RADIOS

[96whitedisco]

Just wondering what everyone is using for comunications ?
VHF
CB

What brands and cost ?

Cheers
Andrew

Reason im asking we ran into a bad accident on the Sloquay FSR and no one had a radio and the cells didnt work, the car was a right off and the truck ran off the road about a 100 feet down. No one was injured.

[rick.m]

On the run yesterday, from ROVERWORKS, IN SPENCES BRIDGE. we had, 1/3 with CB RADIOS-1/3 VHF.& 1/3 HAD NOTHING. I would say the trend is a RAPID MOVEMENT to VHF. {a ham radio licence is required}.
hope this is a help. The other 4x4 club i am a member of has a little more like half and half. VHF AND CB. ALL THE BEST. rick.m, rover landers secretary.

[96whitedisco]

Is there a specific brand of vhf radio that everyone is using?
Im thinking about a hand held vhf.

Cheers
Andrew

[rick.m]

i think if i was going to have a hand held. i would go CB. the main reason folks go to VHF. is range. & distance better than CB. if you think that way. go for the maximum range which is VHF. I you think about a run , the trucks can be often spaced out over half a dozen kilometers at least.and that is if all are running at the time. Just kidding!!!! but it is easy to be a whole valley apart. or a hill between leaders. and last truck. so it isnt hard to be out of range. a very good antenna, and signal strength are what you want. in camp or hiking . family service hand helds are fine. so get as much input as you can . I can put you in touch with some guys with VHF. It seems there are lots of ICOM radios. you might check their web site. or VANCOUVER RADIO, OR THE YELLOW PAGES. all the best. rick.m

[StuartL]

Hi Andrew,

I just installed a VHF last week in time for the Spences Bridge trip so I am very green. Range.....smange... I can actually understand a conversation now! As far as distance all I can tell you is that on Sunday I split with the group at Merritt and headed north on the Coq and they headed west and I have conversations with Bernie and Bill E. halfway to Kamloops.

I also like hearing the Marine forecast etc. and I would rather hear a logging truck on my radio then see it coming around a corner....

I bought a Kenwood (KW-TM271A) because it fit the best in my truck. Stan at Com-West on Main in Vancouver handles the top 3 brands and is very knowledgeable.

If you still think you want to try CB I have a good Cobra in the box with a tuned antennae you can have for $50, I will never need it again.

A radio could save your life get the best!!!

Cheers,

[JD]

Are there repeaters up in that area?

JD

[96whitedisco]

Big help Stuart!

When i went to Com-West today he was sold out of the kenwood so I was opting for the the Icom.
The only problem is I live downtown and a nice new VHF radio in my truck just screams break in, evan with an alarm some one has to pay attention to it and they go off like horns around the downtown area.
I purchased the Icom V8 portable and a high gain antenna for the truck i should have about 4- 8 mile coverage with the truck mounted antenna and it has all 10 NOAA channels, i will be sending all of my 4x4 buddys to
COM-WEST.

THANKS STUART

BEERS ON ME NEXT TIME WE ARE OUT