Results 1 to 10 of 44
Thread: CB Radio?
Hybrid View
-
October 14th, 2020, 08:41 PM #1Banned
- Join Date
- Aug 2011
- Location
-
North West,
Pennsylvania
(Erie County) - Posts
- 1,537
- Rep Power
- 0
CB Radio?
I was thinking of picking up a CB radio I can throw in the pick-up or even throw in a back-pack.
Any suggestions?
-
October 14th, 2020, 08:49 PM #2
Re: CB Radio?
Since you're considering trowing it in a backpack I'm guessing you want a handheld? Why CB?
Gender confusion is a mental illness
-
October 14th, 2020, 09:17 PM #3
Re: CB Radio?
CB is active in SE PA. Have one in my truck.
The original social media.
-
October 14th, 2020, 09:46 PM #4
Re: CB Radio?
I have had one in my trucks/jeeps since I started driving. do not get on it often as much as I once did. They are quite a help on the interstates when traffic comes to a halt and delay if not entertaining listening to the truckers. When I did a lot of offroading our group all had them and is is nice for communicating obstacles on the trail. I do go to Bald Eagle State Forest to do some four wheeling, all the jeep/off road clubs there monitor channel 16 (4x4)
They are a nice addition to any vehicle kit, In my tool bag I pack a handheld with a vehicle power adapter for EVA activities or loaning to another driver I may need com with. Most people see them as dated tech, we will see when the Chinese shoot down all our cellular satellites from their space station and moon bases, there will be a run on CB's like the Covid T-paper debacle
If you are going to get a dedicated vehicle unit , I highly recommend the Cobra C75 WX ST, The actual radio mounts under the dash or console and all the controls are on the handset, very compact for newer vehicles with out a lot of mounting options, the days of just sheet metal screws to the bottom lip of steel on the dash are long gone, not much knee space on newer vehicles for boxy sets
https://www.cobra.com/products/c75wxst
-
October 15th, 2020, 09:30 AM #5
Re: CB Radio?
CB is a very viable license free communications tool. you can pick up an el cheepo at Walmart for $35. It's rather light weight, and the primary weight (for a back pack) would be in the battery needed. You could also precut a jungle antennae for it to throw in the pack. While not as flexible as the HAM gear, it's infinitely better than the FRS and GMRS kit.
-
October 15th, 2020, 10:51 AM #6
Re: CB Radio?
Look at the Uniden and Cobra models. Rather small and inexpensive. They will do anything any of the others do, and you don't need any bells and whistles. You'll get better range with a vehicle mounted antenna. The handheld's are just way too short.
Corruptissima re publica plurimae leges
-
October 15th, 2020, 08:36 PM #7
Re: CB Radio?
The answers you seek would be a little better if you could provide some context.
What exactly are you looking to do? Would this be purely for emergency communications or would this be more for a hiking and offroading tool? Could it be used purely by yourself or do you have other people you want to communicate with?
-
October 15th, 2020, 08:44 PM #8
Re: CB Radio?
CB radio is great, easy to use, and license-free. I've had one in my truck for years for when I travel. But, with it being so easy to get and use makes it's effectiveness lower. Even on a good grounded setup in a truck, with a large reflective plane your antenna can broadcast off of, you can get a few miles at best. I'm sure certain setups are better than others and if you have the right geography nearby it can go a decent amount, but the transmit power limit really lowers your radius. Especially since you're asking about a handheld, take the time to learn about HAM and get a good Baofeng. No reason you can't have both, but a handheld CB is pretty useless IMO.
-Brandon
-
October 15th, 2020, 09:41 PM #9
Re: CB Radio?
Sorry to hijack your thread, OP ... well maybe sidetrack it, but perhaps may be of interest to you.
@ pens87pgh I have a Yaesu FT8800R dual band repeater mobile radio I use primarily as a home base unit. I'm mounting a copper pipe j-pole in the attic soon. But it is mounted on a board with an external speaker so I can take it in the car, although I rarely do. In your opinion, how good are the magmount whips, like a Hustler? I know a professional NMO install would be better, but I rarely use it in the car. It transmits at 50W on 2M and 35W on 70cm.
?How good are those magmounts, in your opinion, for occasional use? I won't ever mount the radio permanently in the vehicle, it will always be an in/out kind of thing. But I'm open to having a professional antenna install and leaving the cable under the front pax seat when not in use.
Your thoughts? Thanks.
K3JPC
-
October 15th, 2020, 10:18 PM #10
Re: CB Radio?
I can only speak with regards to a CB deployment in a vehicle. From my research and experience, there are 2 major things that matter with antenna mounting: proper ground and an adequate ground plane for transmission. If your antenna isn't grounded, your transmission isn't going to go anywhere and your SWR reading will be shit. The 2nd isn't having a proper surface around your antenna as a ground plane to reflect your transmission off of. Thats why so many people use magmount antennas in the middle of a car/truck roof. A magmount has the right grounding needed built in, and you can place it easily anywhere you need to get the reflection needed to maximize your transmission.
With all of that though, CB radio has a max of 4w transmission power, so you're really at the mercy of your physical setup and the surrounding geography to carry your signal for others to receive. CB does a great job on a highway while traveling because of the openness of the path the highway provides, but aside from that I'd stick with HAM for any other comms needs.-Brandon
Similar Threads
-
Gun Guy Radio has some awesome Radio shows and Videos
By chrisdxn in forum GeneralReplies: 0Last Post: January 1st, 2014, 02:09 AM -
Ted Nugent joins radio show host Mark Walters on Armed American American Radio
By Bruce Eimer in forum PoliticalReplies: 0Last Post: January 28th, 2010, 08:30 PM
Bookmarks