CB install day with a pro?

[Fly Rod]

Here is an idea:

I just spoke with a very knowlegable guy at Southwest Mobile Communications. He is a mobile CB sales and install guy. He was very open with his recommendations and very friendly. So I am thinking of installing a Uniden 520xl ala Slee method. The SMC guy wants $75 to install and tune the set up. How about having him do the install with all of us there picking his brain? Call it a learn from a professional session.

It would end up costing me @ $100 more than ordering on line. But it would also be an opportunity for all of us to learn to choose and dial in a CB. It would also be an opportunity for him to build business.

Any interest?

[retrofive]

Sure, I'd love to pick someones brain. Based on simple researching think I have a good grasp on the general idea's, but do have questions and what I have learned and not. I like my setup, and it technically should not work as well as it does???

It would be really fun to play out by the WC ponds or somewhere after rigging up to really test.

Tune to 27 for further..... j/k

[Ebag333]

CB's are pretty basic when you break it down. 99% of the problems that people have is that they mount their antenna's for ease or looks rather than signal.

Heck, my cheapo Radio Shock CB and $8 steel antenna (with guttter mount!) outperforms a lot of setups with much more expensive CB's and Firesticks.

Nothing wrong with the equipment, everything wrong with the setup.

I'd be curious to see what he has to say, so if you're going to fork over the $$$ I'll show up and listen. But I've got my setup pretty much dialed in, the only change is I eventually want to move it off the gutter and onto the rear hatch (but the mount for the rear hatch is $$$, and it's not a high priority for me ATM). And that's 100% for better protection (I've already hung up the mount once)....I'll actually lose a bit of signal by doing it.

You read a lot of "doom and gloom" about people blowing up their CB's, or lighting their trucks on fire, or creating ball lightning, or whatever. It's really a lot less difficult than it might otherwise seem (though I do admit having an easily adjustable steel antenna made it cake to setup).



On a slightly different topic, the Uniden is a great choice. I didn't want something that difficult to setup and install, so I went with the (mostly) plug and play Radio Shack job. But the Uniden was my first choice, had I not been lazy.

[retrofive]

Originally Posted by Ebag333

CB's are pretty basic when you break it down. 99% of the problems that people have is that they mount their antenna's for ease or looks rather than signal.

Heck, my cheapo Radio Shock CB and $8 steel antenna (with guttter mount!) outperforms a lot of setups with much more expensive CB's and Firesticks.

Nothing wrong with the equipment, everything wrong with the setup.

I'd be curious to see what he has to say, so if you're going to fork over the $$$ I'll show up and listen. But I've got my setup pretty much dialed in, the only change is I eventually want to move it off the gutter and onto the rear hatch (but the mount for the rear hatch is $$$, and it's not a high priority for me ATM). And that's 100% for better protection (I've already hung up the mount once)....I'll actually lose a bit of signal by doing it.

You read a lot of "doom and gloom" about people blowing up their CB's, or lighting their trucks on fire, or creating ball lightning, or whatever. It's really a lot less difficult than it might otherwise seem (though I do admit having an easily adjustable steel antenna made it cake to setup).



On a slightly different topic, the Uniden is a great choice. I didn't want something that difficult to setup and install, so I went with the (mostly) plug and play Radio Shack job. But the Uniden was my first choice, had I not been lazy.

LOL, I have fried a CB. There are diffentley things to check to be sure. I would be willing to bet your steel whip has most to do with your excellent signal and setup. the CB it self hardly matters at all. Its all in your antenna, antenna length, cable, cable length, position and grounding.

Now I know its not a perfect science, but those are the reality of optimal CB setup.

I couldnt use a steeley at my client do to lighting :( (base station buidling setup)