Trail Communication

[Deleted member 16492]

Hello,

When your on the trail how do you communicate with each other? Do you use radios (I.e. CB, HAM, Other) or hand signals, vehicle signals, or another form?

Do different groups have different methods?

 

[adventure_is_necessary]

Most of the guys I ride with just meet up ahead of time to discuss the plan, then periodically stop on the trail to talk more. Otherwise it's hand signals since most of us don't have CB's yet.

 

[TerryD]

There's a lot of threads that deal with this, check out the Overland Communication forum where most of them are.

 

[NightCrawler]

I just installed a CB I picked up from eBay and threw on a Wilson 1000 antenna...it reaches 10 miles easily once I tuned it. I can't see getting into HAM...incensing and expensive equipment...for comms between rigs less than a mile apart at times. I enjoy CB (crispy bacon) over HAM! I swear I need to make a T-shirt with this on it.

 

[vegasjeepguy]

CB is cheap and easy and pretty much everyone in the off-road community expects you to have one.

 

[Chadlyb]

I just installed a CB I picked up from eBay and threw on a Wilson 1000 antenna...it reaches 10 miles easily once I tuned it. I can't see getting into HAM...incensing and expensive equipment...for comms between rigs less than a mile apart at times. I enjoy CB (crispy bacon) over HAM! I swear I need to make a T-shirt with this on it.

I want one...

 

[Prerunner1982]

CB is the most common, not necessarily the best but still the most popular.

 

[NightCrawler]

Most common works for me...the odds of making contact on CB bands as a secondary communication mode in an emergency is what I am hoping to cover.

 

[Prerunner1982]

Most common works for me...the odds of making contact on CB bands as a secondary communication mode in an emergency is what I am hoping to cover.

Only if someone is within a couple miles or so of your location. CB is ok for trail comms but I wouldn't depend on it for an emergency.

 

[NightCrawler]

I wouldn't depend on any one mode of communication in an emergency...CB is in the bag of tricks though. Two is one and one is none!


Sent from my iPhone using OB Talk

 

[Curt]

I bought a globalstar sat phone 10 years ago when they sucked. Now it works great with the new satellites in orbit. Because I stuck with them from the start, I have an unlimited plan for $60.00 a month that you can't purchase anymore. I got it mostly for emergencies but it's great for checking in and it works thru my soft top

 

[Desert Runner]

CB until the last few years. The people I hang around now, are all either tech or general ticket holders. I'm not in that circle yet. The CB is a mini Uniden, with a bed mount Wilson 5000 spring mounted disconnect. It works fairly well, for what it is. Mileage varies of course.
Was gifted a small Baofang? ..handheld...the type they prefer. Works very well in mountainous terrain, seeing that they have over the last 10 years to installed 2 repeaters within 20 miles of their property. Local phone service is provided by GMRS open party line radio. Wilson phone boosters also make out of area cell service possible. That beat driving 5 miles to a mountain cliff overlook and hoping for a signal to reach the outside world. Once i get my license everything will be golden.

 

[4L_Warrior]

Desert Runner!.... Yes, get your ham license. It will make you wonder why you waited so long to get it. On a side note, I totally agree with you about the Wilson phone booster! Now, they are branded We-boost. I've learned that the older models are the ones you want to look for. They have "more power".... the newer ones are dumbed down at the request of the FCC. They won't give you a stronger signal if their isn't a signal, but they will double the signal you do get.

 

[Desert Runner]

Desert Runner!.... Yes, get your ham license. It will make you wonder why you waited so long to get it. On a side note, I totally agree with you about the Wilson phone booster! Now, they are branded We-boost. I've learned that the older models are the ones you want to look for. They have "more power".... the newer ones are dumbed down at the request of the FCC. They won't give you a stronger signal if their isn't a signal, but they will double the signal you do get.

I did not realize that about We-Boost dumbing down their power out-put after buying Wilson. Getting more DB from your booster, is why you bought the booster in the first place. Why spend money if your not seeing much of any benefit.