Could FM CB supplant FRS?

[Guest]

On 1/14/2025 at 8:08 AM, Lscott said:

You get a big round table going it's not unusual to time out the repeater if somebody doesn't let it drop out periodically. Also when running a net too.

Back in the 90's when I was first licensed, there was an older ham that always boasted that "he never met a repeater that he couldn't time out". It was a badge of honor to him - and every time he would join the conversation on the repeater, you could literally hear the face palming of everyone listening.

[WQAI363]

On 5/22/2025 at 10:43 PM, BoxCar said:

My guess - FM CB will not supplant FRS because of the size of the units and their antennas.

I'm not planning to purchase an AM/FM CB Radio anytime soon. However, I would imagine nothing special has happen since the FCC gave the Green Light for Frequency Modulation on the 11m CB Band.   

[LeoG]

FM-CB/GMRS combo radio....

[Lscott]

24 minutes ago, LeoG said:

FM-CB/GMRS combo radio....

I doubt that will ever happen. Combining an unlicensed service with a licensed one in the same radio is the same mess the FCC created with the combo FRS/GMRS radios years ago. They won't want to repeat that mistake.

[LeoG]

2 minutes ago, Lscott said:

I doubt that will ever happen. Combining an unlicensed service with a licensed one in the same radio is the same mess the FCC created with the combo FRS/GMRS radios years ago. They won't want to repeat that mistake.

Sure they would.  It's the govt.

[Blaise]

4 hours ago, LeoG said:

Sure they would.  It's the govt.

This man governments!

[WRTC928]

5 hours ago, WQAI363 said:

I'm not planning to purchase an AM/FM CB Radio anytime soon. However, I would imagine nothing special has happen since the FCC gave the Green Light for Frequency Modulation on the 11m CB Band.   

As far as I can determine, exactly nobody in the US uses FM CB. I would think FM with PL tones would be very good for people traveling in a group. Perhaps they just get FRS radios.

[OffRoaderX]

Just now, WRTC928 said:

Perhaps they just get FRS radios.

If they understand how radios work and want a handheld, then this is probably true.. You can get 10X - 100x or more farz with an FRS radio than you can with an FM CB handheld with the same-size antenna..

[TrikeRadio]

1 hour ago, OffRoaderX said:

If they understand how radios work and want a handheld, then this is probably true.. You can get 10X - 100x or more farz with an FRS radio than you can with an FM CB handheld with the same-size antenna..

Yeah, toting around an HT with a  5 foot antenna is a little annoying! FRS is a little more convenient and less obvious when you are walking around. 

[WRTC928]

4 hours ago, OffRoaderX said:

If they understand how radios work and want a handheld, then this is probably true.. You can get 10X - 100x or more farz with an FRS radio than you can with an FM CB handheld with the same-size antenna..

True, but I was actually thinking of vehicle-mounted radios. When I think of CB, I still think of mobile units. Probably because I'm old.

[WSHH887]

Most folks seem to have no idea what GMRS is. Anytime someone asks about my antenna on my truck the think it's CB. 

[WRCR724]

15 hours ago, WRTC928 said:

As far as I can determine, exactly nobody in the US uses FM CB. I would think FM with PL tones would be very good for people traveling in a group. Perhaps they just get FRS radios.

How did you come about with this determination? Do you have a FM CB radio and monitor it for others operating in the FM mode? If so, then you would be someone using FM CB. Or did you conduct a survey and have the results published somewhere? I genuinely would like to know how you came to your conclusion because I know of three people who have a Cobra 25ltd in their dump trucks. 

[Lscott]

10 hours ago, WSHH887 said:

Anytime someone asks about my antenna on my truck the think it's CB. 

I've had the same experience with the monster sized dual band Ham antenna on my ride.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/471-mobile-mount-with-antenna-rear-view/?context=new

It doesn't look like any common "CB antenna", but I guess people just go with what the are familiar with.

[WRTC928]

1 hour ago, WRCR724 said:

How did you come about with this determination? Do you have a FM CB radio and monitor it for others operating in the FM mode? If so, then you would be someone using FM CB. Or did you conduct a survey and have the results published somewhere? I genuinely would like to know how you came to your conclusion because I know of three people who have a Cobra 25ltd in their dump trucks. 

Yes, I have driven extensively in the central US with a CB and I hear some traffic on AM but nothing on FM. Others in CB forums have had the same experience. Most (all?) CBs sold in the US today have both AM and FM capability, but it seems that it rarely gets used. I don't count myself as a "user" of FM CB because I just listen. I haven't randomly gotten on CB and announced my presence for several decades. Would someone answer if I did so on FM? I don't know. I use CB almost exclusively to monitor road conditions, and all of that is on AM. My TYT TH-9800 will scan both AM and FM frequencies and I have yet to hear anyone on FM. I have a CB on a separate antenna in case I want to transmit, but I hardly ever do. Mostly I just hear a sh*tshow with occasional business use and highway conditions.

[BoxCar]

FM CB is still new and most of the radios in service don't have the FM capability. I imagine FM will become used more as users either upgrade or replace existing radios.

[WRCR724]

22 minutes ago, WRTC928 said:

Yes, I have driven extensively in the central US with a CB and I hear some traffic on AM but nothing on FM. Others in CB forums have had the same experience. Most (all?) CBs sold in the US today have both AM and FM capability, but it seems that it rarely gets used. I don't count myself as a "user" of FM CB because I just listen. I haven't randomly gotten on CB and announced my presence for several decades. Would someone answer if I did so on FM? I don't know. I use CB almost exclusively to monitor road conditions, and all of that is on AM. My TYT TH-9800 will scan both AM and FM frequencies and I have yet to hear anyone on FM. I have a CB on a separate antenna in case I want to transmit, but I hardly ever do. Mostly I just hear a sh*tshow with occasional business use and highway conditions.

Oh, so "exactly nobody in the US uses FM CB" was just an exaggeration. I get it. 
But again, there's three users around here that I know of. What's your handle? I'll tell them to give a call out to you if they are ever in your area. 

[marcspaz]

Have to say, I miss the hay-days. Back in the `70s and `80s (a little of the early `90s, too), I had an absolute blast on the CB.  I had a base station and also a mobile in every car.  My base setup had an ERP of 122kw.  When I would fire it up full power, none of my neighbors could watch TV.  One of the people closest to me said he was pretty sure my radio caused his refrigerator to hum.  LOL  

 

Compared to back then, it sure feels like nobody is using it.

[WRCR724]

23 minutes ago, marcspaz said:

Have to say, I miss the hay-days. Back in the `70s and `80s (a little of the early `90s, too), I had an absolute blast on the CB.  I had a base station and also a mobile in every car.  My base setup had an ERP of 122kw.  When I would fire it up full power, none of my neighbors could watch TV.  One of the people closest to me said he was pretty sure my radio caused his refrigerator to hum.  LOL  

 

Compared to back then, it sure feels like nobody is using it.

The group of guys that I met on air on CB, and in real life, were a lot more welcoming to me than the group I met on air when I first got my ham license. We had more fun than the hams at that time too. 

[LeoG]

Just like anyone who has to pass a test to get a license they look down from their pedestal at you like you were trash.  I see it in the contracting world all the time with plumbers and electricians.

[WRCR724]

20 minutes ago, LeoG said:

Just like anyone who has to pass a test to get a license they look down from their pedestal at you like you were trash.  I see it in the contracting world all the time with plumbers and electricians.

Well, I'm one of those that had to pass three tests to get my license and I'm not on a pedestal looking down on anyone. And that first bunch of hams that I met didn't know I was active on CB either. They were just a bunch of douches, which is why I didn't hang around their club much longer after I found out their true colors. 

[SteveShannon]

29 minutes ago, LeoG said:

Just like anyone who has to pass a test to get a license they look down from their pedestal at you like you were trash.  I see it in the contracting world all the time with plumbers and electricians.

Every occupation and hobby has some people who look down on others.  There’s no denying that. But if you feel that anyone who has had to pass an exam to get a license looks down at you, the problem might not be entirely them. I’ve been taught a lot over the years by licensed plumbers and electricians who have been very helpful.  Not one of them gave me the feeling that they looked down on me.

[LeoG]

And you shouldn't be.  Plumbing and electrical aren't really that hard until you get into big commercial.  And the majority of people don't do the big stuff, only residential.  Most competent people could do plumbing and electrical and get it done right.  Biggest hassle is the ever changing code book.

[LeoG]

21 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Every occupation and hobby has some people who look down on others.  There’s no denying that. But if you feel that anyone who has had to pass an exam to get a license looks down at you, the problem might not be entirely them. I’ve been taught a lot over the years by licensed plumbers and electricians who have been very helpful.  Not one of them gave me the feeling that they looked down on me.

I've had them say to me well I had to pass a test and endure ongoing education.  Well big whoop.  I had to learn my trade 100% on my own without help from a myriad of teachers and employers.  School of hard knocks as it's known.

I'm sure they'd have a harder time with my profession then I'd have with theirs.  Love it when they say carpenters are a dime a dozen.  Ya, crappy ones maybe.

[amaff]

1 hour ago, LeoG said:

I've had them say to me well I had to pass a test and endure ongoing education.  Well big whoop.  I had to learn my trade 100% on my own without help from a myriad of teachers and employers.  School of hard knocks as it's known.

Which is BS. If we were trying to do anything 100% on our own we'd still be living in caves eating whatever grew on the land and whatever squirrel we could manage to hit with a rock.

[LeoG]

OK, so barry's philosophy of you didn't build that.  You know what I mean.