CB has the same science behind it! You can make the HAM as difficult as you like or just plug and play. Pre-tuned antennas make it easy! Copy a set up that someone else has and then as you learn more make changes as needed.
To CB or Not CB...
- Thread starter 78Cruzr
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CB has the same science behind it! You can make the HAM as difficult as you like or just plug and play. Pre-tuned antennas make it easy! Copy a set up that someone else has and then as you learn more make changes as needed.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Yep. Radio is radio. CBs are dumbed down so anyone can turn one on and talk. That's why they are limited in range, power. Additionally the available equipment is not super high grade, and receivers are not that sensitive.
The Ham test is pretty easy, but the information does introduce you to a lot of radio concepts that may spark actual interest for it's own sake, so like anything else, it's fun to actually learn something new and useful.
Back in the day when I ran a mag mount ham antenna, I found the Wilson 2m antenna to be perfectly tuned out of the box and provided great performance.
1911
chupacabra
The Hustler mag mount that I provided a link to is in this category also. I have tested several of these for other folks and found them all to be pretty close to spot-on. And the whip is held in the base with a set screw if you want to trim it to perfection.
- Thread starter
- #64
1911, where do you place your antenna?
1911
chupacabra
- Thread starter
- #66
Okay, that makes sense now... Thanks for the pictures!
We in Rising Sun had an antenna building party for a 5/8 wave 2m antenna. It wasn't that difficult to do, but kinda makes my FT-7800 1/2 useless because I can't transmit on 70cm. Oh well, I'll change that one of these days:
Rising Sun Ham Antenna Building Party
FYI here is where I mounted above-mentioned 5/8 wave 2m antenna on my 40, using a slightly modified Firestik mount on my MAF 4+ Plus front bumper: you can see it on my driver's side, with my CB on the passenger side. RicardoJM also has his mounted in a similar location on an OEM-style front bumper. Never had any problems with it, though I've never checked the SWR. Range seems reasonable, but someone will probably tell me that it's not optimal. I would probably agree, but it is what it is for now, and it works. From Porcupine Rim we picked up folks in the Maze on low power simplex, so I'm not going to complain. I can hardly hear it at highway speed, but a lot of that I think is because it's mounted inside my Tuffy, so it's hard for sound to escape. I have plans to fix that some day too.
