CB Radio in the jumpseat console

[Ravenkeeper]

23 hours ago, HeySkippyDog said:

I haven't tried looking for people on Skip, I understand you want to use the higher channels for that.

In my work commute I drive a fairly long stretch of I-95, and there are a plethora of CBs running on channel 19 for traffic reports or the occasional report of a well-endowed female motorist.

An 18-wheeler hauling 2 backhoes had one of the booms up too high and it struck an overpass, creating a traffic nightmare. I knew about it well before Google maps did from the radio.

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Yeah, east coast is a little more active on the CB that out here. 

[HeySkippyDog]

Here's a little anecdote from yesterday as well as today.

Heading home on I-95 North near the exit for Cape Canaveral was a radar trap. I made a radio call to give a heads up, and it was received well.

This morning, coming up on a big bend headed south near Titusville, it was only me and an 18 wheeler.

"4-wheeler, got your ears on? Around this turn ahead of us are a couple locals. Let's ease off and take the center lane."

About that time, we come around that bend and there's 3 cop cars.

[emoji1690]That $50 investment just paid itself off.

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[TB2015]

Removed the 'not an ashtray' from the lower dash. Put a reinforcing plate (kydex) behind the dash because the plastic is a little flimsy in that section. One screw through an existing hole, one new hole in the dash that won't show if the factory parts are reinstalled. 

 

Doing a sandwich of the dash between the radio bracket and the reinforcing plate let me transfer the load to more solid sections of the dash; no radio bounce on rough roads. I used 3/8" kydex because it is easy to cut and can be custom configured with a heat gun. 

        

Coax runs under the driver's side rocker covers and carpet out through a new watertight fitting below the cab vent. Mag mount CB antenna is on a steel plate sticking out a little and held by the toolbox mounting bolts. Needed the plate because the bedrail cover is a little thick there for the magnet to get a good grab. The angle of the rail cap at the front lets the antenna peek out from behind the cab a little for better SWR. May end up going to a taller stick there. GMRS antenna is about halfway down the bedrail passenger side with the coax in the channel up under the rail.

      

Went with mag mount antennas so if I want to run the pickup through the car wash I can lay the CB antenna down between the window and the tool box, and mag the GMRS antenna inside the bed upside down under the rail.

[WSFD6107]

On ‎4‎/‎13‎/‎2019 at 12:36 PM, TB2015 said:

Removed the 'not an ashtray' from the lower dash. Put a reinforcing plate (kydex) behind the dash because the plastic is a little flimsy in that section. One screw through an existing hole, one new hole in the dash that won't show if the factory parts are reinstalled. 

 

Doing a sandwich of the dash between the radio bracket and the reinforcing plate let me transfer the load to more solid sections of the dash; no radio bounce on rough roads. I used 3/8" kydex because it is easy to cut and can be custom configured with a heat gun. 

        

Coax runs under the driver's side rocker covers and carpet out through a new watertight fitting below the cab vent. Mag mount CB antenna is on a steel plate sticking out a little and held by the toolbox mounting bolts. Needed the plate because the bedrail cover is a little thick there for the magnet to get a good grab. The angle of the rail cap at the front lets the antenna peek out from behind the cab a little for better SWR. May end up going to a taller stick there. GMRS antenna is about halfway down the bedrail passenger side with the coax in the channel up under the rail.

      

Went with mag mount antennas so if I want to run the pickup through the car wash I can lay the CB antenna down between the window and the tool box, and mag the GMRS antenna inside the bed upside down under the rail.

TB2015, 

Any reason you went with the Uniden 980? I'm in the market for a CB, but can't decide between the Uniden 980 and the Cobra 29 LX. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

[TB2015]

55 minutes ago, WSFD6107 said:

Any reason you went with the Uniden 980? I'm in the market for a CB, but can't decide between the Uniden 980 and the Cobra 29 LX. Any input would be appreciated.

Mainly for the SSB operation. Legal 12 watts output. (AM hits right about a metered 5) The Uniden also has a reputation for very little frequency drift compared to the other SSB radios out there. Only complaint is that the factory microphone is a little anemic and you'll probably want to swap it out. 4-6 pin adapter is included in the box.

 

Personal bias, I also prefer the way the controls are set up. Fairly easy to find controls by touch when you need to keep your eyes on the road.