CB Radios: Any suggestions?

[OCHO4I]

Well, winter has arrived (or at least what passes for winter here in Los Angeles!) and thoughts start going to how to prepare the 60 for next year’s trips.

When I visited the eastern Sierras this last summer and traversed the trails in and around the June Lake/Mammoth Lake areas, all that those in our family had for communications were low end Motorola two-way radios. After having to deal with dead or dying batteries and those who “forgot” where they put their radios, my brother-in-laws, several of my nephews and I are now looking into installing CBs in our rigs this winter and they asked me if I had any suggestions. I must confess that I know absolutely nothing about what to look for in a CB radio.

So my questions for the group are these: What should I look for in an under dash CB radio? What is the price range for one that will take moderate abuse and be used on a not-too-frequent basis? What do you all have in your rigs and what has your experience been with your CBs? Is there a CB/antenna combo that works well in mountainous regions like the Sierras? Where have you mounted yours in your Landcruisers and how difficult was the install? Are you aware of any websites and/or reference books that I could direct my nephews to look at that would explain basic CB terminology and etiquette? (Remember: I know absolutely nothing about CB’s so please keep that in mind with your responses.)

 

[brokenparts]

Ham...

 

[forestdan7]

CBs are reliable and fairly cheap. You just can't expect too much from them. Any decent CB you find at Radio Shack or wherever will do fine, it'll be the maximum 4 watts, and you'll be able to talk for a few miles line of sight. When you're in the mountains, it'll be significantly less.

The best thing you can do for good performance is get the antenna up high. That means in the center of your roof. Magnetic ones work fine, if you don't want to put a hole in your roof.

That being said, I mounted mine to the front bumper. It works great for trail communication when you're not real far away from the other trucks, and works pretty well on the highway when you've got long line of sight.

I've got a model 29 Cobra, mounted mine to the side of my Tuffy console, so it's right under my right arm. Really convenient there. It's got NOAA weather channels, too, which I use a lot.

If you know what you're doing, or know somebody who does, you can modify any CB up to 20 or 30 watts pretty easily. It's technically illegal, though.

 

[dogboy2]

Uniden Pro.... will fit into cubby under radio slot very nicely

-db-

 

[adamfj60]

just put in a uniden today. got it for 89 less a 40 dollar mail in rebate so 49 overall. 4 foot antennae was another 22 bucks. 18 ft cable to run from antennae to cb was another couple bucks. mounted the antennae to stock front bumper - just drilled a hole in far end of passenger side. still trying to "tune" it right but haven't figured that out yet. need to get it "peaked" which a local cb shop will do to increase the watts as mentioned in previous post to get better reception but more so better range when talking. make sure you get one that picks up the weather channels as this uniden one does. my weather comes through crystal clear but was trying to listen to truckers on highway and got alot of fuzz. going to order a tuffy console and mount to side behind parking brake as others have done. the top end cobras were about $139 - not sure if it is worth it or not - we'll see how my $89 or $49 uniden does. going to hit some trails tomorrow with some other cruisers so hopefully it will work well in close range on the trails as that is the main purpose. listening to truckers is just a bonus of entertainment. as one said today..."quit whining...truck driving ain't for crying"...

 

[Spook50]

If you know what you're doing, or know somebody who does, you can modify any CB up to 20 or 30 watts pretty easily. It's technically illegal, though.

I've always wondered, why is it illegal to do that? A guy I work with who's worked on all sorts of radios all his life mentioned doing that with mine when he helps me install my CB and antenna. I didn't know WTF he was talking about when he said it though.

 

[Corbet]

I use a Midland 75-822 with a magnetic antenna. It doubles as a handheld and in truck unit. Also easy to move from truck to truck. Most of all it was fairly cheap until I get a HAM. The mobil adapter replaces the battery part and plus into your cig lighter. Also has a plug for an exterior antenna.


http://www.midlandradio.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3108

 

[woytovich]

I use a Midland 75-822 with a magnetic antenna. It doubles as a handheld and in truck unit. Also to move from truck to truck. Most of all it was fairly cheap until I get a HAM. The mobil adapter replaces the battery part and plus into your cig lighter. Also has a plug for an exterior antenna.


http://www.midlandradio.com/comersus/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3108

Great unit. Built like a Land Cruiser. Available for less than as seen in the link above too...

 

[mtb_rider]

I have a Cobra 75 WXST. It's a remote mount unit. The "box" can be mounted under the dash, under the seat, anywhere out of the way and out of sight. All the controls and everything are in the handset. I have a 62, so there is pretty limited space to mount a CB without having a Tuffy console. I just bought a cheapo antenna and mounted it on one of those brackets that mounts to the inside of the fender, sticking up between the fender and hood. I plan on getting a better, tuneable antenna, but was waiting until after my bumper build, as I may move it to the bumper. I have only used it on the trails a few times since I installed, and have listened to it just for fun on the hwy a few times. So far I am pleased, but don't have any long term experience with it yet.

 

[Corbet]

Great unit. Built like a Land Cruiser. Available for less than as seen in the link above too...

I got mine for under a hundred at Wal-Mart with the mobil adapter. Just used the link for the specs.

 

[philos1]

OOOHHHH, and you can add a PA to talk trash/ harass your friends (also illegal AFAIK), I don't really know anything else really. I just remember using CBs for the PA and doing "T-Hunts" (hide-and-seek with CBs)...

 

[DirtyLittleSecret]

hand held.

 

[brokenparts]

I still say look into a ham radio.

 

[chicago]

I still say look into a ham radio.

X2!
Its the wave of the future for wheelin in groups...Im gonna do this very soon.
Crystal clear reception, long distance communication and you can hear all the crap theyre talking about you behind your back because youre still using the CB!

It really is a valueable tool when trying to communicate in bigger groups of wheelers, where the CB can be hit or miss from the front of the line to the rear.

Chicago

 

[brokenparts]

a ham radio has significantly more power (depending on the radio anywhere from .5 watts to 1500watts) and makes uses of radio bands (UHF/VHF) that carry further and tend to bounce off canyon walls, trees, etc. They also take advantage of "repeaters" that continue the radio signal to other repeaters (much like what cell phone towers do). Hams also have the ability to send messages over the internet or telephone. CB are very limited on power (watts) and tend only to work for line of site of communications.

I imagine that ham require a license because they are able to reach much further distances and can be modified to do other things (scan police bands). Hams are regulated by the FCC.

 

[cruiser_guy]

I still say look into a ham radio.

X3

Do like I did and skip the whole CB thing and get something decent straight away. A ham radio can be had for a little more than a CB but has FAR BETTER range, can use repeaters to extend that range so much that you could talk all across the state and further!! I have witnessed simplex communications (not using repeaters) of 80 miles using the common VHF bands (HF bands are around the world in the right conditions)!! You'd be lucky with 10 miles on a CB.

Start studying for the ham test and do your communications RIGHT!!

 

[OCHO4I]

Thanks for the responses!!

Inasmuch as I’d like to buy once and avoid having to upgrade later, it seems like ham has all the advantages, especially in areas where line of sight can be “iffy.” Also, I was looking to mount the antenna on my front bumper, so based on what I’ve read in these posts, antenna location is not as much a limiting factor with a ham radio as it is with a CB. Since we’ve all still in the shopping/research stage, I’ll most likely advise the rest of those in our family to spend the time and extra effort to go with a ham radio.

Any recommendations for a ham radio setup? Can I set it up in my Tuffy? (Any photos you all could post of your ham setups would be greatly appreciated! ) Also, what is the licensing procedure like?

 

[brokenparts]

start here...eHam.net Ham Radio Practice Exams start with technician. That's probably all the license you'll need. That's the practice test which is basically exactly the same as the real test that you take in written form. There is a base of about 380 questions.... most are common sense and some stuff you may already know from previous basic electric things you may have done.

The best part is that if you get a question wrong it'll give you the correct answer after you submit it. I just kept going through the test over and over again until I memorized all the answers.

 

[brokenparts]

that link only has a lot of good links on it.

 

[2020 Rocks]

When I was 12 my step dad employed me in helping him erect a 65 foot ham radio tower in our back yard. He was able to bounce radio waves off the moon and talk to people in Australia, I s*** u not. When my brother was in the Peace Corps he took a ham radio and we were able to talk to him all they way over in Benin Africa. He also use to be able to listen in on NASA shuttle flights. Pretty cool.....