Cb Radio

jmswarts

jmswarts

New Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2005
Location
Fayetteville
Well I was dusting off my Cobra 21 LTX, I have been thinking about installing it to my 00 TJ. After reading a couple threads here and other places, I have a couple questions.
What channel are most people using when they are up wheeling in UE?
Where are most people mounting the antenna at?
I have heard that the firesticks are pretty bad, what is a good antenna?
 
Wilson Superflex is pretty good.

Firestik is not a bad antenna, it's just brittle.
 
Are handhelds OK for use on trails or would a mounted CB be preferable?
 
Handhelds can be useful, but, they can get lost in the cab. They are useful when spotting for someone. I have both and have used both, and many have used my handheld when they didn't have one.
 
Now, this is something I know about. For just regular citizen band it is hard to beat a k40 botton coil. K40 covers a more narrow band than a Wilson. Also k40 are sometimes easier to find. I think radio shack has them. But this is the only thing you should ever buy from radio shack. A steal ant is best for offroading.
 
I have an antennae mount for TJs that mounts behind either of the tail lights. I took it off my '00 Wrangler when I gave it to my wife(she hates CBs). If you are interested and will pay the shipping, I'll give you a good price. I think I paid $16.95 plus shipping for it two years ago. BTW, some drilling is required. If interested, e-mail me at jeepdude@bellsouth.net.
 
Lets talk about CB mods, for those of you that are in the know.
I'm in the dark and don't know anything more than to set the SWR's. (Actualy I forgot how to do that, and don't have the meter anymore either :( )
How do I get the extra miles out of my CB?

If it matters I got a Uniden PC68XL and a 5 foot Fire Stick (mounted on a spring loaded quick disconnect).
 
Setting standing wave is pretty simple with a single band radio. Its when you get into a radio that covers multiple bands that you need a wide band antenna. Standing wave can change dramatically from frequency to frequency. I don't know much about your Uniden. I do know that in the more expensive radios like some of the cobras, all of the galaxies, most of the rci's etc, when you open them up there are a host of adjustable resistors. These are called rheostats and potentiometers (maybe spelled wrong). With the two rheostats that control dead key out put and modulation it is possible to make a cb radio talk farther. DISCLAIMER....... It is illegal for a cb radio to transmit more that 3 or 4 watts on dead key maybe its even 5 watts but either way it is very low. This is why cb radios can't talk more than a few miles. However, it possible to set a cb radio up to modulate up to 15 or 20 watts with a dead key with in legal limits. This can and will greatly increase the range of the device. It is neccessary to have a meter that will show the modulation swing to correctly tweak a radio.
 
I got a question. I'm wanting to be able to swap my CB back and forth from my CJ to me CJ. I was thinking of makeing a little bracket for each that would hold the CB, and just run wires to it that I could plug and unlpug. then mount a suitable anteanna on each Jeep.

Someone mentioned there are mounts that you can buy that do just that. anyone know what they are called? I've tried googgling but can't come up with any.

thanks
b
 
mbalbritton said:
I got a question. I'm wanting to be able to swap my CB back and forth from my CJ to me CJ. I was thinking of makeing a little bracket for each that would hold the CB, and just run wires to it that I could plug and unlpug. then mount a suitable anteanna on each Jeep.

Someone mentioned there are mounts that you can buy that do just that. anyone know what they are called? I've tried googgling but can't come up with any.
Click to expand...

You suck at the Intarweb! :flipoff2:

CB disconnect ... probably found a *LOT* cheaper at a truck stop...
 
What about these sets of 2 walkie talkies for @ $40 or so? Some of them are supposed to have a 5-mile range and 22 frequencies, would those do?

I know, it sounds like I'm trying to get away as cheaply as possible. Well, the simple fact is... I am. But not in anything that could endanger my life or someone else's. And I figure if all else fails I can lay on the horn as long as I'm with a group. But I'd rather be able to tell someone else what happened a little more efficiently than that, thanks. :rolleyes:

Here are some I've been considering:

40-channel handheld

22-channel 7-mi rng

22-channel 2 radio set, 5-mi rng
 
mbalbritton said:
I got a question. I'm wanting to be able to swap my CB back and forth from my CJ to me CJ. I was thinking of makeing a little bracket for each that would hold the CB, and just run wires to it that I could plug and unlpug. then mount a suitable anteanna on each Jeep.

Someone mentioned there are mounts that you can buy that do just that. anyone know what they are called? I've tried googgling but can't come up with any.

thanks
b
Click to expand...
y not buy another CB. they are relativity cheap
 
I have only one CB that i switch from my tow rig to my crawler when i wheel. It has a fixed mount in each vehicle. The mic,speaker,everything is on the handheld unit along with weather radios too. It is made by Cobra and has signal tracking. I will get you a part number tomorrow.
Everyone I wheel with can ALWAYS hear me and vice versa! I did it so i can buy a nicer CB instead of two cruddy ones.
 
greg slade said:
I have only one CB that i switch from my tow rig to my crawler when i wheel. It has a fixed mount in each vehicle. The mic,speaker,everything is on the handheld unit along with weather radios too. It is made by Cobra and has signal tracking. I will get you a part number tomorrow.
Everyone I wheel with can ALWAYS hear me and vice versa! I did it so i can buy a nicer CB instead of two cruddy ones.
Click to expand...


Cobra 75WXST, probably?

Greg
 
holy crap! i agree with rich.

mounting is the key huh?

front bumper is good.

doest look great but rear bumper is way too vulnerable, drilling into the tubb sucks(trust me), and everywhere else is vulnerable.

Front bumper tells you where you are, is less likely to get damaged as a result, and is easier to mount.

I am actually happy that my crap is broken. I don't have have to listen about that guy in the TJ that manages to go every where despite having a jeep and crappy tires. :flipoff2:
 
tech701 said:
DISCLAIMER....... It is illegal for a cb radio to transmit more that 3 or 4 watts on dead key maybe its even 5 watts but either way it is very low. QUOTE]

The max is 4 watts output fer CBs. Dead-key, mod, swing, whatever...4 max.
Correction. It's illegal to modify power output of a CB in any way. Truth is...it's a "type-accepted" appliance (fcc wording) which pretty much makes any transmitting mods illegal.


Matt
Click to expand...
 
its illegal but be real. will anyone know?...or care? hell i would do it if it meant i was no longer left behind by people who didn't stick the whole "stay within sight of the person behind you rule". But maybe i am old fashioned.
 
Ok the whole reason that the fcc determined and made law that a cb radio can transmitt no more than 4 watts is so that these devices will not interfere with other transmission. This is called bleed over. When modulation is tweaked in a cb its unlikely that there will be any beed over to amount to much. This means that more than likely no one will complain and the fcc should leave you alone.{When we refer to tweaking a cb's modulation think of it as adjusting the distortion level of the modulated frequency (this would be your voice) as it rides the carrier freqeuncy (this would be the channel you are on). To modulate much over 20 watts the dead key will have to be turned up (illegal).} The fcc has bigger things to worry about than trying to find and fine a mobile radio that is swinging 20 watts. For example....... the guy that has a base station cb at home with a beam antenna pushing 1200 watts (there are these people), trying to figure out how to tax the cable company for providing dial tone, or deciding what rates clec phone companies should be able to buy dial tone at....... etc. Aaron871, I am a certified electronic technician and I am capable of doing these things but I would prefer not to because of legalities. However, there are people that make a decent living doing just what we are talking about and have been doing it for years and years with no problem from smokey bear. 10-8
 
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