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Knobbyman
*GenIII*
 
8/08/2002
08:24:20
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 Subject: CB - Radio
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Message:
Does anyone here know anything about CB radios?
I'm looking at a Galaxy DX 959 but I was wondering what antenna to use and what tricks are out there to get the strongest transmit and recieve from it.
Any help would be apriciated.
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
6" Suspension Lift
305x70x16 GoodYear MT/R's
http://www.knobbyman.com
----Speed only breaks it faster----
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
8/08/2002
09:40:07
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Optimal send/receiving is from a 12 ft. steel whip with a ceramic cone base, centrally located on the vehicle. IE- On a toolbox, etc. A shorter steel antena with a base load, such as a Wilson magnetic mount or a K-40, are also very good. Especially when mounted on the cab and centered over the rear seat area (on a quad cab). There are dozens of options. Some better than others. Your choice. Your truck.
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Dodster
Dodge Dakota
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8/08/2002
10:32:45
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
I have a Cobra CB w/ a Wilson 1000 antenna mounted on the roof and that set up works real good. One thing though, when I go off road my antenna takes a beating from low brances. I'm getting a 3' Firestik antenna for the CB in my Jeep mounted back by the tail gate. This way it will be safe from the low branches. My Wilson antenna took a hit off road one day so bad it knocked the connection loose.
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Bryan
Dodge Dakota
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8/08/2002
11:10:51
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Mounting the antenna on the bumper would not allow you the maximum ability to get out or recieve. I have A 10' whip antenna mounted on my back bumper, and I can't get out as far as A friend of mine with A cab mounted antenna.
Just remember the higher you get your antenna, the better your CB will be.
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
8/08/2002
11:41:25
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Along the same lines as what Bryan said, I forgot to mention, you want at least 2/3 of the antenna above the roofline of the vehicle for BEST performance. Less will work, just not as well. Again, the higher you go, the better you are. Along with that comes the problem of something sticking way up in the air.
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Knobbyman
*GenIII*
8/08/2002
11:42:45
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Well my plan is this..
Get a 3' Firestick for around town.. And something longer for trips. My question is do they require a differen't setup or can I just unscrew one antenna and screw in the other one?
Anyway I guess I'll figure it out when I actually install it.
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
6" Suspension Lift
305x70x16 GoodYear MT/R's
http://www.knobbyman.com
----Speed only breaks it faster----
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
8/08/2002
12:23:34
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Yes, you can just unscrew one and srew in the other. Also, make sure that your mount is grounded well.
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Mason
Dodge Dakota
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8/08/2002
13:42:00
|  RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
I go to this bar near my house and one of the bartenders had this really sweet mod on his Toyota. He hooked up an electric Cadillac seat motor and track to his antenna. In the cab he has a switch with a red light and green light. He hits the switch when the light is red and then when the light turns green his antenna is laying down flat for low branches or car washes.
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Bryan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/08/2002
13:43:31
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
If you are going to be switching antennas buy an SWR meter and check this before you use your CB.
1 to 1.5 is where you want to be 1.5 to 2 is ok 2 to 3 will work, but you will be making the CB work hard . Anything over 3 will damage your radio.
Depending on the type of antenna there are diffrent ways to adjust your SWR's.
If I am not mistaken, on the fire sticks, you remove the white tip cover and trim off the wire that is wraped around the stick. ( only trim off SMALL pieces )once you cut off too much you can't put it back.
Some will have an allen head screw to loosen and move the antenna up or down. to adjust the SWR's. Good luck in your ventures !!!
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Knobbyman
*GenIII*
8/08/2002
13:49:06
| RE: CB - Radio
IP: Logged
Message:
Sweet thanks Bryan.. This radio has a built in SWR Scale :-)
Here's the radio.DX-959
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
6" Suspension Lift
305x70x16 GoodYear MT/R's
http://www.knobbyman.com
----Speed only breaks it faster----
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Tinybaum
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/09/2002
17:47:41
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Get the radio cranked up. Increase modulation with a power mic like a D104 handheld. Get a WILSON 1000 atenna. If you need more power then get a little added help. I am running a cobra its been modified with some really nice extra stuff. Any more questions look for me on here. Me and my pops modify radios so ask away and we will see if we can work something out..
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BlackDak02
*GenIII*
8/09/2002
19:48:59
|  RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Helluva nice radio K-man, friend of mine at work has one in his big truck.
2002 Black CC SLT 4x4
4.7L 45RFE 3.55 LSRD
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Knobbyman
*GenIII*
8/09/2002
23:42:21
| RE: CB - Radio
IP: Logged
Message:
I'm running the stock mic right now.. But I just got it installed.
I have a little Wilson 3' antenna installed right now. I don't have a new mic until I really understand how this fancy thing works ;-)
Anyway I'll be getting a much better antenna that I'm going to use when I'm out wheeling or out in the back country but for around town I'll probably keep this little 3' one on. It's just BAIRLY taller then my roof rack and once I get the basket on it'll probably be under it.
Anyway pictures will be up as soon as I get home. Today I've been @ work from 7:00 am - 3:30 pm and then from 9:00 pm - 8:00 am .. So I've been busy. I took a break between 4 & 9 to get some food & the CB installed ;-) picutres will be up soon though.
'01 Graphite QC 4x4
4.7 3.55 LSD
6" Suspension Lift
305x70x16 GoodYear MT/R's
http://www.knobbyman.com
----Speed only breaks it faster----
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Wolf
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/13/2002
12:24:24
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
I know im a bit late in this but im bored at work and reading on the site so i thought id give a little insight into what ive found when i was on my CB quest... as far as i can tell cobra's are the best... but i didnt do much research into the CBs because i got a uniden for 15 bucks... for the antenna i went with duel 3's and it gets way better range then the 6' i had on it... ultimatly if you want a really good antenna get the whips they use on HMVVE's you mount it to your front bumper and bend it back and basicly tie it to your rear bumper... those things are awsome.. there is also a little ball they made in desert storm for better send/res distance... it just basicly pops onto the tip... its a little hard to get ahold of the ball but it is posible... and if you want one Knobby and you cant find one anywhere just get ahold of me i can probably dig one up for you... im not sure but im pretty sure if you get the right regular antenna (with the adjustable top for calabration) i think it will fit over that nub on the top if you leave the plastic cover off it.
Wolf
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Bryan
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2002
12:43:38
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
If you are going to use the style antenna from A HMVVE remember to let the antenna stand straight up when you talk on the CB. If you talk with the antenna bent over it will cause problems and damage your CB.
Just A thought, good luck.
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Wolf
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2002
12:54:00
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
really? cause ive got friends that use it bent all the time... it doesnt get the range that it doesnt when you have it standing up but no damage to the CBs... doesnt really make since that it would damage the CB... either way it sends and resives signals... but im probably wrong like i am frequently... but from what ive seen growing up on a millitary base they work just fine bent...
Wolf
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
8/13/2002
13:06:54
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Lets just say, having a Communcations MOS in the Army, that military radios and CBs's are two very different worlds.
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Clevite 77
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2002
15:20:25
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Sorry, I'm a newbie when it comes to these things, I had one in an old car of mine but just used it to screw around with people once in a while. I'd hate to make my 2002 look like crap with a 8' antenna, do the make any like the ones for the old car phones, that just clip onto your window and are about 1' tops?
btw..no offence anyone, I just like the clean look
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Hawkeye
*GenIII*
8/13/2002
16:01:30
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
There are cb antenna's available that look like cell phone antenna's. About a foot or so high. Their reception/transmission range is very short though.
They just mount on your back window. Radio shack usually has them.
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StinkyFinger
Dodge Dakota
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8/13/2002
16:26:09
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
I have a 2000 CC and run an RCI 2950 keying 1/4 watt and swinging 22 watts into a TNT 600 Plus running off (3) 6 volt batteries in series (creating 18 volts), both my amp and batteries are located in my toolbox in the bed.
I ran welding cable from the battery under the hood to keep them charged up and I grounded the 6 volts to the toolbox and the toolbox to the frame of the truck. I am running a 2 Watt made Curly-Q antenna and swinging approx. 1150 watts.
Only problems I seem to have inside the cab are with my windshield wipers whenever I key up close to a building or trees or something feeding my signal back.
They call me the WorldWide Stinky Finger in my Li'l Mud Duck Pick-Up Truck on the Sandpile!
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Clevite 77
Dodge Dakota
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8/14/2002
00:48:02
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Sorry to keep bringing this up, but I found on e-bay electric radio antennas that, you can hook up to your am/fm radio and your cb, (at least that's how I took it. Is there any special box/adapter where I could plug into my existing antenna wire and have that go out to 2 leads,
1) for the am/fm radio and
2) for th cb?
Check this out
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1372457580
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Bryan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/14/2002
16:53:27
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Wolf,
My parents had A base station years ago, and A tornado came close by and bent the antenna. They didn't fix it and over time they lost use of the channel that they talked on.
I don't know if bending the antenna on your truck would do the same thing, being the diffrence of A base station and A mobile CB.
Give it A try and let me know, or if anyone with more knowledge on this subject please pipe up and clear the air on this one.
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JP
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2002
00:12:20
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
I recently installed a Cobra 75WX ST with a Firestick antenna. Regardless of what CB you use or what antenna you attach to it the combination must be "tuned" with an SWR meter. The reading needs to be less than 3 for channels you use and closer to 2 is better. Antenna location, and configuration is key. SWR above 3 can damage the CB when transmitting and results in poor performance. There is a standard bracket for fender mounting the antenna on our Dakotas and a good access point through the door jam between the hinges ('01 SLT CC). All in all I am very pleased with the installation and the performance. I can post pictures if interested.
JP
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StinkyFinger
Dodge Dakota
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8/15/2002
12:43:34
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
Clevite,
Dont even bother with those electric combo antennas. They are a gimmick and only a gimmick. While they might work for listening to the big rigs driving next to you, they won't be worth a darn when it comes to talking on them. In most cases they aren't even tunable in order to get a proper SWR reading.
Spend the money and get a decent Wilson 1000, they are a good antenna, affordable, tunable and will even handle some extra power if you ever decided to throw an amp inline.
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lkj
Dodge Dakota
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12/14/2002
16:37:37
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
My wilson runs a swr of less then 1.15 all across the band you guys runnin 1.5 or even 2 have a lot of energy being returned to the final amplifier. I would return an antenna that got less then 1.3. Those radios with the built in swr meters have at best marginal swr meters. Have a shop check the antenna tune out then compare it to the radio's swr meter, You will see a differnce and the one in the radio will give fasle readings to the low side. Seen it too many times.
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horntoad11
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
21:29:18
| RE: CB - Radio
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Message:
wow cb radio.....i used to into it a few yrs ago.....havent had the urge to install it in my ramcharger as of yet...or the base's at the house,my radio that would be in my truck....uniden 2510...power handheld mic.....1/4 watt dead key.......with a mod swing around 20-25...on am...ssb a little more....and when i run my box.....a custom built pony express....400 watt am......around 800 on ssb threw a wilson trucker 2000...on top of the roof.. now for the base's............when i had them set up...daily user was a uniden president...peaked and tuned...40 upper and 40 lower....with an old tube box..(d&a)about 100 watts...i have talked all over the world with both these rigs...LOVE TO SHOOT SKIP!!d104 silver eagle on that on....sometimes i would crank up my old yasue ft101e witha turner +3....another excellent skip shooter!!!!!about 100 watts.....
thats enough for now!!!
cb buddys call me milkman...chn 24 am
dx duddys call me 2 divsion charlie michael 1698
reg buddys.....call me mike
thanks
mike
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