Jim Oaks
Observer
Ok, now you have me undecided. I need a CB with some range, but not anything big and bulky.
Radio/Antenna/Cell Phone Extender recomendations
- Thread starter Jim Oaks
- Start date
Ok, now you have me undecided. I need a CB with some range, but not anything big and bulky.
Finlay
Triarius
The trouble with CBs is that they are such low frequency and power. You can only do so much with it, and mostly it's about getting the antenna tuned well.
Anyway, the Midland is an OK radio. My Bearcat 880 is better. So, I don't want to say the Midland is a great radio. It's not - but it's adequate. That said, it fits in a niche and serves that niche very well.
And anyway, no CB performs that great. You just have to choose which bag of compromises you're most willing to live with.
sixbennetts
Adventurer
My point above is that the Midland 75-822 is as good a stock CB as any other as regards output power, modulation, and clarity. Stock. Think, nascar here.
The more you spend on a CB, the more farkles it'll have, but none of those farkles will extend your range. Your choice of a good antenna, properly grounded and SWR matched, will give you the best performance a STOCK CB can offer.
Finlay, I know that Bearcat radio. I've seen 3 of them in the wild just in the last few months. They sound tinny and run too hot, even with a good match. One of them already blew their fancy lights from vibration in a big truck, so I'm not sure how much off-roading it'll handle. The OP wants small. He also wants CB for close range and HF for distant comms.
The Midland 75 - 822 in MOBILE mode, (using the mobile adapter that connects to an external antenna on the outside of the vehicle and is powered from your vehicle), will easily reach 5 to 10 miles line of sight, provided skip is not rolling in.
The Midland 75 - 822 in HANDHELD mode, (stubby antenna, battery pack, looks like a walkie-talkie), would only reach about a mile line of sight but will receive just as good as it does in mobile mode. I think Finlay has them confused.
I have owned four of these radios in a row and used them up. I drive tractor trailer for a living, and at times have shared a truck with another driver so the radio would stay on for 5 days straight, around the clock.
Buy one, you won't regret it. A professional told you that.
The more you spend on a CB, the more farkles it'll have, but none of those farkles will extend your range. Your choice of a good antenna, properly grounded and SWR matched, will give you the best performance a STOCK CB can offer.
Finlay, I know that Bearcat radio. I've seen 3 of them in the wild just in the last few months. They sound tinny and run too hot, even with a good match. One of them already blew their fancy lights from vibration in a big truck, so I'm not sure how much off-roading it'll handle. The OP wants small. He also wants CB for close range and HF for distant comms.
The Midland 75 - 822 in MOBILE mode, (using the mobile adapter that connects to an external antenna on the outside of the vehicle and is powered from your vehicle), will easily reach 5 to 10 miles line of sight, provided skip is not rolling in.
The Midland 75 - 822 in HANDHELD mode, (stubby antenna, battery pack, looks like a walkie-talkie), would only reach about a mile line of sight but will receive just as good as it does in mobile mode. I think Finlay has them confused.
I have owned four of these radios in a row and used them up. I drive tractor trailer for a living, and at times have shared a truck with another driver so the radio would stay on for 5 days straight, around the clock.
Buy one, you won't regret it. A professional told you that.
Jim Oaks
Observer
Thanks for the clarification sixbennetts.
My off-road truck has a CB for trail communication. I want one in the Expedition for communicating with other offroaders travelling with me to offroad parks, but mainly so I can get a heads up from truck drivers about traffic up ahead on the highway.
My off-road truck has a CB for trail communication. I want one in the Expedition for communicating with other offroaders travelling with me to offroad parks, but mainly so I can get a heads up from truck drivers about traffic up ahead on the highway.
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sixbennetts
Adventurer
Then this radio will fit the bill, along with any other stock CB that suits your fancy. Where this one will shine for you specifically is it's space saving ability without sacrificing features you are looking for, namely weather, which it does VERY well, BTW.
I have often been able to receive both Boston and Buffalo from here in Plattsburgh, (1 hour south of Montreal).
Another situation where this specific radio has helped me personally is during a breakdown. I was out checking what was wrong so I thought ahead and snapped on the battery pack and rubber ducky antenna and clipped the radio on my belt
before jumping out. A buddy of mine shouted to me from the other side of the interstate to see if I was OK. Told him what I needed to fix it, he did a uturn at the next exit, and we were both on our way in no time.
I like flexibility.
I have often been able to receive both Boston and Buffalo from here in Plattsburgh, (1 hour south of Montreal).
Another situation where this specific radio has helped me personally is during a breakdown. I was out checking what was wrong so I thought ahead and snapped on the battery pack and rubber ducky antenna and clipped the radio on my belt
before jumping out. A buddy of mine shouted to me from the other side of the interstate to see if I was OK. Told him what I needed to fix it, he did a uturn at the next exit, and we were both on our way in no time.
I like flexibility.
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
I have a uniden cb and love it, it has weather band, pa and then the standard features. However it is rather large so the size could be a deal breaker for some. My brother uses the cobra small units and swears by them. He has one in his wife's lexus, its small and can be hidden to make the wife happy.
https://www.cobra.com/detail/75-wx-...-radio-with-soundtracker-and-noaa-weather.cfm
I also have a uniden bearcat scanner, which also has the weather band, and normal scanner features. To be completely honest neither of the have given me any trouble and they both get used hard and can be left on for a long time with no issues. pics here
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/87137-CHEVROLET-GMC-full-size-Ham-CB-GPS-setup-(PICS)
I have a Z-boost cell amplifier which works ok. If i had known it would work i would of spent more money on the better models, hind sight is 20/20. I am firefigter/EMT and SAR guy. I will be getting one of these soon,
http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cm...514EAABAE148B93F5C&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
and as i understand it, it will be capable of covering the VHF and UHF bands we use at our local depts. However they are not cheap.
hope this helps, good luck we would love to know what you go with and how they work.
https://www.cobra.com/detail/75-wx-...-radio-with-soundtracker-and-noaa-weather.cfm
I also have a uniden bearcat scanner, which also has the weather band, and normal scanner features. To be completely honest neither of the have given me any trouble and they both get used hard and can be left on for a long time with no issues. pics here
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/87137-CHEVROLET-GMC-full-size-Ham-CB-GPS-setup-(PICS)
I have a Z-boost cell amplifier which works ok. If i had known it would work i would of spent more money on the better models, hind sight is 20/20. I am firefigter/EMT and SAR guy. I will be getting one of these soon,
http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cm...514EAABAE148B93F5C&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
and as i understand it, it will be capable of covering the VHF and UHF bands we use at our local depts. However they are not cheap.
hope this helps, good luck we would love to know what you go with and how they work.
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HillbillyfromAL
Explorer
I've got the 8900R and I like it alot. If I had the money I would'v got a Ft857d though.
Pacific Northwest yetti
Expedition Medic
hillbillyfromAL,
if i may inquire why is that? and What antenna are you using?
thanks
HillbillyfromAL
Explorer
The FT857D is a true multi mode HAM and can use a lot more of the HF bands. If I'm not mistaken all the way down to 160m where the 8900 gives you 10m in HF.
I have the Diamond 8900A antenna on my ARB bumper. I've had no problems with my setup yet (knock on wood). For the money your not going wrong with the 8900R, but if you've got more to spend you might as well get the best one you can. I went with the 8900R simply because it was in my budget, has a great reputation, utilized more bands than many others in the same price range, and features cross band repeat. Whichever radio you get though make sure that if your going to do your own connections to get a good set of crimpers. The connections are every bit as important as the hardware, and bad connections are a pain.
Also shop around plenty and FWIW I found the best deal for my radio at Gigaparts. Good luck
I have the Diamond 8900A antenna on my ARB bumper. I've had no problems with my setup yet (knock on wood). For the money your not going wrong with the 8900R, but if you've got more to spend you might as well get the best one you can. I went with the 8900R simply because it was in my budget, has a great reputation, utilized more bands than many others in the same price range, and features cross band repeat. Whichever radio you get though make sure that if your going to do your own connections to get a good set of crimpers. The connections are every bit as important as the hardware, and bad connections are a pain.
Also shop around plenty and FWIW I found the best deal for my radio at Gigaparts. Good luck
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