niseguy

Simple question. Does any use SSB on their CB if the one they bought has USB and LSB? I used to have a CB with SSB and never really used it. I am thinking of getting one for my new 4Runner and am not sure if it is worth it. What do you think?

Also, has anyone seen a CB combined with a GRMS/FRS (or something like that) radio? People seem to be using both and I don't want to buy to radios just to cover both types...

Thanks.

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

I have SSB in my Uniden GrantXL, have not really used it that much, since most other folks do not have it either. I now have a Cobra 75 remote mount CB w/ weather band since I don't have room for the Grant. I'll be setting it up for a base station with a big tall antenna. SSB is best for longer range use since you get higher effective power output (12W instead of 4W). Off a short mobile antenna, its probably not the greatest setup.

WATRD

One of the clubs I wheel with from time to time uses Sideband exclusively on their runs because of the increased range. But, with that said, my radio still sees a lot more AM use than SSB overall.

Because of the nature of the way that the FCC set up the FRS/GMRS band, you are not likely to see a combo CB/FRS/GMRS radio any time in the near future. As a result, I carry a couple of hand held FRS/GMRS radios, I have a truck mounted FRS/GMRS radio and of course the CB/HAM radio

niseguy

Thanks..... I will probably go for a smaller CB unit for my truck since it won't get a lot of use in day to day activities..... I don't think it looks worth it for the SSB capability....

Grinder

Niseguy,

You will probably never see a radio with both GRMS/FRS and cb mixed.
One reason is GRMS/FRS is FM modulated 462/467 MHz and would require
an antenna about 12 inches long. CB on the other hand is AM modulated
and requires an antenna 102 inches long for full wave. Or you can use a
quarter wave most commonly seen.

I have worked with radio's of all types for years and the group I run with switched to FRS's from CB a couple of years ago. Mainly because you could
use a UHF modified radio with up to 40W output (not legal ) mobile and have a handheld when out of the vehicle. You don't get all the skip like you do with CB.

What we really ought to be using is marine frequencies. VHF range. There are open to the public frequencies in there and the range is outstanding plus the radio's are 25W right out of the box. And the radio's don't cost as much as some CB's

Grinder

4Crawler

iTrader: (3)

One thing I've always suspected and now notice in actual use is that the SSB CBs generally have better receive and transmit sections. I found my old GrantXL (SSB) was much quieter on receive than the Cobra 75 and was way better in transmit mode. Last year, on a club run, I was about 10 miles away from some of the folks in our group in the high Sierra of central CA and was able to both hear and talk to them clearly. This year, in the same area, I was only a few miles away, I could hear the group fairly well on the CB but could not raise them at all. Same vehicle, same antenna, only difference was the radio.