Decent cb setup?

[UnidenBC92XLT]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121129670329?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Would this radio and a K-30 be sufficient for my home? They said its 20 watts peaked and tuned. I plan on getting a K-30 antenna for now but a antron 99 later. I know I also need a power supply to. I have never had a cb radio before. Just wanting a simple setup to reach maybe 20-30mile radius. I live in Arkansas so its not flat by no means. Any suggestions or info? Thanks.

 

[JayMojave]

Hello U-BC92XLT The K30 Antenna will only work for local real short range stuff, a few miles or so. You will need a real outside base station antenna, mounted on a pole / mast say 20 to 30 feet in height to make that type of contacts at 20 to 30 miles. The Power supply I always like to have it over rated say good for 10 Amps, with voltage regulation. The Radio at 20 watts out should take 50 to 60 watts input, and that about 5 amps. The extra current rating will allow other radios to be powered up.

Good luck

Jay in the Mojave

 

[UnidenBC92XLT]

Thanks Jay for the response. I know the antron 99 is a good antenna but is there something cheaper thats recommended to get the job done within 30 miles or less? Thanks!

 

[JayMojave]

Hello U-BC92XLT: The A99 is a basic type antenna, simple to assembly and install, but its not cats meow as far as performance. Many swear by it but its the cheapest antenna out there so many have bought them.

Yes a cheaper way out is to use a dipole or ground plane antenna with ground radials. As these antennas will work well and nose ahead of the A99 in performance.

The Dipole antenna is just two lengths of 1/4 wavelength wire about 103 inches approx., connected to the coax shield and center wire. But to get better performance a Balun is used to choke off currents traveling down the coax shield. Coiling up say 10 turns of RG58 coax on a 4 or 5 inch diameter aut to work, just before its connected to the wires..

The Ground Plane Antenna can be made from wire or aluminum tubing. Doesn't need a Balun.

The Inter net is full of descriptions of these antennas.

Good Luck Jay in the Mojave

 

[xxdanielt3]

A99 is a great antenna for the price. You really don't need a TON of power to talk far, its all about antenna height while remaining practical about it. SSB will help you reach further then AM/FM but it will cost more, and someone will have to be on SSB and not FM/AM.

You might not be able to talk over the 1000 watt amps though. But that won't be affected by antenna or radio choice. You get for what you pay for quality wise. I heard that the ground plane kit for the A99 is useless.

 

[sphipps]

Cobra 29 LX Chr Le CB Radio Chrome Peaked Tuned Free UPS Shipping | eBay

Would this radio and a K-30 be sufficient for my home?

That's an excellent price for a new 29LX especially peaked and tuned. I looked up some reviews about that CB shop on the net and they seem to be well respected. Go for it!

Also might as well give them a call and see how much they get for an A-99. If they have them for around $80-$90 shipped... go for that too. Forget the K-30.

A new 10 amp power supply will run you about $100. You can find used ones for half that or less.

Give that shop a call and see if they will do a package deal for everything.

 

[wtp]

?

where did it say 20 watts out
i saw 4 watts (the legal limit) on the ad
even with 20 out it is not 5 times the distance just 5 times the power
and if you want to talk with someone they need the same power
i found if you have a lot of power and interfere with folks then they interfere with you

 

[Phreakin318]

go with the antron99, I got one of these when they were still around $130 and it is still being used and is good for the price, I have it about 30ft up in the air and talk about 30miles+ easily

 

[UnidenBC92XLT]

Thanks for all the replies. I sent a question to the cb shop thats where I got the 20 watts from.

 

[milkman21218]

The K30 is a mobile antenna and it need to be on a vehicle to work. And it will not give any where near the 20 miles that you are looking for. And in the hills lucky to get 1/2 mile. You really need a base antenna up high as possible. The K30 will not even make a good mobile antenna for you.

 

[UnidenBC92XLT]

Ok guys I been out of the loop for a while. But think I've decided to go with this Radio. I've had some local guys tell me the new 29's were junk but really have no idea myself.
Cobra 29 Classic CB Radio Peaked Tuned Free UPS Shipping | eBay
I'm gonna get this A99 Antenna.
Solarcon A-99 17 Omni-Directional Fiberglass CB Base Station Antenna - 2000 Watts (A-99) from Solid Signal
Still looking on ebay for a power supply. Is the Pyramids decent? Look at this one.
Pyramid PS15K 10 Amp Power Supply w Cigarette Lighter Plug | eBay

What Coax do I need to use? The run will be less than 50'

Thanks for the help again!!

 

[UnidenBC92XLT]

I was gonna add all I have now is a Cobra HH28 handheld right now that my uncle gave me and I got a $15 Cobra Telescopic BNC retractable antenna on it and can talks approximately 7 miles decent as long as my laptop isn't plugged in causing a lot of noise. This is from inside the house with a metal roof.

 

[Unit243]

If the house has a metal roof , the roof will act as a good ground plane for a decent mobile antenna mounted on it.

By the time you buy a mobile radio and power supply , wouldnt you be better off buying a base station radio with sideband?

I've found here that Kijiji is a decent site for buying and selling , I have a couple radios for sale on there right now but I'm in Ontario Canada.

 

[UnidenBC92XLT]

If the house has a metal roof , the roof will act as a good ground plane for a decent mobile antenna mounted on it.

By the time you buy a mobile radio and power supply , wouldnt you be better off buying a base station radio with sideband?

I've found here that Kijiji is a decent site for buying and selling , I have a couple radios for sale on there right now but I'm in Ontario Canada.

I'm gonna go with the Antron 99 antenna. I have looked at the base radios but really dont know much about them. I'm just looking at what my uncle has and asking for opinions on here also. Thanks

 

[wtp]

oh

so the guy selling it said it ok,
so they are selling illegal units on the internet....
to someone they don't know...
yes i am skeptical about it because
a friend of mine bought a 100 watt amp from a guy at a truck stop (back of the van)
i told him it is model #100 and came with a 5 amp fuse
peaked and tuned is what the factory does, yes they are close enough and a shop would have more time to be very precise but as i posted earlier more power can mean more problems
if something sounds too good it probably is
i hate to see people taken

 

[Unit243]

A-99 isnt a "bad" antenna , I'de do some research on those things , there are some youtube videos about them and some google searches .
But if I was buying an omni I'de go with a Hygain Penetrator 500 as I know back in the day they were pretty much the best antenna going for an omni directional and they go for 149 U.S.D

As far as a radio goes I would invest in a sideband radio , and a decent power desk mic as your basically limited on what goes on around the am band , if you want some good skip shooting you will like the sideband much better than fighting all the am mumbo jumbo, as most of the guys shooting on am have big amps , I find that sideband carries further , cleaner and better.

 

[Unit243]

Kijiji is better that Ebay, you can buy "local" and go check the equipment out before you buy it.
I know when I'm looking for something I will go to Kijiji Ontario and type in the search bar for what I'm looking for , hit enter and anything related shows up, I've had really good luck buying and selling on there , other than the "tire kickers" and endless emails asking for more pics you wont get ripped off.

 

[UnidenBC92XLT]

A-99 isnt a "bad" antenna , I'de do some research on those things , there are some youtube videos about them and some google searches .
But if I was buying an omni I'de go with a Hygain Penetrator 500 as I know back in the day they were pretty much the best antenna going for an omni directional and they go for 149 U.S.D

As far as a radio goes I would invest in a sideband radio , and a decent power desk mic as your basically limited on what goes on around the am band , if you want some good skip shooting you will like the sideband much better than fighting all the am mumbo jumbo, as most of the guys shooting on am have big amps , I find that sideband carries further , cleaner and better.

Get the Cobra Classic AM/SSB CB Radio at Walmart.com. Save money. Live better.

I guess this is what you mean about side band? It has upper and lower 40 channels to. Basically it has 120 channels instead of just 40. You think this would be a good beginner radio? Do I need the RG8 Coax to run from my radio to the Antron 99? Run will be less than 50'. Thanks!

 

[UnidenBC92XLT]

About how much range should I expect to get out of that radio with the A-99 if I put it on a 20' stick of pipe? that would put the top of the antenna approximately 37' high.

 

[milkman21218]

Get the Cobra Classic AM/SSB CB Radio at Walmart.com. Save money. Live better.

I guess this is what you mean about side band? It has upper and lower 40 channels to. Basically it has 120 channels instead of just 40. You think this would be a good beginner radio? Do I need the RG8 Coax to run from my radio to the Antron 99? Run will be less than 50'. Thanks!

Yes that is a SSB radio. And it should work OK for you. Just get your antenna up as high as you can. The higher the better. That's a good price.