For road travel in Baja which do you prefer?
CB or VHF?Bob and Susan - 8-17-2007 at 04:12 PM
no one uses cb any longer
cell phones have taken overRoberto - 8-17-2007 at 07:34 PM
Any VHF radio (except FRS) requires a license. And a marine radio is illegal except on a boat, and technically you require a license for that too,
even if it IS on a boat.
So there you are. That all said and done, I would recommend a 2 meter radio if you want to communicate with others who have one (most mexicans will
not, and neither will gringos), or a marine VHF otherwise. At least now you have all the facts.oxxo - 8-17-2007 at 07:46 PM
VHF radio is illegal for land based use and it has very limited range, maybe 15 miles over flat terrain and almost nothin in the mountains.
I use a "pay as you go" TelMex cell phone. It's the only way to go. They give you the phone for free and you pay about US 30 cents per minute for
use. If you don't use it, it costs you nothing.
Shari has generously offered her personal telephone number if you ever get in a jam in the Baja.
Hats off to Shari, she's a peach! CaboRon - 8-17-2007 at 08:01 PM
Well that's just great
I just installed a CB radio in the truck in preparation for the drive to Los Cabos ...... even mounted the antenna in the roof .....
CaboRon
Halboo
bajaguy - 8-17-2007 at 09:58 PM
Check your u2uPescador - 8-18-2007 at 07:33 AM
CB with another driver is fine but don't expect anyone on the highway to have one. Most of the truckers, unless they go into the US, do not use these
and then most use Single side Band. Where you have areas of settlement like San Lucas Cove or BOLA, you may find quite a few North Americans who use
the VHF like telephones, but unless you have a scanner you will have a problem finding the channel. Eg, San Lucas Cove uses 74 while Punta Chivato
uses 72, and Mulege, I think, uses 28.
If you are concerned about emergency communications, then I suspect that a cell phone may be your best bet but there are lots of wide open spaces
where you have no reception.jerry - 8-18-2007 at 08:00 AM
caboRon now all you need is a single side band a scanner cellphone, and a satilightphone ,and internet connection and you can getheradoneTMW - 8-18-2007 at 08:38 AM
If your driving down and back for vacation a satellite phone would be the way to go in case of an emergency. Cell phones are good only where there is
cell service, usually larger towns and along the border.oxxo - 8-18-2007 at 03:48 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Pescador
If you are concerned about emergency communications, then I suspect that a cell phone may be your best bet but there are lots of wide open spaces
where you have no reception.
Yes, there are lots of wide open spaces in the Baja where you have no reception with cell phone, VHF, and CB. Of the three just listed, cell phone
gives the best coverage. If you are interested in almost complete coverage, then you will have to rent or purchase a satellite phone.
One of the things that I like about the Baja is that element of a certain amount of calculated risk especially driving Hwy 1. Please be careful. I
would never tow aything down on Hwy 1 - utility trailer, toy trailer, or boat. It ain't like the US! You aren't in Kansas anymore Dorothy!Bob and Susan - 8-18-2007 at 03:59 PM
heck...tow anything...just get GOOD tires
the road is WAY better than the "old days"
they EVEN have reflective "botts dots"
if we caravan we use FRS radios
lots of noise in tj but on the road...nothing
you really don't need a phone...just prepare in advance
lots of people live down here and there is ALOT of services availablePhil S - 8-19-2007 at 01:03 PM
Bob & Susan. Your sure right about having good tires. Since l996 when I started driving down on my own, I've driven on 10 ply tires on my
pickups over the years. Now I'm driving a mini van, and went to Toyo's. I've hit some really bad pot holes in our June trip and back, and our August
trip down & back, and I've been thanking my Toyo's for keeping me on the road without a blowout.Gadget - 8-19-2007 at 05:33 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Halboo
For road travel in Baja which do you prefer?
CB or VHF?
This question has been asked before. My answer will be the same.
I've run a Kenwood TM261 in the GSB Bronco for 5 yrs now. All of the radio communication for the races is on these "neutered" VHF ham radios. The
unit I have puts out 50 watts and I have talked to crew members as far as 60 miles away line of sight. Had cristal clear comm with another vehicle
coming down the grade on I8 before Ocatillo while I was 15 ks south of Mexicali.
They must be altered, it used to be a small wire the instructions directed you to inside a little access panel on the back which you just cut, or a
small chip you pull now, to make them "legal" to operate without a ham license. The alteration prevents you from using licensed ham frequencies.
The Ham Radio Outlet off Clairemont Mesa Blvd in SD can hook you up. 800-854-6046.
The newest version out is by I-Com I think it's called and puts out 75watts ! A buddy of mine just installed it in his pre-runner too close to the
MSD ignition box and when he keyed the mic it would cause the box to mis-fire. Instructions call for it to be 2 feet away from any primary ignition
components which of course guys never read at least at first.
The locals call them dos metros aka the 2 meter antenna. Most of the local fisherman have them in their trucks. I've chatted with my local friends
on the way into a couple of my favorite surf spots, got invited to dinner in town, had water dropped at camp by someone passing by etc.
The draw back of course is that your traveling bud needs one in his rig too.
I've solved that problem for at least one other non VHF vehicle by buying a hand held setup. An accessory port charger for the battery and a little
magnetic roof mounted antenna and you have comm on the road. The hand helds only put out 5 watts so they are just a little better than the household
walkie-talkies on the market.
And lastly the install and antenna must be done correctly for proper function. The antenna needs to be "tuned" to your installation. Tthere is a guy
here in SD who does mobile service. Anyone who wants that info can U2U me for it.
This system is COMPLETLY LEGAL and far surpases CB. You can monitor aweather station and use the dedicated emercency freq without being licensed.
It's just like the difference between AM and FM radio reception.Roberto - 8-19-2007 at 05:47 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Gadget
This system is COMPLETLY LEGAL and far surpases CB.
Huh? Compa, you need a ham license for one of these to be legal. I have one (KG6TBF) and you also have to get the Mexican "reciprocal" license to be
COMPLETELY LEGAL. And the commercial freqs we use during the races? Legal? I don't think so.
That's the STRICT letter of the law, of course.
[Edited on 8-20-2007 by Roberto]Gadget - 8-19-2007 at 06:00 PM
As the instructions and the Ham Radio Outlet guys have told me along with the service guy who came to my house to tune my antenna, ONCE the unit is
altered it no longer qualifies as a ham radio requiring a license. I cannot talk on the licensed frequencies, send or recieve. Now I may have
mis-wrote or mis-led regarding legality in Mex. That I don't know, altough as I stated, I've commed with the locals occasionally. We have swapped
our monitored freqs for when I'm in their area. The letter of the law in both Mex and the US I have not personally researched either. The printed
instructions for my radio were as I stated as an option to being licensed. In 5 + years of usage here in the states and Mex I've never had an FCC
dude put the hammer down on me. I can hit a couple of channels for a radio check when I get ready to take off and usally get a copy back in a minute
or so.
I got nothing else on this, just the facts as I know and enjoy them. bajalou - 8-19-2007 at 07:47 PM
A 2 meter modified to operate outside the 2 meter band is not a legal unit to operate on commercial or marine bands. The unit has to be certified by
the FCC for these frequencies and a 2 meter isn't. That said, they are widely used in Baja in both commercial and marine frequencies.Roberto - 8-19-2007 at 09:17 PM
Gadget, you got some incomplete info. That said, next time you need an antenna tuned or a radio installed, let me know. I'll give you the best deal
available - free. The radio version of Locos Mocos.
[Edited on 8-20-2007 by Roberto]
CB or VHF ? VHF all the way
DonBaja - 8-20-2007 at 07:22 AM
I use a VHF it's a Icom V8000 I bought it from Radio Bob at www.rlhcomm.com
I can install it in my vehicle in less than 10 minutes get one with the cigarette lighter plug and magnetic antenna. When mounted on the roof of my
vehicle this thing is very clear and has a good range. It is expensive.Gadget - 8-20-2007 at 01:29 PM
Poor Halboo,
He gets the usual migraine of info when asking a simple question. Sorry dude for my part
To clarify what bajalou wrote about commercial or marine freqs, I know I can't use my radio on marine freqs cause it aint one. What do you Ham guys
consider commercial freqs? Because as I think I know whats up, the radio cannot be "certified" by the FCC because of the alteration. Am I wrong here
or what? It has also been explained to me that based on wattage output, antenna and the frequency bands we can send and recieve on that if there was
a ham installation in our transmit range they could walk all over us. Heck, we have to listen to this all the time at the races as some drunk with a
hi po setup walks all over race comm and peees weatherman off.
My answer to Halboo stays the same. The VHF or 2 meter or race radio or whatever the heck anyone wants to call it is the only way to go, traveling on
the hilly, windy, up and downs of the trans pen hiway of Baja IMHO.
I sure hope one of you official ham guys doesn't drop a dime on me and I have an FCC cop at my door soon. That would be bad form Roberto - 8-20-2007 at 02:13 PM
144-148 MHz: 2M Ham Band
148–156 MHz: Commercial or "VHF Business band"
156–174 MHz: VHF Marine Radio.
Your radio is probably capable of operating on all three if it's a modified 2M radio. All of mine do. A mobile antenna cannot be optimized for the
entire spectrum, which is why it needs to be tuned to the SPECIFIC freq you are going to transmit on. Tuning is a function of the length of the
antenna, which is a specific ratio of the operating freq.
Oh wait ... sorry just got interrupted by a call from the FCC.
[Edited on 8-20-2007 by Roberto]vacaenbaja - 8-20-2007 at 04:42 PM
Radios that are "opened up" to transmit and or receive work
just as well if not better In most cases these radios are made
for a variety of "markets" and they are all designed to cover
the same overlap frequenies. The law enforcement , marine frequencies and the the 2 meter band are close together. Often times a 2 meter can be made
to tranceive
in all three. However I would not be transmiting on the sheriffs frequencies. You will be convicted even if it was an emergency. The only difference
is that the modified radio you use is not "type Accepted" for use on any other frequency other than what it was designed for.
The best setup would be to have a licensed 2 meter repeater set up along the high points of baja. It does not take a lot of wattage for large
coverage. Repeaters in the
LA basin area have consistent reliable coverage using sites
like Mount Wilson, even Catalina. 2 to 5 watts out on a handheld can cover many miles. One could put a repeater at
Meling Ranch, Santa Rosalia, or The Sierras above Loreto.
They could be battery run and recharged by solar power.
The more remote the better,keeps down the theft problem.
There are repeater chains in Baja run by Mexican ham radio operators,in both Ensenada and La Paz. they can be linked to repeaters in the US at
their choosing.
Communication Lawlessness
MrBillM - 8-20-2007 at 04:51 PM
I don't know about anyone else, but I Worry a whole bunch when I'm violating all of those FCC rules in Mexico, considering how many DF mobile units
you see roaming through Baja looking for violators.
But then, I also get the shakes when I look at those FBI warnings on the pirate DVDs. Waiting for that knock on the door almost spoils the viewing,
though I do feel less threatened in Mexico.
However, the other day I ran into one that had an INTERPOL warning. Jeez. You're not safe anywhere.bajalou - 8-20-2007 at 05:18 PM
I was in Lucerne Valley CA a couple years ago and tuned my radio to what was supposed to be a racers frequency and I was listening to the Clark County
NV sheriff's office talking to units in both Laughlin and Las Vegas.
VHF/UHF unlicensed operation
Jack Swords - 8-21-2007 at 08:42 AM
Good discussion...as in all things in Mexico, one's ability to operate outside the law depends upon enforcement. SCT is the local equivalent of our
FCC and gives out permits and licenses to operate our radios. They also are responsible for enforcement. For a licensed ham operator to use his
radio in Mexico requires a reciprocal license issued by SCT. (I know, I know). By international agreement frequency allocations are stipulated to
avoid interference to valuable services. Here in the Central Coast of CA, near the 2 meter ham band, are the Forest Service, Cottage Hospital, the
airport, 5 search and rescue channels, to name a few. Sure wouldn't want to interfere with their radios. Unlicensed operation in the ham bands is
usually caught by some hams who live to catch "bootleggers". Getting a ham license has never been easier, now that the code requirement is eliminated.
There are classes where you earn the license in one day. We use ham radio to a great extent in Baja. HF radios work even in deep canyons, giving
world-wide communication. The VHF radios, like 2 meters, as mentioned by another poster, are line-of-sight, but with the repeaters on the hilltops
you have greatly extended range. These are found near populated areas. Here in the US, repeaters are linked nation-wide, many have phone patches,
other services. Computers are even linked through these systems. A legal license to operate opens communication possibilities in many modes (SSB,
FM, TV, etc.) and on a multitude of bands. It is a valuable asset even here in the USA. And...you don't have to look over your shoulder for FCC or
SCT.
Jack Swords, N1IYGadget - 8-21-2007 at 06:21 PM
Wow, look what you started Halboo! Now I got a headache. So much info. You guys are all so much smarter. I think I'll stick to posting on the
surfer and offroader threads.
Now I'm going to feel like I'm back in the 70s and just took a big hit off the bong every time I key my mic.
Ignorance is bliss sometimes
Anyway guys, thanks for all the good info. I guess I know who to look up now if I have a radio issue. Course I'll have to take a class first and
fill out a bunch of Federal forms of some kind and get a plastic pocket protector but thats all good, I'm adaptable Halboo - 8-21-2007 at 06:38 PM
Can you hear me now? TMW - 8-21-2007 at 06:42 PM
The problem with Mexico is they don't have bands of frequencies allocated to specific business interest, unless they've done so in the last few years.
The marine band may be one of a few that are because of international agreements. When I was working in San Diego at TV 39 several years ago we were
getting interference from Mexico on our two way radios (450/455 broadcast band). It turns out it was the governor of Baja's security force. The
problem was quickly resolved by them changing frequencies. However it was pointed out that it could just as easily been a taxi or other business.Elena La Loca - 8-21-2007 at 08:19 PM
Gadget~
Don't be afraid...if *I* can do it (I have been licensed since 1989 and have an Advanced class license), ANYBODY can! As said earlier, now it's easier
than ever to get your ham radio license now that there's no code requirement (darn it all - I took that 13wpm test 5 times before I finally got that
General code out of the way) and in a couple days of pouring over the possible test questions & multiple choice answers (get yourself one of
Gordon West's study course books ~ he really has a knack for making it all understancable and not just geek-speak) and you'll be hunting down a test
site, eager as ever to get on the bands.
I can't begin to tell you the fun I've had with ham radio (and it's all legal - we were told that as long as we're traveling in Baja all we have to do
is sign with our callsign and /XE2) but whenever we're on the road I can guarantee you we've got a radio on. We use HF to check in stateside daily on
a regular schedule, too.
If anybody's interested in finding out more information about getting your ham radio license, I hope you won't hesitate to U2U so I can point you in
the right direction (is that kinda like "telling you where to go"???!!!???)
Elena La Loca ~ N6UWWHook - 8-21-2007 at 09:43 PM
Want a PRACTICAL answer, Halboo?
If you are talking car-to-car communications, then the FRS radios work fine, especially if you have the single ear bud with the voice-activated mic
(cheap and included with some units).
But hand-held VHF works quite nicely for this purpose as well.
CBs are static prone, low range dinosaurs.
Cell phones are very limited for large distances on the peninsula.
2 meter radios are pricey but have great range and you have to have another with the radio for car to car.
