Any CB Radio guys on here?

nadams

Just wondering if anyone has experience in CB radios. I'm looking to put a small unit in my truck, as I spend a lot of time on the highway. It would be nice to be able to hear the truckers calling out about cops or other things ahead on the roadway.

Ratshack has a small 40 channel CB for $50, but that's a little expensive when I see used CBs going for $10 on eBay. Any brands I should keep my eye on? Particular models?

faster100

This just happends to be my old hobby... a few names, Cobra,
uniden, magnet mount antenna's work just fine for a simple setup for short distance talking.. I mean you can go from there, from cheap 40 channel cb's with a small magnet mount, to a cb with linear amp, k-40 mag mount or steel whip antenna.. depends also what car/truck you have to what size antenna ya wanna stick on it... any more questions just ask


opps,

model numbers, brands

cobra 25 ltd, uniden pc66a, cobra 29, all great radios.. chrome face plates and knobs, great sound and receive.. can be tuned up easily for more power and modulation... can add echo mics, for fun, talk back speaker so you can hear yourself in echo mode.. yada yada

nadams

Thanks for the info, faster. I'll look up those models when I have time.

I'm looking for an unobtrusive antenna, probably a magnet mount. I could run the cable out the sliding rear window if I have to. Is there any way to mount the antenna inside the vehicle, or are the CB signals not that strong? Speaking of which, what kind of range could I expect from a standard CB (not talking majorly amplified or anything, just a straight CB)

faster100

with a mobile cb radio and a mag mount, id say straight distance no obstructions (buildings/or earth) a mile to a few miles on a good clear day, plenty to talk to someone on the road.. you can alot of times hear the truckers even if you cant talk back to them, they run amps alot of times and are high off the ground in the truck.. so as to hear warnings, road conditions, accidents before you get there... they tell each other and you will hear them,

hope this helps

dorokusai

The RS CB is just fine, cheap and easy to use. I would look into getting a linear amplifier for more range, but one it's illegal, wink wink, and as mentioned before you need clear LOS to get the best response. CB's get less and less use each year. I am going to get my Ham license this year and after that the CB is history.

I use a RS CB and a RS Digital Trunking scanner when traveling around in my work truck, and just the RS scanner for personal use. Absolutely invaluable IMO.

The antenna needs to be outside and extend above the highest plane on your vehicle. There are many custom wound antennas that you can source from magazines.

faster100

being the question was basically answered with me and marks responses, figured id derail for a minute..

Not really a derail,

Cb's used to be the thing to have, it's true year after year less and less people use them.. I lived in north central florida in a small town and everyone used cb's, this was 12 years ago, i had alot of friends mostly way older then me that i talked to.. they had a "coffee break" setup on saturdays.. the old timers might remember what those are, we met at a old guys cb shop daily just to chat and watch him work, lol... i was only 18-19 then and was very interested in the radio hobby... I had a base station setup with a ground plane antenna and talked "skip" to the west indie's and trinadad... all over the united states as well.. many other countries.. But thats on side band with great atmosphere conditions.. you dont talk that far on power or big antenna's alone.. its luck basically.. and weather. had an old tube linear and talked above 40 channels (27,405 and above) I actually installed a cb in my girlfriends car(now my wife) for when she was driving up from tampa where she was living at the time.. and we would talk 20 -30 miles easy... then i got a RCI 2950 cb which had the ham bands, and cb 25000 - 32000 mhz, and that would really talk, anyways... i did the cb thing for alot of years, i still have a ground plane on this house from when i still had my rig, computers and electronics kinda moved me away from the cb stuff.. sold everything but the house antenna.... anyways just thought id share...

gwh

10-4

Know the lingo.

Frank Z

Don't forget to pick up an SWR meter to properly match your CB and Antenna. If you don't you'll have really lousy performance or may burn up the finals (crystals) .

Frank Z

Here's a site you might want to check out.

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

Polkersince85

There are antennas out there that mount and look like a radio antenna. May not be the best for transmitting but for highway reception/warnings it would pick up the truckers fine. RS, J.C.Whitney, maybe even Walmart may have them.