Got a CB!

[killj0y]

I'm new to this but I snagged a working uniden pro 580w for 10 bucks :thumbup: any recommendations on setups? I'm leaning towards a toolbox mount on the antenna.

 

[--weezl--]

i would recommend selling it, cb is pretty useless now a days...

if you insist on keeping it though, 4 foot firestick is the way to go, just make sure to get a spring mount and maybe a quick disconnect

 

[wr250rdr]

It's still pretty used out here in ca on the major freeways,
But x2 on the quick disconnect.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

i would recommend selling it, cb is pretty useless now a days...

if you insist on keeping it though, 4 foot firestick is the way to go, just make sure to get a spring mount and maybe a quick disconnect

Useless? No.

I had one in my Ranger and used it on a regular basis. I'd get out on the highway (mostly traveling to and from college) and just tune that thing to channel 19. There was a period of time where I just left it off, but after getting stuck in major traffic because of a wreck up ahead or the like, I started having it on every time I hit the highway. Truckers tend to pass the word when things like that are up ahead and if you know how to ask, they'll tell you if there is anything like that up ahead as well as how to best get around it.

I put one in my choptop as well. It hasn't really seen highway use but most of the trail rides I've been on used a CB for communication between trucks on the trail.

Granted a CB is not as extensively used as it once was, but it is NOT totally useless.

On my Ranger I ran a fiberglass whip (similar to a Firestick). While I had my cap on, it was attached to the ladder rack centered side-to-side and right behind the cab. Then I tuned it in the best I could. When the cap was off, I either used a magnetic mount on the roof or rigged up a fiberglass to the bed.

Just randomly mounting an antenna can produce less than steller results. The antenna needs a good ground at it's mounting location because it gets it's effective range by bouncing signal off of the metal body of your vehicle (also known as ground plane). The more of your antenna "blocked" by the body, the shorter the range (such as mounting it to the top of the bed right behind the cab, you can essentially turn a 4' antenna into a 2' antenna as far as forward signal). Ideally, you want the antenna placed in the middle of the largest "flat" panel you can if you want max signal in all directions. Place it towards a corner of that for max reach in the longest direction. Longer antennas also help with longer signal distances.

My choptop sports a 102" stainless whip. I did that partly because I don't trust fiberglass to hold up to off-roading and partly because a 102" whip will give me the most reach since it isn't really practical to mount the antenna to the center of the hood (the largest flat piece of steel) since it's a choptop. I mounted it to the spare tire bracket so it's nice and high. I had a 102" steel whip attached to the same spot when I had my 89 Eddie Bauer Bronco II and used it on the highway several times. It worked out quite well.

I actually miss having use of a CB in my F-150. I have one I can put in there, I just haven't got around to installing it and rigging up an antenna yet.

 

[--weezl--]

they are becoming less and less used every day, a big portion of that is due to the fact that in some jurisdictions, they are illegal to be used in a vehicle now (mine specifically) due to distracted driving laws...

though i am exempt from that law

 

[ronclark]

they are becoming less and less used every day, a big portion of that is due to the fact that in some jurisdictions, they are illegal to be used in a vehicle now (mine specifically) due to distracted driving laws...

though i am exempt from that law

Depending on which state your in look at the law there might be a exemption for two way radio like OR state has.
http://home.comcast.net/~wa7abu/wa7abu/hb2377-a.pdf

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

they are becoming less and less used every day, a big portion of that is due to the fact that in some jurisdictions, they are illegal to be used in a vehicle now (mine specifically) due to distracted driving laws...

though i am exempt from that law

That's the problem with socialist countries....

CB stands for Citizen's Band.... which implies we're supposed to be able to use it.

 

[RangerSVT]

they are becoming less and less used every day, a big portion of that is due to the fact that in some jurisdictions, they are illegal to be used in a vehicle now (mine specifically) due to distracted driving laws...

though i am exempt from that law

I wish I lived in a state that had that law. Even though, like you, I am also exempt from this law, I would challenge it and win...

SVT

 

[UpStandingMember]

I've never heard of that law about CB radios. Cell phone yes, but not CB's.

I've seen a CB that had bluetooth built in, but it was only an AM radio. So I've been holding out for a bluetooth rig that has SSB. I think Cobra made that AM radio. My Dad sold tons of radios during the 60's, 70's and 80's. The business is dead now.

When you do install your radio, make sure to check your SWR before you transmit. You probably knew that already.

 

[K.Strong]

That law is more of a canadian thing it seems . i remember back home they had that law but it didnt affect Cbs because they were "attached to the truck"

 

[killj0y]

In any case I have one and wanna rig it up soooo...I'll get use out of it. Besides being stuck somewhere with no cell signal just once will pay for itself besides my brother in law plans on getting one too so that will be cool

 

[--weezl--]

Too much to reply to from my phone, my point about the cb, they don't transmit very far, you're looking at only a couple miles, where as if you step up to a ham radio, which isn't much more money, you can transmit WAY farther, I have a VHF in the truck, I can talk to a buddy that lives about 2 hours away, through a repeater that's in the mountains, the total distance our signal traveled was somewhere like 400 miles... And all of this was using only 10w transmit power, where as my radio is capable of 60...


Sent from somewhere naughty!

 

[shane96ranger]

Is it illegal to talk on your cell phone whilst driving too Weezl? It's only illegal to text here.

They need to add changing the songs on your damn Ipod too. I drive home from work at night, and I can see all kinds of idiots messing with their phones and Ipods.

 

[K.Strong]

Its illegal to talk on the phone. Here(same location as weezl) its a "distracted driving law" i saw a news article about a guy who got a ticket for driving and shaving....

 

[shane96ranger]

Its illegal to talk on the phone. Here(same location as weezl) its a "distracted driving law" i saw a news article about a guy who got a ticket for driving and shaving....

When I used to work mornings, I saw a woman putting on their makeup WHILE talking on the phone, with the visor down for the mirror. I used to see her all the time doing the same thing. Pissed me off.

Sometimes when some douche bag is on their Ipod or phone, I lay on the horn if it's obviously distracting them. I've had them come halfway into my lane at night.