CB Radios for trails

[Hedgehog]

For trail use only. For emergency use, let me rot. I can see where the useless things would be fun if driving in a group where there are others to talk with.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I had the Uniden 510 in my Jeep that was link'd to .
Seemed to pick up allot of RFI. It's now in my RV.
Went to the Cobra 28 and with a line filter it is much 'cleaner.
The '28' also has many fine tune features that are nice.
X2 in that 'Jeep' size speaker.
FWIW: I still run the 102" whip ant. I just have it tied over for trail use.
CB's are so cheap-DON'T buy used unless you can test it. So many are out there with fried TX circuits because of poorly matched antennas.
LG

 

[HackFabrication]

I still run the 102" whip ant. I just have it tied over for trail use.

That's what I will do. I'm going to fashion up a stainless steel clip that fastens up by the mirror.

CB's are so cheap-DON'T buy used unless you can test it. So many are out there with fried TX circuits because of poorly matched antennas.

True, True, True.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

DO NOT directly connect that ant to the mirror clip.
You'll GND the ant. and fry your TX circuit.
You will also want a heavy duty spring for the ant.
Spring-
Hustler HD CB Antenna Spring | Right Channel Radios

Tie down-
http://www.amazon.com/Kalibur-K101X-Antenna-Whip-Down/dp/B00DILKM9M
I break off the plastic piece and use a short section of 550 cord with a loop to hold the antenna's tip.

SWR meter to 'match' your ant to the radio.
https://www.rightchannelradios.com/collections/cb-swr-meter/products/swr-meter-with-jumper-cable
You can 'adjust' the ant. OAL with washers between the ant. and the spring and the spring to the base mount.
LG

 

[Turbogus]

'Black Betty' uses a Uniden 538W Pro (I liked the weather band feature) as they have a larger chassis than the 510 I'm guessing there may be a better transmitter circuit board in there because even before I installed a brick it'd outperform my old 510 and that coupled with the SS whip and spring gets out for a few more miles. I've considered Galaxies and their like but given more than a few years experinece with Uniden, I stuck with them. I've heard great things about the upper end Cobras too but when I find something that works for me, I tend to stick with it.

 

[Peanut Butter]

For trail use only. For emergency use, let me rot. I can see where the useless things would be fun if driving in a group where there are others to talk with.

Not sure I follow you here. I didn't get the impression you were the club trail riding kind of guy. So if you're out hunting and camping in your jeep, what is a CB radio going to do for you. With an amateur radio, I've already shown that there are lots of repeaters in your area that would allow you to talk to someone no matter where you are. Here is a good example of an FM radio with 65 watts compared to an AM radio (CB) with 4 watts: KENWOOD TM-281A | 144 MHz 65 Watt FM Mobile Transceiver - 200 Memories - with Weather Alert And No, we don't want you to rot, so in an emergency, you've always got contact with the real world.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Another alternative for emergencies, is a satellite phone.
They are pricey
LG

 

[IOPort51]

try for something that does not return to Ch9 every time you turn it on and off. This is of course for trails and multi vehicles. Having to return to the "proper" station is a real PITA.

 

[Hedgehog]

Peanut Butter - Why do I want a radio. Simple, for the CJ trail ride this summer. I'll be going alone, will be driving alone, I can and do that already. It might add to the experience if I had a way to communicate with some of the others.

You are generally right though, in all other respects I'm not a CB radio type of guy.

Sorry, I was a bit to honest with the "rot" sentence. You folks that have family that cares about you, you folks that have friends and those that enjoy your existence .... Rake it in, enjoy it while you can, keep them happy and coming back to be in your company. You don't want to wake up each and every day knowing that you'll go to work, satisfy a few people, go home, sleep some and do it all over again .... until you simply stop .... not a big deal, nobody will notice

 

[Dolamite]

.... not a big deal, nobody will notice

I believe your last statement to be false. Seems to me that an awful lot of people would notice. I know I would. From the very day I joined this forum I have kept an eye out for your posts and updates because they add value. I would notice and I would miss them and you.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I believe your last statement to be false. Seems to me that an awful lot of people would notice. I know I would. From the very day I joined this forum I have kept an eye out for your posts and updates because they add value. I would notice and I would miss them and you.

I could not have said it better.

LG

 

[Bill D]

Our local four wheel club here in Colorado Springs requires an FRS radio for vehicle to vehicle to trail guide communications. FRS has a lot of great features - greater range, less traffic, able to set CTCSS tone codes, etc. The RH5R from Rugged Radios is a 5 watt, handheld, dual band (am - fm) with weather band for about $85.

 

[hole]

Our group (5-6) use CB's for trail communication and there's rarely a mile apart from first to last rig, so they work very well. The biggest problem seems to occur when one of the older guys in the group cranks the volume on his XM radio and starts singing to the Doobie Bros and can no longer hear his CB

 

[Bill D]

The biggest problem seems to occur when one of the older guys in the group cranks the volume on his XM radio and starts singing to the Doobie Bros and can no longer hear his CB

Hey! I resemble that remark! :driving:

 

[Hedgehog]

Lumpy & Dolamite - Thanks for that, the post sounds like I was fishing some, not really I was reflecting on how long it would be before anyone local ... family, friends ... would notice if ... well you know where I'm going there. Lets just say that the house would need some airing out before it would sell again.

Radios, I'm so ignorant as to the ranking of the various radio types are concerned about the only thing I know is CB's are fairly short range and not very reliable at a distance. Then there are short wave radios, usually used by professionals. The ever police present brick or the ones we used in the military. I have no idea where the FRS radios fall into the group.

And Hey ... I'm not much for the disco era Doobies Brothers, but some good Johnny Cash or Flat & Scruggs, Beatles, Johnny Horton, Buddy Holly or Chuck Berry ... Lately I've been really into the Cast recording or "Hamilton" ... now that' music.

 

[Peanut Butter]

Our local four wheel club here in Colorado Springs requires an FRS radio for vehicle to vehicle to trail guide communications. FRS has a lot of great features - greater range, less traffic, able to set CTCSS tone codes, etc. The RH5R from Rugged Radios is a 5 watt, handheld, dual band (am - fm) with weather band for about $85.

Need to read the radio primer. FRS is Limited to 1/2 watt. The radio frequency that is on those radios that is 5 watts is GMRS and requires a FCC license. Technically if you use those frequencies (usually channels 15 and above) you are violating the law without a license or transmit more than 1/2 watt on the FRS frequencies. The GMRS license is easy to get. Go on line at FCC.gov and fill out a form, pay $85, and they send you a license good for you entire family. GMRS allows up to 50 watt radios to be used on some of their frequencies. Rugged Radios is greatly miss leading the off-road world by selling radios without providing the correct information on the requirement of a license. It's only a matter of time before the FCC catches up with them and slaps them with $100,000 fines. PS: They usually go after some of the violators too. For unlicensed use can be up to $10,000. Also the radios they sell are nor more rugged than the other radios of the same type that can be bought cheaper. Example, RHR5 can be bought on Amazon for $35.00, but these radios are not FCC type accepted, another violation.

 

[Dolamite]

Johnny Horton

NORTH!...to Alaska. Head North, the rush is on!

 

[elwood blues]

NORTH!...to Alaska. Head North, the rush is on!

Oh my gosh I haven't heard or thought about North to Alaska by Johnny Horton in so long, I remember my Grandparents had a Johnny Horton LP that my Grandma would let me play on her record player when I was a kid.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but it was worth the great memories

 

[hole]

Johnny Horton? Never heard of him, must be old

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Well-I'll be 65 next week and I can't get that song to stop echoing in my head now.
LG