CB Radio suggestions?
- Thread starter lmturne1
- Start date
MeefZah
New member
Any trouble tuning that Larson? I couldn't get mine to tune.
With respect to the ham signal strength, that will be remedied in the future with an external antenna. Right now I need it out of the way.
As for the Larsen, I haven't tuned it. For my purposes it works fine and honestly I rarely use CB. It's more likely that I tune the Baofeng to a FRS channel than use CB.
As for the Larsen, I haven't tuned it. For my purposes it works fine and honestly I rarely use CB. It's more likely that I tune the Baofeng to a FRS channel than use CB.
Muskrat14
New member
What he said. You gotta tune the antenna. I have mounted in my Bronco, but need to think about one for the 4Runner. I can tell you that I used to use a hand held emergency one that had the magnetic antenna. Put the antenna ont he hood of the 4Runner, but it kept getting knocked of by branches. Our trails are tight.
I'm going antenna mount for sure when I figure out what I'm going to do.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
A check with my truck stop CB shack says, unlike the Cobra 75, they can tweak the Midland 75 to get better performance over what may be out of the box.
MeefZah
New member
Got my double Motorola mic clip built and installed, it will work nicely with the Cobra 75, and holds both mics neatly out of the way of the passenger. The second clip is for my Icom mic (not shown).
I'm pleased with the 75. It has a scan feature which is actually quite nice, if not slow as hell (10 channels / second). Audio is decent, despite reviews that it was weak because of the small speaker. Radio check reports were fine, no one had difficulty understanding me and range was adequate for the type of use I intend it for. I'm not in love with the volume and squelch being tucked into the side of the unit, but that's not a dealbreaker, either.
I'm pleased with the 75. It has a scan feature which is actually quite nice, if not slow as hell (10 channels / second). Audio is decent, despite reviews that it was weak because of the small speaker. Radio check reports were fine, no one had difficulty understanding me and range was adequate for the type of use I intend it for. I'm not in love with the volume and squelch being tucked into the side of the unit, but that's not a dealbreaker, either.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Looks good MeefZah.
I'm probably going to go with a tweaked Midland. I no longer need CB for my off-road surf fishing that was needed in times BC (before cell). Cell has long since negated that need. Use now is for traffic info in the Hampton Roads VA area where you contend with 2 tunnels and 2 draw bridges and travel up I64 to Richmond VA with that road under construction for probably the next decade widening it from 2 to 3 lanes in each direction.
While the VA DOT traffic AM radio is a help it is not always timely and phone apps like Waze also help but also not timely. Both depending on input and then putting it out. The most timely info is from the truckers on the CB hauling containers in/out of the ocean container terminals in the area. Time is big $s to those folks and they are always chatting about the best route. Thus I combine all 3 inputs to try and avoid problems.
So CB distance is a factor for me, wanting to know what is happening up to say 8-10 miles away, and hence the tweaked set. Also I wear hearing aids and think the speaker near my face/ears will be a help. I have found it increasingly difficult to understand the less than stellar CB clarity when the speaker is several feet away when coupled with wind and road noise.
Thus I think a tweaked set, even though it won't give the performance of my 29, may be a good compromise.
Lastly I want portability to move the set between 2 vehicles.
I'm probably going to go with a tweaked Midland. I no longer need CB for my off-road surf fishing that was needed in times BC (before cell). Cell has long since negated that need. Use now is for traffic info in the Hampton Roads VA area where you contend with 2 tunnels and 2 draw bridges and travel up I64 to Richmond VA with that road under construction for probably the next decade widening it from 2 to 3 lanes in each direction.
While the VA DOT traffic AM radio is a help it is not always timely and phone apps like Waze also help but also not timely. Both depending on input and then putting it out. The most timely info is from the truckers on the CB hauling containers in/out of the ocean container terminals in the area. Time is big $s to those folks and they are always chatting about the best route. Thus I combine all 3 inputs to try and avoid problems.
So CB distance is a factor for me, wanting to know what is happening up to say 8-10 miles away, and hence the tweaked set. Also I wear hearing aids and think the speaker near my face/ears will be a help. I have found it increasingly difficult to understand the less than stellar CB clarity when the speaker is several feet away when coupled with wind and road noise.
Thus I think a tweaked set, even though it won't give the performance of my 29, may be a good compromise.
Lastly I want portability to move the set between 2 vehicles.
JEMP1003
New member
Are you using the same mount for the VHF antenna? I like that mount option.
MeefZah
New member
Yes, I am.
I actually have a short 1/4 wave VHF (18") antenna I run when I'm around town and don't need the extra range / gain from the base loaded 5/8 wave. It looks less dorky! The NMO mount base makes it easy to swap antennas or remove them completely.
susanbanthony25
New member
So I now have two antenna mounts. The diamond K400 and the CBI driver side mount. I really do not know which one to go with.
I like the location of the K400 and the fact that I do not have to cut anything to get it into the cab. But I am worried about the possibility of it rubbing and over time causing corrosion.
The CBI mount already looks like I have to bend it a little before install. I also am not a huge fan of it being right in the front. I would also have to cut through to get the coax from the cab into the engine bay and up to the mount.
Any suggestions??
I like the location of the K400 and the fact that I do not have to cut anything to get it into the cab. But I am worried about the possibility of it rubbing and over time causing corrosion.
The CBI mount already looks like I have to bend it a little before install. I also am not a huge fan of it being right in the front. I would also have to cut through to get the coax from the cab into the engine bay and up to the mount.
Any suggestions??
MeefZah
New member
I've used neither, so I can't suggest one over the other. But... you don't need to cut anything important to get the coax through the firewall. Just a 1" slit in the rubber grommet / seal where the large wire loom passes through the firewall will get your coax and wiring neatly through the firewall. There is enough room to even get the PL 259 through there. See my picture a few posts up for the location. 2 seconds with a razor knife, done.
Salvo Jimmy
Member
Picked up the tuned Midland 75-822 from the CB shack today. Married it with a Wilson 5000 magnetic at an SWR of 1.1. Performance is very good as checked with some truckers on the way back from the shack.
Re the power plug popping out, I'm using a single to dual outlet plug that fits very tightly into the dash outlet and the CB plug fits very tightly into one of the plug outlets. Thus with use on highway, not off road, I don't see a problem. BTW 2nd plug outlet is used for phone.
It comes with a belt clip and small wrist lanyard, so presently I just put the lanyard in the belt clip and hang it on the radio on/off knob. Not ideal as a good bump, even on highway, could pop it off. The belt clip is held on with 2 screws so I think I can remove it and use one of the screw holes to attach a mic clip button and put a mic clip on the dash.
Bottom line it meets my needs, especially hearing aid problem, very well.
Re the power plug popping out, I'm using a single to dual outlet plug that fits very tightly into the dash outlet and the CB plug fits very tightly into one of the plug outlets. Thus with use on highway, not off road, I don't see a problem. BTW 2nd plug outlet is used for phone.
It comes with a belt clip and small wrist lanyard, so presently I just put the lanyard in the belt clip and hang it on the radio on/off knob. Not ideal as a good bump, even on highway, could pop it off. The belt clip is held on with 2 screws so I think I can remove it and use one of the screw holes to attach a mic clip button and put a mic clip on the dash.
Bottom line it meets my needs, especially hearing aid problem, very well.
e60ral
Banned
what mic holder is that? how did you mount it, just screw it straight to plastic or did you use a machine screw with nut/washer behind?
do you have both antenna cables running side by side through the firewall?
MeefZah
New member
It is a piece of slotted steel, like what you would find on a u bolt, which has the two Motorola mic Clips bolted to it using machine screws and nuts. The slotted steel has two holes drilled in it with two #10 machine screws passed through the holes into spacers to act as a stand off, and then into the dash material. There are no backing nuts. It's quite sold.
Yes, both coax cables are running together through the firewall, along with various power wires that go to battery. I know there's some concern in radio circles about not running coax together or looping it or running it adjacent to power wires because it impinges on transmission and reception, but I don't think it's really a problem.
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e60ral
Banned
what VHF antenna is that, i've been having problems finding an all black 5/8 antenna
MeefZah
New member
It is the house brand for ebay seller 'antenna 2 way direct". Avitronics or some similar name. Surprisingly nice for like $28.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/VHF-5-8-WAVE-...LE-ANTENNA-ALL-BLACK-/252351352500?nav=SEARCH
susanbanthony25
New member
Installing my CB later today in preparation for a weekend trip. Thanks to Meefzah for all the pics and help. I will make sure I post pics (if I can figure out how to do it without using the phone).
