CB Radio suggestions?

[jmf_tracy]

my $0.02

Go with an EXPORT radio that gets 10 (HAM), 11(CB) & 12 (HAM) meter bands.
i got the RCI 2970N2
best of both worlds.
check out CBRADIOMAGAZINE.COM for reviews.
CBRadioMagazine.com - The only online CB Magazine in the world
Also to clear up the SWR (standing wave ratio):
SWR needs to be tuned so that you do not damage your radio. Too high of an SWR will fry your radio. It has nothing to do with transmitting.

 

[Jeff614]

Looked through the group buy thread, couldn't really tell how its actually mounted, but it should be bolted to the body pretty well. That should give you a decent ground by just bolting the mount to the body, but if you want/need a better ground, run a ground strap behind the light and drop it to the frame, I believe there's a channel that will get it all the way to that point.

Couple of things here, make sure to remove the paint where you mount it with either some sandpaper or (my preference) a dremel with a small wire wheel. Also, make sure you put some dielectric grease over the bare metal so it doesn't rust! Personally, I use copper antenna paste, but only because I have a bunch of it for my ham antennas. You can find this at almost every ham shop.

This also applies to the frame if you run a strap down from the mount.

And I wouldn't bother with the NGP antennas, they don't work nearly as well as a true grounded antenna, can be very finicky where you have it mounted, and are more expensive than just a nice, tried and true, Firestik or similar antenna.

Totally agree. NGP antennas really aren't worth it and have read of tuning problems when using them on a vehicle with a ground plane. Only good for a boat/motorhome/other mainly fiberglass vehicles.

Your ground will really determine the usefulness of your radio. Flyinghawaiian makes great points about making sure that the ground is touching bare metal, no paint, and even going a step further and running a ground strap to the frame which would just about ensure a good ground.

- Jeff

 

[Jeff614]

"Export" radios are usually 10-meters. From the manufacturer these won't have access to the 11 meter band (CB). Many can be "free banded" to tx and rx on those frequencies but it's rather frowned upon (illegal) in the eyes of the FCC.

Googling can provide you with a wealth of info on that subject. Better to focus on setting up a well-tuned and grounded antenna though. With that and most any CB on the market the OP's intended use should be well taken care.

If not, just like our trucks, plenty of fun ways to spend money :biggrin1:


- Jeff

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Also to clear up the SWR (standing wave ratio):
SWR needs to be tuned so that you do not damage your radio. Too high of an SWR will fry your radio. It has nothing to do with transmitting.

say WHAT??!?!?!?!?!?!

First of all, that RCI radio you have is not going to do anything more for you on the ham bands, you don't have a ham license and aren't allowed on there. Maybe in an emergency you can use it, but most hams will not even bother talking to someone who doesn't ID with a callsign! That radio is really only good for backchannels, if you're into that sort of thing!

Also, swr has EVERYTHING to do with transmitting! You cannot "fry"' a radio with bad swr without transmitting, that's the whole point of transmitting to check the swr!

Before I was a ham, I was a cb'er, and yes, I played on the superbowl channel daily, ran 1200 watts from my TNT 600 plus with supertuner and a steel 102" whip off the back of my truck. I know all about swr, and Ii also know that just because you have a 25 watt rci radio, it does NOT mean you will be way louder than anyone else. In fact, do you know that to move just 1 S-unit up (3db) on the meter, you have to triple your power? So, with 25 watts output, you essentially move up 1 S-unit and change.

Sorry, but I just hate it when people pass on misinformation, it allows others to repeat it, and soon everybody takes it as gospel. Tune the antenna properly, use a quality 5/8ths wave or 1/4 wave whip antenna, run the legal 4 watts output and enjoy it for what it is. If you really dig radios, get the ham license and run 1500 watts legally!

 

[Elite130]

I have a Midland 75-822 with a 6ft whip (I also have a 4ft Firestik) and have used it with good results. It will be going on my 4Runner.

 

[jeff741972]

just curious, who is it that's going to come after you for using a 10 meter radio? Ive been using them for years in my work truck, haven't ran into the radio police yet.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

FCC used to monitor out of banders all the time, obviously they don't care much any more, as a quick scan above 27.405 is scattered with people talking on those frequencies.

However, when you're between 28-29.700mhz, if you're consistently on there and disrupting ham traffic, most of those guys will warn you once, then call their local FCC office to report it. Of course, the 10m band isn't normally open for dx, so you probably won't hear much on there anyways.

Personally, I could give a shit where anyone transmits, so long as you don't act like an ass and transmit just to disrupt other people having a conversation.:thumb:

 

[04rnr]

Ya know, its pointless to go with a ham radio, if all you are looking for is communicating on the trails with a group.
FACT


A regular old cb setup will run you around a 100 bucks with antenna, mount and radio, whereas a ham that is capable of being used on the cb frequencies (illegally, might I add), will be around 400 bucks minimum for the rig, then another 30-40 bucks for antenna and coax.
I disagree, CB's can be had new for about $20 (even less for used) then about $20 for the antenna and maybe $10 for the coax


So, my suggestion would be to get a nice cb that has just two knobs, volume and squelch, preferably from either Cobra or Uniden, install it and just have fun with your sub-100 dollar investment, knowing that if you're going wheeling with a club, chances are most everyone has a cb, and if its an established club, most likely a requirement for running trails!

Maybe some people dont want to spend $500+ on a ham or maybe they cant..

 

[rochmpr]

Someone must have failed the HAM exam

 

[Jhalko]

Maybe some people dont want to spend $500+ on a ham or maybe they cant..

Why are you resurrecting old threads to start arguments? With your post count I'd expect better.
[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION]

 

[1engineer]

Maybe some people dont want to spend $500+ on a ham or maybe they cant..

Again? Cmon man.

 

[susanbanthony25]

There's a ton of CB topics so I wasn't sure exactly where to post this.

I am looking into handheld radios, they would be used from car to car and on trails and highway. More than just line of site though. Will something like the rugged radio RH5X-5 work or will just just crap out once we have a hill and trees between us. I know I know, installing a permanent HAM is better but I'm trying to not mount an antenna. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[Jhalko]

There's a ton of CB topics so I wasn't sure exactly where to post this.

I am looking into handheld radios, they would be used from car to car and on trails and highway. More than just line of site though. Will something like the rugged radio RH5X-5 work or will just just crap out once we have a hill and trees between us. I know I know, installing a permanent HAM is better but I'm trying to not mount an antenna. Thanks for the help in advance.

Handheld CB probably isn't going to do much more than line of sight, even with a good setup you typically won't get more than a few miles. Not familiar with that radio though it looks like it operates on Ham frequencies not CB?

 

[MeefZah]

There's a ton of CB topics so I wasn't sure exactly where to post this.

I am looking into handheld radios, they would be used from car to car and on trails and highway. More than just line of site though. Will something like the rugged radio RH5X-5 work or will just just crap out once we have a hill and trees between us. I know I know, installing a permanent HAM is better but I'm trying to not mount an antenna. Thanks for the help in advance.

You pretty much have to have an external antenna to use a handheld CB with any success in a vehicle. That's not a big deal, just get a magnet mount Lil' Wil for $35 and a PL-259 to BNC (or whatever connector is on the handheld) adapter.

If you don't get an external antenna, and use the rubber duck antenna inside the vehicle, expect a range measured in FEET, not miles. I've been on wheeling trips with guys who insisted on using handhelds and only the guy right behind them could hear them.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

I used a Cobra 29 WX NW ST with a Wilson 5000 magnetic in my 2004. It was tuned by the shop where I bought it and the antenna set to within a nats hair of 1:1 SWR. Worked very well and was mounted on the driver side of the console next to my right leg.

The 2016 however does not accommodate that location or any other that is convenient for the size of the 29.

Would appreciate any thoughts from users of the Cobra 75 as I'm thinking it could work with the junction box in the shelf/open area below the audio/AC stuff on my 2016 SR5 and using a 5000 magnetic.

 

[MeefZah]

I used a Cobra 29 WX NW ST with a Wilson 5000 magnetic in my 2004. It was tuned by the shop where I bought it and the antenna set to within a nats hair of 1:1 SWR. Worked very well and was mounted on the driver side of the console next to my right leg.

The 2016 however does not accommodate that location or any other that is convenient for the size of the 29.

Would appreciate any thoughts from users of the Cobra 75 as I'm thinking it could work with the junction box in the shelf/open area below the audio/AC stuff on my 2016 SR5 and using a 5000 magnetic.

If I were going to mount a 75, I would remove the top of the shifter console and tuck the 'junction box' in there, leaving the antenna permanently connected to it. Run the QD cable for the mic out under the bottom of the console, between the plastic and the carpet, and let it hang. It's unobtrusive like that and easy to access / install / unistall the mic. This way nothing is really visible once you reinstall the top of the shifter console. I personally wouldn't mount the 'junction box' exposed as it just looks crappy.

I was running a Uniden 510, and I had it in two different places, but neither one really appealed to me: inside the console and in the vertical console pocket. I may well go the 75 / Lil' Wil route because I want to run a CB for trail use but am dis-satisfied with the mounting options I have used thus far.

I did upgrade to a dual band Ham but still want to retain the more commonly used CB.

 

[susanbanthony25]

The handheld radios are HAM (VHF). I am looking at HAM but it is pricey. I want a HAM that can work with a CB for the guys I go out with. The main issue with both HAM and CB is the lack of antenna mount locations on a 2016.

 

[MeefZah]

The main issue with both HAM and CB is the lack of antenna mount locations on a 2016.

Well that's simply not accurate. If anything I would say the main issue is mounting a full size radio in a 5th gen. The antennas are easy.

You've got a million different magnet mount varieties, NGP through glass varieties, permanent mount, hatch mount, hood mount, etc.

I see a lot of hatch "slip over" mount styles in use on 5th gen, and I use a similar concept but in a different way - a "trunk lip" mount that slips over the hood:

As far as getting a CB to interface with Ham or vice versa, this is really not practical. Get one, or the other, or both if you want; but having one do all isn't feasible. Contrary to your post, Ham is really not expensive, in fact, for the significant quality difference in the radios, the better features, and the significant range and repeater benefits, they are pretty damn cheap. You can buy a very nice Kenwood 2m HT for $130, and a super tough 50W Kenwood 2m mobile for $150. Add a decent antenna to the mobile for $50 and you're in it for $200... On that mobile rig you could easily have 15 mile range line of sight / simplex, and unlimited range if you hit a linked repeater. By contrast, you'd have $150 wrapped up in a decent CB setup and you'd still only be seeing a 4 mile range and no repeater access, etc.

 

[Salvo Jimmy]

If I were going to mount a 75, I would remove the top of the shifter console and tuck the 'junction box' in there, leaving the antenna permanently connected to it. Run the QD cable for the mic out under the bottom of the console, between the plastic and the carpet, and let it hang. It's unobtrusive like that and easy to access / install / unistall the mic. This way nothing is really visible once you reinstall the top of the shifter console. I personally wouldn't mount the 'junction box' exposed as it just looks crappy.

I was running a Uniden 510, and I had it in two different places, but neither one really appealed to me: inside the console and in the vertical console pocket. I may well go the 75 / Lil' Wil route because I want to run a CB for trail use but am dis-satisfied with the mounting options I have used thus far.

I did upgrade to a dual band Ham but still want to retain the more commonly used CB.

GGGGEEEEEZZZZZ. Total brain dead senior moment here . Completely forgot about the 12V outlet inside the console box.

Thanks for the input. Why I really love this forum.

 

[FLY_FISHING]

If I were going to mount a 75, I would remove the top of the shifter console and tuck the 'junction box' in there, leaving the antenna permanently connected to it. Run the QD cable for the mic out under the bottom of the console, between the plastic and the carpet, and let it hang. It's unobtrusive like that and easy to access / install / unistall the mic. This way nothing is really visible once you reinstall the top of the shifter console. I personally wouldn't mount the 'junction box' exposed as it just looks crappy.

I was running a Uniden 510, and I had it in two different places, but neither one really appealed to me: inside the console and in the vertical console pocket. I may well go the 75 / Lil' Wil route because I want to run a CB for trail use but am dis-satisfied with the mounting options I have used thus far.

I did upgrade to a dual band Ham but still want to retain the more commonly used CB.

how is the ball mounted to the back of the 2730?