Why its worth having CB / VHF Ham radio in the cab

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
61

I have had my ham radio on in the truck when I’m on the road but only when I’m on my own, other people just don’t seem to get it. Usually chat with others on the repeaters but mostly ‘keep it clean’ unlike what another poster said earlier.

I have heard truckers using the GB3CF from MK up to Derbyshire most nights and there are often others around. The major problem I have with my radio is remembering where they all are. The radio usually only allows 7-8 characters per channel so GB3CF ends up as ‘CF-LEICS’ and GB3CV is ‘CV-Cov7’

I often use the abbreviations below to remind myself what band they are on as it often affects the range

7 or U = 70cm = 430Mhz = UHF, and 2 or V = 2m = 144Mhz = VHF

I would like to get into HF more but I need other equipment for that which I don’t have :frowning: But if I had a regular truck day in day out for the same company I would fit the radio to the truck, possibly via a second battery in its backpack portable mode :wink:

62

GB3YW is a better repeater, as is GB3WY on 6m. :wink:

Ken.

63

Thanks Quinny but I don’t have a six meter rig yet either. What rig and antenna do you have there?

64

Dented:
Thanks Quinny but I don’t have a six meter rig yet either. What rig and antenna do you have there?

I use a Yaesu FT7800 in the car, and Kenwood TS480HX at home, and a Yaesu FT2800 at home as well. The TS is coupled to a Cobwebb and the 2800 to a tri band vertical.

I need 6m capability as I’m a GB2RS newsreader.

Ken.

65

Yaesu FT8800 is my only rig right now, no HF but might get an FT 857 when I can afford it :slight_smile: