Radios every where, How come @slowmover hasn't been telling us a bout his new rig. Or maybe it has brother!
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I found @Slowmovers rig.
- Thread starter billdean
- Start date
slowmover
Active Member
Well, I don’t live in Australia for one. Couldn’t afford that Barrett antenna unless maybe I lived there.
And I’ve avoided any lingering temptation to run what here would be OVERSIZE as to that kind of weight. Specialization is how to make a better living in most fields and it’s also best to get into something like that early in life. I was nearly forty when I started.
As to being on the road: been off a good while getting home & pickup into better shape. Fall weather now arriving means plenty to get done.
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And I’ve avoided any lingering temptation to run what here would be OVERSIZE as to that kind of weight. Specialization is how to make a better living in most fields and it’s also best to get into something like that early in life. I was nearly forty when I started.
As to being on the road: been off a good while getting home & pickup into better shape. Fall weather now arriving means plenty to get done.
.
slowmover
Active Member
He’s got 8-9/antennas on there.
slowmover
Active Member
slowmover
Active Member
This was that circa 2023: In a lowly plastic FTL EVO pulling a reefer.
SIRIO 5000 3/8 on 44” shafts (8’ or so).
PALOMAR CMNF coax feedpoint chokes. DRX mounts.
Some of the RF Bonding.
The passenger seat radio station seen before final condensation (MFJ-945e retired and case reduced to fit only radio & KL7505 to keep about 90W per antenna). Case velcroed to an Apache 3800 case for height, and all of it belted in place on air-ride seat.
Orange thingy around armrest to secure FJ45 mic plug cable from movement while BC45 mic hung from GEARKEEPER hooked to overhead panel. With a snapover to weight it and also to make it easier to grab. Slightly better sound quality and got rid of up/down buttons.
DRX-901 above left shoulder. This was a 20’ audio cable run. Several snapovers on that.
This radio rig marked a decade of hearing and conversing at a distance with men whom those around me in traffic couldn’t hear. (“Hey, hand, who the hell you talking to?”)
— Many tractors and various trailer types with rig upgrades in gear along the way.
The pickup truck rig is on the list to get done, finally.
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SIRIO 5000 3/8 on 44” shafts (8’ or so).
PALOMAR CMNF coax feedpoint chokes. DRX mounts.
Some of the RF Bonding.
The passenger seat radio station seen before final condensation (MFJ-945e retired and case reduced to fit only radio & KL7505 to keep about 90W per antenna). Case velcroed to an Apache 3800 case for height, and all of it belted in place on air-ride seat.
Orange thingy around armrest to secure FJ45 mic plug cable from movement while BC45 mic hung from GEARKEEPER hooked to overhead panel. With a snapover to weight it and also to make it easier to grab. Slightly better sound quality and got rid of up/down buttons.
DRX-901 above left shoulder. This was a 20’ audio cable run. Several snapovers on that.
This radio rig marked a decade of hearing and conversing at a distance with men whom those around me in traffic couldn’t hear. (“Hey, hand, who the hell you talking to?”)
— Many tractors and various trailer types with rig upgrades in gear along the way.
The pickup truck rig is on the list to get done, finally.
.
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slowmover
Active Member
The difficulties of those installations
are what inspired wanting for others:
forums.radioreference.com
The radio system always ready to use is the one that gets used.
The mind/machine interface needs be Intuitive regarding fast & accurate information exchange to stay out of harms way.
Better to have a little fun with other high performance system operators in getting off the Interstate and running the side roads when the above is still occurring
A 1989 system will drive you right up to the scene, too late to make the exit which leads to the route diversion. Waze & GMaps are too late to warn and then create gridlock in diverting traffic.
And 1989 systems miss — from experience— as much as 40-60% of what’s going on otherwise.
Hear, and Get Heard.
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are what inspired wanting for others:
Best Mobile 2025
A general: what should I recommend to friends who want high performance in Citizen Band? Let’s ballpark it at $500 entry. Will last longer than the time they own the automobile. Seatbelts, Concealed Carry, and CITIZEN BAND. This thread aimed at YOU, not the guy who knows even less. However...
The radio system always ready to use is the one that gets used.
The mind/machine interface needs be Intuitive regarding fast & accurate information exchange to stay out of harms way.
Better to have a little fun with other high performance system operators in getting off the Interstate and running the side roads when the above is still occurring
A 1989 system will drive you right up to the scene, too late to make the exit which leads to the route diversion. Waze & GMaps are too late to warn and then create gridlock in diverting traffic.
And 1989 systems miss — from experience— as much as 40-60% of what’s going on otherwise.
Hear, and Get Heard.
.
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slowmover
Active Member
Guess who’s gonna tell you, “CB ain’t that great”. Sittin’ in a bad jam-up several miles short of a terrible wreck . . with no way out.
While watching a few of them dumb truck drivers gettin’ gears across the narrow rural overpass for which had to exit three miles back and are now headed north out of the increasingly bad smoke.
You don’t want to be there when the herd starts to panic.
Experience is thus, leave it not to chance.
Once is all it takes.
From experience I wanted no compromise re antenna with a 62’ combination (big truck is 72’).
(7’ PRESIDENT Texas 1800 on a BREEDLOVE #601)
Stationary, this clears the TT roof by 3.5’
The rest of the install as I get to it.
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slowmover
Active Member
Antenna Choice
I knew I wanted 7’ as the 9’ quarter-wave both too tall and whips around at speed.
forums.radioreference.com
Breedlove #601
breedlovemounts.com
I purchased it with optional larger backing plate (plus foldover).
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I knew I wanted 7’ as the 9’ quarter-wave both too tall and whips around at speed.
Mobile Antenna: PRESIDENT Texas 1800
Went out of production, a run from circa 2014 to maybe 2021. 10-year guarantee. Might be some NOS or used come up for sale. 83.46” tall (6.95-feet). Two versions were extant: EU used SO-239 base (second & last) and American version the standard 3/8-24 stud (first) Whip is two-piece in...
Breedlove #601
Antenna Puck Mount # 601
The Puck is 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. 6061 aluminum .The inside backing plate is 4-1/2 inches in diameter and 3/8 inches thick.Four 5/16th stainless steel boltsSolid 4-1/2 inch neoprene rubber gasket.Delrin insulatorsRing Terminal connection.The pedestal is 1-1/2 inches in...
breedlovemounts.com
I purchased it with optional larger backing plate (plus foldover).
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slowmover
Active Member
Antenna Mount Install
After pilot holes used a GREENLEE Radio Chassis Punch (5/8; #730).
Had a neighbor hold a wrench over roof as I tightened from underneath.
Even with my long arms this was quite a reach to prep and install.
It replaced the WORKMAN Starpad Launcher triple mag I’ve had almost thirty years. Have rebuilt it several times. Have had many antennas on it.
It’ll be around indefinitely. I’ll use @prcguy capacitance increase method. Have supplies, just haven’t yet soldered woven braid to copper sheet/refrigerator magnet sheet combo.
I “know” that roof center is the desirable location for an antenna.
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After pilot holes used a GREENLEE Radio Chassis Punch (5/8; #730).
Had a neighbor hold a wrench over roof as I tightened from underneath.
Even with my long arms this was quite a reach to prep and install.
It replaced the WORKMAN Starpad Launcher triple mag I’ve had almost thirty years. Have rebuilt it several times. Have had many antennas on it.
It’ll be around indefinitely. I’ll use @prcguy capacitance increase method. Have supplies, just haven’t yet soldered woven braid to copper sheet/refrigerator magnet sheet combo.
I “know” that roof center is the desirable location for an antenna.
.
slowmover
Active Member
Stationary Antenna
forums.radioreference.com
Road Trip Antenna
Predator 10k-1-27
Only a little taller. But with center coil the whip flex isn’t to as great a degree as the 1800 seen mounted. Amazingly lightweight construction.
A quarter wave is the standard antenna to reference. But the 7’ 10K is the true highway performance reference. Stays upright and doesn’t exceed 14’ clearance needed on Interstate (except New England).
Built in Fort Worth
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Quarter Wave Antenna (102” Whip)
So who’s still running a mobile 102” whip? Where’s the image and how did you mount it? Remember the bumper-chain mount? Modern version Puck Mount I spent plenty of miles OTR thinking about what I wanted for my personal vehicle (2004 Dodge Cummins crewcab) in regards roof center permanent...
Road Trip Antenna
Predator 10k-1-27
Only a little taller. But with center coil the whip flex isn’t to as great a degree as the 1800 seen mounted. Amazingly lightweight construction.
A quarter wave is the standard antenna to reference. But the 7’ 10K is the true highway performance reference. Stays upright and doesn’t exceed 14’ clearance needed on Interstate (except New England).
Built in Fort Worth
.
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niceguy71
Active Member
love that red pick-up install....
sadly ..in my area that is 99% of the installs... people just won't do anything the right way... and why I recommend the magnetic mount Stryker SR-A10, the Tram 3500, the Wilson 1000... it's just easy to set it in the middle of a metal roof and have a good working CB....
once someone gets fed up with trying to get that foolish 3 foot firestick and bed-rail mount to work, and they find out how easy it is to get a good antenna to work by just buying a $100 dollar Stryker
after that, they seem to get it...
they buy a better radio.... they listen to everyone screaming not to plug it into the cigarette lighter plug... they put the ground wire near the radio into the metal of the cab..... they buy a Palomar coax common mode noise filter... they buy a Kenwood KLF-2 in line electronic noise filter ( the workman Bandit ones are useless)... slowly they spend a little more and make a better system..... and eventually they drill the hole, get a ham license... and enjoy the hobby.
I have been looking at every 18 wheeler I see lately... 80% have an CB antenna... but they are all just junk...... 50% have one, 3 foot fiberglass antenna on the door rearview mirror and the other 50% have some 3 foot metal antenna on the same mirror ( I don't know what that little 3 foot antenna is but they are very common on all the trucks) seems all the trucks are lucky to get 3 or 4 miles with that set up.... but I guess once 18 wheelers became all fiberglass bodies, truck drivers just gave up trying to install a decent CB system..... but how sad... all these trucks on the roads and instead of 6 to 9 miles of good range that could warn people.... they all seem to be ok with maybe 3 miles range.
I agree with SlowMover... minimum range..... ( 3 miles or so).... just isn't enough range to help people with traffic, directions, warnings. and help
slowmover
Active Member
The expectation is that phone GPS will navigate for them. WAZE will tell them about “traffic”. Auto-magic will control the truck.
Get real antsy if Big Brother leaves the room.
Wilson Drive OTR Antenna 698–2700 MHz SMA-Female 311229
Wilson’s Drive OTR trucker antenna and mount for use with vehicle cell phone signal boosters in commercial trucks, RVs, fifth-wheels, trailers, and adventure vans.
powerfulsignal.com
Always impressive to see @slowmover 's installations. 
slowmover
Active Member
Coax
Will be an extra-short run.
Currently RG316
As both big truck and the pickup need feedpoint choke (the previous solution either hard-to-mount or too bulky):
forums.radioreference.com
That project stalled at present.
The coax will likely get changed around several times (several pieces).
This’ll get used in pickup on cab side of headliner; for now.
Decided to crack apart the big truck rig to use this in the pickup.
forums.radioreference.com
.
Will be an extra-short run.
Currently RG316
As both big truck and the pickup need feedpoint choke (the previous solution either hard-to-mount or too bulky):
Antenna Feedpoint Coax Choke
Feedpoint Choke Mobile, it’s a nicely impressive addition to add a feedpoint choke in my experience. Reduction of CMC with another coax choke at transceiver end. I’ve used a somewhat expensive version that’s been difficult to mount on the exterior of the big truck. Time for simpler. Buried...
That project stalled at present.
The coax will likely get changed around several times (several pieces).
This’ll get used in pickup on cab side of headliner; for now.
Decided to crack apart the big truck rig to use this in the pickup.
11M Bandpass Filter
Saw an older thread (closed), so am going to add two-cents as “answer” to question asked of, is it effective? Yes (and the rest of this a very long foot-note of context). My experience is purely as a mobile application in big trucks where RF Noise from on-board sources and the general...
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