School me on CB's

Fullers Farmalls · Nov 25, 2013

In my line of work we use CB's to communicate with truck drivers, and to let others know about incoming and outgoing traffic on gas well sites. We are looking to upgrade our equipment. Can you guys help me with some tips, or send me somewhere that will help. Currently we have low end equipment due to previous management's frugalness. Would like to learn as much as possible. We need to gain some knowledge and you guys always seem to be a wealth of it. Thanks in advance.

jon f mn · Nov 25, 2013

If your looking for a radio that will go 2-3 miles AND be reliable just get an off the shelf cobra radio. They are not the "cool" radio that everyone wants but they work and last. Mine is 12 years old and works good yet and I have just stock coax and untuned antennas. If you need to go further than that you should get a better brand and have it worked at your closest cb shop. You will get less life but they can reach out 10 or more miles if set up right without boosters. If you do that you need to have the radio peaked and tuned and have the proper coax and antenna and have the antenna tuned as well. To get the max you need to have the proper meters and such so it's best to go to a shop.

88-1175 · Nov 25, 2013

uniden pc76 or cobra 29ltd classics are good and have longevity.ranger or galaxy are-were the cool ones.the 102 whip antenna with 18 ft of good coax is a very good combo.if you need more range they can be peaked a good bit too.personally I use a 250 watt linear in my pickup,and a 100 watt in the ranger.the ranger needed a alternator upgrade tho.i wouldn"t recomened a linear without its own battery and charging source on computerized vehicles.

Super Trucker · Nov 25, 2013

You can have the BEST radio in the world with a crappy ant set up and it won't reach the end of the hood. I will second the cobra 29 CLASSIC or uniden pc 76 as a good mid range radio. DO NOT GET THE SOUND TRACKER type radios. They don't provide a hill of beans and they charge you extra. If it were my choice I would have a cobra 25 or 29 CLASSIC with a Wilson 1000 magnet mount antenna.Proven combo up to 5 mi range depending on surroundings. Money no object Ranger RCI 6300 hands down 600 watts out of the box guaranteed when you talk EVERYBODY listens.

buickanddeere · Nov 25, 2013

As with any other radio system. The antenna will make or break if the system works.
Biggest problem the wrong frequency band, 11 meters was chosen for CB. A 1/4 wave antenna is an awkward 102" long.

Brad Buchanan · Nov 25, 2013

Stop at any truckstop and they will have more information than you ever wanted.

Brad

RalphWD45 · Nov 25, 2013

For my money Jon f and supertrucker gave you the best info so far, Out of all posts, I didn't see anyone mention GROUND PLANE Would someone that knows more than me, explain ground plane? I located my whip antenna wrong, and couldn't reach out very far, until my cb repairman relocated my antenna, and said I had a poor ground plane. It worked great after he was done.

danofarming · Nov 25, 2013

A cobra radio (I prefer the 25)and a Francis fiberglass antenna (any length or color) and 12- 18 feet of good coax (not the small black stuff with crimped on ends) and you will have a reliable setup.

cjackman · Nov 25, 2013

(quoted from post at 01:24:46 11/26/13) In my line of work we use CB's to communicate with truck drivers, and to let others know about incoming and outgoing traffic on gas well sites. We are looking to upgrade our equipment. Can you guys help me with some tips, or send me somewhere that will help. Currently we have low end equipment due to previous management's frugalness. Would like to learn as much as possible. We need to gain some knowledge and you guys always seem to be a wealth of it. Thanks in advance.

Personally, I run my old trusty cobra 29, power mic and a palomar 250 behind it. Wilson 1000 on top. It gets out there.

george md · Nov 25, 2013

You fellows do realize the the fine for those
big linear amps is about 10,000 bucks.
CB is limited to 5 watts power input to the
final amp ,most are 60% and a few are 80%
efficient which gives you 3 to 4 watts output.
I worked in the radio world when the 11 meter
( CB ) band was an amateur band and very little
used because it is a misfit for oscillators and
not very consistent communications.

george

NYCamper62 · Nov 25, 2013

CB back in the 70's - well we didn't have the toys we have today thats for sure. If memory servs one of the best things you can do with what ever antenna & rig you have is to match them. Basicaly it's tuning them for optimal output - efficiency.

T in NE · Nov 25, 2013

What are you putting them in? Rememeber a magnet-mount is worthless in most heavy trucks today (aluminum skin) or on a fiberglass roof (like most tractors today).

I run a mildly tuned Cobra 29 and a well-tuned 29 WX ST NT. The night tracker is just a dimmer but I wouldn't own another radio without it unless it was going on something like a combine or grain cart. Weatherband is nice too, if you don't have another radio with it.

Guy who tuned them told me to run any Wilson, or an open-coil antenna. I use a Lil Wil.

When you tune the antenna, you have to adjust the length. Some guys unwittingly use the "cal" knob on their SWR meter and end up burning up the radio if it's too far out.

Find a CB shop. Walking into a truck stop and asking much about a CB radio will get you the Autozone parts guy deer-in-the-headlights look.

Bob · Nov 25, 2013

Here you go...
Plane ground

School me on CB's

Fullers Farmalls

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jon f mn

Well-known Member

88-1175

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Super Trucker

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buickanddeere

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Brad Buchanan

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RalphWD45

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danofarming

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cjackman

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george md

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NYCamper62

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T in NE

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Bob

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