What CB do you recommend?

[WadePatton]

If it's quiet(relatively-the background noise level) turn the squelch off (counter-clockwise). You may have a "RF gain" setting, that needs to be fully on. It's an attenuater for when you have lots of big signals around. Don't confuse this with "AF gain" which is the same as volume.



102" whip on the bumper, cheap, retro, very effective.



You see 102" is 1/4 wave on 27mHz. 1/4 wave is a relatively short antenna, but impedance matches to 50 ohms (standard coax) very easily. All those CB antennas you see shorter than 102" are "loaded" antennas. The load is either windings on fiberglass (firestik type) or a loading coil (wilson type). What do these loads or windings do? They make the antenna look like a 102" 1/4 wave radiator to the radio signal.



So cut to the chase and hang a big whip out there.



When you see hams with big coils out there, don't think that I've led you astray. A quarter wave for 40 meters would be--guessed it yet? 10 meters. That'd be a 30+ foot antenna. And we have "bigger" bands that that.



So we have to compromise, ya'll don't--take advantage of it.

 

[TinyInOhio]

Josh,

My Galaxy has been clipped and peaked, and it will only talk for about 3 miles in good conditions. Being mobile makes for less than optimal conditions. But I have found that as long as I know what is happening within a 2 mile range of my truck is perfect. If a big truck keys up right next to you they tend to overmodulate, which will garble their transmission. You will not find very many "stock" radios in the big rigs, so have yours tweaked by a local shop then have them test it with you there. Swinging 15-20 watts is a good range for mobile radios, and your 29 will handle that with a little tweaking. Just my . 02.



BGroom

 

[WadePatton]

Originally posted by BGroom

If a big truck keys up right next to you they tend to overmodulate, which will garble their transmission.

BGroom

That's what the RF gain is for. When a very close station keys up it overloads the front end of the reciever--"garbles" High power makes this happen at slightly greater distances.



Of course some of the illegal equipment is so dirty RF-wise, that you simply can't receive it up close.



Oh, and the front-end can be damaged by very powerful and nearby transmitters. Have it checked at the radio shop.

 

[C. Harlan]

sounds like some of y'all need to put some fire in that wire!!! I second the 102" antenna... wow big difference!!! Looks tacky, but when you want to run with the big dogs, that's the way to go! I just bought a Wilson 1000 mag mount for using on all the vehicles when switching. . It performs flawlessly... Flat SWR's, right out of the box!! Can't beat that!! If you have a Galaxy and cannot get out for more than a few miles, you got problems, bud... take that radio into a reliable shop, and get it looked at or worked on... You should be walking the dog and kickin' the cat, Balls to the wall, 10 feet tall!!! Just my opinion. . I have done my time on the road, with all kinds of setups. . 102" is the way to go by far. . some of us cannot swing that much antenna. . for those of y'all that cant, a Wilson 1000 or 2000 works awesome! Firestiks are Junk. Big time Junk. Keep that in mind.



-Chris-

 

[Matt42]

Royce

I've been using a Royce 23 channel PLL CB since 1975. I hear that newer CBs have more options.