[cf100clunk]

There are still some of us who have CB radios (with all their limitations acknowledged) in our vehicles for back country emergency use, and I occasionally see mobile ham radio operators. A Garmin inReach seems like it would be a good addition.

[Scoundreller]

CBs are good for the forest service roads so you know when logging trucks are coming or going.

[cf100clunk]

You'll need a special VHF radio for that kind of traffic tracking on Forest Service Roads in BC, and there are specific usage patterns you must follow:

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/natural-resource...

A CB radio doesn't help much with that, but it is just another means of possibly getting contact with others.

[Scoundreller]

Ahhh, I remember it being possible on one of the Baofeng’s that can do almost anything.

Transmitting may require licensing, but listening should be fine.

[vel0city]

Citizen-Band "CB" is a pretty specific type of AM radio limited to a number of defined channels around 27MHz.

Those Baofeng radios are VHF/UHF (140MHz/440MHz) FM radios, not "CB". If you had a Baofeng, and your buddy had a CB, there is no good way they would be able to communicate. These radios can operate in a wide range of frequencies with various levels of legality. But yeah in the US and Canada its generally legal to receive a transmission...other than maybe old cellular phones but that's another complicated mess.

[cf100clunk]

I'm pretty sure the parent wasn't commenting on tracking CB radio, just the FSR VHF traffic I mentioned.

[vel0city]

I think so as well, but it looks like they had their terminology confused. They used the term CB originally, then talked about using a Baofeng. I'm just pointing out that CB is something very different from VHF FM. Many lay people see a radio with a handmike and think "CB".

[cf100clunk]

That's an excellent point - using the channel maps at the site I linked to above, there is nothing to stop someone with a scanner keeping informed of FSR traffic.

Just one other point: on an FSR an average person's general sense of traffic "right of way" is generally wrong and can result in some terrible accidents far from help. To wit: the bus crash involving UBC students outside Bamfield.

[soperj]

Pretty sure that was UVic students.

[cf100clunk]

Yes, you are correct.

[beebs93]

Agreed.

Said family member mentioned in the parent thread keeps a handheld radio (I don't know the exact tech specs, sorry) for such occasions. That said, they mostly use it to just listen for any logging trucks calling out checkpoints so they can avoid getting in their way when travelling to their remote campsites.

Coupled with a Garmin inReach w/ backcountry maps installed, it gives us peace of mind in case something goes wrong out in the bush.