Let me start by saying I don’t care for CB radios. We have all heard the crap that is transmitted on some of the channels.

When we started Owyhee Expeditions Outfitters, we looked for a reliable way to keep contact between our vehicles while conducting tours on the high desert of southern Idaho. Because of the dust, we sometimes had vehicles spaced a half-mile apart. Some of our routes were 67 miles from the nearest paved roads.

After investing in business band radios, we quickly found out we were operating so far out in the boonies that they didn’t work. The signal for business band had to go out to a repeater and then back to the vehicles. There were no business band repeaters out that far. In fact the Owyhee County Sheriff’s office has areas of the county they can’t reach with radio, to this day. So, as the next best option, we looked into CB, as the signal just goes from vehicle to vehicle. Line of sight, so to speak.

We tried a few CB’s but were not happy with the distance the 4 watt radios would carry. This was a safety issue for us, and unless we could come up with a better way, we were going to have problems getting reasonable rates on insurance for the business.

Towards the end of 1989, we came upon two BLM guys doing a survey out on the high desert in the vicinity of South Mountain. Those guys were talking to each other on Uniden CB radios that had been modified. They were putting out 10 watts of power and they could keep contact between their vehicles at distances of 6 miles. After a visit with these guys, we took our radios to the local shop where they had theirs modified. The cost was $45.00, and our cost/safety issue was solved.

About 1992, after some investigation, we deduced the best radios to have modified were two brands of the old 23 channel CB’s that were no longer available on the new market – the 40 channel units were the only ones available. The older Midland, model 13-857, 23 channel radios were going for $5-$10 at garage sales. These modified units would allow us to keep contact up to 10 miles under the right conditions. We use these on our rallyes today.

Another improvement was the addition of the Astatic Model 636-L microphone. Bill Galvin, a long time member of our Thing Group down in Elko, Nevada discovered these and told us to try them. This mike is a great improvement for talking on the radios while the top is down, and going more than 40 mph.

These radios have saved us a lot of missed turns and overshot turnoffs in the many rallyes we have hosted. When there are 15 Things strolling down the road at 60 mph, it is nice to know we can stay in touch. I know….. those of you who have been with us on rallyes know our motto is The Loster, the Better!!