In the market for a CB

Tigger · 06-30-2003, 11:25 PM

I'm the the market for a CB, a good one.
I travel around the wide open spaces of Nevada and I dont want to rely on a cheap radio set, in the summer lives could depend on it.
Help.

Sandman74 · 06-30-2003, 11:54 PM

I would consider a Midland radio. I have a 27 year old unit that is still chugging away after all this time. I recently replaced it with a new Midland with a front firing speaker. I have some friends who love their K40's. Whatever you do, get a top notch antenna. It makes all the difference in the world. I use a 4ft Wilson.
hope this helps
sandman74

**TJ2KSmitty** · 07-01-2003, 11:23 AM

How about a Galaxy 959?

Or a RCI 2950?

How much are you looking to spend? What do you want it to do?

Roger Beep, talkback, echo, extra channels, etc.... all the toys are gonna cost extra. You might even want to invest in an amp.

All in all, it's the antenna that makes the setup, not the other way around.

Hope that helps there guy.

If you want a good honest deal, look at 1 stop electronics. Frank will do you right!

Tigger · 07-01-2003, 05:56 PM

Hey the Galaxy looks good, Ok I'll bite whats a great antenna?

**Devious** · 07-01-2003, 08:46 PM

I would go with a Wilson antenna. They are the best IMO.

Tigger · 07-01-2003, 09:28 PM

Ok now I have a real ?
I was on the Galaxy web site this afternoon and was looking around, and now need to know difference between a CB and 10 meter radio.
is this a stupid question or what?

mancow · 07-01-2003, 09:48 PM

10 meter is HAM or AMATEUR radio. You have to have a FCC licence to use it. You have to take a test of 25 or 35 questions (don't recall now) and pass a 5 word per minute morse code test.

10 meters corresponds to around 28 Mhz. CB's run at 26 and 27 Mhz. Some guys take certain 10 meter rigs and modify them to work on CB stuff. You're not suppose to do it, CB is limited to only 4 watts.

I have an Icom 706 ham rig. Modded, it can put out 100 watts on CB! Talk about, "gettin out".

mancow

Tigger · 07-01-2003, 10:10 PM

Thanks, that explains what my hauling buddies are talking about, they drive out of Ca. to NV on runs for a big company and said to look at galaxy radios in 10 meter, but I did'nt know what they were talking about, I've take'in a poll the last couple of day's and 5 of the 7 drivers use 10 meter rigs, one guy told me that his sucks so much off the elec system when he key's up his lights dim.

mancow · 07-01-2003, 10:28 PM

Ya, at 100 watts they will pull 20 amps or so.
Just remember, it aint legal. Granted, it's likely nobody will know or care but keep it in mind. Just don't wander into the 10 Meter ham range and talk without a licence. Those guys WILL find you eventually and make your life hell.

Finding a good spot for an antenna on a jeep is a real *****. Especially for CB since they require large antenna to work well. That's why they call it 10 meters or (11 meters for CB) The actual signal wave length is 11 meters long!
The regular 4 watt radios won't pose much of a problem. If you go pushing a 100 watts through a crappy untuned badly grounded antenna you will fry the radio and possibly take out some other electronics in your ride.

My 110 watt unit will turn on touch lamps and gives the neighbor's guitar amp hell at times.

**TJ2KSmitty** · 07-02-2003, 08:56 AM

Yeah 10 meters ain't exactly "legal", but you can have those 10 meter riggs converted to transmit on the CB channels. Hence the extra channels. Some of those radios can have over 250 channels.

As far as a antenna goes, I use a 4' firestik II. I'm pushin' 250 watts and all's good in the neighborhood.

And before all the "it's not legal" folks jump on me, I want to be heard a long way away if I'm wheelin' and need help. I'm not using that power around town.

Be smart, and have fun.

**Scrambler82** · 07-03-2003, 05:36 PM

Any Cobra or Uniden will give you good service.

Wilson is, in my opinion, the best mobile antenna for the money.

Make sure you ground everything and don't forget to have the SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) checked and set if necessary.
The antenna is the most important part of a CB System.

Try this place:

http://www.paceradios.com/

Luck,

ukjeeping · 07-11-2003, 03:04 PM

bills 2 way
Look at fire sticks mounts they have a cool TJ mount. Also this is where I buy my radios. Galaxy 99v only way to go

btennison · 07-15-2003, 11:00 PM

Not much ground plane in a TJ! I put a "no ground plane", 4 ft Firestick with at Cobra in a Tuffy overhead console. Unbelievable how well it gets out.

shookwell · 07-17-2003, 09:30 AM

remember the antenna in the most important part of the setup. as for mounting it on a wrangler, i have mine on the front bumper, its a long whip, looks really cool too. alot of people mount it on their spare tire stop, you can buy a kit somewhere for that.

also, be sure to tune your antenna, if you cant do it yourself, any CB shop will do it for a couple of bucks.