CB Radio for Cars

[pterrell]

Hey all. I've been thinking about putting a CB radio in my car. I'm trying to find a decent setup without spending a small fortune. I also wanted to see if anyone had any luck with the shorter antenna's I've seen online. I know that I see 6' on trucks and jeeps all the time but I feel like that would look rather awkward on a car haha. Links are appreciated! I'd like to stay in under $150 if I can. I'm handy so installation doesn't need to be factored into the cost.

[pacrat]

I don't like "whips" either. With a whip mounted on a bumper [only logical strong place to mount] antenna becomes directional as you turn corners. Because the vehicle body is blocking much of its lenght. I've always preferred, and used the Antenna Specialists M124 antennas.

http://www.cbtricks.com/ant_manuals/ant_specialists/m_124/ad/index.htm

I don't know what the Max wattage output they are rated for. I used to run a 75 watt linear amplifier through mine. Legal CB output is 5 watts.

My preferred mounting system for them is also, right through the lid of the vehicle. That way the co-ax is all inside the body. Magnet mounts, and clamped onto external mirrors, leaves you open to easy vandalism. 2 seconds with a pocket knife and you're out of business, and have to replace your co-ax. Plus, if you don't know the co-ax is cut and you power up and key the Mic. You blow the final transmitter transistors in your radio.

It is my understanding that Cobra pretty much owns the market for CB radios now days. Here is a link for them. I would suggest you talk to a few OTR truckers. They are the primary CB users anymore. I have a small Cobra 40 channel in the jeep down at my desert place. A old 23 channel FieldMaster in my boat. My base station is a Courier Royale single side band unit.

https://www.cobra.com/products/recreational/18-wx-st-ii

E-barf has a bazillion different listings for CB

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=&_osacat=40054&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xcb+radio.TRS0&_nkw=cb+radio&_sacat=40054

CB was a very BIG DEAL back before cell phones became so prevalent.

[wpod]

I'm an OTR truck driver. I drive from CA to KS/NE every week.
There are very few people on CB anymore. I'll go weeks without hearing anyone else.

[dls]

I'm an OTR truck driver. I drive from CA to KS/NE every week.
There are very few people on CB anymore. I'll go weeks without hearing anyone else.

Thats what I was thinking.

I guess when you're wheeling in the backcountry with other people it may be good,but so are those FRS radios for $40,which Cobra also makes.

[elx144]

I had a base setup a few years ago. With an Antron antenna about 40' up I was hearing people all the way to Florida. My setup was a Galaxy DX-959 hooked to an old laptop power supply. I had a Uniden 510xl in my truck and it was a piece of crap compared to the Galaxy. It's nice to have variable power, and variable receive gain. SSB is a good option too, it lets you talk with around 12watts instead of 4. Make sure the antenna is grounded.

[oilcanhenry]

I'm an OTR truck driver. I drive from CA to KS/NE every week.
There are very few people on CB anymore. I'll go weeks without hearing anyone else.

Not calling you a liar, but truckers use CB radios all the time, even nowadays.

Have you ever checked the SWR readings on your setup? Maybe you have a bad CB radio or your antenna is not working properly.

And yeah, I drive truck for a living, just so you understand I know what I speak of.

[oilcanhenry]

I don't like "whips" either. With a whip mounted on a bumper [only logical strong place to mount] antenna becomes directional as you turn corners. Because the vehicle body is blocking much of its lenght. I've always preferred, and used the Antenna Specialists M124 antennas.

http://www.cbtricks.com/ant_manuals/ant_specialists/m_124/ad/index.htm

I don't know what the Max wattage output they are rated for. I used to run a 75 watt linear amplifier through mine. Legal CB output is 5 watts.

This A/S antenna was in use back in the 1970's. They just changed the color to black instead of gray, back then. Its a good antenna, as long as you mount
it up high, so you get a good ground plane effect. Down low your SWR's will be real high, which ain't good at all.

[pronstar]

CB Radio for Cars

If you see whips on off-road vehicles, they're more than likely race radios (150-158 MHz VHF), not CB's.

CB radio range is very limited when off-roading. Much better to have a race radio with 50 - 100 watts of power.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wpod]

Not calling you a liar, but truckers use CB radios all the time, even nowadays.

Have you ever checked the SWR readings on your setup? Maybe you have a bad CB radio or your antenna is not working properly.

And yeah, I drive truck for a living, just so you understand I know what I speak of.

Not offended.
Compared to several years ago there is very little going on in CB land.
My radio works fine. It does come in handy when there's a road blockage, at first. Then everyone gets testy and starts arguing. There's the ones that play their favorite song, the hooked in NV are out there. But very little CBing like most people think.
I still sometimes go weeks and hear nothing.

[dogrunner]

If you see whips on off-road vehicles, they're more than likely race radios (150-158 MHz VHF), not CB's.

CB radio range is very limited when off-roaring. Much better to have a race radio with 50 - 100 watts of power.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The answer to an effective radio system IS a properly tuned and matched antenna, not raw power............you will do far more with a properly set up antenna with minimal wattage.....4 watts or less on 11 meters, than you'll accomplish with a poorly set up one on the VHF (+30 mhz) bands.

The main problem with the cb bands....inclusive of all the illegal stuff is that the interference issue via illicit and power addicted users crap up the bands to the point of unusability in many instances.

You wanna do it right, then get your amateur license, or alternatively, secure a GMRS license....no test, just buy it....and use VHF with the shorter antenna's that come along with that frequency range.....

Remember, the higher the freq. the SHORTER the antenna. (and the less distance you will be able to generally talk)

Incidentally, the crew I dog hunt with all use cb's to one extent or another and enjoy at least ten to fifteen miles of coverage..........if they (the lazy asses) would get that simple amateur ticket they could talk double or more that distance and with virtually no interference

[Doheny]

CB Radio for Cars

Not offended.

Compared to several years ago there is very little going on in CB land.

My radio works fine. It does come in handy when there's a road blockage, at first. Then everyone gets testy and starts arguing. There's the ones that play their favorite song, the hooked in NV are out there. But very little CBing like most people think.

I still sometimes go weeks and hear nothing.

Interesting.



So what are truckers using nowadays? Are they just not chatting like they used to and now using cell phones?

.

[wpod]

Interesting.

So what are truckers using nowadays? Are they just not chatting like they used to and now usinging cell phones?

This

[pterrell]

Damn that's too bad that nobody uses CB anymore. Would it make more sense to put a small HAM radio in my car instead? Once I get licensed of course.

[Souske]

A mobile ham rig is a much better investment

I was out around superstition mtn, and was talking to a buddy coming down the grade in his RV, very little static

[hermosabeach]

Ham radio's give you range as you can hit repeaters... The type of radio is all about what you want to do with the radio?


Due to the curvature of the earth, radios that are line of sight give you a limited range....

The repeaters are on mountain tops so the line of sight is dramatically improved....

Are you looking to BS while in the car, talk to people hundreds of miles away, etc....