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jmstr
Dodge Dakota
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11/22/2003
23:39:15
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 Subject: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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I have a couple of those portable 40 channel CB radios and was thinking of adding an antenna to the truck to plug it into while driving. I realize this is not the best quality unit, but it is more for fun than need. I bought two for camping trips and caravaning with friends, so we can reach each other when there are no cell towers around. However, I realize that the small antenna doesn't work that well.
So I was wondering if those converters that plug into the AM/FM antenna work any better than the 1' flexible mast on the unit, or if there is a significant advantage to an AM/FM/CB antenna that replaces the stock AM/FM unit and doesn't look much different. I just don't want a huge mast sticking up behind me for a CB that is in the truck 3% of the time.
Do any of you have any suggestions or comments?
thanks!
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RadioShack
Dodge Dakota
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11/22/2003
23:41:53
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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stop by radioshack and pick up some nice magnet mount antennas
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slopehead
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
09:35:38
|  RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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i have tried the antennea converters, and AM?FM?CB combo antennea units many years ago and found they limited my broadcast/recieve range to less then a mile which is almost useless considering that the small FRS/GMRS handheld radios will broadcast/recieve 5 miles. Stay away from Radio Shack antenneas as they have a less then decent range. As far as broadcst/recieve distance, a test was carried out a few years ago that rated Wilson antenneas the best with K40 being a very good second choice and all others a distant second. I have experianced broadcasting and recieving more then 12 miles using 2 Wilson 1000 anenneas, barefoot,(no linear amplifier) on pickup trucks way out in the boonies far away from the busy, noisy cb traffic found near and in cities. The Radio Shack antenneas rated in the bottom 15% of the pack. If you live anywhere near a truck stop I would advise going out there and checking to see if there is a CB shop nearby or, at it, as that is where most of them are in my part of the country, or you could look up in the yellow pages under Radios-Citizens Band, or try www.Google.com and search under CB Radio. Also look on here on the Offroad Board as those guys tend to know a bit more then "buy Radio Shack" and there are several strings about the subject.
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b1llyw
GenII
11/23/2003
09:36:07
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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I'd suggest a magnet mount antenna for the CB as well. Those combo antennas don't work that great for am/fm or CB.
Bill White
'95 CC 4x2, SLT - under construction
'03 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 Hemi Off-Road
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Buck
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
10:30:33
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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For what you are going to be using them for the Radio Shack antennas will work great. Yes the Wilson antennas will be alot better but at the range you are going to be talking it wont matter and you wont be able to tell the differance. Radio shack has caught a bad rap mostly because of the store personel and not because of the products. I have a couple of rat shack radios and for the money I spent on them....I could not have bought anything better. I would but a couple of the magmount antennas and an swr meter. Set your swrs and you will be all set.
Buck
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
12:01:11
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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If someone in your pack drops back with a problem, you may want that extra range. Radio shack is ok for some everyday stuff, but when quality really counts you may want to look elsewhere. I regret the purchase of a race scanner I bought from them, all kinds of intermittent problems.
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Buck
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
12:14:29
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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The range he will be talking he will never notice the differance in the antennas. With the skip rolling he will be lucky to talk over 3 miles anyway during the day. Actually Radio shack makes some of the best scanners available. They are also reasonably priced. I own alot of radioshack radios and scanners( Pro-2015, Htx-100, pro-92, Trc-485, Htx-10) All are very good products and I have never had a problem with any of them.
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jmstr
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
12:18:40
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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Thx all the same, I decided to go with the GMRS radios easier to work with
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Buck
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
13:18:23
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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Jmstr...What kind of range are you looking for?? GMRS does not have good range....I know they say 5 miles but you will be lucky to get 2. If it were me I would try MURS. It is more reliable and no license is required. GMRS license is $75
Buck
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slopehead
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
14:26:29
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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hey buck, a bunch of us went salmon fishing in Michigan's lower peninsula last year, we went up in 3 trucks, 2 at the same time and 1 later. two guys was to meet us at a resturant only a little less then a mile away, I stayed at the fishing spot in case he came down there, and the other driver went up to the resturant, remember, less then a mile away, I had a cheapo 10 buck Radio Shack antennea with the swr set properly, yes I have my own meter. The other guy, less then a mile away could not hear me, no skip rolling, in fact I had almost no background noise whatsoever with the squelch turned completely off, at less then a mile, with small hills of only 50 to 75 ft. elivation between us. I upgraded to the wilson 1000 this year and just for sh1ts and grins tried the same thing, he at the resturant and me at the fishing hole. I was sending him a signal that he sais was a 10 and I got him back at a 9+. remember Buck this is only less then a mile over slightly hilly terrain. Sold me on the difference. and like the Kowalski said, if someone gets stuck behind a bus or truck, in less time then you think, the both of you could be out of range in a very few minutes. When it comes to communications, especially when you are in the wilderness, don't skimp, it may cost you your life.
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Buck
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
15:43:54
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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I dont doubt you at all Slopehead and I agree that one shouldnt skimp.....However being a licensed Ham, I do know that something else must have been wrong. Radio shack antennas have been around for years. I do also agree that wilson makes an awsome antenna. BUT for his application,minimal usage, the radio shack antenna will do him just fine if set up properly. I use my radios everyday to communicate with others(both Ham and CB) and if you really want an antenna go to rat shack and get a 102" whip. Thats what I have used for years. I have it mounted on a custom mount on my bed rail behind the drivers door. Best antenna available Bar None
I did not suggest that to jmstr because he said he dosent want a whip sticking up all the time. A mag mount antenna is the most practical for his application and radio shack has good mag mount antennas. I would stay away from Local CB shops....Most are just hack shops that rip you off. If you want a reputable shop try this place www.copper.com
Buck
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jmstr
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
00:10:08
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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Thanks for all the great info from all of you. The unit in question is primarily for 1-3 mile usage, but I would like to be able to tune in stuff from farther away. I am just not concerned with being able to talk to someone 30 miles away. Honestly you all have been talking about a lot of things I have to research to be able to understand. SWR meters? GMRS? I don't have a clue. I just want to be able to use what I have to the best range possible with it. If I wanted to have a LOT of range, I would buy a better unit. So you all know, the unit I have is a Midland 40 channel delux walkie talkie, model 75-784. I don't expect it to be anything other than useful for about 1/2 to 1 mile range, but would love to be able to get signal from 2-5 miles. Is that unrealistic? Thanks for all of the info you have given so far, and please add any other info you think I may be able to use.
thanks!
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slopehead
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
18:54:00
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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Buck I was refering to the short , 18 inch or so centerloaded mag mount that they sell, several other companies sell the same one under a different name but it is the same antenna, never ever would I recommend that particular model to anyone. There was nothing else wrong with the setup, both antennas had been matched, the best I could do on the rattio shack was a miserable 1.8:1 but the good old wilson is from 1.05 to 1.1 across all 40. The antenna in both cases was mag mounted app, by eyeball to center of the truck roof and the wire was not pinched but it was very carefully fed out through the split rear window. AND it was the same CB radio. I have been around these things for many years also and with an old "Big Mamma" mounted low on the trunk have achieved some remarkable barefoot transmission distances in the 30 mhz bandlength. 88's from W8TIV, KFK5395.
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BadMoFo
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
19:06:42
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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I haven't read any of the past posts so I might be repeating something already said. But, with antenas, size matters. The bigger the antena, the better the signal.
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Wal
Dodge Dakota
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11/25/2003
07:02:36
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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avoid the little splitters off the vehicle's AM/FM antenna. Using a little HT is fine, but as many have pointed out, your antenna selection means the most. Rat Shack isn't too bad to be honest, however I don't think their magnets are very strong in my experience. There is a wonderful little antenna named the Mini-Wilson that has a nice powerful magnet and a long whip that's thin and takes a beating from the trees just fine if you go off into the woods or wheeling; it's cheap and effective.
SWR is easy to understand and adjust. It is merely a way of measuring how much power is coming back to the CB from the antenna because the antenna is not properly adjusted. On small loaded antennas like these magnet mounts, it takes a small bit of fiddling with the adjustable height of the whip to get that number as low as possible. Ideally, 1.0 is where you want to be but anything below 1.5 is fine. If there is a high mismatch, meaning a poorly tuned antenna, your CB will cut power output to save itself from damage. YOu also lose range when that happens. A small device called an SWR Bridge or SWR Meter is cheap and easy to use and once it's set, you don't need to go back and reset it. Do a google.com search for tuning SWR or tuning VSWR and I am sure you'll get tons of info :-)
GMRS and FRS are much like CB in that they are additional bands you can use to communicate with others. They use nice clear FM instead of AM like CB. Range is fairly limited and GMRS requires a license. Also the FRS doesn't allow external antennas, so IMHO you are better with your present radio and an external antenna. See if your Midland will let you plug in an external Microphone and 12vdc power. It'll be much handier to just have a mic to use and leave the radio bungied to the seat or something :-)
I hope this is in simple enough terms and helps you understand. It isn't rocket science and you don't need to spend much money :-)
Oh, I almost forgot! Here's where I plug becoming a HAM radio operator :-) If you get interested in all this and think you want to move up to a new level, then when you go into RatShack next time, look through their book selection and read about becoming a HAM.
Good luck!
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Mnhonda05
Dodge Dakota
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11/19/2008
00:26:07
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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i got a 108" steel whip antenna, with a cobra 18 WX ST II no swr set thoe/.... i know could burn out the radio not good, and i have a 5' fiberglass whip neither one got much range on em, less than a mile on highway. it must be the swr way the heck off, the radio says it electronicaly tunes it thoe?? i can listen to the weather just fine thoe nice and clear? if i were to get a new antenna set up i would go with willson or viper antennas hands down
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?????
Dodge Dakota
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11/19/2008
09:47:04
| RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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Why are you talking to a 5 year old post?
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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11/20/2008
07:09:04
|  RE: Anyone know anything about CB radios?
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Sure wish the SysOp of this fine site would
purge the O L D threads.
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