CB radio help

[diddy2003]

I want to get a classic looking CB radio for my 84 CJ7 . I would like to spend less than 100 bucks on it, but I am open to suggestions. I would like to mount it under the dash and this was the antenna I was looking at. I have a YJ tub which is why this looked appealing. Thanks. The radio doesn't need a ton of features, because it will just be used to communicate on the trails, but I don't want a junky one either.

Quadratec Exclusive JW-2SP - CB Antenna Mount Kit for 87-95 Jeep® Wrangler YJ - Quadratec

 

[Sasquach]

I like you thought on min features, I just installed a Cobra Army model and has too many knobs for me. I have a freind who is a ham operator and he says less is better for him with a CB radio as wheeling you can't take your eye's off to play with controls or bad things can happen.
One thing I see with your package kit is the included cable being 48" is not ideal, CB wave length wants to have an 12? foot optimum cable.

 

[IOPort51]

Two points: 1) Holy !!! $104 for an antenna and mount!! try this.

CB Radios & Antennas – Cobra CB Radio, Ham Radio Antennas, Police Scanners

2) is there any body out there that is really into CB?? I have questions too.:dunno:

 

[Sasquach]

I recently had to learn what I could and installed one, pretty nice to have when traveling with others in a group.

 

[tarry99]

CB Is mostly line of site between antenna's unless your skipping radio waves with some extra power. Point is with a 3 ft antenna your reception might be Limited to someone close by.
I know Jeep clubs dislike long antennas but I use twin 102" whips.

 

[tarry99]

Sorry that was a 48" antenna but in either case might be a little short mounted the way they suggested off the rear of the body.

IO:On the CB's ask away...........I'll see if I can help you.

 

[IOPort51]

I would think 1000 yards would be about right for max range.

Is a 3' antenna not tall enough?? What do you do with a 12' coax?? just roll it up in the back?

 

[IOPort51]

OK
recommend equipment, same criteria, inexpensive, compact, simple.

Is there an accepted trail frequency? Is SSB a good thing?

How do you keep engine noise out of the radio?

I have heard that having the radio "tuned" leads to greater range but a distorted Transmission , true of false?

Will transmissions be pretty much "line of sight?

I want to mount antenna on the tire carrier, explain "ground plane"??

start with these pilgrim and I will think of some more.

Sorry that was a 48" antenna but in either case might be a little short mounted the way they suggested off the rear of the body.

IO:On the CB's ask away...........I'll see if I can help you.

 

[tarry99]

IO:

Yep, I like to make a nice open coil as big in diameter as you can and store it under the dash or on mine it was in the kick panels on either side. You want to keep the coax away from any electrical especially hi freq. ignition wires. Elevation at the antenna tip is always good and talking distance will be determined by what obstacles are around you.
11 meter band is pretty much Line of site.

 

[tarry99]

IO,

40 channel, and you get what you pay for. everyone has there own channel they like off road.
AM standard power is 5 watts & SSB is 15 watts........a good CB radio that has been tweaked a little will swing to 8-10 watts and SSB to 20. Power is important!
Engine noise is always a problem, they have noise condensers for the 12v in and you just have to be smart where you run your coax. I like to also bring a separate 12v covered and grounded fused lead directly from the battery.
Ground plane is the ability to use a flat surface to enhance your antennas ability. Example: lets say you were sitting in the middle of a nice flat plateau at 5000 ft. Great ground plane you could talk for hundreds of miles...........cars don't make a good ground planes.

 

[Sasquach]

OK
recommend equipment, same criteria, inexpensive, compact, simple.

Is there an accepted trail frequency? Is SSB a good thing?

How do you keep engine noise out of the radio?

I have heard that having the radio "tuned" leads to greater range but a distorted Transmission , true of false?

Will transmissions be pretty much "line of sight?

I want to mount antenna on the tire carrier, explain "ground plane"??

start with these pilgrim and I will think of some more.

When you "tune" for SWR you are trying to balance out Transmission and reception strength as best I remember it.

I mounted a 48" fire stick on my tire carrier and works fine, ground plane is your vehicle or what the antenna is mounted to and if you have a fiberglass tub for example you would need a no ground plane type antenna that would compensate for such.

 

[Sasquach]

I earlier posted that optimum antenna cable was 12' but memory is calling back and say's 18' is correct length, figure 8 or loop the remainder as Tarry said.

 

[tarry99]

Actually a fiberglass vehicle will hurt your antenna's performance........they like flat things to direct the radio waves.......lets say a top of a metal roof on a vehicle with the tip of the antenna higher than the top is a good ground plane.........rag tops or fiberglass not so good.
And as Sasquach said 18ft of coax is equal to one wave length at 11 meters. But having 18 ft is not always practical so you buy an electrically loaded antenna.......which has some of the length wound in the antenna itself........you will see 1/2 , 5/8 and full wave antenna's 4 sale and I'm sure you can by a 1/2 or 5/8 wave antenna at 48"

IO: you asked about SSB and that is commonly called side band , and what happens is they split each channel frequency for upper & lower side band.........in order to talk your other party must also be on the upper or lower channel...........15 watts there is good.
What ever is practical for your application is OK , but power and height is always better.
Just a sidebar is that a lot of guys off road are using the 2 meter ham bands. 100 watts can talk over and around obstacles , but you need a license.

 

[IOPort51]

So, the tip of the antenna should be taller than the soft top??

A 1/2 wave antenna would require a 9" coax?

 

[IOPort51]

there is something that requires a pro at a radio shop to adjust for max signal strength. I have not even thought about this stuff in 20 years.

When you "tune" for SWR you are trying to balance out Transmission and reception strength as best I remember it.

I mounted a 48" fire stick on my tire carrier and works fine, ground plane is your vehicle or what the antenna is mounted to and if you have a fiberglass tub for example you would need a no ground plane type antenna that would compensate for such.

 

[IOPort51]

comments??


Cobra 19DXIV 40-Channel Compact Mobile CB Radio

Cobra C75WXST All In The Handset CB Radio

 

[tarry99]

IO,

I spent a lot of time in trucks back in the day, so CB's were our main stay. The basics have not changed at all.

Tip: Yes the higher the better, a few inches over the top of any fixed Item is what you want. Think line of site.
1/2 wave length antenna will be loaded to go with the length of coax there selling in the kit...........if you buy the antenna separately they will till you what length coax to use. normally around 12 ft. the difference in electrical length is made up by the antenna.
The SWR "Standing Wave Ratio" is the overall electrical length of your antenna and coax. You adjust your antenna by either an adjustable tip or some antenna's have a rubber cover on the tip and if you pull that off there will be a few inches of copper wire there that can be trimmed.
If you don't have access to the meter then yes you will end up in a CB shop for tuning.

 

[tarry99]

IO:

That little cobra looks nice..........but that is straight AM only no side band.

I have never liked the controls in the handset........to many things to go wrong. Also if you need to replace a mike somewhere.......$20-25 bucks and you plug it in.

Just so you know as price increase's better circuitry goes along with it, noise cancelling , and the ability to listen to weaker signals.

I would start off with something reasonable like choice #1............once you get your feet wet then you'll know if you want to upgrade...........
hell in Texas you should be able to talk a long ways on that flat terrain.

 

[tarry99]

I just looked at that Cobra and it does have a PA function............you'll need an external horn if you want to use that on the trail, also a good external speaker is sometimes needed in the cab as the built in works OK only in nice quite environments.

 

[IOPort51]

Should I have a no ground plane 4' antenna with it mounted on the tire carrier?? the kits come with 18' cables.