New to CB and New to the Forum...

[slowmover]

DELRIN is on my list. Needed.

I went to crank down my puck mount and the “rubber” gasket just didn’t have the resistance to crush I wanted to see.

No matter what I change, the hard part (location) will make it worthwhile.

FWIW, I’m using a 1.5” SS hex head screw as “cover” for mine when antennas off. Not really weatherproof, but it keeps the trash out. I guess I should cut a gasket for it. Found it in my pocket one day, don’t remember where/what it was associated.

Big Ears are like watching a garden take shape. Son sent results of grading and topsoil amendment. Now the lawn is taking shape to hold the slope:



The hard part is over (heavy work) once 12-VDC is quiet and first iteration of coax system proves out. Location is easy once chosen, cabling is the bear.

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[niceguy71]

Speaker mounted under seat has its problems...

Namely this:

View attachment 166816

Can barely get my liquor bottle (first aid?) under there, let alone a speaker 🤣

Could mount forward of there, but gonna take a inadvertent beating (kicking) from time to time.

View attachment 166817

Just needed to know what 'er guts looked like...

Could have been a much smaller radio

You remember the first time you took her top off to see what was underneath?


View attachment 166820

Re-rerouted (again) the wiring (there's some serious cable management going on behind that lower cover).

KLF2 in route from eBay going in there too ($34 and free shipping for brand new).

Photos to follow after DC upgrades


View attachment 166818

Lawd, lawd...

Ain't that the purdiest lil hole you seen all week?!

View attachment 166821

Ta-da!

She's got monster ears! Air miles unknown, but I can hear truck stop chatter and I'm a 25 minute drive from there.

It's hard to tell in the photo but the black piece is the FM shark fin antenna on the back of the cab.

The GR45 is back on the camper shell with a Breedlove puck mount.

I don't know that I ever got George at Breedlove to understand what I actually wanted (a custom piece with 4" puck, 6" backing plate, QD on top, SO beneath).

Kept sending me replies with model numbers for stock options that were not those things. Finally pulled the trigger on a 2" puck with SO and QD.

Local machinist making custom plates 5.75" above and below. Ordered a 6" sheet of 1/8" delrin to isolate. Should be bulletproof on top.

This is a rig to go through the woods???? And the CB is to keep you in contact with logging trucks and excavator,,,.. but I take it your going to be removing the antenna everyday to go through the woods??? Then when back on paved roads you'll put it back on???
Hell of a project....
I would have had a magnet mount antenna that could be replaced cheaply on the right side of the hood near the rear of hood so I could keep an eye on it..... If a tree branch hits it on the hood it isn't likely to go anyplace.... And if it did you just get out and stand it back up.
But if you don't mind the keep taking it on and off it is a heck of system... Just a shame you won't have a CB when your at work ... Meaning most of the day

 

[slowmover]

This is a rig to go through the woods???? And the CB is to keep you in contact with logging trucks and excavator,,,.. but I take it your going to be removing the antenna everyday to go through the woods??? Then when back on paved roads you'll put it back on???
Hell of a project....
I would have had a magnet mount antenna that could be replaced cheaply on the right side of the hood near the rear of hood so I could keep an eye on it..... If a tree branch hits it on the hood it isn't likely to go anyplace.... And if it did you just get out and stand it back up.
But if you don't mind the keep taking it on and off it is a heck of system... Just a shame you won't have a CB when your at work ... Meaning most of the day

Yeah, he’s surprised us. Made highway the priority. Mag mount thrown out on hood would work pretty well after fold-over.

Think he’ll buy a Tram 3500, but upgrade the coax to LMR-240UF with a feedpoint ft240-61 choke wrapped with 400 under heat-shrink then apply gold leaf to the base to call it the Plus Model just to mess with you?

Stranger things are already happening.

“Someone” around here showed that the T3500 on a mag-mount is LOUD & PROUD across the woods for a few miles . . with an ancient radio.

Bonding Hood and Fenders to Batt Neg fender point shared with 12-VDC system probably already on the list.

Maybe he’ll paint the base white and print out in red, “TRD Special”, to mess with an even larger crowd. Coax already run with connectors at both ends.

Johnny Reb, Yank.

Always on the Job.



My son or this young man. Family men. Got used to having to think ahead ‘cause the myth of the Corps transcends its current reality. Problems to solve from within while never losing sight of what’s from without.

Their surprises are gratifying to behold.

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[niceguy71]

Yeah, he’s surprised us. Made highway the priority. Mag mount thrown out on hood would work pretty well after fold-over.

Think he’ll buy a Tram 3500, but upgrade the coax to LMR-240UF with a feedpoint ft240-61 choke wrapped with 400 under heat-shrink then apply gold leaf to the base to call it the Plus Model just to mess with you?

Stranger things are already happening.

“Someone” around here showed that the T3500 on a mag-mount is LOUD & PROUD across the woods for a few miles . . with an ancient radio.

Bonding Hood and Fenders to Batt Neg fender point shared with 12-VDC system probably already on the list.

Maybe he’ll paint the base white and print out in red, “TRD Special”, to mess with an even larger crowd. Coax already run with connectors at both ends.

Johnny Reb, Yank.

Always on the Job.

View attachment 166829

My son or this young man. Family men. Got used to having to think ahead ‘cause the myth of the Corps transcends its current reality. Problems to solve from within while never losing sight of what’s from without.

Their surprises are gratifying to behold.

.

Whatever he does, we know it won't be half assed ( is that a Massachusetts saying??) I'm thinking he'll be listening to my handheld CB tests???? I've only gotten 4. 5 miles from the base... But I bet he'll hear them

 

[slowmover]

Whatever he does, we know it won't be half assed ( is that a Massachusetts saying??) I'm thinking he'll be listening to my handheld CB tests???? I've only gotten 4. 5 miles from the base... But I bet he'll hear them

Post in thread 'another range test of the 1989 President Grant and Tram 3500 .... 16.5 miles through a tall forest.'
another range test of the 1989 President Grant and Tram 3500 .... 16.5 miles through a tall forest.

And likewise when Skip rears up.

You’ll ask him across 28-LSB again why he’s running a branch trimmer antenna. Tell him mouth-watering stories of the lobster roll shack on the coast while he’s eating his garlic bologna on Wonder Bread. “Gotta go, just pulled in!”

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[jcrmadden]

Just a shame you won't have a CB when your at work ... Meaning most of the day

I still have the other two mounts wired up with QD studs attached, and the 4.5' Skipshooter lives in the bed of the truck.





When I leave the highway (assuming clearance becomes an issue) the Skipshooter comes out and the GR45 migrates to the bed where it also fits nicely (the top hat slides behind that row of milk crates and the QD rests on my lunch box).

The coax cables for the lower mounts are just under the rear seats and can be swapped out easy-ish... I will have a switch eventually.

Maybe a four way switch so I can throw a Tram in the mix too! 😉

Maybe he’ll paint the base white and print out in red, “TRD Special”, to mess with an even larger crowd. Coax already run with connectors at both ends.

This. I like this. It's on the list! 🤣

 

[slowmover]

Starting a GoFundMe to pass the hat he washes and waxes that bed. Grampa had to squint. (If you apologize, points deduction ensues).

TRD Antenna is funny. Especially if one can follow the rule of:

“I looked in his truck and all I saw was a radio and a mic”



One could backlight the hollow U510 and pass the mic cord thru shell on the way to The Big Iron.

TacomaWorld won’t be the same.

“Wadda ya mean it’s hard. Just throw in a little radio and plop a mag mount on the hood. Yeah, I get seven miles out on the trail. Y’all don’t?”

Use a cracked-face pawnshop U980 and video talking to eastern Mass on LSB-28 without showing the GR45 behind you.

Semper Gumby in civilian life staying in shape:
Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!


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[slowmover]

Starting a GoFundMe to pass the hat he washes and waxes that bed. Grampa had to squint. (If you apologize, points deduction ensues).

TRD Antenna is funny. Especially if one can follow the rule of:

“I looked in his truck and all I saw was a radio and a mic”

View attachment 166844

One could backlight the hollow U510 and pass the mic cord thru shell on the way to The Big Iron.

TacomaWorld won’t be the same.

“Wadda ya mean it’s hard. Just throw in a little radio and plop a mag mount on the hood. Yeah, I get seven miles out on the trail. Y’all don’t?”

Use a cracked-face pawnshop U980 and video talking to eastern Mass on LSB-28 without showing the GR45 behind you.

Semper Gumby in civilian life staying in shape:
Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!


.

A special TRD package from 2006 offered only in Kazakhstan.



A gold-plated CB-3 to get things going?

Or the real thing:

“ . . Corona balls are the little round things on the tips of most mobile antennas. The problem is, most commercial corona balls (typically 1/2 inch in diameter) are too small to be effective, especially if you run high power. What's more, they often have sharp points like protruding set screws which negate their purpose in the first place. They're easy to make.

Naugatuck sells 1 inch aluminum balls predrilled and tapped for a 10x32 set screw. You only need to drill a hole for the hole for the whip about 15° from the predrilled hole. It should be noted that a 1 inch aluminum ball is a good compromise between weight and size, but only if you use a standard (or shortened) 102 inch whip.

Whips like those supplied with some commercial VHF antennas are not strong enough to properly support a one inch ball.”

from: Controlling Static

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[jcrmadden]

Still not finished, but getting closer...

"Custom" Breedlove mount with quick disconnect on 6" plates...



Amphenol 90's, Palomar Engineers CMC, and more bonding...



LMR240 coax (neat and tidy)...



Fused 12 awg from the red top (with a run of 8 awg on standby for a future accessory)...



Kenwood KLF2 and second noise filter as close to the radio as possible (waiting on two more 90's and a better jumper before mounting CMC)...



With the 7' Skipshooter tuned up real nice (SWR of 1.066 @ 27.185)





I'll get a video uploaded and linked one of these days to showcase the audio

 

[niceguy71]

how's it been working so far?... have you tried 37 LSB yet??? tell us some of your contact locations

 

[slowmover]

I’m guessing this radio rig is working pretty well.

— Given that hurricane storm damage was wrought in its working area I think we’d have seen some questions asked if it wasn’t up to snuff.

Here’s hoping all else is well.

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[jcrmadden]

We're rolling lite with a full head of steam...

No significant SSB use, but a decent network of rock haulers, log haulers, and OTR drivers with regular contact on AM19 (familiar call signs along familiar routes).

They run the full spectrum of radio rigs from **** hot to ain't ****. The good'ns I know when I hear 'em. The others I know when I see 'em.

For the most part I'm still just listening for what's ahead and reporting what's behind...

AM22 is where I call home the rest of the time.

From my driveway I can reach more than a dozen base stations within a (known) radius of 28 air-miles. ALL are running older radios with small amplifiers (50 to 200).

Half a dozen of those fellas also run mobile units during their normal business hours (only one is even familiar with NRC radios).

With this local group I'm getting coverage across the majority of six counties (depending on where I am in the area).

In an accidental DX exchange yesterday evening I made contact with a fella from Nova Scotia on AM22 while mobile.

This morning I ended up between two stations who were intentionally reaching for each other and barely connecting. They were both surprised to find that I could relay the other man. When I got home and mapped out their approximate locations via the google machine I was too.

They were roughly east and west of me while I ran a northeast to southwest track. Best I can tell they were 39 miles apart and I was never closer than 11 miles from the nearest man.

These are my best range experiences to date, and I'm not entirely sure how it stacks up in the world of CB, but I'm tickled pink so far.

Every stations comments, some with a tone of surprise, on how clear my audio is. I have you fellas to thank for that.

 

[niceguy71]

We're rolling lite with a full head of steam...

No significant SSB use, but a decent network of rock haulers, log haulers, and OTR drivers with regular contact on AM19 (familiar call signs along familiar routes).

They run the full spectrum of radio rigs from **** hot to ain't ****. The good'ns I know when I hear 'em. The others I know when I see 'em.

For the most part I'm still just listening for what's ahead and reporting what's behind...

AM22 is where I call home the rest of the time.

From my driveway I can reach more than a dozen base stations within a (known) radius of 28 air-miles. ALL are running older radios with small amplifiers (50 to 200).

Half a dozen of those fellas also run mobile units during their normal business hours (only one is even familiar with NRC radios).

With this local group I'm getting coverage across the majority of six counties (depending on where I am in the area).

In an accidental DX exchange yesterday evening I made contact with a fella from Nova Scotia on AM22 while mobile.

This morning I ended up between two stations who were intentionally reaching for each other and barely connecting. They were both surprised to find that I could relay the other man. When I got home and mapped out their approximate locations via the google machine I was too.

They were roughly east and west of me while I ran a northeast to southwest track. Best I can tell they were 39 miles apart and I was never closer than 11 miles from the nearest man.

These are my best range experiences to date, and I'm not entirely sure how it stacks up in the world of CB, but I'm tickled pink so far.

Every stations comments, some with a tone of surprise, on how clear my audio is. I have you fellas to thank for that.

I'm surprised to hear of older radios.... My local channel 27 has the same 7 to 10 guys on nightly... I was surprised most use a 5555 N II ... Seems they keep switching to other stuff every night just to play with different radios... But their main radios are the 5555 or the 6666
If you get some time and find a tall hill ... Play with the 37 LSB more .. it's quite thinking to hit other countries..... Glad it's working well for you.

 

[slowmover]

Hotter’n a $2 pistol!

 

[niceguy71]

If you get some time and find a tall hill ... Play with the 37 LSB more .. it's quite thinking to hit other countries.....

It's quite THRILLING to hit other countries..... Stupid auto spelling thing..... This is why I try not to use my phone as my computer

 

[slowmover]

We're rolling lite with a full head of steam...

No significant SSB use, but a decent network of rock haulers, log haulers, and OTR drivers with regular contact on AM19 (familiar call signs along familiar routes).

They run the full spectrum of radio rigs from **** hot to ain't ****. The good'ns I know when I hear 'em. The others I know when I see 'em.

For the most part I'm still just listening for what's ahead and reporting what's behind...

AM22 is where I call home the rest of the time.

From my driveway I can reach more than a dozen base stations within a (known) radius of 28 air-miles. ALL are running older radios with small amplifiers (50 to 200).

Half a dozen of those fellas also run mobile units during their normal business hours (only one is even familiar with NRC radios).

With this local group I'm getting coverage across the majority of six counties (depending on where I am in the area).

In an accidental DX exchange yesterday evening I made contact with a fella from Nova Scotia on AM22 while mobile.

This morning I ended up between two stations who were intentionally reaching for each other and barely connecting. They were both surprised to find that I could relay the other man. When I got home and mapped out their approximate locations via the google machine I was too.

They were roughly east and west of me while I ran a northeast to southwest track. Best I can tell they were 39 miles apart and I was never closer than 11 miles from the nearest man.

These are my best range experiences to date, and I'm not entirely sure how it stacks up in the world of CB, but I'm tickled pink so far.

Every stations comments, some with a tone of surprise, on how clear my audio is. I have you fellas to thank for that.

From another forum:

“In my experience with my (1989 Brand X recognized performer) and a Wilson 1000 mag mount I was able to talk mobile to mobile on AM mode up to 14 miles and up to 20 on a base. On SSB I was able to talk up to 30 miles mobile to mobile and up to 50 miles mobile to base”.

Not bad, right?

Hear, and Get Heard opens the door to performance previously unimagined. This isn’t adding HP to a car from Detroit. It’s in when I hear someone I know I can reply.

Better installation with given of best antenna design/mount location takes that range above (given NRC + Export wattage) and kicks the can further down the road.

So it’s not about the quantification of distances so much as it’s my ability to be of service as things dictate. If they can’t hear me, at least I’ve tried. And someone else between us may be able to bridge the gap.

Distance measurements are a stand-in. A place holder as conditions dictate.

But it’s sure-as-hell-impressive what 2024 can do compared to the best of 1989.

My strapped to the center console radio impresses me up to about 1200 daily, given propagation problems. Working out balance between a number of controls to achieve sweet spot is where I hear clarity between voices and IN voices.

Then . . I don’t sweat the lack of replies to my road reports. I’m doing as Response-Ability dictates. Doing my part. I know I’m getting out to a fair distance and the reporting of minor Interstate glitches (edge of major metro) isn’t anything to excite much interest. A real problem will bring queries.

Most are enamored of their Big Bro devices. I made fun of “the dumb guys” being led around like sheep the other night when another man fueling at the same station tried to make fun of my T1800 antenna height. I use the radio to avoid the Big Bro “approved” re-route. He hadn’t thought of that.

I’ll be better prepared to answer questions in the future. I’m used to truck drivers, not Home Depot Daddy in his lift kit 4x4. Just because he took the wrong road in the past in spending money to degrade his vehicle doesn’t mean he’s not open to an upgrade in his future.

 

[slowmover]

On a near 100-mile round trip errands run yesterday — and getting those controls to where I wanted them — man, I sure wish I had a @jcrmadden to get some reports on how this thing is getting out.

I’m on the outside edge of the D/FW metro, now, so running inwards to center one appreciates the changes with every few miles in how difficult are conditions for 11M HF for the vast majority of American men as we’ve been crammed into these mega-regions.

I’ll link my thread on this antenna (again?) in case an NOS piece comes up on eBay:

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...

forums.radioreference.com

It’s not a Holy Grail. But it’s a good choice (size, design & brand). I’d use a SIRIO 5000 if starting from scratch for a base load, today.

Whatever is chosen, the money is always on antenna total height + length + mount type & location.

The latest hot radio and antenna-of-the-week MUST have the supporting systems work done to get the results the OP is seeing.

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[slowmover]

“These are my best range experiences to date, and I'm not entirely sure how it stacks up in the world of CB, but I'm tickled pink so far.

Every stations comments, some with a tone of surprise, on how clear my audio is. I have you fellas to thank for that.”

How you liking them Non-Com stripes?

Your mobile is as good as quite a few base stations and better than some. It’s in the installation (as with @niceguy71 base station) more than discrete components.

Most get too aggravated to work the details (I get it, so was I until late 2018). Just a DSP Speaker introduced me, but difficult vehicles were another question.

Against other mobiles its top 1/2-percent (probably an even tighter range) for what’s to be encountered day-to-day on-road.

No one cares about super-duper garage queens.

You’ll have to focus more on using Nano-VNA to quantify and tweak (Smith Chart) for full understanding. This will help in diagnosing where other men seem to fall short.

1). You’ve the great advantage of high-time workday use in every condition.

2). You’ve also the advantage of known terrain (not cross-country; a separate “type” of advantage).

3). You’ve the real advantage of a high proportion of other users expected on-air.

4). As others come to adopt NRC (etc), your region will be a self-reinforcing Mecca of Citizen Band Radio.

— The downside can be that familiarity breeds contempt where long distance trips would have revealed layers easily ignored.

— The other is that bad actors will target this. I expect that you’ll be issuing Fox Hunting Licenses once you work out triangulation tactics with others.



The malefactors will learn it’s bad mojo to mess with spiritual ancestry.

This will jump the streams and mountain valleys such that CITIZENS aren’t to be messed with as more and more men (and families) stake claim to birthright.

Freedom of Speech isn’t a liberty granted by others.



.

 

[slowmover]

The Second Role of Mobile

From another forum:

Back on the radio here in Western, NC...after hurricane Helene.

Helene was dumping rain on my area three days before the storm actually hit. Then the winds came, and more rain. On the day Helene hit here in Western, NC, it was around 6:00 AM morning, and did not subside to around 5:00 PM that evening. Winds were gusting to about 70, and staying steady...

www.worldwidedx.com

Storms, fires and worse can take down base stations. Thus mobile has a dual role of becoming the GenSet Radio in emergencies.

1). What “base station antenna” could we deploy in such instances?

2). What handheld radios (Randy, etc) can be leveraged for where vehicles can’t go that our mobile is the coordinating base station?

3). Gonna “wish” you’d cleared out the interfering cockroaches last month? As they ain’t gonna cease cause some rain fell . . .

There’s plenty to think upon.
And to find motor-vation.

Still love my TurboDiesel Cummins after seventeen years. Same thrill as when new. Never been a toy. When I key it on, the business day starts. The business of my family. She’s a steed can disappear the miles at an easy all-day lope.

There ain’t nothing that’s, “too far”.

An NRC-rig is compass course correction.

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[jcrmadden]

The wife and I made a longer than usual convoy trip last week (~600 miles), and the CB utility was on full display.

Relaying boring information about lane changes or upcoming turns was the bulk of if (or the occasional call for a pit-stop).

It was handy enough, but she's still running the Uniden 510xl with the Lil' Wil, and her SNR is atrocious.

She's not hearing a fraction of what I am on a good day, but on our way back home Skip was rolling hard and she was squelched really high.

Not a huge issue for us since I'm usually no more than a mile ahead of her, but obviously not ideal.

I answered a few radio checks along the way, listened to drivers fussing about the morons talking skip on AM19, and offered the occasional comic interjection or jab of my own.

During one stop she commented about the people I was talking to and asked why she was only hearing me (let's talk about upgrades honey).

Only once was our comms mission critical, and the need shown like a red hot ember for her.

I called out an unplanned highway exit and we doubled back south to a recently passed junction.

When she asked where we were going I reminded her that we were still headed home.

She had a co-pilot and I didn't so I asked that they confirm that the next highway turned back north.

It did and our trip went on without incident or major delay. The new route was beautiful (scenic, and not congested).

What I had heard that she hadn't was the southbound chatter about the northbound parking lot.

There had been a wreck that shut down one of the two northbound lanes and backed up traffic pretty bad.

We still had an exit before the backup, but it would have been much more inconvenient to get to our new northbound track.

Worse we would have been in the mix with the rest of the herd who were taking the last clear exit.

It's taken almost six months to get there, but she's ready to drill some holes.

The bonding work for her Yukon starts this evening, and her Larsen 27 should be here later in the week.