know to keep moving hehehe
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This is a very good example of why good comms are important... This occurred this last weekend.
Please look at these pictures on page 2 and a read the description on page 3 of this post. You'll notice he mentions through out summary that there was either a lack of good communication and/or none at all. He also mentions that the, "...Amount of time that passed was not okay..."
Driver was ejected somewhere between roll number 3-10 but walked away. Passenger remained in vehicle and had to be airlifted with apparently serious injuries. I'm told he will recover. They had to drive to an area where they could get a cell signal in order to call for emergency services!
http://www.sclr.org/roverboard/11-trip-reports/8352-freeway-ridge-pre-run.html?start=6 (http://www.sclr.org/roverboard/11-trip-reports/8352-freeway-ridge-pre-run.html?start=6)
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Wow Olaf...quite a true story.
Safety is the number one reason for good trail comms.
For those of you on the 2wd friendly post mod day run last weekend...even though we were on a paved shelf road a lot of the time, there were big sections of the trail with no cell service.
One distracted moment on the trail could lead to a similar emergency/recovery effort.
Thanks for sharing Olaf, sounds like the passenger is recovering from his injuries.
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If there's one more politically correct comment..... I'm gonna puke.
I think FRS and CB blow! But FRS blows more than CB. So, CB it is. I got into HAM 100% for emergency situations and solid simplex comm's.
All the crappy CB's I've seen are crappy because they are not plug and play. They have to be tuned.
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CB's are fun for the trail... but in most cases you end up not having contact with everyone in the run and don't do well at all in emergencies.
Ham radios take the cake by far.
Was anyone from here on the 24 hour run in 2008?
We had another run that made it back to camp on time and after the sun went down everyone started to worry...
My run was at the top of john bull with some trucks that were having trouble.
I radioed in to camp in johnson valley, said were ok but we're going to take a while.. Thats a radiowave trek that the CB would have never made.
so then the nearly assembled search party went back to the real party around the camp fire.
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If there's one more politically correct comment..... I'm gonna puke.
I think FRS and CB blow! But FRS blows more than CB. So, CB it is. I got into HAM 100% for emergency situations and solid simplex comm's.
All the crappy CB's I've seen are crappy because they are not plug and play. They have to be tuned.
So THERE!!!!! :D No political correctness anywhere D... :o
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Was anyone from here on the 24 hour run in 2008?
I have heard of this run...Creek/John Loughrey Oz/Oz Trad, and wasn't Aaron and Natalie on that one?
A little reminiscent of the 14 Hour Tour of Golden Spike at goneMOAB this year...another episode where comms would have been non-existent without hams.
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I realize I'm a little late in the game for this but what are your thoughts about ssb, side band on cb?
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I realize I'm a little late in the game for this but what are your thoughts about ssb, side band on cb?
As a former CB'er that worked SSB with a "less than legal" amplifier, it is an alternative, although not as reliable as other communication sources.
SSB relies again on line of sight, elevation, power increases, and atmospheric conditions for optimal performance.
That's a lot of ducks to put in a row for communications IMO, especially when mobile. (in my opinion).
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Ok thanks for the info. I am traditionally a cb guy and need to maintain because I often do road trips and listen to truckers, 'smokey reports' but am interested in trail com as well, I am considering ham hand held or mobile. For a newbie, which do you suggest?
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Ok thanks for the info. I am traditionally a cb guy and need to maintain because I often do road trips and listen to truckers, 'smokey reports' but am interested in trail com as well, I am considering ham hand held or mobile. For a newbie, which do you suggest?
INB4 HAM IS THE BESTESTEST EVARRRR!!!!!
CB=CHILDS BAND OMG HAM IS THE BEST OMG OMG OMG....
;)
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We all run cb as well, since we still have stragglers
Not sent with the stupid auto guide app
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....since we still have stragglers
Not sent with the stupid auto guide app
Christiaan...xxSVxx
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Ok, I've decided, I'll have a cb in the truck and I'm going to add a ham kenwood tm 281a. Anyone have this radio and how do you like this radio?
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Ok, I've decided, I'll have a cb in the truck and I'm going to add a ham kenwood tm 281a. Anyone have this radio and how do you like this radio?
You can't go wrong with Kenwood. What antenna set up are you looking at?
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I don't know yet what antenna. Thinking a mag mount or trunk mount, not too long though, not looking for a 6 footer, thinking 3-4 foot should do. Any suggestions?
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Look up Diamond or Comet antennas...they make several trunk/hatch/magnetic mounts to choose from.
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I have heard of this run...Creek/John Loughrey Oz/Oz Trad, and wasn't Aaron and Natalie on that one?
A little reminiscent of the 14 Hour Tour of Golden Spike at goneMOAB this year...another episode where comms would have been non-existent without hams.
That's the run. And yes Aaron and Natalie were there too. Alone with another 8 or so vehicles. One heck of a trip!
Im probably the only one Willing to schedule that same trip again.. lol
Any takers?
<threadjack over>
Sent while mobile, typos likely.