CB Radio Questions

Boogity3 · September 10, 2003

I need to get a CB radio but don't know what to get since there are so many out there. Any ideas? Also, where can it be mounted in the cab. It won't fit next to the passenger on the center console b/c of the glove compartment. Will it fit in-dash below the stereo in the storage hole? Let me know if anyone has any info. Thanks. Keep on Truckin'

MarkD · September 10, 2003

Several people have it mounted in the console pocket. How much power do you need?

burgundyz71 · September 11, 2003

Here's mine

THE BIGPUNN · September 11, 2003

ebay has a ton on sale. i got a cheap one that doesnt scan id recommend at least having one that scans. i dont know if there is a certain best brand. the antenna means a lot as far as distance is to concern. i just wanted a basic cheap set up so i got a radio shack brand for $20 and a cell phone antenna look a like antenna that mounts throught the window glass. i installed it myself about an hour and mounted it under the dash to the right of my steering wheel. when i get back from vacation ill post some pics.

bowtiepatroit · September 11, 2003

Ranger Communications is in my opinion the only radios to have, mate it with a Wilson 1000 and you have one of if not the best system. I have the 2940 in my truck with a Wilson 1000 mounted dead center of my cab. I typically can get out a couple 100 miles, and recieve world wide. My best 2 way comm was from Bragg to Frankfort Germany.

Can not go wrong with a Ranger. It has FM, AM, SSB, USB, and has a rang of 26.0MHZ to 32.0 MHZ, they have built in AMPS.

It is a big box and I have mine mounted on the pass. side of the floor console. Only place other than on the dash to mount it.

I bought mine in 1993 for 399$, they are not sold at walmart, you need to go to a decent CB shop of look on-line.

Here is a good starting point.

http://www.rangerusa.com/

kaspar139 · September 11, 2003

Polxc5, that is a good place to mount, but my center console goes right between my bucket seats.

I am also in the market for a CB, but until I find a good place to mount it, I am not buyin anything. The antenna part is easy, its the radio itself where I have the problem of deciding. I need to see some pics and see how others have done it and how clean & easy it was.

Is a Wilson 1000 an antenna? I have seen a lot of Firestiks on ebay. Also, my unlce has a linear amplifier in his truck. Would the rangers that are amplified be sufficient? It sounds like they would. I like what they are offering.

Thanks. (Remember the fallen patriots, as today is Patriot Day)

bowtiepatroit · September 11, 2003

I ran a 2 1500W Amps on mine for a while, it was way too much power and I did not have room for the fans to keep it cool anymore. I ran two ants a 10M and a K40. These are not toys and can be tweaked to pump out about 75W with the built in AMP. Stock 100 mile talk is not uncommon for me and I recive world wide, on a good night I can talk to my partners at Bragg and I am outside Lexington Ky. Not bad for a CB not runnning on the side.

Mounting mine was simple I did not have any options but to put in on the pass side of the floor console or ontop of my dash. I went with the console.

The Wilson 1000 is an Ant and works great for the CB freqs. I just replaced a K40 with a Wilson and am very impressed. 89$ from the Cb shop

Now this is a serious set up and would cost about 350$ or more. But when you need to talk you need to be heard. I got hooked up with this set up while in the Military and all my budies bought the same set up. One time When I was driving to Kentucky my other buddy was driving to New Orleans from Bragg. We talked the entire trip driving different direstions.

Here is a close up of it, as you can see it is large when compared to a matchbox CB.

http://www.rangerusa.com/photosLG/closeup2950dx.jpg

It has FM capabilities and when traveling with somebody that has FM it is nice, you can cut out the AM static crap. It can xmit on one freq and rcv on another, you can run with a buddy and have a semi secure conversation. You can hook up a telegraph pad to it.

kaspar139 · September 11, 2003

BowtiePatriot, is that a ham radio? If it is, did you have to get your HAM license to use it? I actually was thinking of doing that as well, but that isn't a cb if its ham right?

Starting to be too many options!

Thanks.

bowtiepatroit · September 11, 2003

It is a HAM but a simple mod turns it into CB with HAM features. Any good CB tech should know how to do it and you should not charged extra if you buy from them.

Here is a straight CB that do a decent job, and has the ability to be tweaked.

http://www.bills2way.com/equip/dx949.html

burgundyz71 · September 11, 2003

When I had buckets I mounted a larger CB on the drivers side of the console, it was out of the way and worked fine only thing is it's mounted up and down but other than that worked fine.

DejaVu · September 11, 2003

I have a Galaxy 99v and with a Texas Star 667V in my Silverado. Really the only place to mount it is on the side of that console that comes down the entire middle on the passenger side close to the drink holders. I use a Wilson 5000 antenna. You can buy the best "Big Radio" out there but if you do not have a good antenna it is useless (No ears, all mouth....Aligator) And remember the best place is to mount the antenna on the roof and not the bumper since it uses your Frame or Body as a ground plane. If you did mount it on your bumper you would be transmitting directionally instead of omni directionally.

Shotgun · September 11, 2003

Uhhhh...Breaker 1 9 this here's the rubber duck 10-4

MCourson · September 11, 2003

If you dont need AM FM side band and all that good stuff there are some other good setups too. I have a Uniden PC68xl that is tuned to work with my Galaxy 225 linear. I use a Wilson Silverload antenna. I am going to upgrade though soon. Right now I am looking at eiether a Connex 3300HP or if I have the money a Connex 4800 DXL.