CB radio recommendations?

[snowmirage]

In prep for TECORE next month and a few other adventures I have planned I figured a CB radio might be a good idea as its something I wont use very often I thought about getting a inexpensive handheld. After doing some reading it seems most if not all the handheld units suffer from poor reception due to the small antenna.

Anyone have a recommendation on an inexpensive CB radio? There are thousands out there I'm sure I guess more any particular features I should look for, not necessarily a specific one.

Any similar advise on an antenna?

Are the cables for the antenna standardized in some way? I think I saw a few build threads that mentioned installing one, I'll do some searching see if I can remember which maybe they'll give me some insight on the install and what else I may need.

[snowmirage]

In retrospect, I think I might look a way to mount the antenna allowing me to easily remove it. As often as I expect I'll use this I'd rather not leave it on my car all the time. One more thing to tempt people to break into my car for

[NC_IslandRunner]

I used a handheld at the last TECORE and it worked fairly well, not the best in a emergency on your own but in a convoy it is fine. I should be upgrading to a larger CB before the end of the month.

[djthumper]

You can get a mag-mount antenna so you just place it up there. The CBs are kind of a personal choice, you can get them for around $60. The most important part is tuning the antenna's SWR for peak performance.

[bartonmd]

My little mount is there all the time (see my build thread or the main CB thread with all the info in it). I just take the antenna off when I'm not using it...

Mike

[SaltWaterDrinker]

Get a Midland 1000Z...small, cheap, and rocked out until I crashed.

Look into Laird whip antennas with lip mounts - they are by far the best CB antennas I have used...they professional, thou - not the stuff you'd buy at your truck stop or something like that.

[v7guy]

I picked up a uniden. From my reading the most important part is the antennae. I picked up a 3ft firestik. Suppose to be well liked. They make a quick disconnect if you want to remove it.
There's a lot of good info on the firestik website.

[jarheadgixxer]

Cobra Ultra 19. Its small, you can run it through the cigarette lighter plug, and magnet mount antenna. Make sure you have someone tune the antenna with a swr meter. I get 8-10 miles on mine. The firestiks are good.

[Conner299]

I love my Cobra 29 ltd with Bluetooth. I love listening to it, more than my normal radio. Nothing like trucker fights over the air waves, and being able to find out what lane to be in, when traffic jams happen. Plus, I just had a trucker ask me how I had lifted my TB, just a few weeks ago. Being able to take a phone call with it is a plus, as well. Definitely go with the Firestick. Plenty of mounting options, on here in the CB section, for the antenna. The 29 LTD can be tweaked and tuned, if that's your thing, with a little research.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Around me the truckers barely even talk on them anymore. They all use cell phones and you just get faroff mumbling and feedback generally. I never turn mine on unless on the trails. Years ago we would only listen to CB, but times have definitely changed.

[SaltWaterDrinker]

I've switched to a 102 inch whip and a Magnum export CB and all I do is shoot skip with people in the South - its quite an experience.

It blows that your area doesn't talk as much anymore, Kyle. I guess its the swarm of the day-cabbers and those who cant afford their own rigs anymore.

[TBYODA]

Around me the truckers barely even talk on them anymore.

I got my dads old cb installed and was thinking the same thing around me, heard a few guys hear and there. I have been wondering if it is really working or not if not for my swr meter I would be thinking no.

[Conner299]

I have been wondering if it is really working or not if not for my swr meter I would be thinking no.

You can always shout out a radio check. I usually do once a week, when there aren't too many semi's close by, just to make sure I'm still getting out. Someday's are definitly quieter than others, but rush hour usually doesn't dissapoint. There's one guy, I pick up, every now and then. He's just across the border, in Indiana, and broadcasts a list of registered sex offenders on a loop. Addresses and all.

[SaltWaterDrinker]

I have been wondering if it is really working or not if not for my swr meter I would be thinking no.

You can always shout out a radio check. I usually do once a week, when there aren't too many semi's close by, just to make sure I'm still getting out. Someday's are definitly quieter than others, but rush hour usually doesn't dissapoint. There's one guy, I pick up, every now and then. He's just across the border, in Indiana, and broadcasts a list of registered sex offenders on a loop. Addresses and all.

If that doesn't scream 'Merica, I don't know what does.

[TBYODA]

You can always shout out a radio check.

done that, nothing. Does anyone think the new cb's would be any better than one built in the 70's or other way round? Will know next week for sure.

[Conner299]

It might not be the radio. Ask Wink about it... He could hear me, on the way up to the mini meet in Florence, but I couldn't hear him. Thought maybe he was shy, or he just didn't like me. Don't know the specifics, but something wrong with one of his connections.