I've had both high-end and cheap radios...The high end ones were nice but when there we exposed to the elements (moisture, dust, dirt, etc) when I had the doors off the rig...I found they didn't last long at all and are too expensive to replace on a regular basis.
The best thing I've found to do for myself is get the absolute cheapest NAME BRAND radio, use it until it dies, and replace...repeat.
I had to use the Cobra with the controls in the mic that attaches to a power/antenna connection block so it's easily removed because being a buggy it's fully exposed and you can not buy a waterproof CB radio. The do not exist....or at least I never could find them. The only waterproof transmitting radios I found is UHF for marine use.
I agree, quality of the radio does not matter as mush as the quality of the coaxial cable and the antenna. With that said, I am running just the Cobra 19 from Wallyworld ($40) with Firestick mount, coaxial cable, and Diesel 5ft antenna. Make sure you get it tuned, sometimes you might not have to, but its worth the few extra bucks.
I have a newbie CB user dilemma question that I thought I'd take advice on.
I bought a pristine Cobra 29 ltd classic on ebay but then shortly after had a friend give me a maxon mcb 45w and 4ft firestick for free. I've mounted the antenna and test run the maxon with the cigarette lighter connection it had already been wired to and was mostly disappointed. Engine noise is atrocious but I know most of that is due to not being wired direct to the battery because in acc mode it's quiet. It has weather which is nice I know generally the cobra 29 is better regarded but it's also larger. My question is should I rewire the maxon to the battery and sell the cobra or hook up the cobra and forget weather and live with it's larger footprint?
Pro510XL is good, Firestick or wilson antenna, good coax..
Don't cheap out on the coax or antenna. Don't make sharp bends or coil the coax either.
most of our club members get their equipment from Walcott.. good people, good prices.
I've been running cubs in everything I've ever had and always have looped the xtra coax and ziptied it out of the way somewhere. Is it really not good to do that? Does it make that much of a difference? If so how in the hell do you not have leftover coax somewhere in the rig....and when you do what do you do with it?
I just cut it to length and solder on a PL259. The thing about the lead needing to be 18ft long or wtfever is just an old wives tale. You tune the radio by adjusting the length of the antenna. The length of the lead has nothing to do w/propagation when you just have one antenna. Supposedly, it helps if both legs after the splitter are the same length in a dual-antenna setup, but I've never run one, so never been interested enough to care.
shawn do you know anything about repairing circuit boards and whatnot? ive got a galaxy dx88hl that needs some resistors and capacitors replaced by the power and ground input....dont know how it got fried but thats beside the point. i also want to get it converted to 11 meter.
I just cut it to length and solder on a PL259. The thing about the lead needing to be 18ft long or wtfever is just an old wives tale. You tune the radio by adjusting the length of the antenna. The length of the lead has nothing to do w/propagation when you just have one antenna. Supposedly, it helps if both legs after the splitter are the same length in a dual-antenna setup, but I've never run one, so never been interested enough to care.
