CB Radio/Atenna setup's - Post yours, looking for ideas to follow

[rusty_tlc]

Does anybody knows the real life range of Cobra 75WXST ??? I just about to order one from Amazon.

By the way what is the main differance between CB and HAM??

NorCalDoug uses a 75WXST, seemed to work as well as any CB. You might PM him and ask.

CB:
Uses AM which is blocked by terrian and has a limited range, CB has limited power relative to HAM.

HAM:
Uses FM which has better range, has a much higher allowed max power, and repeaters are available which greatly increase range, and is in general what all the cool kids use.

Hold on I gotta re-wind my propeller bienie.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Stuffing the pocket protector back in my pocket....Rusty Dan--are you going to have your install done by DV?? I've really like to have a look at it with the 8900.

Sorry about the hijack. CB-bah


A hand held CB plugged into the cigarette lighter with an external mag mount antenna would be perfect if mounting space is a problem. You still get the maximum allowable 4 watts and you take it out of the truck the rest of the time.

CB range is variable with your set up. It *can* be hundreds of miles but is rarely more than a couple of miles. The skip from those Mexican power stations is proof of ultimate possible range. Add any trees, terrain, what ever and you bump up against CBs limitations fast. Even if you set YOUR radio upcarefully, there are always members in your group who will have piss-poor installations and whose signal sounds more like scatter than voice. Rusty gives good real world examples of range limitations. Seriously, travelling in caravan with more than just a few trucks, the back truck is quickly out of range and lost.

Once people go to the extra step of ham they generally become much more interested in a good install, and so overall group communication is at least 10x better. The radios too, are very sophisticated with (generally) excellent receivers, and so make much more out of the available signal. The range is for practical purposes 10-20 miles, but add any height at all and it's over 100 miles easy. In my driveway, I have a full quieting signal into and out of the Mt. Diablo repeater on 5 watts, and it's 90 miles away.

Bottom line, don't disfigure your 100 in any way to install a CB. All CB radios are roughly equivalent so get one you like. I think the best intersection of value and ease of use is the Uniden 510 but that's just me.

I no longer have CBs in my trucks.

 

[slimbuddha]

A hand held CB plugged into the cigarette lighter with an external mag mount antenna would be perfect if mounting space is a problem. You still get the maximum allowable 4 watts and you take it out of the truck the rest of the time.

I have an old Cobra set up this way. I already have the HAM license but havent put down the change on a radio yet. Most of the club I go with use CB (although several have HAMs), and until the majority commit to HAMS, i'll still need the CB.

The biggest reason I haven't picked up a CB and install it is, I only use it on a trail-ride (which is only every couple months unfortunately), and I don't want to take up space for one (unless someone makes a small enough one to fit in the ash-tray area).

Btw, after a xmas tree run gone bad, and I didn't get back to cell phone range until 10pm (expected home by 5pm), I may have convinced my wife on getting a license, and also getting a "base station" at home. We could have easily communicated the run if we had this.

 

[Dandon]

NorCalDoug uses a 75WXST, seemed to work as well as any CB. You might PM him and ask.

CB:
Uses AM which is blocked by terrian and has a limited range, CB has limited power relative to HAM.

HAM:
Uses FM which has better range, has a much higher allowed max power, and repeaters are available which greatly increase range, and is in general what all the cool kids use.

Hold on I gotta re-wind my propeller bienie.

Are you only allowed to use AM on CB? Here we can use both AM and FM with 4W max power. No test (exam) needed, but we have to pay 100 € for 5 years license.

 

[TXLX470]

Thanks for all the info. From what I understood from above is HAm is more funtional than CB. I am sure FM reception is far better than a AM reception
Dumb Question...since they operate in two diffrent band I assum they cannot talk to each other. So what happens when you travel witha group and some have CB and some have HAM what about the hand held walkie talkie. can they talk with CB or HAM

By the way how much is HAM licence...

 

[Cruiserdrew]

They totally can't talk to each other-separate law and separate systems entirely.

Most walkie-talkies are FRS or GMRS these days, yet another system with it's own set of laws.

Both CB and Ham radios have hand held versions.

The License fee is $14 per 10 years. You have to take a test, though, to get your license.

 

[WaterCruiser]

1loudlx,

these pics are peculiar to a -100 although the mounts are courtesy of christo's rear swing-out.

the HF whip (Icom Ah-2b) on the big insulator stuck to the lower mount near the pivot lock-pin, plus a 2m/440/70 Diamond tri-band on the upper-mount behind the spare. If you stick with CB get a good base-loaded antenna or (preferably) the 5/8's whip.

[christo - nice work offering 2 mounting spots you da man! now I want that blueberry bumper...]

AH-4 tuner somehow fit perfectly between the structure supporting the spare. nobody knows its there and it's protected.

feedline, control & power routed thru 2 holes drilled & filled in the lower right body sheetmetal behind the tailgate hinge, going up & into the cavity behind the right-rear interior storage panel.

The IC-7000 remote-able chassis also sits snugly into the deeper storage pocket. removing/replacing that panel & routing power to the aux batt was was a pain in the . The remote control cable runs from the Head, under the carpet & exits thru a small notch cut at the back of the center console's "cubby" insert.

geordie - I have experienced *no* overheating (I no longer look at the temp meter) but i had fun with a hole-saw on the panel's plastic box plus my Tx/Rx duty cycle is generally less than 10%



the IC-7000 Display/Control sits on a modified [roofing tie] sheet metal plate, one edge slid under the center panel trim. Gives a good viewing angle and there's just enough clearance for the shift not to hit the Display in PARK & I can still use the panel. Also, when in DRIVE my hand rests on the shifter and I just point my finger & touch the buttons & knobs. There's probably a better way but this seems to work even from the passenger side.

I completely agree with the others for the reasons they state - get your amateur ticket, it's not a hard test and there's no code requirement

 

[LandCruisers4Life]

Just to kind of keep this a little on topic, CB actually works fine unless you get spread out.

Last spring in central NV we got far enough apart with three rigs that we had to relay messages using CB. Imagine if you were in a group of six or seven. On trails like Rubicon the group rarely gets further than .25 miles apart and CB works fine.

You had to relay messages? How far apart were you, and were there mountains around? I can recall getting a distance of 10 or more miles in tests between I and a buddy on our Cobra (legal, 4W) CBs with Wilson silverlode antennas in the city.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Stuffing the pocket protector back in my pocket....Rusty Dan--are you going to have your install done by DV?? I've really like to have a look at it with the 8900.

...

I no longer have CBs in my trucks.

I have the FT-8900 in hand, but I may be bringing a whole other rig if I can make it.

 

[1loudLX]

so i think im going to go HAM style, with a remote face on the headliner behind the upper console on that little slant between the console and sunroof opening.

Now i gotta get my license!

 

[rusty_tlc]

You had to relay messages? How far apart were you, and were there mountains around? I can recall getting a distance of 10 or more miles in tests between I and a buddy on our Cobra (legal, 4W) CBs with Wilson silverlode antennas in the city.

We were spread out. In long valleys with talc dust, you keep your distance from the rig ahead, unless you like eating dirt. And we had marginal CB setups. It's true you can get some distance out of CB, but you will never get the range you can get with Ham.

 

[ginericLC]

so i think im going to go HAM style, with a remote face on the headliner behind the upper console on that little slant between the console and sunroof opening.

Now i gotta get my license!

QRZ Ham Radio Practice Tests is what I used. It isn't hard. There are only 35 questions.

 

[siglo]

I would recommend going the HAM route, the possibilities are endless once you do.

this is my setup, maybe it would give you some ideas.


HF Whip Antenna mounted to ARB's rear tire carrier.

from the rear

VHF-UHF Antenna mounted on ARB front bumper

Another shot..

External yaesu speaker

Icom IC-7000 Control unit

Transiver installed here and antenna coupler underneath inside the AO drawers side compartment.

 

[PhaedrusUZJ100]

in the same boat

I have two CB radios sitting in the garage and cannot figure out where to mount one. I like the all-in-one units, but I just can't stomach going out and getting a third one. I want a nice clean install and do not want to give up any room in my center console.

I am thinking about mounting it in or behind the glove compartment; that way it will be out of sight/out of mind until I need it and when I do I can just plug in the mic, turn it on and role from there. I have heard about folks doing this with newer Jeep JKs... has anyone tried it in a 100 series? If so, I would dig seeing some pics!

 

[Colicious]

I went with the Cobra 75WX in the center console and the antenna on the front bumper. The antenna wire goes through the firewall just above the left foot rest and the power comes from the 12volt plug inside of the console. I am very happy with the Cobra, but my antenna mount sucks, in both form and function.

It was a cheapo quick job rushed for an FLCA event. The antenna wire was only long enough to make it to the DS light mount, so it is in my line of sight. I am used to it now, but still a little goofy. I really like alvirob's setup in the 80 section, but I havent been able to track down a nice, clean looking lip mount like his. I will ramp up my search later this year when I go for dual batteries, inverters and an engel fridge. Maybe this thread will get to the bottom of that.

Eventually I may change the plug location for the Cobra. I had the little pocket in the console, but converted back to the old cover plate for the mount, since it was really just trash anyway. I miss that pocket and the plug is kind of in the way sometimes.

i did his way for the radio (same radio and all). i have a 5' wilson on my slee rear bumper

 

[aaronrules]

I want to bump this thread. Also would like some suggestions on brands of CB's and antennas.

 

[SmoothLC]

Two handheld CBs you might consider include a Cobra 75 WX ST or a Midland 75-822.

Check w/ Right Channel Radios. They have some decent kits to choose from.

If you're interested in getting a Ham license, here's my Cheap Ham Install. Same wiring for Ham or CB, different antenna's though.

 

[aaronrules]

I am wondering if there is a way to use a quick disconnect AND a spring at the same time?

I may have found out that you can...still looking though.

 

[Hayes]

Yes.
I ran this with a 3' fiberglass antenna on my 80. It worked great. Running it on my 100 with a 4' antenna.

I am wondering if there is a way to use a quick disconnect AND a spring at the same time?

I may have found out that you can...still looking though.

 

[Hayes]

Cobra 75WXST power box installed under driver's seat. 4' Firestik on a modified Insane 4Runner mount. Spring is between the quick connect and the antenna. The 4' antenna lives under the second row seat when not in use, and the radio handset resides in the center console box.
Going to get a 2m handheld and 1/2 wave roof mount once I take the amateur radio test.