What CB do you recommend?

[krs]

If "K40" is still making antennas they had a model that was removable with a twist bayonet mount (sorta; like a camera lens mount but smaller). It had a bottom loading coil in a plastic housing and a slim stainless antenna rod about 4' long and was easy to tune. It proved to be a very good performer and it could handle lots of power without losing it's tune. It was nice looking too.

 

[snowracer69]

So I've been doing lots of reading...

Mostly on FireStik's site, cause they have lots of what (preceived by me at least) looks like good info. Now I have a couple questions:



1. Planning on going with a 4' FireStick II up on the hood on the drivers side. Reading about tuning for SWR and then looking at the Cobra site for the 29, it says it's tunable for SWR... is that the meter on the front of the radio? I take it with this you don't have to have one of the inline meters like they talk about on FireStik's site?



2. I take it it's not all that difficult to tune one of these antennaes? Probably going to get everything this evening or order it tonight (depending on if I find a good price at local place, or decide to do it all online).



Thanks again for all the help.



Josh

 

[WadePatton]

On antennae, the longer the better, and try to mount it as high as possible and away from metal--like don't run it up against the cab, or mound a 3-footer on the bumper. These situations drastically affect your radiation patterns.



On SWR. There'll be a small part of the antenna, usually the tip that will slide in and out to change the electrical length. This will allow you to tune for minimum SWR.



Meters. The meter in the radio is for signal strength and SWR. It measures received signal when you are not transmitting. It switches to transmit strength when you key up. It can be used for SWR checking, but is not as good as an external meter-any radio shop can tune the antenna for you. If you buy a radio or antenna from them, they don't charge.



The best meters are those used by hams. The MFJ Antenna Analyzer doesn't even require a radio to check out your antenna. I and many hams are all too happy to help out CB'ers, 'cause a lot of us used to run CB's. But beware, there are some snooty hams out there too. I'm not one of them.

 

[skobylenski]

As for tuning the Firestik, pull the end cap off, it's usually a different color than the antenna shaft, and there's a screw in the end with a lockscrew over it. Loosen the lockscrew, and turn the long screw to tune the antenna. This is really hard to explain, but you'll see what I mean when you get the antenna.



For tuning in general, you can go to a shop, but first I'd ask your friends if anyone has an SWR meter you can borrow. All you need is that and an extra piece of coax, which they should also have, since you need to put the meter inline between the radio and antenna. It's not too hard to use, and it's accurate. I do mine about once every 2-3 months, and use the basic tuner on the front of the radio to do small adjustments. I'm sure you could get away with tuning less often, though. The only reason you tune is so that you get all your power going out, instead of reflecting back down the coax and overheating/frying your transmitter. This is pretty hard to do, so I wouldn't worry about it if you can't get an SWR meter right off. I know some people who actually leave their meters inline all the time, but I think that's a waste, as I'm sure you lose some x-mit power through it.

 

[C. Harlan]

Firestiks are JUNK! Go with a K40 or a Wilson

Not to bash those of y'all with Firestiks, but if you think your radio gets out now, get a real antenna and watch the difference! You will say Wowy! Anyways, a Wilson 1000 will make a good antenna for a stock radio. I have 2 BOMBed Radios, one a Cobra 29, All chromed out, Talkback, Connex Board (Echo), Donkey fart, Peterbilt chrome jewel tip Switch extensions for the knobs, and Swings 30 watts. My Connex 3300 has 480 channels, Galaxy 88 finals, chrome jewel Peterbilt switch extensions, Chrome RK56 Noise cancelling mic, swings almost 43 watts on the high side, and 22 on the low side. I am about to get a 275 Palomar sock warmer as well. I run a 8' whip on the highway, and also a Wilson 2000 when I dont want to look obnoxious. I started out with Firestiks, and could not get out over a ½ mile. So that is my experience with those dog whips. Dog whips? yes, that is all they are good for!



-Chris-

 

[JWChessell]

Three suggestions:



1. Check out a CB single-and-double-sideband model -- it will give you twice the power on the upper or lower sideband -- and three times as many CB frequencies -- without requiring modifications or being illegal.



2. Find out where the local ham radio parking-lot-swap-meet is held in your area on Saturday morning -- usually once-a-month. If you don't know a ham, look in the yellow pages for a ham radio dealer -- such as Ham Radio Outlet or Jun's, for example -- call them and ask when and where the ham radio swap meet is. There is a ton of equipment of all types, including CB, at very low prices. There are usually several dealers at the swap meets, selling new merchandise with a warranty, and at good prices.



3. If you are going to increase the output power of your CB radio beyond the legal 4 watts, make sure you mount the antenna so the bottom of the antenna is above the height of the top of your head when you are sitting in the truck. RF radiation damage to brain cells is a known phenomenon, although opinions abound on what damage is caused at what levels of output power. My handheld 2-meter, for example, will turn the pump on my solar water heater on-and-off at a distance of 20 feet when I press the transmit key, at a level of only 1/2-watt; you may be aware that there are a few lawsuits pending around the country concerning claims of RF radiation by cell phones (which are only two-way radios in another form) causing tumors. If your antenna is mounted so that all of it is above the level of the top of your head, there is substantially less risk in frying your brain with excessive RF if you have increased the output power of your radio.



KC6TMR.

 

[WadePatton]

SSB CB operation gives you much more distance at the same power level because the bandwidth is narrower. You just have to learn to fine tune to the freq of the other station. When the voice sounds just ALMOST human, then you've got it. This is a result of using a smaller bandwidth. Which will give you much greater range.



In ham, practically all phone (voice) communications on the HF bands is done in SSB. CW and the other digital modes are even narrower.



You can communicate with 1 watt on SSB where it takes 20 on AM (regular CB). With CW you can communicate with 1 watt where it takes 100 on SSB.



Whoops, I'm making it seem more complicated than it is.



LAST NIGHT I NEEDED A CB! I thought I'd never say that, but I wound up in a CTD caravan after the pull and a CB would have been a lot of fun. I realized it'd be much easier for me to throw a CB in the truck every now and then, than for all you fellers to get a ham license.



Maybe I'll just mod my mobile HF rig to transmit on them freqs.



whisky one alpha delta echo



W1ADE



HO yeah, about the best all around antenna for CB is the quarter-wave SS whip (102"). They're cheap, durable, will handle all the power you can put to it. Most folks don' want to deal with the size of it. But hey, I'm a ham-that ain't no big antenna! I've got a 6" diameter coil TX bug-catcher for 80 and 160m as well as a 3" coil screwdriver 80-10m. Oo.

 

[skobylenski]

Wade - you want big? My dad (a ham for a number of years) has a 40' tower sitting in the back yard. I don't know the name for the antenna, but it's one of those with three poles, mounted parallel to each other, on a fourth pole that is 90 degrees from the other three. It's HUGE. It actually makes a good x-mas tree -- you run lights from the top of the pole to the ground and fan them out to look like a christmas tree. We got this thing from some doctor down in CT about 8 years ago or so. He had it all camo-painted so his neighbors wouldn't see it, even though his entire property was covered in trees and his house blocked it from the road.

 

[WadePatton]

Well sure, I was talking mobile. Sounds like you're talking about a 40-meter three-element beam. Makes a moonraker look like a leaf rake.



Many hams have one or two towers. I don't have one up yet. There are a couple of contesters around here--one has about 8 towers and another has 12. Some of these towers carry more than one antenna and the stack-match system allows you to mix and match the antennas for best reception.

 

[D6Diesel]

Wade,



I'm looking at the Galaxy 99v or 959 unit. Any opinion on these. I don't have an amateur's license. Is it legal for me to purchase the 99v?



For an antenna, I'm looking at the Wilson 1000 mounted in the center of the roof to establish a good ground plane under the antenna.



What's the best way to get a technician's license?

 

[snowracer69]

Ok, so I ordered a "Cobra 29 NW WX ST" today from wholesalecbradio.com. I searched high and low for a local place and the only place around here that has anything to do with CB's is Radio Shack, and well, I just don't trust them.



CB is coming pre-"tweaked", as that is the policy of the company I guess. The guy I talked to on the phone before I ordered explained exactly what they would be doing, but it was greek to me for now, so I said "Ok, sure, sounds good!" Basically sounded like they were going to bump the power a touch and fine tune everything.



Since I don't have/want to spend the $$$ right now on a Wilson 2000, I ordered a Firestick II 4', a quick disconnect, and the Dodge Stainless mount/coax kit from Bill's 2-way radio out of Kalifornia. I know, buy it once --- cry once, and that's what I did on the radio itself, but it just wasn't in the budget for the Wilson right now. Maybe a little later on.



Since I'm planning on installing this into a custom/sealed console, I'm going to wait and see if I need an external speaker or not. I think I probably will, but will wait till I get the console done to decide... do y'all think I'll need it?



A bunch of my buds here at school bought out the cheap CB stuff at Radio Shack and think it's the I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER... LOL... I think they're in for a surprise. I told them not to buy the cheap stuff, 'cause I'd just make 'em look bad, but they wouldn't listen.



Thanks for all the info guys, and I'm sure to be in touch with some of you for further help/info.



Josh

 

[WadePatton]

I've only seen Galaxy radios sold by CB shops and CB'ers. I don't know much about them as I never used one. I had a Cobra 29 and a 148. They were cheaper and drove my amps just fine. Wilson mag mount in the center of the roof should be dandy.



Two things to do to get an amateur license. First find a ham, and/or the local ham club. (Give me your city and I'll pull a list of clubs in the area. ) Second find a Radio Shack to buy a copy of "Now You're Talking. " It's about $18 and if you find some hams first, you probably won't have to buy a copy--they'll loan you one.



Now study the book, it ain't hard. Fast learners can might take a week to learn enough to pass. Morse code is no longer required for Technician license.



Then find out when the ham club is holding "VE" testing. Go there with ID and about $10--when you pass you get a license good for TEN years, it'll come in the mail in a few weeks, but you'll be able to talk on ham bands as soon as it is published online by the FCC--sometimes just a few days.



You can find several places online to take practice exams.



Then you can pick up a 2-meter radio and mag mount for less than $200 brand-new. With that you can talk to folks all over your state (using repeaters), make phone calls, and make world-wide connections through the internet-and more.



practice the exam:

http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl

 

[WadePatton]

Josh, you'll want an external speaker, so plan on it with your installation. I recommend the MFJ-281. It's not too big, but has big sound. I bought a smaller one once, but it wasn't much better than the radio speaker.



D6, I found 145 hams in the 65807 zip code area.



Here's a listing of MO ham clubs:

http://www.qrz.com/clubs/zero.html#Missouri

 

[snowracer69]

Wade,



Does Cobra make the MFJ-281? Couldn't find it on their website.



Josh



EDIT: Ok, found the MFJ-281 through EBay search. What makes this speaker the one to get? It seems to be fairly cheap ($12. 50 on ebay), so what's the pros of it over the others (mainly a Cobra speaker to go w/ a Cobra radio), and also, I assume it's a plug-and-play type deal w/ this speaker and Cobra radio?



Too many questions, I know.

 

[WadePatton]

Nawp, MFJ is a ham equipment company. Here's the link:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/index.php



Here's the speaker:

http://www.mfjenterprises.com/products.php?prodid=MFJ-281

(found it under "best sellers")



EDIT: It's just a little smaller than most of your "standard" external speakers for ham or CB. It looks good and works good. Yep, just plug it in to the speaker jack on the back of the radio. It comes with a mounting bracket and all.



They go for $10 each at hamfests.

 

[C. Harlan]

Just go grab a PROnouncer... I have had mine for about 7 years. no problems yet. . sounds good too.



-Chris-

 

[mavrick1]

Hey Josh,

Excellent choice on the CB. That's what I have in my truck and love it. The back lighting with dimmer control is nice at night. The NOAA weather channels are also great, especially when traveling. I would go with an external speaker as well, since you are enclosing the radio. I mounted my radio on the ceiling behind the overhead console, so I don't need an external speaker. Enjoy the radio and be careful on the road.

Lance

 

[snowracer69]

Wow, that reply was two months in the making! Thanks for the input Lance. I have now had my radio installed for about 6 weeks, and have used it on my 950 mile round trip to San Diego and back. It didn't work like I thought it would (range wise I guess), but when in close to the guys talking, it worked good. Saved me 20 minutes on two occasions because I knew ahead-of-time which lane was closed down 1 mile up the road, and where the trucks were that were blocking the people from passing everyone waiting in line (didn't know it was so personal when people passed on the right... turns out the big-fellas don't like that much... missed a great smoking opportunity because I didn't see the punk in time... I'm sure I could have stopped him solid if I'd have seen him coming and had the smoke rolling!).



Any tips on tuning the radio better for longer range? As stated above, I have a Cobra 29 WX NW ST and run it to a 4' Firestick II on my drivers side just ahead of the hood springs. The SWR seems to be calibrated well, as it doesn't hardly move the needle when keyed (during the calibration part).



Maybe just not a lot of people talking on the road?



Josh

 

[bmoeller]

Might need to play with the squelch or RF gain switches a little to pick up weaker signals. But then to, some days they don't talk much either. Usually picks up later in the day when they are getting bored.

 

[snowracer69]

I fiddled with, turned, twisted, played with, and all out moved the squelch and RF knobs till my fingers were sore! I couldn't seem to pick up a really clear signal while driving... . maybe they just weren't talking much...



On the other hand, the two times I came into bad traffic, the talk from the big-fella's was perfectly clear, and I could talk back to them just fine. And on one other occasion I happened to glance over at a truck going the opposite direction on the freeway, and as I did he keyed his mike and said something (dang near blasted my ear-drums out though, and i didn't understand it) and it came through clear as a bell.



What gives? Maybe just not a lot of chatter? Any good ways to test your range other then making a friend drive away from me till I can't talk to him anymore?



Josh