Topic: CB radio

[Liljeepz]

Well I got it all hooked up, every thing rdy to go....
I go to turn it on....
Nothing! :shock:
CB is dead! :cry:  
Ebay... here I come! :roll:

[Liljeepz]

Well I installed it.... and it was dead... Today I went out and got a new one... Works like a champ! Now my problem is where do i mount it... Any TJ guys out there have a good spot for it? I ws going to mount it on the right side of the shifter... but I use the back seet a lot for my son's baby seat and when I pull my seat forward it hits the CB and I cant fit the baby seat in the door :\
I tryed puting it on the drivers seat.... but im 6' 5" and my knees hit it all the time... Thought of puting it on my dash... but its ugly and my sirius raido is there any wase!
having  ahard time. If I had roll bars over me, I would mount it up there... but again... not posable :\

[Jeffy]

I kinda like this idea.  Cheap too.

http://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_200.htm

[Liljeepz]

O thats cool! In the morning im going to go out and see if that will work with me in the jeep! if it dose, im so going to get that!
Jeffy, is there any thing about Jeeps you dont know?!!!

Thanks again!

[Jeffy]

Yes, there is but I always keep an eye out for inexpensive cool stuff.

[Guardian7]

After working as an Electronics Tech for years and doing CB Radio work on the side I may be able to answer a few Radio/Antenna questions. Speaking of Radio Shack, at one time they did carry some good after market CB gear but most stores have since dropped them. If you want to get good CB gear cheap try ebay, you need to know what you are looking for though. The Cobra 21, 25, or 29 LTD series & the Cobra 148GTL's if you want single sideband (SSB) these are some of the best CB's ever built for extreme 4X4 abuse and they are the loudest modulation wise you can buy, the modulation limiter can be easily adjusted, then add an Astatic D104M6B power Mic and you will sound like a God! I have found Cobra 25's used on ebay for $15-$30 and the power mics new are about $34. A top loaded antenna is the best bet but a 102 inch whip or center loaded Wilson will work well too. The idea is to not reflect any of your transmit signal back at your antenna which will happen if metal is beside the antenna and is why the top load will be best mounted on the rear of your Jeep. Radio Shack does not even sell the proper length coax cable anymore (9 or 18 feet) to achieve a proper match or low standing wave ratio with your antenna. The full wave length for 11 meter CB (27mhz) is 36' so your coax needs be an increment of the wavelength. Also remember the antenna must be isolated, do not clip a whip to a rain gutter unless the clip is plastic or insulated.

[jetcracker82]

After working as an Electronics Tech for Northrop/Grumman and doing CB Radio work on the side for many years I may be able to answer some Radio/Antenna questions. Speaking of Radio Shack, at one time they did carry some good after market CB gear but have since dropped them. If you want to get good gear cheap try ebay, you need to know what you are looking for though. Cobra 21/25/29 LTD's & 148GTL's if you want single sideband (SSB) are some of the best CB's ever built for extreme 4X4 abuse and they are the loudest you can buy, clip the modulation limiter and add an Astatic D104M6B power Mic you will sound like a God! I have picked Cobra 25's used on ebay for $20-$30 and the power mics new are about $34. A top loaded antenna is the best bet on a Jeep, but a 102 inch whip, or center loaded Wilson will work well too, just dont put a bottom loaded antenna on the back of your Jeep. The idea is to not reflect any of your transmit signal back at your antenna which will happen if metal is beside the antenna and is why the top load will be best mounted on the rear of your Jeep. Radio Shack does not even sell the proper length coax cable anymore (9 or 18 feet) to achieve a good low standing wave ratio with your antenna. The full waveleght for 11 meter is 36' so your coax needs be an increment of the wavelenght. Also remember the antenna must be isolated, do not clip a whip to a rain gutter unless the clip is plastic or insulated.

What is the optimal VSWR for a standard run of the mill CB.  I know the VHF radios I work on in the Corps is 1.1 no more than 4.1 and the HF radios I work on I want to say its like no more than 2.1.  Just a question because I can tune my newly purchased cb myself at my tech shop.

[dexetr30]

Ideally, I always like to get mine around the 1.5:1 area. I loosely tune my antenna and then use the radio itself to do the fine tuning.

Hope this helped...

[Guardian7]

The 1:1 ratio is an optimum match but I have seen antennas which did not move the meter until an amp was kicked on to boost up the power a few hundred watts. Make sure you start with some good RG8 mini coax 100% shield in a 9' or 18' length not RG58 which only has 50% shielding allowing signal to leak out before it reaches the antenna and a good antenna built for the 27mhz wavelength. The radio's transmit section (final transisters) will run much cooler and last longer, of course you will talk further in those tight canyons too. I have seen CB's with short 2' antennas which cant talk around the next corner when in a canyon. Another big problem for off-roading is antenna weight, many heavy fiberglass types don't last long with the constant rocking back and forth, they come loose at the base were they are crimped into the metal or the stud mount gives out, you can use a small spring but this will make the antenna longer effecting the match and causing you to cut more of the antenna when matching it. When you match try for the lowest match on channel 20 then check channels 1 & 40 they should just start to creep up a little at each end of the band. I know Cal4wheel safety says Antennas must not exceed 4'6" (54") but you need the longest antenna you can get away with so I use a 5' and have not had any hassle at events, this helps to get some signal above the vehicle without being reflected back by the vehicles metal parts. Also do not coil any left over cable length as this will act against the RF signal flow and kill your antenna performance. To finish always check the antenna base with an ohm meter when your done, it should be isolated from ground, the mount should be grounded along with the coax outer connector ring & shield but the antenna is connected to the coax center conductor. Do it right the first time!

[dexetr30]

Tune it just perfectly, crank up the heater, turn the ASTATIC D104-M6B all the way up and then back it down (you don't want to over modulate) just a bit. Then... talk to the world. Of course I don't advocate doing this. It's illegal and I would [sarcasm]NEVER[/sarcasm] do anything illegal.

By the way Guardian, I never had the mod limiter clipped on my radios. I don't like the way it sounds. Clipped one once and put it on a scope and the audio was all over the place. And even though i have one, i don't really like the audio on the Astatic d104 mobiles. They sound tinny. Nothing can beat the audio of a good Yaesu or Kenwood. Aaarrrggghhh, I need to get my h.a.m. license.

[jetcracker82]

I got a good antenna and desent RF cable so I'm going to wire it all up this weekend and then bring it in the shop and tune it out as best as I can.  I'm pretty knowledgeable about communication stuff so I'll play it by ear and I'll be talking in no time.  I could even make some kind of field expediant antenna and talk to damn Korea or somewhere.

[Jeffy]

Ugh, I hate those truckers with linear amps.  I had one drive by me and was pushing so much power that it flooded into my FM Modulator for my stereo.   I don't use CB for much since it's not that dependable.  For real communication, I use my 2M setup.  100-200 miles line of sight range with additional coverage when using a repeater.  Takes actual certification to get a license for Amateur Band.  I used to have a 150/6/70 HT but I sold it to a friend.  I've been meaning to pick up another Yeasu HT, maybe a VX-2R.  My old HT was a VX-6R.  You know now with the General License now without the code requirement it might be worth it to get into HF then be able to talk to the world, literally.

[Liljeepz]

Ugh, I hate those truckers with linear amps.  I had one drive by me and was pushing so much power that it flooded into my FM Modulator for my stereo.   I don't use CB for much since it's not that dependable.  For real communication, I use my 2M setup.  100-200 miles line of sight range with additional coverage when using a repeater.  Takes actual certification to get a license for Amateur Band.  I used to have a 150/6/70 HT but I sold it to a friend.  I've been meaning to pick up another Yeasu HT, maybe a VX-2R.  My old HT was a VX-6R.  You know now with the General License now without the code requirement it might be worth it to get into HF then be able to talk to the world, literally.

Isn't all that kind of dieing off more and more as the Internet/IM get more popular? I don't know much about it, but that's what I have heard.

[dexetr30]

Isn't all that kind of dieing off more and more as the Internet/IM get more popular? I don't know much about it, but that's what I have heard.

yup, in the mid to late 90's cb was huge in my area as was 10 meter but now I hardly have anything to listen to. Kinda sucks because I really enjoy short wave and communications as a hobby.

[Jeffy]

Isn't all that kind of dieing off more and more as the Internet/IM get more popular? I don't know much about it, but that's what I have heard.

When the power goes out, there is no Internet.  Amateur Band is still active in the Emergency Communication as well as for regular long distance communication.  Actually, it became a bit more popular in recent years as more offroaders switch to 2M from CB.  It offers everything CB does plus more without having to deal with the limitations of CB.  Still most people don't have 2M so CB is also used.  The Leader and tail gunner can fairly easily stay within contact without any troubles with 2M.  For several miles I'll use as little as .5w to talk to people.  5W for the teens and up.  I've rarely used 25W or even 50W unless they are really far away.  Even over a mountain 10w works fairly well.