12voltradio

 GMRS is growing Citizen Band Radio is shrinking and Amateur Radio is fairly stable. GMRS is growing in favor by many folks that travel in more then one car, RV’rs, campers, hunters, off roaders, preppers and more.   I observe several reasons for this. It works well with FMRS radios which are often cheaper then GMRS.  No license is required for FMRS but they have less range and can not use GMRS repeaters. The learning curve is fairly shot. For basic use they only have a couple dozen channels and once shown how and done once or twice accessing GMRS repeaters is fairly simple. There is no testing or training required before you apply for your license.  This license allows you to let your family use your GMRS call sign and radios. The FCC assumes you have briefed them all on the FCC rules for their use.  You as the license holder iremain responsible  for their operation.

  Space Weather is very interesting as it applies to radio and electronics in general.  It’s nice to see radio flux climbing back into the 80s again.  It should only get better/higher over the next several years until the solar cycle turns south again in the mid to late twenties.  In the mean time HF radio propagation should be great.  It can even help in the VHF an UHF area as well.

Above my 11 meter SSB  As a CB’er (11 meter’s) I had only used the standard 40 channel with no single sided band in my car and a HT (walkie talkie).  Once I got my HAM Technician License in 2019, I added 2 meters (VHF), 30/70 centimeters (UHF) and ten meters (HF).  The UHF and VHF is by frequency’s not channels like CB & GMRS.  Frequency’s gives you hundreds to thousands of contact points depending on my license class. When studying for my tech license I read about solar cycles, but till I had a ten meter radio I did not understand.  At the bottom third of the cycles distance reception/propagation is often terrible on 6 through 15 meters.  I bought a 10 meter radio, built a dipole antenna and nothing🙁  Note as a technician I was limited to 200 watts.  So I bought an11 meter CB with upper and lower sideband. Did hear a few folks about 600 miles away but they could not hear me.  Note for a legal CB I can only use 4 watts and one with side band the limit is 12 watts. So I determined

Especially for the CB and HAM bands solar activity plays a major roll on propagation/range.  The sun goes through a eleven year cycle of solar activity.  The summer of 2020 was the bottom (low solar activity).   So in my opinion 2022-2027 should be good for CB’s with upper and lower side bands.  For HAM’s the 6, 10, 12, 15 and 17 meter bands should also improve during this time frame. Then start degrading again as the cycle goes to the bottom again a few years after 2027.  Note that CB is part of the 11 meter band.  CB’s without upper and lower sideband are not effected much. The HAM bands 20 through 160 plus are almost always working but they will improve some during this time also.  FRS, GMRS, HAM UHF and VHF are not affected nearly as much if at all by the solar cycle.

 This blog will cover  Family Radio Service (FRS) typical low cost department store radio types.  Come with fixed antennas and no license required.  My wife and I use these to communicate when backing our RV.  A short range service.  I also list other services below. Above on the right is my FRS handheld (HT), then my GMRS HT,  my old CB HT and finally  my HAM 2 meter UHF/VHF HT. Citizens Band Radio (CB) many folks had these before cell phones became common in the late 80s.  No license required. My guess around 30% of the truckers still have these.  We have a small mobile in our 3/4 ton truck we use as a backup to our smart phone travel app. This is short to local range.  If you purchase a CB with Single Side Band you can have upto medium range if conditions are right. Above is an old CB mobile we have in our truck. General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) this service growing currently and requires a GMRS license (no test required). This license is unique In that your license also covers y