CB in New York State

[K2KOH]

Just wondering how much CB activity there really is in NYS. I travel to the St, Lawrence River area frequently from Putnam County NY, and was thinking about buying a President Randy and tossing it in the car for the hell of it. Worth the expense? Thanks!

 

[slowmover]

It’s up to you, in part.

 

[slowmover]

The antenna system will make or break:

I’ve run the Randy with my big truck system and it’s a comparable performer to a Uniden 880.

I’ve also run it borrowing my sons SIRIO Performer 5000 mag mount antenna on a rental SUV.

In both cases an external speaker used. In both cases, permanent power available.

Skip hinders local comms these days, so coax filters and DSP in the audio is how I try to maintain performance in the big truck.

FWIW, were I limited by fate to using only a Randy I know I could get by. It’s the systems into which one plugs it in which are the greater determinant of success.

Whether one hears others is partly a matter of keying up (my first post). There are regions things are quiet, but that doesn’t mean no one’s listening.

My travels across NYS were mainly in paralleling the Erie Canal route when not going north from NYC. Local users — drivers and base stations — were already familiar with each other.

Scan is your friend in finding users, too.

It’s an excellent little radio.

.

 

[K2KOH]

The antenna system will make or break:

I’ve run the Randy with my big truck system and it’s a comparable performer to a Uniden 880.

I’ve also run it borrowing my sons SIRIO Performer 5000 mag mount antenna on a rental SUV.

In both cases an external speaker used. In both cases, permanent power available.

Skip hinders local comms these days, so coax filters and DSP in the audio is how I try to maintain performance in the big truck.

FWIW, were I limited by fate to using only a Randy I know I could get by. It’s the systems into which one plugs it in which are the greater determinant of success.

Whether one hears others is partly a matter of keying up (my first post). There are regions things are quiet, but that doesn’t mean no one’s listening.

My travels across NYS were mainly in paralleling the Erie Canal route when not going north from NYC. Local users — drivers and base stations — were already familiar with each other.

Scan is your friend in finding users, too.

It’s an excellent little radio.

.

Sounds good. I alternate between the Thruway to Syracuse then north, or just hitting Route 17 then heading up 81 from Binghamton. I do keep an amateur HT with me, but not much about what's happening on the highway. Appreciate the input!

 

[slowmover]

An update?

 

[K2KOH]

Not yet. Couple of financial issues to take care of. But the Randy is in the near future

 

[slowmover]

There’s a nice case available.

VOX looks promising.

I was quite pleased when in my big truck ($$$ installation past radio cost) that it seemed just as good as a Uniden 880.

IOW, given an external speaker and a comfortable mic, it’s darned near as good as an entry-level full size. An antenna adapter and a RAM Mount ought to work.

I wouldn’t skimp on the antenna. 5’-7’ height to hear & get heard. (SIRIO 5000 on PL-145).

A coax choke/filter. Clean power.

DSP is the only thing missing in RX.

Skip has made being on the road a real difficulty.

So much so that a cheap short mag mount antenna and cigar lighter power plug combo will lead to disappointment, IMO.

 

[ind224]

Randys are almost $200 and don't have SSB. Not for me. FWIW all the good deals on Facebook are out of state for me but in NY I'd think you could find an SSB mobile and a Wilson or K40 mag for less than $200.