"That's what I would like about them I think, I don't have much problem with missed transmissions from someone being talked over by a person not in our group, from what I have seen we usually switch channels because we are hearing sounds or people we don't care to listen to."
The "privacy" code will do that. But it will also prevent you from knowing if you are missing a transmission when the other group transmits simultaneously. You won't hear anything at all, whereas without the privacy code you would at least hear the other group and realize there was a conflict. Changing the channel instead of relying on privacy codes solves both problems, in my view.
Sorry for a long post, but let me give a possible example:
Suppose another group is close behind ours. We don't realize they are on the same frequency because our code is different from theirs, or they aren't using codes, so we don't hear them.
The front vehicles in our group can communicate fine with each other because their signals are stronger relative to the other group in back. But for the rear vehicles, the other group's signals are stronger and those transmissions block the reception of the more distant and weaker transmission of the first few vehicles in our group - if they happen to transmit simultaneously. We don't suspect this is happening, because our privacy code never opens the squelch to hear the other group.
FRS/GMRS radios use frequency modulation which has a "capture effect" of the strongest signal, and a weaker signal isn't received. With amplitude modulation such with CB, you know there was a conflict because you hear a squeal or mixed voices when two people transmit simultaneously, regardless of signal strengths. Aircraft radios use AM because of this and the vital need to never miss a transmission without knowing it has happened so that a repeat can be done.
Now obviously this is not an immediate safety issue for us as it is for aircraft, and we have a protocol to always keep the vehicle behind in view. But it could cause problems, and in my view is an unnecessary complication when there are so many channels to choose from.
If there were so many groups cruising around nearby that changing channels doesn't work to avoid hearing them, then using privacy codes would result in many missed messages because there would be many simultaneous transmissions, making the situation even worse.
Re: FR4x4 default radio channels - what shall we use?
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