BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 929
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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CB Radio License
I have always used CB radios in Baja without any problems, but I did at one point ask for "CB radio papers" at a military checkpoint. I was wondering
where do you get a license, and how much are they?
Has anyone got ticketed/fined for not having a CB radio license?
Thank you.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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I have had cb's forever-----nobody ever asked------------I have no licenses.
Barry
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
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Licenses? Don't need no stinkin licenses.
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bajamedic
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Registered: 12-5-2008
Location: Northern California
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Mood: Just waitin for baja
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From the FCC Web Site
Citizens Band (CB)
Citizens Band (CB) Radio Service is a private two-way voice communication service for use in personal and business activities of the general public.
Its communications range is from one to five miles.
Licensing: License documents are neither needed nor issued and there are no age or citizenship requirements. As long as you use only an unmodified FCC
certificated CB unit, you are provided authority to operate a CB unit in places where the FCC regulates radio communications.
Operations: You are provided authority to operate a CB unit in places where the FCC regulates radiocommunications, as long as you use only an
unmodified FCC certificated CB unit. An FCC certificated unit has an identifying label placed on it by the manufacturer. Read more about restrictions
of operations and usage of channels.
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
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I don't thi nk the FCC refglates Mexico or Baja. We don't own it yet!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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rt is right--------FCC has no control on stuff in Mexico, as far as I know.
Somewhere in the cobwebs of my mind I do think that Mexico does have regs pertaining to CB's, but I just have never heard of them being enforced in
Baja--------?!?!?!?
somebody must have some updates on this subject, tho. ????
Barry
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 929
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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Wow! No license required!? I have always remembered that you needed one, but never got one.
I remember them being Mexican offered licenses, not from US. Weird, maybe they've changed their laws the past 5-10 years.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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I remember in an old AAA travel book it said that only one or two channels were allowed for CB's in Mexico, I think channel 9 and 10?
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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David K
Honored Nomad
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C.B. is really a thing of the past... at least to get all worked up over. Even back in the 70's, with linear amplifiers we didn't get a Mexican permit
and it was never an issue. With skip so heavy (from sun spots, ionozed atmosphere, etc.) the only good is to use it in a convoy with your squelch
turned up to block out the static.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Yep, and that is all we ever used it for (and still do)
Barry
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Jack Swords
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Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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Actually, the FRS (Family Radio Service) radios available just about everywhere are better since they are FM, smaller, and quiet. CB is either AM or
SSB and cannot discriminate out static noise. FRS radios operate at a UHF frequency and do not receive "skip", another form of interference. It is
surprising the distance one can achieve with these radios, perfect for that convoy.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
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Location: San Diego County
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10-4 Jack!
We have the FRS radios and have used them a couple of times, but they only work 'line of sight'... If you get close to a mile away from the other car,
it gets real hard to hear each other. I got them at Costco about 3 years ago.
[Edited on 12-18-2009 by David K]
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Jack Swords
Super Nomad
Posts: 1095
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Location: Nipomo, CA/La Paz, BCS
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Correct David. Being line of sight means no "skip" and other interference. Perfect for a couple of cars communicating as they travel. The 27 Mhz
band is so cluttered that sometimes impossible to use. At least with CB you can have an external antenna, not so with FRS (legally). We use ham
radio, both 2 meter FM and HF SSB in the car and the boat, and of course marine VHF. Can't beat ham radio HF to communicate from anywhere (like that
deep canyon back of El Marmol). Really fun to have a phone patch home from the obscure places in Baja. In fact, hams can connect to the Internet on
HF Pactor to send e-mail from anywhere too. It's never been easier to get a ham general class license. than it is now
s/v La Paloma, N1IY, La Paz
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BooJumMan
Senior Nomad
Posts: 929
Registered: 8-11-2007
Location: San Diego
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Yes, we only use our CB's for convoy and just in case of emergency. I have a pretty nice CB radio setup for offroading and Baja. Obviously, certain
variables permitting, I can get 5-8 mile range.
Those little Motorola hand helds work, but seriously hate them. If you can't see the person in front of you, they dont work.
CB's work really really well with a correct setup. This includes having the correct length of coax, etc. Most people do not set them up correctly and
do not tune with a SWR meter. Check out http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm for some cool info !!
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Some of the newer FRS handi-talky radios have projected transmission distances of up to 30 miles, and not necessarily restricted "line of
sight"--------they put out the max. allowed signal strength as specified by the FCC. I have just bought some like this by MIDLAND that are only $20
each, on sale. (normally $40 each). They seem to work pretty slick. (Mod. #GXT720VP3)
But for distance, I still prefer the CB's, rigged properly like BoojumMan says, for inter-car communications of up to 10 miles, and over mountains and
thru the trees. We also use the Single Side Band function on our CB's, which increases distance significantly. The only problem is that most people
don't have SSB capability. I bought 2 SSB cb's so that I can loan one to the other vehicle. 
Barry
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vacaenbaja
Senior Nomad
Posts: 643
Registered: 4-4-2006
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There are now a number of 2 meter repeaters through out
the penisula that are privately owned by various radio clubs.
They provide superior coverage especially when far out at sea.
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