Will CB antenna work?

[HedgehogOutdoors]

I am looking to get a fire radio for my 4runner, as I am allowed to respond to calls now, and I would like to hear what's happening as I arrive. That being said, I don't know anyone that would be able to help me with the install. I was wondering if any of you that have experience with scanners could tell me if a CB antenna would be compatible, and if I could run a CB into the same antenna as the scanner. Thanks in advance for any help, I really appreciate it.

 

[fourwd1]

CB radios operate at 27 MHz, police/fire services operate on several much higher frequency bands. A cb antenna would work fairly good if your fire service operates on the older 30-50 MHz public service band, otherwise no.

 

[fourwd1]

And you couldn't use both the cb and the scanner on the same antenna at the same time. If you transmitted on the cb radio while the scanner was connected, good-bye scanner.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

CB Antenna


CB radios operate at a very low frequency - and use AM for the signal. Public service frequencies are in the VHF Low (rare nowadays), VHF High, UHF Low and UHF High bands and operate with FM for the signal. No one antenna will work well for both purposes.

Spend twenty bucks and buy a decent magnet-mount antenna for your CB; as you want others to hear you as well as you can hear them.

Save travels!

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the info on that. If there's one thing I'm not smart with, it's radios.

 

[zstampe]

Dude just get a handheld scanner at radio shack. That's all you'll need.

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

Dude just get a handheld scanner at radio shack. That's all you'll need.

I should, but I'd get mad having batteries die when I forget to charge them. I may end up doing that, we'll see. Thanks for the suggestion, I forgot all about that to be honest with you.

 

[zstampe]

I should, but I'd get mad having batteries die when I forget to charge them. I may end up doing that, we'll see. Thanks for the suggestion, I forgot all about that to be honest with you.

The batteries last awhile too. What kind of radio will you be listening on? And I'm surprised your department didn't issue Motorola minitors or radios if they expect you to respond.

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

The batteries last awhile too. What kind of radio will you be listening on? And I'm surprised your department didn't issue Motorola minitors or radios if they expect you to respond.

Well I'm in the explorer program, and I just got my level 1 done, we get minitors when we hit level 2. I could wait, but I'm not very patient haha.

 

[zstampe]

Well I'm in the explorer program, and I just got my level 1 done, we get minitors when we hit level 2. I could wait, but I'm not very patient haha.

I've been a ff/emt going on 6 years. Go get your level 2 and reap the benefits then. No offense but on a fire scene there's already too many people in the way. If they wanted you responding they would've given you the tools to do so, you know? If you really want to listen in on stuff get yourself a scanner and do it that way. Most publicly purchased radios cant listen to fire/ems/police anyway for hippaa reasons and other security reasons. Where I work we are on an 800mhz digitally truncated system. So let's say I bought a HAM radio and tuned in to the frequency I still couldn't listen because it's digitally encrypted. If I had a scanner I could. I hope I'm explaining that right.

On a Minotor you can only listen to 1 channel (here at least) which is the main dispatching channel. You couldn't listen to fire ground ops or the tactical channels. On a scanner you can hear everything from incident command talking to the firefighters inside the building, to police and EMS. I think you'd really enjoy a scanner and if you're area hasn't switched to the digital system like we have you can find a decent one for cheap.

Good luck brother!

Zach

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

I've been a ff/emt going on 6 years. Go get your level 2 and reap the benefits then. No offense but on a fire scene there's already too many people in the way. If they wanted you responding they would've given you the tools to do so, you know? If you really want to listen in on stuff get yourself a scanner and do it that way. Most publicly purchased radios cant listen to fire/ems/police anyway for hippaa reasons and other security reasons. Where I work we are on an 800mhz digitally truncated system. So let's say I bought a HAM radio and tuned in to the frequency I still couldn't listen because it's digitally encrypted. If I had a scanner I could. I hope I'm explaining that right.

On a Minotor you can only listen to 1 channel (here at least) which is the main dispatching channel. You couldn't listen to fire ground ops or the tactical channels. On a scanner you can hear everything from incident command talking to the firefighters inside the building, to police and EMS. I think you'd really enjoy a scanner and if you're area hasn't switched to the digital system like we have you can find a decent one for cheap.

Good luck brother!

Zach

We actually have 2 scanners, one old one is made in USA! The only problem is they don't get the best reception at our house, so we need an antenna sticking off the house lol. I understand what you are saying though, I'll start working on my level 2 then!

 

[zstampe]

Good luck bro! Pm me if you ever need pointers!

Fire gear looks great in the back of a 4r too!

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

Good luck bro! Pm me if you ever need pointers!

Fire gear looks great in the back of a 4r too!

I'm thinking I'll keep mine in the hatch. My gear is pretty messed up, 2 huge tears in the back of the coat, from our burn trailer railing. The rest is fine, I guess my coat is taking all of the damage! The chief saw my coat and told me I'd die if I went into a fire with it lol. Well, I'm not legally allowed to be anywhere near the fire itself, so I guess I'm all set until I'm 18!

 

[KidVermicious]

I don't know if it helps or not, but I have a scanner ap on my Android. How often do you respond beyond cell coverage?

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

I don't know if it helps or not, but I have a scanner ap on my Android. How often do you respond beyond cell coverage?

That's part of the problem. I am going to be receiving texts from dispatch telling me what the call is, but at my house I usually never have service. And I don't have a data plan, so that wouldn't work for me. I guess I'll just go for level 2 so I can get a minitor, that would be best.

 

[zstampe]

I'm thinking I'll keep mine in the hatch. My gear is pretty messed up, 2 huge tears in the back of the coat, from our burn trailer railing. The rest is fine, I guess my coat is taking all of the damage! The chief saw my coat and told me I'd die if I went into a fire with it lol. Well, I'm not legally allowed to be anywhere near the fire itself, so I guess I'm all set until I'm 18!

Mine is usually in the hatch but I don't have a picture of it lol.

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

Mine is usually in the hatch but I don't have a picture of it lol.

That reminds me, I need o get a picture of that for an update on my thread. After I fix my radiator issue. Which may be a few days. :dammit:

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

Well, I went on my first call last night. Can't tell anything because of confidentiality, but I can say it was a biggun!

 

[zstampe]

Well, I went on my first call last night. Can't tell anything because of confidentiality, but I can say it was a biggun!

House fire? Nah that's ok to say what it was how bit etc. Just can't say names etc. Hope it was fun!

 

[HedgehogOutdoors]

House fire? Nah that's ok to say what it was how bit etc. Just can't say names etc. Hope it was fun!

It was exciting, I didn't get there on apparatus, went with a lady in her Jeep Liberty. I know how little balls those things have from drivers ed, but she must have had it all the way to the floor, cause it went!