c b radio

[OL RATLR]

Thinking about hooking up a 300 watt kicker on a Galaxy 33Hml

It will pull about 35 amps. Will this interfere with computer on a

24 valve engine? Are should I hook it directly to the batterys an

not thru the power point system? Thanks in advance.

 

[mbaston]

To the batteries with sufficient heavy guage wire and fuses/circuit breakers.



You may also have issues with that much RF bothering the trucks electronics. Use heavy coax such as RG-8 or 213 or similar. Also, be careful where you mount the box and run the cables. Stay as far away from any of the truck's systems as possible. You would hate to key up and have the truck die at the same time.



I am sure some in here have done something similar to this. I run a 50 watt HAM radio and have had no problems using the precautions I suggested above.

 

[monkfarm]

kicker

I run a 600 watt Messenger (I always run my kicker on low)( hooked to a DX99 galaxy ) with the fan, and remote control. I have the kicker mounted under the seat (It is illegal to run a kicker on a CB, you know. And FCC has suddenly enforcement funds and there has been a rumor from a reliable source that a truckstop in Memphis was raided, kickers and high- powered radios snatched. My favorite CB shop HOP'S CB (in Council Bluffs, IA) was raided a couple of months ago by the FCC, and used undercover agents to purchase kickers. The FCC then threatened HOP"S with either a huge fine or told them they could not go back in business. My brother tells me that there's is rumors to make CB kickers not available. All this tells thiefs that this is an item in demand, with buyers waiting with cash in their fists.

That said, I have mine just routed though the rubber grommet right by the steering on the firewall/ I have direct connections to the battery (a neg connect direct to the frame is arguably better) then to a 100 amp circuit breaker mounted on the firewall; then thru the hole in the firewall mentioned earler by the steering gear, then down under the seat. I have mounted the kicker on top of the CB which looked impressive (thiefs as well) . Then I found the messenger with the factory fan on top and the remote. (turn on the remote the fan kicks on)

I'm using a wilson 6000 in the center of the roof of the dodge

What kind of kicker do you have??

PS. I have blown out my shop stereo system twice (the first time I had no clue what happered)(the second time, I was right there when it did happen) by keying up right outside the building with the kicker turned on. Watch out, and keep that stereo turned completely off when you key up close to the house

 

[mbaston]

The CB linear amps are often 10 Meter HAM amps and sold that way. Some can be used out of the box on cb channels (11 meters) buy others have to be retuned.



Before you add an amp, get the highest gain antenna you can find. You would be surprised what you can do with low wattage and a good antenna. I talk through sattelites in space with 25 watts. Some sattelites can be reached with 5 watts and a good antenna. Each gain in db is equal to doubling your wattage.

 

[Got Smoke?]

I have been running a Galaxy 225 behind a modified Cobra 25 for almost a year now without problems, but I do not like the way mine is wired.



I let an ex-friend do it and he ran one set of power wires (1 pwr 1 grnd) from the d-side battery to the cab and then he split it into the CB and the box off the same power wire.



As soon as it warms up here I'm rewiring all of my accesories on my truck. Including my new CB a Uniden Grand XL. I'm adding a fuse block to take a lot of extra wires off my battery.



I think I'm going to be VERY impressed with running a individual set of pwr and grnd wires to my CB and to my kicker.



P. S. my kicker has been under or beside the d-side seat the entire time its been in my truck no probs with electronics on truck however I do have to turn stereo off when using it as it bleed through.

 

[OL RATLR]

cb radio

Thanks to all who replied, and to monkfarm the box I have is a Gray linear.

I have had it for 18 yrs I ran it in a semi back then. I don't think they make

them anymore. I heard a trucker a while back say he would love to find one.

it has a 4 power levels used to talk to Base stations 19 miles on AM side

 

[Got Smoke?]

Re: cb radio

Originally posted by OL Ratlr

Thanks to all who replied, and to monkfarm the box I have is a Gray linear.

I have had it for 18 yrs I ran it in a semi back then. I don't think they make

them anymore. I heard a trucker a while back say he would love to find one.

it has a 4 power levels used to talk to Base stations 19 miles on AM side

your right they don't make them anymore. I know where a Gray is sitting that is putting out 400+ watts but it has a $300 price tag!:{

 

[onestackdram]

I thought i would throw this one in there. Since I didnt see it. It's more for the younger generation. I run a Galaxy 99 with palomar 600. I also have aftermarket stereo with 800 watt amp and 3 10" subs. So my point is that if something like this applies to you make sure that your linear and amp (both of mine installed under seats) that you keep them apart, the farther the better.

 

[Gifford]

illegal CB amps

There really are quite a few people running illegal CB AMPS, i wonder if the current FCC enforcement sting on the vendors of those amps and "export" radios will ever get to the illegal CB'ers...

 

[monkfarm]

big radios

When I heard about the FCC raid on that truckstop in Memphis, I definitely heard the FCC was stealing big radios and kickers.

However some of these fellers deserve that in my opinion. When I go into a high density area like a truckstop, and I want to talk (usually I don';t just a lot of trash going on), I make sure my kicker is turned off and I turn down my mike gain and RF power as well. If you have a strong radio you will be heard just fine without blasting the ears of your neighbors. I heard they were pinpointing the "big radios" because of their output (which may have an adverse effect in a high density area (IE bleeding over on the TV AM stations for example. I don't really agree with the confiscation of hard-earned equip. But some of these guys don't use any common sense, and just use the big radio to boost the ego.

Big radios really do work a lot better than the 4 watters, because you can pick up smokey reports and accident reports quite a ways off, and you are not clogging up the airwaves asking for the smokey reports when it's was just given 3minutes ago. Anyone who has a lot of roadwork to do, gets tired of the 4 watters constant asking when the reports are not heard by the 4 watters that just can't hear beyond the median. On the other hand, a radio that is set up right with a good coax and attenaes will work proper for quite a distance. But, It's hard to find a good techy that knows how to tune a radio so it will work right.

 

[WadePatton]

Re: big radios

Originally posted by monkfarm

On the other hand, a radio that is set up right with a good coax and attenaes will work proper for quite a distance. But, It's hard to find a good techy that knows how to tune a radio so it will work right.

Learn all you need to about mobile radio setup by studying for the Technician Class Amateur Radio Service license. $18 book at Radio Shack.



Then you don't need a "techy".



And if you get carried away and take the license test ($10) and pass--you get to buy and use 50-watt radios and up to 1500 watts legally.



Those "little" 50-watt 2-meter rigs are good for radio-radio simplex, repeaters, internet links, satellite communications, APRS (I think), family communications, and more. And that's just scratching the surface.



But for "smokey" reports and lot lizards and general trash talking you have to stay on CB.



W1ADE

 

[Got Smoke?]

Re: Re: big radios

Originally posted by WadePatton

Learn all you need to about mobile radio setup by studying for the Technician Class Amateur Radio Service license. $18 book at Radio Shack.



Then you don't need a "techy".



And if you get carried away and take the license test ($10) and pass--you get to buy and use 50-watt radios and up to 1500 watts legally.



Those "little" 50-watt 2-meter rigs are good for radio-radio simplex, repeaters, internet links, satellite communications, APRS (I think), family communications, and more. And that's just scratching the surface.



But for "smokey" reports and lot lizards and general trash talking you have to stay on CB.



W1ADE

Not to rob from this post or anything BUT LOOK WHAT WE PULLED OUTTA THE DUCTWORK!:--) :--)



Wade where in the hell have been? :-laf

 

[WadePatton]

FCF on my bike

Long story short. I've been mountain biking 5-6 days per week and working on (the cycling) trails about half that time. Found a nearby state park with 13 miles of bike singletrack being neglected.



So in the meanwhile I'm trying to fish some DC through the firewall to power my radios. And I was trying to get through the passenger side where the AM/FM coax goes, but the #6 wire jest wouldn't go. I may wind up drilling a hole on that side.



ANYHOO so I remember the TDR and come look to see where other folks have run wires.



I wound up going through the D-side where everything else goes. My steer column has steel around it. And I haven't found any other grommetted places in the firewall.



So I have 2 of 3 radios in the truck now, but still have to mount speakers, hide wires, and remount antennas before I'll show it off.



Back to mountain biking--Races start in two weeks. I'll be racing three weekends in a row.

 

[JHerrlich]

I know it's kind of and off way to run power, but I ran 4 guage down the inside of the passenger side fender and into the grommet below the A pillar. It's about midway between the door hinges. From there, it's easy to run down between the door track and the carpet, if you're going to the rear of the cab or under the seats. There's also a grommet in the same spot on the drivers side. The door doesn't interfere with it either.

 

[scbrown]

I have mine under the d-side front seat.

Two amp's 5 driving 8.

Puts out about 1100 watts.

Wilson 6000 mag mount.

You have to turn off the radio (truck) or it will bleed thru.

I only use them when traveling "up north".

If I park in front of a party store or gas station with neon lights in the front windows I can light them up when I key up.

Easy way to win a bet with friends who never believe it can be done.

 

[TowPro]

This is wrong. In order for a Amp to be legal for ham use it has to meet a couple requirements.



Must need 100 watts to run it. (CB amps need 4-10)



Must not be "keyed" by RF, you must have a cable between the amp and radio so the radio can key the amp. (CB amps us RF keying)



Must meet spectral purity specs (CB amps are real dirty, causing harmonics that cause problems way past the 5kc band width allowed, CB amps in my area cause problems all the way up into the 10M band, 1,000,000Kc away, as well as TV signals).



Now if you do run one, make sure your antenna system has a good chassis ground. I have seen a 250w amp on a CB have the antenna mount ground get corrosion on it, and become "open". This destroyed the computer that ran the dash on a Ford pickup. It was so bad they could not even recover the mileage that was on the truck!

Originally posted by mbaston

The CB linear amps are often 10 Meter HAM amps and sold that way. Some can be used out of the box on cb channels (11 meters) buy others have to be retuned.



Before you add an amp, get the highest gain antenna you can find. You would be surprised what you can do with low wattage and a good antenna. I talk through sattelites in space with 25 watts. Some sattelites can be reached with 5 watts and a good antenna. Each gain in db is equal to doubling your wattage.

 

[Spooled-up]

A question...

I have a 4 watt cb. These "kicker" boxes increase the wattage. They obviously get out a lot farther, but can you recieve a signal from a lot farther away also? Doesn't make sense to me that you can increase the output of the radio, but hear other radios farther away also. Can you only hear other big radios from farther away? How does that work?

 

[Got Smoke?]

Re: A question...

Originally posted by DMKelley

I have a 4 watt cb. These "kicker" boxes increase the wattage. They obviously get out a lot farther, but can you recieve a signal from a lot farther away also? Doesn't make sense to me that you can increase the output of the radio, but hear other radios farther away also. Can you only hear other big radios from farther away? How does that work?

Yes most "kicker" boxes have a recieve amplifier on them to amplify signal coming in.

 

[Spooled-up]

So then you could hear even a 4 watt radio from further away with a reciever amplifier. Could I put one of these kicker boxes on my Cobra 29NWWXST? What would you guys recommend? I have a Wilson 2000 on the driver's side fender. The guy that sold it to me sold it with a 9' cable. I read on the firestik site that for optimum performance I should use an 18' cable and not coil it to avoid the rf "choke". Would it be worth switching to the 18 footer?



Are these kickers the same thing as a "linear" I used to hear truck drivers talk about when I used to drive?

 

[TowPro]

yes they do amplify the RF signals coming into your radio, all of the RF signals, Someone talking, noise, and everything. If you hear any noise with your squelch turned down, when you flip on the receive amp, you will still hear the same noise, only it will read higher on the S meter. the way CB radio works, its never "not noisy" so I feel its a wash.



but if your talking to someone else who has an amp it will make a difference because your both putting out more power.



Now here is how you can figure out how much more power you need to get "more pounds" or S units



Now your putting out 4 watt

A DB of power increase is your power level X2

to raise your signal 1 S unit on the other guys scale you need 2DB gain.



4w X 2 = 8w (1Db) 8w x 2 = 16w (1Db) 16 watts will give your 1 more "pound", Sounds like a lot? Keep going



16w X 2 = 32w X 2 = 64w for 2 more "pounds"



64w x 2 = 128 x 2 = 256w for 3 more "pounds"



256 x 2 = 510 x 2 = 1024w for 4 more "pounds"



See where this is going