Wanted: CB radio system

[StumpXJ]

Like it says, we are getting ready to head back to the states and I will be needing a CB system. I figured I would look here first before buying new. I am not looking for a $49 radio shack radio, nor am I looking to for the ultimate high end CB. Something in the middle will suffice. I will also need a quality antenna and coax. Im not too picky, let me know what you got. Looking to do a hood/fender mount on my XJ for reference on the antenna. Wilson maybe?

Thanks, James

 

[Tennmogger]

I recently set about the same guidelines for a new CB. Here's what I bought just a few weeks ago:

I searched the web for "best cb" and some other similar searches. Uniden kept popping up as a good manufacturer, and model PC78LTW was common.

I then found the http://www.unidendirect.com/ website and saw a factory refurbished CB for a very good price. That's what I bought:

"LIKE-NEW" B-PC78LTW $ 54.99

The radio looks brand new and works like new. The box was a little worn looking, but who cares. I saved about $50 buying this way. It has most any control a CB needs, and includes a weather channel receiver, too.

IMHO (after 44 years as a ham, and 30 yrs around electronics industry), it's easy to pay more for a CB than it's worth. A legal CB will never have more than the low/legal output power, and most receivers are adequate. More money buys bells and whistles. Money can't buy more legal power (except for getting the best antenna available, and mounting and matching it properly).

As for antennas, a full quarter-wave 102" whip (the old fashion ones) mounted as centrally and high as practical, can't be beat by the smaller but less efficient 'loaded' whips.

Bob

 

[Whoknows]

cb

I think I might have what you're looking for. It's an old Cobra CB, in great shape last I used it. It was a higher end model back in its day. I have an antenna as well. If you're interested, I'll give you more details and take some pics. I used it on some trips to CO and back when I used to ski. It's one of those things I've had stored for a while and just don't think I'm going to use again.

 

[clinnet]

If you decide to buy new, this would be a good option if you have a US address to deliver to:
http://www.rightchannelradios.com/j...eep-off-road-cb-kit-uniden-pro-510xl-418.html
Has everything you need to get up and go.

Not affiliated and all that jazz.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

PM'd ya.

 

[StumpXJ]

Thanks to everyone, I think I have found what I was looking for.

~James

 

[hovenator]

What did you end up with? I too am looking for a similar set-up.

 

[krokarthecrooked]

Well i would have to say Cb is nice to have for traveling the highways but you cant beat a ham radio no matter what i have both but the ham radio is my primary rig of choice as i can talk 65 miles without any issues you cant do that with a cb unless your illegal ham radio has saved my bacon from a long and rough night on a few occasions. for 14 dollars us and a 50 question test you get a fcc liscence thats good for ten years yes the radios cost abit more but that piece of mind is worth it your cell phone wont get what that ham radio can do JUST MY 2 Cents


Dan :costumed-smiley-007

 

[clinnet]

I'm a licensed HAM operator. But I have a CB unit in my rig for those runs when everybody has a CB and dont have HAM.

It would certainly suck when you're the only one with a radio nobody in the group can communicate with.

Back to wanting/selling stuff in this section...

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

If you need a great CB antenna, I have a near new Wilson Trucker 2000 for sale with cable,stub and mounting bracket all for $100. PM me if interested

 

[CharlieV]

I just wanted to mention I have had several CB radio's over the years, all of them purchased from CB shops that "peak and tune," some were bought used. I noticed in this thread that the term "illegal" has popped up more than once and just wanted to say that most of my CB's were augmented to transmit more than the FCC legal 4 watts of power. I was comfortable using these "illegal" radios because no one actually checks these things anymore. I want to qualify that by saying none were peaked beyond 40 watts or so. Maybe if one were using a linear amp conspicuously mounted that would be another issue. I am in the transportation business and can say I have never heard a professional driver, even one with a ridiculous (read 500 watt linear amp) CB, mention getting in trouble for it. The key here is being responsible with it. Professionally tuned radios (as opposed to stock/out of the box) work far better and when coupled with a quality antenna/coax/bracket mounted in the right place should work great. This is my experience after 13 years owning tractor/trailers and traveling throughout the US and Canada. I think HAM is the way to go for overlanding by all means, but CB's are easy to get started with and less intimidating at the beginning.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

What did you end up with? I too am looking for a similar set-up.

He ended up with my Cobra 18 WX STII. Nice unit, but I went to a 2m, so was no longer using CB as my primary comm tool. I now keep a Midland handheld for those rare occasions where CB use is still practical for me.

I just wanted to mention I have had several CB radio's over the years, all of them purchased from CB shops that "peak and tune," some were bought used. I noticed in this thread that the term "illegal" has popped up more than once and just wanted to say that most of my CB's were augmented to transmit more than the FCC legal 4 watts of power. I was comfortable using these "illegal" radios because no one actually checks these things anymore. I want to qualify that by saying none were peaked beyond 40 watts or so. Maybe if one were using a linear amp conspicuously mounted that would be another issue. I am in the transportation business and can say I have never heard a professional driver, even one with a ridiculous (read 500 watt linear amp) CB, mention getting in trouble for it. The key here is being responsible with it. Professionally tuned radios (as opposed to stock/out of the box) work far better and when coupled with a quality antenna/coax/bracket mounted in the right place should work great. This is my experience after 13 years owning tractor/trailers and traveling throughout the US and Canada. I think HAM is the way to go for overlanding by all means, but CB's are easy to get started with and less intimidating at the beginning.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it kind of sounds like you're saying that the legal limit of 4w is more of an unenforced 'guideline?' ...As in "It's not illegal if nobody checks, and you don't get caught." Just my opinion here, but I wish folks with illegally tuned radios were monitored and 'busted' more often by the FCC. It's a drag when you're communicating via CB, chatting away into the box, when some other guy with an illegal radio squashes your conversation and bleeds over three channels.

 

[CharlieV]

I would say unenforced law more than guideline. I think when CB's were more popular, enforcement was more common (read 70's-80's). As far as the squashing goes, you are right. That can be annoying, especially when on a channel other than 19 (or 1 in Canada). I have also read that unlike FM radios, AM frequency doesn't necessarily yield to the highest powered radio. It ends up just being a manners issue. Sideband is a great feature, as is the +10Hz feature for creating your own channel on the better optioned CBs. I currently have a galaxy 88 mounted in my exp-vehicle that has these features. They can be picked up used from a CB shop for about the same as a new Cobra or Uniden and transmit much more clearly. An external speaker is also a great choice if you have the room to mount one. I don't want to argue the merits of legal vs. illegal as I will probably break the speed limit slightly on the way to work and wouldn't want to be a hypocrite

 

[Fulltimer]

With CB you get what you pay for. You buy a cheap radio you will get sub par performance. That will show in both the receive and transmit quality. A high quality unit has much better filtering in them. As far as bleeding over onto other channels goes, if your close together that will happen. When you hear someone bleed over and they are not close it's because they are using junk. A high quality amplifier with a high quality transmitter will not do that. There are a ton of jerks out there with a "Golden Screw Driver" that tune CB's that don't do it correctly and you end up with a trashy sounding setup.

CB went from a good radio service to trash when it became popular. In the beginning you had to have a license and people used them. They were polite and there wasn't any trash talk with foul language. Back then the people in my area used Ch. 11 as a call channel. Everyone had there radio set to that channel, you get a call then move to another channel to talk. It worked very well. My license is: KEY-6303, not that it means anything any longer.

Ham radio is better. I have some problems with it also. In some areas 2m is just like CB. That is also getting to be the way on some other bands too. Usually if I want to talk on my CB to some friend of mine we move either far below CH 1 or far above CH 40 and do it on SSB. Using no power we can talk a few hundred miles.

Terry