Mini cb radio!

[RiFF RaFF]

I've been looking for a small / powerful CB that I can install without taking up a ton of room in my 4Runner.

This one should fit the bill

AnyTone Smart CB Mobile Radio/transceiver 10Meter with FM/AM mode, Frequency Range:28.000-29.695MHz Power output 8Watts FM/AM Radios Mobile Transceiver

http://www.amazon.com/AnyTone-Mobile-transceiver-10Meter-Frequency/dp/B0140QP3VU

Yes it's listed as a 10 meter radio, but with a simple mod you can open it up to over 400 hundred channels including 11 meter / CB band

(De-solder OP2 and solder OP1 to keep high power. Use band D for 11 Meter CB.)

Here's a YouTube review that really shows just how compact this radio is.



I just ordered one, and can give a review if there's any interest.

:rapture:

 

[2ndGenFlip]

yeah man let us know how it works out and the antenna you run deff need to get me one soon thanks.

 

[85straight]

Yes please follow up with a review, space is a serious issue in my truck so ive never pulled the trigger on a cb

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Cute radio, too bad it doesn't do ssb.

As for small radios though, you can get a Uniden pro505 for half the price and almost the same size I believe.

8 watts really isn't going to make that much difference from the stock 4 watts that US cb radios are allowed. You have to double your power to raise your signal 1 S unit which is really not noticeable. You'd be better off running a higher gain antenna, such as a ¼ wave whip.

However, with such a small cost difference, why not try it out? Modding it is about the easiest I've ever seen, and I've modded a LOT(!!!!!) of radios in my time!

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Cute radio, too bad it doesn't do ssb.

As for small radios though, you can get a Uniden pro505 for half the price and almost the same size I believe.

8 watts really isn't going to make that much difference from the stock 4 watts that US cb radios are allowed. You have to double your power to raise your signal 1 S unit which is really not noticeable. You'd be better off running a higher gain antenna, such as a ¼ wave whip.

However, with such a small cost difference, why not try it out? Modding it is about the easiest I've ever seen, and I've modded a LOT(!!!!!) of radios in my time!

Chris - this should help me get out and heard with that little radio.

This is what I'm running right now (Magnum 257HP), but it's a little big for my 4Runner. The other one 'should' fit where the ash tray is.

op2:

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

LOL! Ummm, yeah, that will help a bit!!!

Sure wish I still had my old TNT 600 plus with the superdrive, maxed out at 1175W on ssb!

Most of my cb stuff is gone, but I still have several old radios and one old amp:

(the lower amp is my 6mtr amp for ham radio)

 

[Dropzone]

Old pic but this is my Cobra 75 WX ST. Everything is in the mic.
The 4Runner will be the 4th truck it will reside in
https://www.cobra.com/products/recreational/c-75-wx-st

RiffRaff- definitely interested to how your radio comes out. Some of the runs I go on require a Ham radio.

 

[KidVermicious]

So much geekery in this thread, it isn't contagious is it?

I use a Midland portable, similar to DCs Cobra. No dash install required, and it moves from truck to truck as necessary. I'd love to know how to get more transmit and receive power out of it though.

 

[BackOff]

So much geekery in this thread, it isn't contagious is it?

I use a Midland portable, similar to DCs Cobra. No dash install required, and it moves from truck to truck as necessary. I'd love to know how to get more transmit and receive power out of it though.

Also can hack the little midland 75-820/822...120 channels.
Portable or hook it to a external antenna.
htx200

 

[KidVermicious]

Also can hack the little midland 75-820/822...120 channels.
Portable or hook it to a external antenna.
htx200

I have it on a Little Wil, which quadrufrickinrupled it's performance, that rubber ducky is worthless.

What's the benefit of the extra channels?

 

[BackOff]

I have it on a Little Wil, which quadrufrickinrupled it's performance, that rubber ducky is worthless.

What's the benefit of the extra channels?

Gets the FCC looking at you.

 

[KidVermicious]

NSA too? I don't think it's worth doing if it doesn't get the NSAs attention.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

So much geekery in this thread, it isn't contagious is it?

I use a Midland portable, similar to DCs Cobra. No dash install required, and it moves from truck to truck as necessary. I'd love to know how to get more transmit and receive power out of it though.

Find a local trucker's cb shop and ask them if they are capable of doing a "peak and tune" on that radio you have, then get a good antenna and tune it for flat swr. That's the best you'll be able to do with a stock-ish radio and antenna with no amp!

The swr is probably the hardest thing to get right on an installation. Lots of things will change the swr, from where you mount it to the type of antenna you have, to the quality of your coax, to even how you run the coax through the vehicle! Swr is also the one thing that will give you the biggest gains when you get it right! A poorly tuned antenna will not transmit very far and will not hear very well either. A perfectly tuned antenna can transmit as good or better than a poorly tuned antenna with a 100 watt amp! That's how important a good antenna with a 1:1 swr is!!!

And honestly, you don't really need an amp for wheelin' communications! An amp is great if you like dx'ing or need to communicate with someone several miles away on a regular basis, like talking to home while you're at work or something similar.

For me, I have a ham radio in my truck that's capable of transmitting on cb frequencies, and it does just fine with a 1 foot (yep, just a 1 foot antenna!) antenna on the edge of the bed when I'm wheelin' with folks. No need to have anything huge and in the way of branches and stuff. It works well only because it tunes to almost 1:1 swr, and it does way better (even at 5 watts from the radio, I turn it down when I'm close to others anyways) than most guys on the trail that have big antennas but aren't tuned at all.

Come up to Boise with that dashboard (yep, I'm still interested in it!) and I'll set your radio up for you for free! ound:

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Finally!

Got the little sucker all mounted. Fits in the Land Cruiser like it was made for it!

Matched it up with a 5 foot Firestik.

SWR is 1.3 -- not too shabby.
PWR is 8 watts (without the amp)

Was able to get a radio check on CH - 19 from a driver who was roughly 10-15 miles from me. Reported it sounds clear with a strong signal.

I'll post up some pictures later.

I give this little guy two thumbs up.

eep:

 

[txlonghorn85]

Some good info here re: small CBs. I was looking into the Uniden 505 myself.

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Some good info here re: small CBs. I was looking into the Uniden 505 myself.

The 505 is a great radio also.

I've been using my AnyTone Smart CB since the 13th, and am very pleased with this small / powerful radio. It does take some time getting used to the controls being push button instead of a knob.

I also added a remote speaker since the radio was mounted in the dash -- works great!
Compact 5 Watt CB Speaker | Right Channel Radios

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Finally took some pictures showing where I installed the radio in our Land Cruiser.

First one - where the antenna is mounted

Great little / powerful radio for small spaces!

:smashputer: