VHF CB proposal

[Excalibur]

I propose that we have a VHF CB system with 8 channels. Like the USA MURS system on 151 MHZ. It would allow 5 watts output power and you can use any radio you want on it that is CE approved. It would be of great use to those who wish to have a licence free radio system in the VHF region where it can be used in forests and often has a greater range than UHF depending on the conditions.

We have a HF CB and a UHF CB (pmr446) system. We should also have a VHF CB system.

Could we possibly make a petition to ofcom? Maybe get a few radio experts to say it would benefit the community and be of help to radio enthusiasts. I know Ofcom tend to care more about selling parts of the radio spectrum to users but if they really are a decent organisation they would support this project

Please tell me what you think in the poll and comment if you want!

[Minus1]

OFCOM's consultation about the 143-156 band (July 2012) seems to have stalled completely.
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consul ... input/?a=0
Anything that gives them a kick up the backside has to be a good idea.
Not sure about a crummy 8 channels though, Australian UHF CB has 77!

[normal]

Click for thread about the VHF consulatation and VHF freeband suggestions

[wires]

Would be nice, we use ukgen's for a local net at the moment

[pmr446man]

Good idea nice 5w power limit would be nice, But why have 3 people already voted no?

[pmr446man]

Would be nice, we use ukgen's for a local net at the moment

Near Drake circus uk gen gets a fair bit (UHF) most towns do.

[wires]

7 chan for vhf, so not really an issue

[Farty]

Good idea nice 5w power limit would be nice, But why have 3 people already voted no?

Because we already have an 80 channel hf cb system that's all but unused.

[Excalibur]

Good idea nice 5w power limit would be nice, But why have 3 people already voted no?

Because we already have an 80 channel hf cb system that's all but unused.

HF characteristics are different from VHF..With HF you have to have a large antenna that is sometimes impractical. With VHF you can have a smaller antenna meaning handheld radios can be used but it does not compromise range such as UHF.

[26CAB40]

VHF/UHF makes far more sense for a local communication system, no matter the nostalgia of 11m.

[Farty]

You get perfectly serviceable CB handies from the likes of Midland and Intek with a respectable range of many miles, and they don't have huge antennae. They work very nicely, thank you. And it not.As.If it'll give you a.hernia, or needs an aerial so big it need planning permission...

http://www.thunderpole.co.uk/handheld-c ... dheld.html

Sensible sized, multiple channels, decent performance.

Justify it anyway you want, but the bottom line is there's a perfectly practical, work as and useable CB system already in existence and while these bands have tumbleweed blowing through them you can offer no argument that will prompt OFCUM to spend tens, maybe even hundreds of thousands.if pounds of taxpayer money even investigating such a proposal.

[26CAB40]

Don't dare compare the range, reliability and lack of interference between 11m handies and VHF, you're onto a loser there.
11m handies are without any doubt the absolute crappest thing I have ever had the misfortune to use.
It's simple really.
An 11m helical has negative gain in all respects, they are a tiny fraction of a wavelength.
At UHF, a helical or short whip can actually exhibit gain.

Don't even go there.

[pmr446man]

Good idea nice 5w power limit would be nice, But why have 3 people already voted no?

Because we already have an 80 channel hf cb system that's all but unused.

Perhaps you have a point but the vhf idea seems cool.

[Farty]

Don't dare compare the range, reliability and lack of interference between 11m handies and VHF, you're onto a loser there.
11m handies are without any doubt the absolute crappest thing I have ever had the misfortune to use.
It's simple really.
An 11m helical has negative gain in all respects, they are a tiny fraction of a wavelength.
At UHF, a helical or short whip can actually exhibit gain.

Don't even go there.

Doesn't stop them working well though. I got 8 miles out of mine yesterday to a friend travelling mobile, perfectly clear and usable. Extremely adequate for a short range licence free radio communications system. The fact that It's negative, positive, or no pain no gain is.an irrelevance - it simply functions.

[26CAB40]

Doesn't stop them working well though. I got 8 miles out of mine yesterday to a friend travelling mobile, perfectly clear and usable. Extremely adequate for a short range licence free radio communications system. The fact that It's negative, positive, or no pain no gain is.an irrelevance - it simply functions.

Well, the spark transmitter worked very well, people had thousands of miles out of them.
You see where this is going ?