Hi Big Paul,
I've been travelling extensifvely for nearly a month and have not been keeping an eye on the forum.
Just noticed your question. As a result of discussions about possible advantages of CB radio as a survival comms tool, I recently putchased an Albrect AE 485s transceiver which covers bothe CB and Ham 10m frequencies. This is technically sold as a Ham radio but it handles exactly like an SSB capable CB. This makes operation fairly simple as a lot of funcionality that Hams like to play with is pre set. The radio has just 5 knobs and 6 buttons. Tuning is channelised ( from CB routes) and output power is fully adjustable from 0.1w to 25w which is a very useful power saving / covert operating capability.
Anmother thing that suprised me is that when i opened up the case I found that the radio is buily of old fashioned through-hole components rather than modern SMD miniaturised components. This means that if the radio should fail,provided components are available, it can be fixed in a fairly low tech workshop.
Yesterday I took it up in the hills near my home and was picking up a lot of activity on SSB CB frequencies from 400 to 800 miles range. Transmissions on 10m, where I am licensed to operate, gave me good contacts across Europe at about the same range.
Thers are a number of radios that are similar to the Albrect, made by Ranger, Intek, Midland, Galaxy and Any Tone. Albrect also make an interesting hand held unit that is SSB capable. Prices new range from around GBP 150.00 None of these are legal to operate in the UK without a license.... for the time being....... but EU legislation has recently changed allowing opeation of CB on SSB at up to 12w. ( enough for intercontinental comms when conditions are right) BUT of course our dear government is being a little slow in implementing the new laws, so for now, to use these radios legally, you'll have to travel to France, Germany, Poland etc.
As I've mentioned before radios operating SSB on the CB and 10m frequencies ( 27Mhz to 29Mhz) will give good long distance communication capability during daylight hours at the moment because sun spot activity is high. The long range capability will become less and less impressive and spradic in its nature over the coming 5 years or so, after which conditions will gradually improve again. Even without the intercontnental capability, these radios cover a fairly wide frequency range and will allow you to tune into pretty much all current CB channel sets and transmission types ( the Albrect supports FM, AM and SSB modes). In SSB mode maximum lign of sight communications should be fairly reliable, with summer time spradic skip capability of many hundress of miles even in years of poor sunspot activity.
I am satisfied with my purchase. It will never be my primary radio, but it is a robust keeper unit that is now resident at the bottom of my EMP cage, just in case:-)
Hiya,
the morse is the repater's automatic identification GB3AW, I guess
If you're picking this up you may be able to also hear the Farnham repeater GB3FN, this has a very active commuter discussion group who chat on their way to an dfrom work each day.
Also, if you can pick up Newbury, you may not be too far from Walbury hill? Try going up there one evening or over the weekend and scanning from 145.00 to 146.00. You'll be able to hear activity across the whole of the southeast region. Watch out for Amateurs though, its a favourite transmitting location. Usually car based from the main car park, but sometinmes with portable gear near the summit. As long as you are only listening, they won't bother you. Indeed it might be interesting to engage them in conversation to see what results they are getting with their gear. I've found the car park at Combe Gibbet to be fairly quiest adn I've never encountered anothe radio station ther even though I know others to be operating close by...
Well mine arrived yesterday. Just bought one for now to see how I get on and what I can pick up. Had a play last night, and I appear to only be able to pick up local taxi stations at the moment. My local repeater is off the air (don't know why though).
Managed to access the Newbury repeater, but apart from someone transmitting morse code there's not much happening
I was expecting the airwaves to be a but busier!
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