CB dead or alive

Yeah very interesting conversation lol.

Seems the IMAX 2000 isn't what it used to be due to it being shorter in length.

No the Chameleon MPAS 2.0 is a portable Ham Antenna, 17 foot tall, works amazing really for it's size, I leave it on the front lawn all the time and connected to the FT-891 in the sitting room, Have got some amazing DX on it especially on 20m in the evenings in the Summer, North, Central, South America and Australia a couple of times all with 100w and 4 radials which is far less than optimal.

I noticed when I added the extra 3 radials performance improved especially on 40 m where it's never going to be a performer anyway, I got it for a right bargain from Martin Lynch a lot less than they usually go for so think it was a mistake.

When I added the radials SWR went up as ground losses were being reduced this is normal,

I hope to add a proper vertical sometime, maybe a hustler 6 BTV or 43 foot vertical but you really need an auto tuner at the feed point or losses would be huge over coax.

I missed your post.

How's the CB bands tonight ?

I'm listening to the Digital modes tonight listening to truckers on D-Star and it dawned on me that there are a lot of Truckers these days on Digital and the CB'ers are probably using maybe Zello ?

It would be nice to see more Lorry Drivers in Ireland on CB but I can't remember the last time I say a CB Antenna on a Lorry in Ireland.

D-Star is purely a digital voice mode, not sure if you can even listen without an Amateur radio call sign.

There is also DMR and Fusion.

On the road these Digi modes are convenient. I just use my Openspot 3 and anytone 878 and I have the Anytone 878 set up so I can, via the Openspot 3 use DMR, D-star and Fusion all from the One radio.

I will try find out if you can listen without a license.

For Digi modes I also use Blue DV for Android and Windows, The Windows version is really good and sound quality via Blue DV is much better, I connect via the DVMEGA Globetrotter which means I don't have to have a dongle connected to each device I use Blue DV on but you can also get the DVMEGA DV Stick 30 dongle.

I just have to find out if you can listen to any of these modes without a call Sign.

Yeah you are indeed, brain fart.

Dead easy get on DMR, and Fusion, D-Star is a little trickier. Then get the DVMEGA DV Stick 30 and after a quick setup you're on the air way faster than trying to program a DMR radio + you can easily switch between DMR, D-Star and Fusion.

You can register for a DMR ID here https://www.radioid.net/register#!

I think you can listen to DMR withouth an ID here https://hose.brandmeister.network/ you can get the Brandmeister app to listen via mobile.

Register for D-Star here https://regist.dstargateway.org/Dstar.do

Fusion is much easier, once you program your radio with your ID it should just work on Fusion or program the Blue DV software.

Bluedv for windows is here https://software.pa7lim.nl/BlueDV/BETA/Windows/

Blue DV is the simplest cheapest way of accessing digital modes and I don't really care whether I'm using it through a real radio or not, using blue DV and once the TX audio is set properly the audio quality both TX and RX is a lot better than through most radios.

I do use the Anytone 878 UV+ in the car with my Openspot 3 and have it programmed so that I can access DMR, D-Star and Fusion all through the radio and I'm able to switch between modes and channels via the radio itself, a lot of People use 3 different radios with the Openspot 3 and control it via a web browser on the phone but it's not necessiary, it can all be done from the Openspot 3 but I'ts very complicated to set up.

There's an app to use blue DV from an Android device or on Chromebook but you can't do anything else while the Blue DV App is open as it can't run in the background but it will on a Chromebook. It can be handy to have it on a tablet beside you but Blue DV for Windows is much better.

Some audio is very robotic depending on the setup at the other end and some audio is quite good but Blue DV is from what I've heard probably the best, the anytone 878 UV+ sounds decent through the car audio system a lot better than from the radio.

There is also Allstar which has excellent audio quality but I haven't got on that yet.

Digi modes are very convenient when HF isn't.

@bassy Did you check out the hoseline on brandmeister ? what you think ? don't forget there's an android app too, not sure about Apple.

Forgot to link to the DVMEga DV Stick 30 https://www.combitronics.nl/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=103

IF you were interested in trying out some digital modes I would highly recommend this route and Blue DV for windows and Android because making a code plug for a DMR radio is a lot of hassle, you could get a Fusion radio such as the FT-3D or 5D and all you then have to do is press wires-x and you're on fusion, it's simple as it should be but you will need a hotspot so the cheapest and simplest way to get on Digital is the DVstick and Blue DV and you don't have to mess with hotspots either + it's dead easy to switch between modes and channels.

Ah yeah I thought the same until I found out that I could still make contacts when I couldn't use HF or where it wasn't practical or in the car.

It's funny, there's a lot of Hams who told me it's illegal to TX on CB, why are they telling People this and do they really believe it ? A few of them had me convinced CB was illegal and I risk loosing my Ham license, do some Hams knowingly do this on purpose ? or do they really believe transmitting on the CB band is illegal ?

What's interesting is that in Ireland, AM/FM and SSB is allowed.

https://www.comreg.ie/industry/radio-spectrum/licence-exemptions/list-of-licence-exemptions/

Citizen’s Band (CB)

AM citizens’ band (CB) and PR 27 radio equipment.

Operational modes are AM (1W erp), FM (4W erp) and SSB (4W pep). CB is from 26.96-27.41MHz where forty 10 kHz channels are available.

For more information see S.I. 436 of 1998.

The President website says from 26,965 MHz to 27,405 MHz for the Randy III so these must be the standard frequencies for the 40 CH CBs

The ones that transmit above 27,405 must be the unlocked ham gear then ?

It's crazy, I was just talking to another Ham friend of mine trying to convince him to get his CB and IMAX back in the air and he's insisting CB in Ireland was never legalised ? seriously it's mad.

Honestly, I know, it was good enough for a lot of them when they started out, it's amazing how many turn their back on CB now who get the Ham license. Probably a lot to do with the fact a lot of People do think it's illegal, ok above 27.41 yeah but still a lot of channels to be used legally.

Anyway, think I'm going to get Imax 2000 and stick it up.

LOL Just had FM contact with 31lr001 portugal he was using 1.2 Kw 40 over with me, he was using beam.