CB radio setup thread

[Opi]

Who has them and where did you mount them? After I tackle swapping my dash over to blue leds this weekend, a CB is next on my list.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

take a look at this thread;

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/75599-cb-radio-3rd-gen-runner.html

 

[fenrisx]

I went with the Cobra WX75ST, and mounted it behind the center console, with the connector being to the left of the 12v aux / under the cig lighter.

I keep the actual handset in the glove box when not in use.

 

[4runit]

I have a cobra 19 dx iv which fits perfectly in the ash tray area. For my antenna, I got a 4 ft. Firestik mounted on my rear bumper.

 

[pitpatt]

Same as above, but i used a door jamb mount and mounted it coming out of the rear hatch

 

[animal]

I stuffed my Uniden in the Astray Slot. Fits snug and doesn't move. However, I am working on getting my Amature Radio License. 2 Meter Radios go much much further than a CB and sound very clear.

Some might want to thing about it. The units cost around the same.

 

[L.C.]

I stuffed my Uniden in the Astray Slot. Fits snug and doesn't move. However, I am working on getting my Amature Radio License. 2 Meter Radios go much much further than a CB and sound very clear.

Some might want to thing about it. The units cost around the same.

I'm a bit of a novice, 2 meter radio?

 

[Maxil]

I'm a bit of a novice, 2 meter radio?

2 Meters is the size of the wavelength, the higher the frequency you go, the shorter the wavelength. CB radios run 27 mhz, that is considered 11 meters. 2 meters runs around 144mhz.

The one advantage of 2 meters is you can have a much shorter antenna, to have just a 1/4 wave antenna for CB it has to be around 102" pretty big. When you see the smaller antennas for CB, they are a bit of a compromise. On 2 meters a 5/8 wave antenna is only 48" or so, and runs rings around any 1/4 wave antenna.

The other advantage, is we can run 1500 watts if we want to, most run around 50 watts, CB is limited to 5 watts.

CB radios can be had much cheaper and for short range comms they do okay. Long range is iffy with CBs.

 

[L.C.]

2 Meters is the size of the wavelength, the higher the frequency you go, the shorter the wavelength. CB radios run 27 mhz, that is considered 11 meters. 2 meters runs around 144mhz.

The one advantage of 2 meters is you can have a much shorter antenna, to have just a 1/4 wave antenna for CB it has to be around 102" pretty big. When you see the smaller antennas for CB, they are a bit of a compromise. On 2 meters a 5/8 wave antenna is only 48" or so, and runs rings around any 1/4 wave antenna.

The other advantage, is we can run 1500 watts if we want to, most run around 50 watts, CB is limited to 5 watts.

CB radios can be had much cheaper and for short range comms they do okay. Long range is iffy with CBs.

Wow that's pretty wild stuff... I guess just like with anything, and if you really want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Sounds like you could start a whole other hobby on that if you wanted, and I'm sure there are many that do.

What's involved in getting your amateur radio license, and why do you need one with a 3 meter radio? Is it because you could potentially bleed over other frequencies when broadcasting? And how big are the radios themselves compared to a CB?

I heard about and would like to tune my CB so it would at least be working at its max potential, even if that is only just short range. I'm not a big radio person, just got one back when I was in high school to talk with buddies when we would roll around. Funny enough I had the setup in my 280ZX with a Little Wil laid down in the back. Haha, didn't have too much range but it worked well enough for what we did.

I wouldn't know where to start though as far as tuning goes, could you shed any light on that? Complicated, expensive, etc.?

Sorry for all the questions man, its just if I own something I like to know as much about the subject as I can so I know how to get the most out of whatever it is, if possible.

Just for reference, I have a Cobra 19 DX III radio and Wilson Little Wil with a 3' antenna.

Radio:

 

[Maxil]

Wow that's pretty wild stuff... I guess just like with anything, and if you really want to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. Sounds like you could start a whole other hobby on that if you wanted, and I'm sure there are many that do.

What's involved in getting your amateur radio license, and why do you need one with a 3 meter radio? Is it because you could potentially bleed over other frequencies when broadcasting? And how big are the radios themselves compared to a CB?

I heard about and would like to tune my CB so it would at least be working at its max potential, even if that is only just short range. I'm not a big radio person, just got one back when I was in high school to talk with buddies when we would roll around. Funny enough I had the setup in my 280ZX with a Little Wil laid down in the back. Haha, didn't have too much range but it worked well enough for what we did.

I wouldn't know where to start though as far as tuning goes, could you shed any light on that? Complicated, expensive, etc.?

Sorry for all the questions man, its just if I own something I like to know as much about the subject as I can so I know how to get the most out of whatever it is, if possible.

Just for reference, I have a Cobra 19 DX III radio and Wilson Little Wil with a 3' antenna.

Radio:

I will try to answer some questions.

I am not sure of all the reasons for the need for a license but I know a few. If anybody and everybody could own and use a 50 watt 2 meter radio, there would be many that abuse it. For instance, if I want to totally screw up comms at a bank or fast food place I could. The radios transmit enough power to bleed into anything around them. They will totally kill reception on televisions not on cable.

The police frequencies are right above ours. If we modify our radios we could talk on them and cause extreme problems, that is until we are tracked down and tossed in jail with a huge fine.

The size of Ham radios can be pretty small, the handhelds can be very very small. However a 50 watt 2 meter needs to have enough size to dissipate the heat coming off of it, so they are just large enough for a good size heat sink. Much smaller though than say a Cobra 29. The other nice thing is most are built very tough, my handheld is solid aluminum and has taken some nasty falls to hit concrete with no damage (fried chicken is greasy).

License tests are given every now and then in different places, the FCC has the info on them.

Hope that helps