What CB radio is good...

[asutherland]

These little Unidens can be found for under $50 new.

 

[BrotherRob]

These little Unidens can be found for under $50 new.

Check here: CB Radios at Uniden

Refirbs available: 510 $30, 520 $50.

 

[CycloSteve]

Anyone running a Midland 1001LWX? I was looking at the Uniden Pro520XL, but this one looks to be about the same size, and has Weather Service, which I like.

and thanks for any advice.

Steve

 

[Tools R Us]

Anyone running a Midland 1001LWX? I was looking at the Uniden Pro520XL, but this one looks to be about the same size, and has Weather Service, which I like.

and thanks for any advice.

Steve

For me it was about size, the Midland is thicker, wouldn't fit where I want it. Also I have had better result/luck with Uniden.

 

[Tools R Us]

After hearing some of the stories guys tell about CB's and their actual abilities in the woods and hills, I personally will start looking at HAM. A little extra money could mean a lot if you're stranded somewhere in the hills.

CB is by design, law, a short range unit, made for communicating with those relatively close around you. If you need long range, shopping for something else would be best.

 

[CycloSteve]

After hearing some of the stories guys tell about CB's and their actual abilities in the woods and hills, I personally will start looking at HAM. A little extra money could mean a lot if you're stranded somewhere in the hills.

Agreed...need to take my Technician license first. At this point just need to have a trail radio so that I don't have to stick my head out the window to holler at the rig in front or behind. Makes life a bit easier as plenty of folks still don't have a HAM. Long-term, yes HAM is in the picture, and CB is just a band-aid in my case.



Steve

 

[BrotherRob]

After hearing some of the stories guys tell about CB's and their actual abilities in the woods and hills, I personally will start looking at HAM. A little extra money could mean a lot if you're stranded somewhere in the hills.

A lot of people have and like HAMs but they do not take the place of a CB. CBs are short range communication and are critical, and often required, on group trail runs.

 

[Ebag333]

A lot of people have and like HAMs but they do not take the place of a CB. CBs are short range communication and are critical, and often required, on group trail runs.

Mostly because they're very cheap, easy to use, and require no license.

 

[BrotherRob]

Mostly because they're very cheap, easy to use, and require no license.

True, but unless everyone has a HAM, you'll still need a CB for short range communication. A HAM in addition to a CB may be a good idea, but one is not a substitute for the other.

 

[yoopercharged]

If you want them to work good, be sure to dial in your SWR, ie tune the antenna.

 

[duggy]

Anyone running a Midland 1001LWX? I was looking at the Uniden Pro520XL, but this one looks to be about the same size, and has Weather Service, which I like.

and thanks for any advice.

Steve

I have the previous model midland which works great, but switches back to channel 9 everytime I turn the truck off which is very annoying. Will be switching to a uniden 510xl next.

 

[CycloSteve]

Ended up with a 520XL as one was for sale cheap locally. Also picked up a Wilson 4' Silver Load antenna. Install went well in the usual FZJ ash-tray location. Dedicated wires directly to the battery. A little trimming, and it is essentially press-fit into the slot. Tuned to 1.5-/1.7 SWR and ready to go, and ordering a Gamiviti mic dash-slot holder for the mic. Was able to pick up signals easily five+ miles away, and over a few hills, so all appears well.



Steve

P.S. The only major RF so far has been from the LED reverse lights, oh my!

P.P.S. Already studying for my Tech Ham license (books, podcasts, study guides), and should take in early December...likely to lead to another radio such as the Yaesu 7800 or 7900 so I can use the remote faceplate option.

 

[Grench]

I use one of these:

Amazon.com: Cobra 75WXST 40-Channel CB Radio: Car Electronics

Only mine is a blue racer version that they don't sell anymore that I got for 1/2 the price. Ditch the little magnetic antenna that it comes with, connect it to a 4' stick and it works pretty darn well.

No Din, etc.. All in the handset design. Shoves nicely out of the way between the passenger seat and the console.

 

[plutonius]

Ended up with a 520XL as one was for sale cheap locally. Also picked up a Wilson 4' Silver Load antenna. Install went well in the usual FZJ ash-tray location. Dedicated wires directly to the battery. A little trimming, and it is essentially press-fit into the slot. Tuned to 1.5-/1.7 SWR and ready to go, and ordering a Gamiviti mic dash-slot holder for the mic. Was able to pick up signals easily five+ miles away, and over a few hills, so all appears well.



Steve

P.S. The only major RF so far has been from the LED reverse lights, oh my!

P.P.S. Already studying for my Tech Ham license (books, podcasts, study guides), and should take in early December...likely to lead to another radio such as the Yaesu 7800 or 7900 so I can use the remote faceplate option.

I love the little Unidens. I have a 520xl that's been sitting in my garage awaiting open surgery...I've been meaning to solder in a pigtail for the antenna to buy some room to push the unit deep into the ashtray slot.

The unit here sits a bit proud of the slot, but not all too bad. Question: what antenna connectors are you using in this install here, 90* adapter, cable straight in, hacked pigtail?

 

[jameslibra]

Mine is a 25 year old York with a 5 foot mag mount antenna. works great, here in the UK with the right atmospherics I have heard conversations in Germany over 800 miles away. It wont transmit more than 5 miles though, but that is more than enough for the trails. It sits in an overhesd unit from TBR (no sunroof)

 

[CycloSteve]

The unit here sits a bit proud of the slot, but not all too bad. Question: what antenna connectors are you using in this install here, 90* adapter, cable straight in, hacked pigtail?

90 degree adapter. Slee has a great write up of the install and how to get it flush...I may do his mod at some point, but so far I am fine with it sticking out a wee bit.

Slee - Uniden CB Install (Toyota 80 Series Land Cruiser)



Steve

 

[plutonius]

Cheers, I figured you were using a 90º. I saw that tech article on Slee's site a while ago, pretty nifty trick indeed...might be worthy of a trip to Radio Shack, but I think I'll throw it in with a 90º first before I hack into it. Thanx!

 

[jvazquez53]

This is what I did too. I used my ash tray, so this was the better option IMO. I'm planning on removing the radio all together and mounting a 2m HAM radio with the CB...

I have this same setup with a 109 inch stainless steel whip.

 

[Dragos80]

Is anyone using sideband on their CB radio? Just trying to figure out if that's a feature I need on my radio.

 

[wearsabrowncoat]

Sometimes the 12w vs 4w is useful and the bands are less congested.

The problem is finding a CB with SSB that is not monstrous. I haven't looked at current models but I settled on a radio shack trc-485. It's a good size and has good features but it's discontinued now.