School me on cb radios

Jonesy · 12-25-2012, 11:08 PM

Something I've been needing for a while now. Need some ideas for what to look for or stay away from. The cheapos from radio shack good enough for what we do or what would you suggest?

tjrider · 12-26-2012, 12:39 AM

Cheapos do just fine. Main thing is get a good coax and at least 4 ft antenna. Cobra and midland make I think the 2 best small radios. You don't need a huge one to talk to china, just down the trail. Some guys even run hand held cbs

WrenchMonkey · 12-26-2012, 01:32 AM

I've always heard you should buy the cheapest radio you can find, and the best antenna you can afford.

I put a 4' firestik on mine and fixed the ground (important!) and it made a world of difference, with the same old POS radio...

Robert

comanchedude · 12-26-2012, 11:54 AM

Roberts correct. the Antenna is the most important part of the setup. any radio and good antenna.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WrenchMonkey

I've always heard you should buy the cheapest radio you can find, and the best antenna you can afford.

I put a 4' firestik on mine and fixed the ground (important!) and it made a world of difference, with the same old POS radio...

Robert

Jonesy · 12-26-2012, 03:29 PM

Thanks, looks like I'll just pick up a cheapo. Truck already has a huge whip antenna on it (8ft?). We'll see how well it works.

fastford · 12-26-2012, 03:47 PM

Those big whips don't work very well

Flxratd · 12-26-2012, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy

Thanks, looks like I'll just pick up a cheapo. Truck already has a huge whip antenna on it (8ft?). We'll see how well it works.

not to be a party pooper on the whip antenna but you will also make friends when your bouncing down the trail smackin people with it.... just saying we have experiance with that...(goerge)

Jonesy · 12-26-2012, 04:58 PM

Guess I'll grab a shorter antenna while I'm at it.

Flxratd · 12-26-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy

Guess I'll grab a shorter antenna while I'm at it.

dont get me wrong there are a few people that deserve a good smack every now and then but dang it stings...of course his was also on a spring so it really would get spectaters

PJIBLES · 02-11-2013, 12:40 AM

Just got my Cobra 29 LTD with 4' FireStik antenna and tailgate mount. I'm learning too, but my friend has a tuner so we should get this up and running soon!

Coppertop · 02-11-2013, 02:09 AM

Check out your local truckstop.They are always running a sale on CBs...My Radio is a Midland for 30.00.The antenna 15.00 coaxial 15.00.

Why spend any more....

Jonesy · 02-11-2013, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coppertop

Check out your local truckstop.They are always running a sale on CBs...My Radio is a Midland for 30.00.The antenna 15.00 coaxial 15.00.

Why spend any more....

Duh....why didn't I think of that. There is a Flying J right up the road.

Trigger · 02-12-2013, 09:35 AM

Another thing to keep in mind is your ground plane. The larger and flatter the surface you mount the antenna on, the better. I had a Wilson Lil' Wil magnetic antenna sitting on the roof of my F-250 with a peaked and tuned Cobra 29 and I could pretty much talk to God with it.

began · 02-12-2013, 07:41 PM

there is a CB shop on Cinci Dayton Road. Nice guy has a lot of stuff. new and used radios. just tuned mine for free.

comanchedude · 02-12-2013, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flxratd

dont get me wrong there are a few people that deserve a good smack every now and then but

So true...

timido · 02-12-2013, 09:27 PM

There is a Big CB Ham store in Hamilton RL electronics. http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/

I was looking into an external speaker mounted up by the windshield So I can hear it on the Highway.

comanchedude · 02-12-2013, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timido

There is a Big CB Ham store in Hamilton RL electronics. http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/

I was looking into an external speaker mounted up by the windshield So I can hear it on the Highway.

Have shopped here..cool place prices seem competitive .

comanchedude · 02-12-2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trigger

Another thing to keep in mind is your ground plane. The larger and flatter the surface you mount the antenna on, the better. I had a Wilson Lil' Wil magnetic antenna sitting on the roof of my F-250 with a peaked and tuned Cobra 29 and I could pretty much talk to God with it.

Ok so you trying to tell people GOD has a cb?... I don't know what to say

Tool Man · 02-20-2013, 09:37 AM

My 2cw you must have a matching antenna or it will not work to its full potential you can tune it do it yourself get a meter from radio shack if the antenna is not matched or tuned you will not put out or recive 100 percent if they are correct even a chepo can work good however I perfer to talk to china using 40 watts on the general lee with a 4 foot whip and a 300 watt kicker and a noise cancelling mic. REMEMBER the set up you use could save your butt on a real bad day

GOOD LUCK

fastford · 02-23-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tool Man

My 2cw you must have a matching antenna or it will not work to its full potential you can tune it do it yourself get a meter from radio shack if the antenna is not matched or tuned you will not put out or recive 100 percent if they are correct even a chepo can work good however I perfer to talk to china using 40 watts on the general lee with a 4 foot whip and a 300 watt kicker and a noise cancelling mic. REMEMBER the set up you use could save your butt on a real bad day

GOOD LUCK

That's against FCC rules for a cb toolman. Lol.

Coppertop · 02-24-2013, 12:22 AM

Nothing wrong with a General Lee ,good radio for the price...Plus,you can add a cool police siren,like Tool Man's...Get's everyone's attention on the trail.

Nick

fastford · 02-24-2013, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coppertop

Nothing wrong with a General Lee ,good radio for the price...Plus,you can add a cool police siren,like Tool Man's...Get's everyone's attention on the trail.

Nick

Too nice of a radio for the trails

Coppertop · 02-24-2013, 12:38 PM

True,I'd never spend that much for a trail radio.

Nick

12-25-2012, 11:08 PM	#1
Jonesy Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Piner, KY Posts: 141	School me on cb radios Something I've been needing for a while now. Need some ideas for what to look for or stay away from. The cheapos from radio shack good enough for what we do or what would you suggest? __________________ JT Jones 83 Toyota - beater 87 Toyota Truggy

12-26-2012, 12:39 AM	#2
tjrider Join Date: May 2009 Location: fairfield Posts: 320	Cheapos do just fine. Main thing is get a good coax and at least 4 ft antenna. Cobra and midland make I think the 2 best small radios. You don't need a huge one to talk to china, just down the trail. Some guys even run hand held cbs __________________ If you don't want it broke, don't let me drive it....

12-26-2012, 01:32 AM	#3
WrenchMonkey Mechanical Animal - CORE Member - - Moderator - Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Beechmont Posts: 1,883	I've always heard you should buy the cheapest radio you can find, and the best antenna you can afford. I put a 4' firestik on mine and fixed the ground (important!) and it made a world of difference, with the same old POS radio... Robert __________________ DIRTY DEEDS, DONE DIRT CHEAP Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stranger

12-26-2012, 03:29 PM	#5
Jonesy Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Piner, KY Posts: 141	Thanks, looks like I'll just pick up a cheapo. Truck already has a huge whip antenna on it (8ft?). We'll see how well it works. __________________ JT Jones 83 Toyota - beater 87 Toyota Truggy

12-26-2012, 04:58 PM	#8
Jonesy Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Piner, KY Posts: 141	Guess I'll grab a shorter antenna while I'm at it. __________________ JT Jones 83 Toyota - beater 87 Toyota Truggy

12-26-2012, 03:47 PM	#6
fastford Banned Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hamilton OH Posts: 163 Images: 13	Those big whips don't work very well

02-11-2013, 12:40 AM	#10
PJIBLES Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 2	Just got my Cobra 29 LTD with 4' FireStik antenna and tailgate mount. I'm learning too, but my friend has a tuner so we should get this up and running soon!

02-11-2013, 02:09 AM	#11
Coppertop XJWHEELING Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Colerain Township Posts: 837	Check out your local truckstop.They are always running a sale on CBs...My Radio is a Midland for 30.00.The antenna 15.00 coaxial 15.00. Why spend any more.... __________________ Just a 200 dollar cherokee that wouldn't start .. Ten years later same chrome grille ..

02-12-2013, 09:35 AM	#13
Trigger Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Xenia, OH Posts: 281	Another thing to keep in mind is your ground plane. The larger and flatter the surface you mount the antenna on, the better. I had a Wilson Lil' Wil magnetic antenna sitting on the roof of my F-250 with a peaked and tuned Cobra 29 and I could pretty much talk to God with it.

02-12-2013, 07:41 PM	#14
began Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Springdale OH Posts: 149	there is a CB shop on Cinci Dayton Road. Nice guy has a lot of stuff. new and used radios. just tuned mine for free. __________________ -------- O____O (O\|\|\|\|\|\|\|O) --O---O--

02-12-2013, 09:27 PM	#16
timido Student Driver Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 197	There is a Big CB Ham store in Hamilton RL electronics. http://www.randl.com/shop/catalog/ I was looking into an external speaker mounted up by the windshield So I can hear it on the Highway.

02-20-2013, 09:37 AM	#19
Tool Man - CORE Member - Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ross Ohio Posts: 61	My 2cw you must have a matching antenna or it will not work to its full potential you can tune it do it yourself get a meter from radio shack if the antenna is not matched or tuned you will not put out or recive 100 percent if they are correct even a chepo can work good however I perfer to talk to china using 40 watts on the general lee with a 4 foot whip and a 300 watt kicker and a noise cancelling mic. REMEMBER the set up you use could save your butt on a real bad day GOOD LUCK

02-24-2013, 12:22 AM	#21
Coppertop XJWHEELING Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Colerain Township Posts: 837	Nothing wrong with a General Lee ,good radio for the price...Plus,you can add a cool police siren,like Tool Man's...Get's everyone's attention on the trail. Nick __________________ Just a 200 dollar cherokee that wouldn't start .. Ten years later same chrome grille ..

02-24-2013, 12:38 PM	#23
Coppertop XJWHEELING Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Colerain Township Posts: 837	True,I'd never spend that much for a trail radio. Nick __________________ Just a 200 dollar cherokee that wouldn't start .. Ten years later same chrome grille ..