Bought a UNIDEN BEARCAT 980 for "emergency" purposes. Is there a place where I can read about antenna bandwidths and concepts there in? Would like to learn all about different antenna concepts. I'm very new at this. Been in electronics since I was 7 years old. Just retired from working in PLC automation. But the radio world is new to me and I really want to educate myself before I come on here asking specific advice questons.
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Need to educate myself on the world of CB
- Thread starter Zboltman
- Start date
DeeEx
Member
Welcome!
There’s lots of threads of knowledge in this forum.
Slowmover’s posts highlight some of the groundbreaking leaps and bounds in technology and features that have come about recently. This old man has followed his guidance and been very pleased with my purchases— and I thought I was too old to appreciate something anew!
There’s lots of threads of knowledge in this forum.
Slowmover’s posts highlight some of the groundbreaking leaps and bounds in technology and features that have come about recently. This old man has followed his guidance and been very pleased with my purchases— and I thought I was too old to appreciate something anew!
There are also a lot of lies and misconceptions in the CB world, if you listen to any particular CB channel you will hear some of the same BS that has been regurgitated for the last 60yrs. There are plenty of web sites that point out some of the common misconceptions and provide some actual facts. I have not fact checked all of these but here are a few popular sites that might teach you a few things.
Antenna Myths
Antenna Myths
slowmover
Active Member
Welcome.
This subforum is one of several applicable on this site. @prcguy linked several others.
I got serious 6-7/years ago. Then — as I really didn’t find much — decided to outline my experience. Hoping that would be of help to others. My experience is with Mobile, 95% on AM.
Citizen Band isn’t so much the gear as it’s the context in which it’s used. Both gear & context are larger than most imagine.
Linked is a typical thread (no disparagement to participants). The 1970s gave folks an idea about what CB was supposed to be. It was an introduction, not an end in itself.
Today it is possibly more interesting than it’s ever been.
forums.radioreference.com
The links within the link are where I’ve tried to provide context. Gear, Install, Operation.
There is First Class install advice available (k0bg, and here; you’ll find search terms). There is plenty about newest radios. What matters more are the antenna & power systems.
There are the enemies of Operation crowding AM & SSB during this period of solar cycle. The difficulties of a far noisier electronic background than fifty years ago, also.
This is a great period in which to obtain, IMO, revolutionary gear, and to tune, adjust and out-smart these opponents. None of which a man might have done the same way just a few years ago (no Skip, and no NRC radios).
A great radio system can be done, and heavy experience in short order to accompany that of the man who doesnt treat this as passive activity.
While my lense is meant to bring the largest group of users into focus (truck drivers), it isn’t meant to be exclusive.
I hope you enjoy those links included.
One doesn’t run out of new avenues to explore.
.
This subforum is one of several applicable on this site. @prcguy linked several others.
I got serious 6-7/years ago. Then — as I really didn’t find much — decided to outline my experience. Hoping that would be of help to others. My experience is with Mobile, 95% on AM.
Citizen Band isn’t so much the gear as it’s the context in which it’s used. Both gear & context are larger than most imagine.
Linked is a typical thread (no disparagement to participants). The 1970s gave folks an idea about what CB was supposed to be. It was an introduction, not an end in itself.
Today it is possibly more interesting than it’s ever been.
Any CB traffic from Dallas to San Antonio on 35?
I have to run down there in next week and was wondering if it was worth throwing up the antenna to pass the time. Not sure if there's any traffic except for the guys blowing out the channels from 3 states away.
The links within the link are where I’ve tried to provide context. Gear, Install, Operation.
There is First Class install advice available (k0bg, and here; you’ll find search terms). There is plenty about newest radios. What matters more are the antenna & power systems.
There are the enemies of Operation crowding AM & SSB during this period of solar cycle. The difficulties of a far noisier electronic background than fifty years ago, also.
This is a great period in which to obtain, IMO, revolutionary gear, and to tune, adjust and out-smart these opponents. None of which a man might have done the same way just a few years ago (no Skip, and no NRC radios).
A great radio system can be done, and heavy experience in short order to accompany that of the man who doesnt treat this as passive activity.
While my lense is meant to bring the largest group of users into focus (truck drivers), it isn’t meant to be exclusive.
I hope you enjoy those links included.
One doesn’t run out of new avenues to explore.
.
Last edited:
Thank you. I'll take a little time to read thru all of these.
Thank you, I will explore the links and look into the meaning of the acronyms that you used.Welcome.
This subforum is one of several applicable on this site. @prcguy linked several others.
I got serious 6-7/years ago. Then — as I really didn’t find much — decided to outline my experience. Hoping that would be of help to others. My experience is with Mobile, 95% on AM.
Citizen Band isn’t so much the gear as it’s the context in which it’s used. Both gear & context are larger than most imagine.
Linked is a typical thread (no disparagement to participants). The 1970s gave folks an idea about what CB was supposed to be. It was an introduction, not an end in itself.
Today it is possibly more interesting than it’s ever been.
Any CB traffic from Dallas to San Antonio on 35?
I have to run down there in next week and was wondering if it was worth throwing up the antenna to pass the time. Not sure if there's any traffic except for the guys blowing out the channels from 3 states away.
The links within the link are where I’ve tried to provide context. Gear, Install, Operation.
There is First Class install advice available (k0bg, and here; you’ll find search terms). There is plenty about newest radios. What matters more are the antenna & power systems.
There are the enemies of Operation crowding AM & SSB during this period of solar cycle. The difficulties of a far noisier electronic background than fifty years ago, also.
This is a great period in which to obtain, IMO, revolutionary gear, and to tune, adjust and out-smart these opponents. None of which a man might have done the same way just a few years ago (no Skip, and no NRC radios).
A great radio system can be done, and heavy experience in short order to accompany that of the man who doesnt treat this as passive activity.
While my lense is meant to bring the largest group of users into focus (truck drivers), it isn’t meant to be exclusive.
I hope you enjoy those links included.
One doesn’t run out of new avenues to explore.
.
niceguy71
Active Member
people lie about CB's???? next you'll tell me a 2 or 3 foot FireStick won't really go over 10 miles range??
OK folks; all I can say is WOW. I am overwhelmed by the amount of information and technology that goes into have the correct antenna system. Most of what I've read appears to apply to higher end users than what I am planning on. (Although, no matter the user, the right antenna appears to make all the difference.)
I have ordered this antenna to mount to my roof rack:
I have come up with one question: Will mounting the antenna to the metal roof rack give me a ground plane?
And one more question: The antenna comes with a 4' cable; Can I make an extension for it without increasing the impedance beyond what is tolerable, essentially killing the "Q" value?
I have ordered this antenna to mount to my roof rack:
Aries Automotive ARIES 10822 SINGLE 4` FOOT 500 WATT CB RADIO ANTENNA KIT W/MIRROR MOUNT AND COAX (BLACK)
Planning on keeping it as simple as possible.I have come up with one question: Will mounting the antenna to the metal roof rack give me a ground plane?
And one more question: The antenna comes with a 4' cable; Can I make an extension for it without increasing the impedance beyond what is tolerable, essentially killing the "Q" value?
niceguy71
Active Member
I'm not familiar with that antenna... there are some proven winners out there....but I don't know that one..... I think the guys here could have recommended a great antenna that would have done all you wanted and maybe even more...... I'm surprised you bought an antenna before getting recommendations from these guys
KC5AKB
Member
Yes you can use a longer section of coax or buy a pl-258 barrel to mate the coax extension
Roof rack does not provide a very good setup, it places the feed point of the antenna too high above the ground plane and there is a very poor ground connection to the roof sheet metal. Antenna performance and the ability to tune the antenna will be affected. If you were to connect a wide piece of braided ground strap from the antenna mount to the roof it would work much better but then you would be drilling a hole in the roof for a bolt to stick out.
I ordered the antenna before my Wife suggested I go on a forum and learn from you folks. (My Mistake!)
It is easily returnable to slamazon.
This I understand. My car is old and I can deform a roof gutter edge to mount it on? The antenna I ordered is not ideal, would you have any suggestions for me to mount on the roof edge?
I have connectors and some old 75 ohm cable. Should I use a different type of coax?
Yes, use 50 ohm cable and connectors.
It would be best to buy quality cable and connectors from a reputable radio electronics supplier such as DX Engineering or other similar supplier and not a discount retailer that doesn't specialize in radio electronics.
It would be best to buy quality cable and connectors from a reputable radio electronics supplier such as DX Engineering or other similar supplier and not a discount retailer that doesn't specialize in radio electronics.
Good reading material thanks.
Depending on how it's used, 75 ohm is fine.
My HF horizontal dipole is fed with 75 ohm coax.
F connectors can be used on multiple types of 50 ohm coax.
I'm not the one that requires 50 ohms. However, I think its best that you comply with your radio and antenna in what you should be sticking in between the two.
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