AustA
Newbie
Posts: 8
Registered: 1-7-2014
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CB Radio for emergencies
Hi nomads!
Been a while since I posted everything, getting ready for another visit to the wonderful land of Baja!
This year I'm bringing a CB radio, mostly for communication with the other vehicle that I will be traveling with (cant believe I havent had one before
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My question is how useful is a CB radio for off-road emergencies. Lets say I'm far from the highway, will I be able to use channel 9 to get help in a
major emergency?
Any information would be useful. I read the information about the various CB channels used in Baja but didnt get a clear answer on if the CB can be
used a fair distance from highway 1 for emergencies.
As always thanks so much for sharing your knowledge on this site!
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chippy
Super Nomad
Posts: 1722
Registered: 2-2-2010
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I think VHF is what most use there.
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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Agree, I think most people use VHF or GMRS radios now. Don't know anyone using CB any more, maybe truckers.
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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ehall
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 3-29-2014
Location: Buckeye, Az
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Mood: It's 5 o'clock somewhere
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Not much range either unless you got it hot-rodded
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Most anything discussed above is going to be line of sight or very short range at best.
if you want comms, a sat phone, if you need help/emergencies, a SPOT
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DawnPatrol
Nomad
Posts: 357
Registered: 11-19-2013
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True, we use handheld VHF's for communications between vehicles on the highway
Is fairly good reception, but IMO a CB JUST for between vehicles would be better reception, but just to talk between vehicles.
The VHF is preferred by people because they also are dual purpose,used on the water so there is communications from boater to boater, and if there is
an emergency on the water in some areas (like San Lucas Cove) people on shore are monitoring (sometimes)
But for true emergency have the sat phone or SPOT
I have a sat phone with the Global rescue and/or emergency transport
[Edited on 12-30-2015 by DawnPatrol]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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CBs were always limited during sun spot and skip conditions, becoming so noisy that to hear a local radio, unless in a convoy with you, was
impossible. We used them a lot in Baja, back in the 1970's. Talking to people back in America 'shooting skip' to other states was easier than talking
to a local 5 miles away.
Cell Phones are the norm for roadside emergencies... but that mostly is in the Tijuana to Ensenada corridor.
Seriously, help comes along on all main roads. If you are off roading then the satellite phone or a DeLorme In Reach or a SPOT device are your only
pretty sure ways of calling for emergency help.
[Edited on 12-30-2015 by David K]
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3070
Registered: 5-21-2013
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At 5 watts do not expect to use a CB for anything except vehicle to vehicle. Typically in Baja a 25 to 110 watt VHF radios are mostly used. 50 watt
VHS is typical for safety purposes. Even then line of sight is often compromised and prevents anybody from hearing your transmission.
Lately we have starting using MSAT unit to unit, which is a satellite radio system. Before that we used or at least carried a sat phone to call any
phone or sat phone to sat phone.
Anyway the VHF 50 watt or even a 25 watt radio are the most popular and they work reasonably well. All you need is a list of frequencies.
Last of all I do not think I have even seen a CB radio in Baja.
And in the states I still use a CB. Primarily because of the fed regulations which means VHF is not legal without a special license.
[Edited on 12-31-2015 by PaulW]
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Bajavanadu
Junior Nomad
Posts: 66
Registered: 8-3-2015
Location: San diego
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I'm a big fan of the delorme inreach, reasonably priced plans and in my experience it works better than a sat phone.
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PaulW
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3070
Registered: 5-21-2013
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Quote: Originally posted by Bajavanadu  | | I'm a big fan of the delorme inreach, reasonably priced plans and in my experience it works better than a sat phone. |
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I am sure they work great from all reports, but not quite a radio or replacement for a CB
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64835
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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In Reach by DeLorm: It is nice that it allows two-way communications, works like texting or like email. That is not on the Spot device.
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Gulliver
Senior Nomad
Posts: 651
Registered: 11-18-2013
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Don't bother reading the comments in the evaluation area when you look at SPOT or Inreach sellers on the internet.
There are two categories of 'foamers' on there.
One group says that if you get in trouble you should just die if you can't rescue yourself. That it's irresponsible to ask for help. It's all your own
fault.
The other group says that anything less than a full on satellite beacon with a paid international rescue plan that is instantly linked to the U.N. and
NORAD is the only responsible setup.
The reality that i have discovered is that they all work and you get more stuff for more bucks.
The SPOT gets a lot of use because it is less expensive and meets the needs of more people. Not every need is to call for rescue. I happen to need a
way to keep Barbara from fretting when I am delayed up in the dingleberries. With even the least expensive SPOT subscription I can send "I'm O.K."
messages as well as tell the world I need a couple more levels of help. But it is a one way signal and even with the fact that the little bugger sends
the message multiple times, there is no feedback to tell you if it got out. Most of the recorded complaints are from people who didn't read the
manual. It has limitations.
The Inreach is two way. Much better but a lot more expensive.
As to radio use, unless you are near either a town where people monitor a VHF channel or are out fishing and monitor a locally agreed upon channel,
radios are not that useful for emergencies.
I am a ham operator and I carry a small, low powered voice and morse code radio that operates on H.F. frequencies. If I am in any condition to get my
wire thrown over a cardon or a boojum and twiddle a few knobs, I can raise enough stink to get someone to call my house and get the cavalry moving.
There is no code test for a U.S. license any more and the test isn't that hard at all. But it is a bunch of techie fiddling. I do it for fun.
If your just wanting to jabber a bit for fun and information, I don't think any cheap and simple two way radio solution exists for Baja once you are
away from population centers. If it is really important for a possible disaster, you pay your money and take what you can afford.
[Edited on 1-1-2016 by Gulliver]
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