Two-Way Radio for road & travel info

[Martin B.]

Other than CB (Citizen's Band), does anyone use two-way radio for road and travel information?
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service)?
FRS (Family Radio Service)?
MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service)?

[Dave Fish]

FRS - has fairly short operating distance because of low wattage. Many inexpensive radios are FRS/GRMS but you can legally only use the FRS channels without a license.
GRMS - has a fairly steep license fee ($70 at one tine but i think it has changed) for one family member that, I believe has to be the control operator. It allows more wattage than the FRS but still has limitted distance.
MURS - I have heard of these but cannot comment.

We use Amateur radio. My wife and I are both licensed. The advantage is higger wattage equating to longer communications distance. You do need to pass a rest, which is 35 questions and usually costs $15 for the test fee. Tests are given by certified volunteers, usually in a radio club. There is no actual fee for the license and it's good for 10 years.

Radios can be purchased for as little as $30 or for as much as you can afford. It's also a great way to make local contacts in an area.

W7DAF

1970 Trails West Campster
2008 Honda Ridgeline

[Glenn Baglo]

I have a pair of FRS radios, but we don't use them any more.
In BC you can't drive and use a hand-held device. I could try to get my wife to use it while I drive, but I haven't the energy.
At camps and on the road, we and our friends usually use texting by cell phone to communicate ( not while driving ).
My buddy and I have used FRS on the river while fishing. Conversation back at camp is usually, "did you have your radio on"?

[gordon2]

Originally Posted by Martin B.

Other than CB (Citizen's Band), does anyone use two-way radio for road and travel information?
GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service)?
FRS (Family Radio Service)?
MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service)?

I have FRS. I have a GMRS capable radio. I have ham radio. None are very helpful for road and travel information when compared to what you can get on the Internet (assuming you can get service). Ham radio is somewhat useful for talking to the "locals" about the area but you will not get any road alerts or any information at all unless you ask for it. I gave up on CB long ago after all the prostitutes got on there.

IHMO for road and travel information you are much better off spending your money on Internet or GPS devices and using sites and apps such as Tripadvisor, and Foursquare for local information and apps such as Sygic or any good GPS with the various traffic services for traffic information. Of course the traffic services on GPS devices have limitations such as limited coverage but in more urban areas it can be a big help to get (almost) real-time traffic conditions.

[sclifrickson]

We have occasionally found FRS/GMRS to be very handy when doing multiple vehicle convoys through remote regions that have no cell service. It's either that or flash headlights in Morse.

Answering with the tail lights is trickier.

[Darwin Maring]

CB when there is a backup. Go to 19 and listen to the truckers.

[Martin B.]

Thanks for all the replies. Too bad about CB radio. A useful service has been lost. FRS and GMRS are good for convoys. MURS is unpopular and expensive. Amateur Radio is an enthusiast domain, despite no longer requiring Morse code. Cell phones are universal, but not good for meeting new friends. Any other thoughts?

[ralphieboy]

Originally Posted by Martin B.

Thanks for all the replies. Too bad about CB radio. A useful service has been lost. FRS and GMRS are good for convoys. MURS is unpopular and expensive. Amateur Radio is an enthusiast domain, despite no longer requiring Morse code. Cell phones are universal, but not good for meeting new friends. Any other thoughts?

Very sad that CB has nearly been abandoned! I bought a very nice CB two years ago to listen and talk, to local folks as we travel across country... We enjoy traveling some back roads so I wanted to have something that could communicate with the local folks as needed. For the most part... it is silent for hours! When I put it on scan... it almost constantly stopped on Channel 6 with a guy named "John Deere" talking and talking.... night and day. I heard his chatting in several states... All up and down the Mississippi River from top to bottom, and all over the South Eastern states. Yes it can be helpful on the highway for info... most are truckers.
I tried FRS... it has a small signal.
I tried HAM radio... for over 3,000 miles in two trips on vacation, I only talked to 3, maybe 4 others. I called CQ at least every hour for miles and miles. Unless you are into many many repeaters in your travels... there is darned near nobody on the HAM freqs locally.
I may put the CB back into the Jeep... and try again... I hope John Deere is not hogging any of the channels.

[Randy P.]

Martin, don't give up on CB radio. After all you have 40 different channels to choose from!

Citizens Band Radio is readily available, no license needed or fees required, greater range then the low wattage options, weather and emergency communication capabilities(ch. 9) as well as current road info, and it's relatively inexpensive.

I find it to be a great option for traveling and although I own a John Deere I don't talk to him

No doubt though that cell phones have replaced CB radio for general communication purposes on the road.

[Darwin Maring]

CBs are alive and well.

[Casita-Freak]

I use amateur radio mostly. With HF I can get help from anywhere and there are VHF and UHF repeaters all over the place but as mentioned it can sometimes be hard to find anyone around. For road conditions a GPS with road updates or wireless devices for internet is probably your best bet but they don't always work when you get out in the boondocks.

John
Casita-Freak
WD5IKX