looking to get first cb, what should i know?

goldxlt · Oct 4, 2009

i was thinking of getting a used cb radio for my truck, just somthing to have for an occasional trail ride. i found a "REALISTIC TRC-430,40-CHANNEL 2-WAY CB RADIO" for $50 bucks. seems cheap but i really dont know a whole hell of alot about them. is there any special kind i should be looking for or will any cb work?

tony314 · Oct 4, 2009

I was originally going to buy used yesterday,but started thinking about what if something happens i.e. stops working. So I bought new! Paid $250 for my cobra 25 NW LTD nightwatch,antenna,antenna spring for flex,antenna L shaped mounting bracket and coax cable.

For me, money was an issue, but I figured paying a bit more for a warrenty was the better route! PICK THE RIGHT ANTENNA!

I know where on TRS you can buy a used one with antenna for $65 shipped if that is all you can afford!

goldxlt · Oct 5, 2009

do you mean right anttena for the radio or just a good one? i would have thought that the anttenas are universal.

tony314 · Oct 5, 2009

A good one. The right antenna makes all the difference. You can have the best set up in the world , but with out an good antenna you are hosed. Watch out for the cheap China made ones.

4x4junkie · Oct 5, 2009

Antennas are universal, but get something that's quality (and not too short... Most antennas 5' and longer will work decent, but the best performance is with 96-102" long whips).

Microphones make a huge difference in how good a radio sounds too (more so than the radio itself). The stock mics that come with radios can be hit-or-miss. An aftermarket power mic can improve your transmitted sound quality immensely in a lot of cases.

tony314 · Oct 5, 2009

He's right. If you ever hear someone that is crystal clear on a cb, then odds are he probably is running a PM. I need one myself and a longer antenna.

Scrambler82 · Oct 6, 2009

goldxlt,
Did you buy the CB/antenna system yet ?
Do not buy Rat Shaq...
Their equipment is marginal at best, it works but, I for one do not like their equipment.

Get a small Uniden either a model 510 or 520, brand new from approx $45 to $65.
For antennas go for one that fits where you want it. Mount as high and as centered on the vehicle as possible. Buy a good quality Wilson Antenna, they have anything from magnet mounted antennas to Fiberglass whips and one called the Flex-i-whip 3 feet tall and flexes almost over to itself.
Buy good quality coax, Belden is the main one for HAMs; RG58U will work or get RG8X a little thicker and better coax.

luck,

Clay Lorance · Apr 4, 2010

My personal preference is the Cobra CBs. Most of us around here run the Cobra 29s.

Irokranger93 · Apr 4, 2010

LOOK GOOD http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/Radio Reviews/Texas Ranger 966 & 969WX Review/Texas Ranger TR-966 & TR-969WX Review.htm 222 http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/Cb%20Radio%20Magazine%20Pics/TRC-430.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/&usg=__8LwyZhSfLAXDfaRMPZJcn4d2hlc=&h=84&w=85&sz=18&hl=fr&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=XtO9gJYTnc3pjM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=76&prev=/images?q=TRC-430&um=1&hl=fr&sa=N&rlz=1T4GGLL_frCA368CA368&tbs=isch:1
BETTER ONE Cobra 29 LTD OLD ONE RADIOSHACK RealisticTRC-521

badmts · Sep 17, 2010

NO power mic!!!!

What ever you do DON"T GET A POWER MIC!! Get an ASTATIC NOISE CANCELING mic-all a power mic will do is amplify your poor signal and any wind noise or breathing etc. I used to drive a truck and I have a Ranger 6900 that has a built in echo board -that is what makes the BIG RADIO sound that people like-

strvger · Sep 17, 2010

uh, not everyone likes that "BIG RADIO sound". kinda like the 'roger beep', just another fad as far as i'm concerned. but that's just me.

kolton · Sep 20, 2010

I've got two cobra 29 LTD classics, a navajo/realistic trc-434 base station, a midland weather max mini, and my Galaxy 959. All are awesome radios in my opinion. The 29 is a great mobile, and you can find them for about 25 bucks if you look around. I'd buy the Galaxy again if I had to, my favorite radio so far. I have it mounted from the headliner of my Bii in between the visors. No complaints and it looks great there.

Stay away from the ever so popular firestick antenna, there decent, but your better off with a whip. If you are gonna try and really run some power through your radio or a linear, I'd go with an oil cooled base for the whip. Mine is mounted on the rear passenger corner about 3in forward of the upper mount on the tire carrier.

Whatever you get, go have fun with it and use it. Go to a local lake and back up to the shore with some friends, tune your radio and you'll learn how to "skip". You can talk for miles. Personal best with the setup I have now was just after it snowed in february here in texas, received a base station up in maine, and was talking to people as far as north carolina and new york.

pillen140 · Sep 20, 2010

goldxlt said:
i was thinking of getting a used cb radio for my truck, just somthing to have for an occasional trail ride. i found a "REALISTIC TRC-430,40-CHANNEL 2-WAY CB RADIO" for $50 bucks. seems cheap but i really dont know a whole hell of alot about them. is there any special kind i should be looking for or will any cb work?

trying to get this for oct 3rd? lol. i just put one in my truck and put one in the jeep. $37 at walmart. you can buy a antenna and cable and mount kit for $20-30 at a truck stop. i didnt tune either of mine yet, but i tried it and it worked over a mile.... could work further, but didnt try. of course i up graded and got a firestik and a more insulated cable. pretty easy install, just dont operate the cb without an antenna!

LIMA BEAN · Sep 24, 2010

+ On the Cobra 29. Just remember if you dont get a tunable set you will have to use an SWR meter to tune your antenna. It makes a huge, huge difference. Also make sure your grounds are excellent. :icon_thumby:

Step by step video tuning guide. http://www.rightchannelradios.com/pages/video-guide-step-by-step-tuning-instructions-pv-c0-90.html

looking to get first cb, what should i know?

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