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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Pleasant Hill, Cali
Posts: 43
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CB Radios . . .
Hey I was thinking about getting a CB radio. I have never used a CB before but it sounds like it could be a cool toy to have around. Is there anything I should know before buying one? I was thinking about getting a cobra . . . I've used some of their 2 way radios and I was very impressed with the clarity and also just the quality of the unit.
-http://www.cobra.com/index.php?page=...uct_id=12&id=1 Any thoughts on this radio? Would I need an antenna with this setup? Any input/experiences/whatever would help. Thanks much ![]() -Dave
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1970 K10 350/sm465 "Yellowey-Orange" |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: springfield ill
Posts: 836
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i used to play with cb radio's.i would sugest getting a cheap one.maybe at a garage sale first for like 10 bucks to see if thats something you want to continue before you drop almost a 100 bucks on one.i used to run a 29classic ltd,it was the top dog back then as i recall.also yes you will have to run an attenna with all of them the better antenna you get the better
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springfield illinois 2003 custom (harley)built from scratch 68 swb |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: From Chicago, Live in Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 6,802
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Walmart has a decent one for about $32. I tried using one on oneo f my trips to and from Chicago, but I can't understand 80% of what is being said. It sounds like jibberish....lol
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#4 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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CB's are good for staying awake on long trips, avoiding cops, and talking a cop out of pulling you over among other things. If you just want to try one out, get a Walmart special and a magnetic base antenna and give it a go.
A word to the wise, listen a while before you start talking, never call anyone a "Good Buddy" or anything else like that, or you may get flamed.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. ![]() We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck" |
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: springfield ill
Posts: 836
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Quote:
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springfield illinois 2003 custom (harley)built from scratch 68 swb Last edited by doughby82; 12-04-2003 at 05:32 AM. |
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#6 |
Designated A-hole!
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: South Mississippi
Posts: 36,450
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It's a whole new language if you've never been around it.
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"If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. ![]() We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck" |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Killingworth, CT. USA
Posts: 3,378
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An antenna is like 75% of your radio. Buy a cheap radio and a good antenna otherwise you will have a "if you can see me, you can hear me radio".
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1971 C10 swb stepside 350/700R4/3.73posi (retired as of 4/22/03) 1998 S10 short bed 2002 S10 Blazer 1942 Oldsmobile 1958 Massey Harris Pony 1951 Wife Killingworth, Connecticut May those who love us, love us, any of those who do not love us, may God turn their hearts. And if God is unable to turn their hearts, may he turn their ankles so we may know them by their limping. A man who works with his hands is a laborer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman; but a man who works with his hands and his brain and his heart is an artist. |
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#8 |
Psycho-billy Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: about 40 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,591
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"Stock" radios used on channel 19 in an area where there are lots of trucks (major highways) are pretty much worthless. Most truck drivers are using radios that are modified, in some way, to get them 'over' all the noise, which only makes things worse for those with stock radios.
I guess, what you get, depends on what you plan to do with it. Get yourself a decent radio, a good antenna and a SWR meter. Match the antenna to the radio with the SWR meter and you're good to go. It may not be the loudest or talk the farthest but it should work ok. Cobra is a good radio. I used to run a 29 LTD Classic also.....really nice radio for the time. BTW.....don't waste your money on a "powered mic" if you plan to use the radio on the road. It will pick-up more background noise. Instead, find a good radio tech that can peak the power and modulation from inside the radio. My suggetion for an antenna would be either a Wilson (1000) or K40. Both companies make antennas that mount in different ways and different locations.
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'72 C-10 350 w/Lunati Voodoo cam (207*/213*, .437/.454), Performer intake, 625 Road Demon Jr. and Hooker headers. Support your community, support yourself. Buy local, buy American ![]() Last edited by lux hauler; 11-28-2003 at 12:35 PM. |
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#9 |
Robert Olson Transport
![]() Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: recent transplant to NC USA
Posts: 20,293
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for a first one id get a cheapie too maybe a radio shack one the relaistics are cool and they have decent antennas too
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Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!! |
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#10 |
Member since 2000
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Mountain View Ca / Mexico
Posts: 7,879
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my dad had this little black box that you attach to a CD and i think it suppose to boost the power for the attenna. it has a skull on the front of it where the switch is. never got around to testing it.
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Mt. Vernon, WA..
Posts: 2,322
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that little black box was a linear..bosts power.. we use to go to the top of a hill next to a radio transmitter and talk to people in Idaho from here...until the cops showed up..buy a cobra radio cheapest you can get but spend your $$ on the correct length of coax and a good, correctly grounded antenna..time for a 10-100
c-ya |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: springfield ill
Posts: 836
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those boxes are called lenaers(sp)len-e-ers.i belive they are illigel,but alot of people run them
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springfield illinois 2003 custom (harley)built from scratch 68 swb |
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#13 | |
Born To Lose Club
![]() Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North
Posts: 13,306
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Quote:
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Brian Smith ![]() 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 20 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada! - 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 2 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 13 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 6 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154. |
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#14 |
Psycho-billy Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: about 40 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,591
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I don't think local police have the authority (or knowledge) to bust you for the use of a linear. The FCC doesn't even get involved too much any more unless you're radio is messing with other equipment of some kind. Usually someone has to make a complaint before they do anything. They don't monitor things like they used to.
I was running a Texas Star DX350 driven by a modulator (Texas Star also, I believe). It would swing about 600W on AM.....I never had any problems from police.
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'72 C-10 350 w/Lunati Voodoo cam (207*/213*, .437/.454), Performer intake, 625 Road Demon Jr. and Hooker headers. Support your community, support yourself. Buy local, buy American ![]() Last edited by lux hauler; 11-28-2003 at 09:22 PM. |
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#15 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Shadow of Lambeau Field
Posts: 5,597
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I use a Uniden Grant model. I had it "tuned-up" at a truck stop CB rado repair shop, (dead keys 40). I have a swing kit installed and an external frequency counter. I have a final out of a Galaxy and a roger beep mic. My little box is a dirty as hell 250 watt linear, and I run either a 102" steel whip, or a Wilson 1000 antenia.
If you go with a cheep radio, you have a cheep radio. Spend the extra money on one that is upgradable. when you have it set like mine, I can find people to talk to overseas (shortwave), I also have been known to find the frequency that will change street lights, turn on automatic car washes, and bleed over on concert monitors and speakers. Have fun playing hide and seek with your friends that have CB radios too. |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Eureka Springs AR
Posts: 494
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I run a Galaxy 88 with a Texas Star 500 linear and a Wilson 1000 ant.
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Buy Sale or Trade 71 3/4 4x4 72 1/2 ton cheyenne 4x4 |
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#17 | |
Psycho-billy Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: about 40 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,591
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Quote:
![]() There was also a kid in town that no one really liked......kind of a punk. He had an alarm on his car......drive by in the wee hours of the morning and key the mic and his alarm would go off. It was fun messin with him too.
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'72 C-10 350 w/Lunati Voodoo cam (207*/213*, .437/.454), Performer intake, 625 Road Demon Jr. and Hooker headers. Support your community, support yourself. Buy local, buy American ![]() Last edited by lux hauler; 11-28-2003 at 09:25 PM. |
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#18 |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Shadow of Lambeau Field
Posts: 5,597
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Lol, that's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time
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#19 |
Binder Rep
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Salcha, AK
Posts: 1,506
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Seems that most of the truckers aren't using too much of the boosting stuff these days. My last trip from TN to GA I only heard two guys running amps, and they both got flamed for doing it. It seems that it's considered extremely rude, because not only do they put out so much power, but they come over the receiving radios as very loud. There is a maximum wattage allowed by the FCC and anything above that is illegal, those boosters do that and yes are considered illegal. And they ALL interfere with stuff. It doesn't take much boosting to interfere with a lot of electronic equipment.
A stock radio will output fine. I run a "smaller" 40 Channel cobra I picked up on ebay, guy lists radios routinely and if you wait a few days I can get you in touch with him. He's an electronics store and sells the stuff too. Nice guy to deal with. I got a mag mount whip antenna from radio shack, it's a pretty tall antenna, the setup worked very well this last trip. Don't worry about the boosters, there is no reason to have them, you don't need more range than a regular and tuned radio offers for CB. If you want long range get a HAM license and get the radio shack radio that has 2M Ham, AM, FM, incl the CB channels on it. That way you can get your range without being a nuisance. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Eureka Springs AR
Posts: 494
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selling vin's with titles is considered illegal too but we do it anyway.
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Buy Sale or Trade 71 3/4 4x4 72 1/2 ton cheyenne 4x4 |
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#21 | |
Binder Rep
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Salcha, AK
Posts: 1,506
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Quote:
back to the matter at hand. The boosters are illegal because they really DO cause problems. My problem with them isn't so much because they are illegal but because they are SO ANNOYING. It's like someone shouting over the radio at everyone. You wonder if they are just trying to blow up everyone's speakers. You have all these guys talking normally and this one guy breaking in really loud. Not to mention the fact that it gives everyone a bad name when it interferes with TVs and car radios. Ham radios can talk long distance legally, and the test isn't even all that much, the basic technician's license doesn't even require morse anymore. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to need the CB radio boosters. |
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#22 |
Psycho-billy Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: about 40 miles west of Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 2,591
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I don't think anyone was suggesting that he run a linear.
BTW.....FCC laws state that a cb radios output can be no more than 4W. I can almost bet that 99% of the truckers are running much more than 4W.
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'72 C-10 350 w/Lunati Voodoo cam (207*/213*, .437/.454), Performer intake, 625 Road Demon Jr. and Hooker headers. Support your community, support yourself. Buy local, buy American ![]() |
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Menifee, Calif, USA
Posts: 2,145
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RED NECK INTERNET
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With a 1972 Chevy Custom-10 Long bed w/350cid th350, (under-construction). Progress on truck so far (follow link): http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=51051 and stage 2 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=58132 ~ ![]() ![]() Last edited by SEVEND2; 10-05-2007 at 04:58 AM. |
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#24 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Tucson, AZ USA
Posts: 7,285
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I got a new SSB rig for my Jimmy. I haven't hooked it up yet. I was thinking of hanging twin truckers on my west coast mirrors. Preamp mikes work if you get the noise canceling type. On the pickup I have a hustler mast holding a fiberglas 'shack stubby whip, and a barefoot (no linear) 'shack TRC421. Back in the '60s I used to have a tube type Johnson whiteface Messenger I, 5 crystals but 5 watts out. (If you bypassed a 4" ceramic resistor near the final it cranked out 10 watts.)
A friend of my brother's was an aircraft engineer and discovered that. It was bigger than a breadbox, constantly buzzed and would drain your battery in a heartbeat, but baby, that was broadcasting. And we liked it. Last edited by '68OrangeSunshine; 11-29-2003 at 07:15 AM. |
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#25 | |
Account Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Shadow of Lambeau Field
Posts: 5,597
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Quote:
Just a note. Putting two fiberglass whip antenia on each mirror LOOKS good, but will not work for your CB needs. A wave length of CB signal is 10 foot wide. You will need to have both antenia spaced apart 10 foot, or your signals will get mixed up and you actually lose signal strength and distance. That is why a 102" (10 foot) steel whip is actually the most efficiant type antenia you can get. CQ, CQ, CQRT. |
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