Base station unit suggestions

[makerdino059]

Planning on setting up a base station after some time getting my "feet wet" for a while with the President McKinely I recently bought. I'll be installing that in my Eurovaan this weekend.
No hurry on the base station. I'll wait until we have warmer weather. I did find a good deal on an 18' outdoor antenna with a tri-pole ground plane and 50' of coax. $140 on Ebay. It has all the hardware and the original box. I have a good location picked out that offers a reletive short run to the house ground rod which is convenient. I should be able to get it above the highest roof line on our house. The roof is wood and asphalt shingles. I'm surrounded by trees but not too dense. Our house in on a hill with an avg. 15 degree slope to the south.

So, I'd like to hear suggestions and opinions on an AM/SSB base station unit. I realize I could just use a mobile unit with a good regulated power supply so I'm open to that. I have a 12 volt 2.5 amp power supply and an adjustable volts/amps power supply that goes up toa max of 30 volts & 5 amps.

I have a good understanding of electronics which has been a hobby/interest of mine for a long time. My YouTube channel HackawekTV has a bunch of that stuff.

Anyway, I want to get something that I can do some DXing with as well as local comms. Suggestions welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[chief21]

I'd like to hear suggestions and opinions on an AM/SSB base station unit.

Unfortunately, I don't believe that there are very many "true base station" CB radios out there any more. The one I am aware of is the Galaxy DX-2457(?), which goes for something like $400-$500 bucks. Most folks these days just use a mobile radio and a good power supply.

 

[slowmover]

Walcott Radio has packages to give ideas of what may be desirable. I’d do my own.

I’d start with the power supply. The one shown has a reputation for good performance and long, reliable life. I might change radios or antennas, but having to change power supply would be an irritant (buy once, cry once). It’s not expensive, though.



I have a couple of TAC-COMM Radio Carriers in which I’ve configured a multitude of rigs (stock photo). With carry straps it’s easily moved around. My big truck rig sits in one to ride on tbe passenger seat.



I’d add a DRIVER EXTREME DRX-901 speaker to any rig. Unsurpassed in mobile and a bargain for a base station.

The radio itself needs be AM/FM/SSB with integrated NRC (DSP). Pre-2023 without such is to be avoided. Plenty of choices (research here). I’d also want it to be capable of 50W to 100W. I wouldn’t choose among radios on the basis of this power range, but of features/controls. It’s enough wattage to mostly match the RX range with NRC and be viable on Sideband. Big Ears trump Loud Voice. No need to run full power? Don’t.


Antenna System Plan is what will take most of the energy.

This diagram may be obsolete or incomplete; it’s simply an example to help you get a start.



— Western NC a victim of weather warfare during Helene. Possibly a CB with backup power might have helped avoid some of the problems.

About a million years ago I used to climb The Gorge up to Asheville at 18-21/MPH in underpowered trucks. My screen name dates from then.



Modern gear, best install and room to grow.

mounting base station antenna ...on the house or out back on a tower to avoid lightning???

hello everyone.... the people here have been so helpful and so intelligent... I feel a little dumber every time I start reading stuff on this forum. but I really appreciate all the help... it is taking me a while to get everything up but I'm a slow mover and only want to do stuff once. ok I have...

forums.radioreference.com

Good luck

.

 

[makerdino059]

Thanks to all for the replies. I've watched that video of the antenna setup. Good video that explains everything in good detail.

I'm not going to pull the trigger on this right away, but the President George FCC seems like a pretty good unit that ticks all the boxes for a base station.
I can get one the same place I bought my McKinley, on Amazon.

 

[niceguy71]

that video SlowMover shared shows a lot of the tips the guys here suggest... that radio an Anytone 5555 N II is one serious fantastic radio...it's a GREAT CB radio.... but only a cheap ham radio..... I have one in my truck and one on the home base.. you can buy the same radio with a different name the Radioddity QT-60 from their website and get an 18 month warranty versus a 12 month warranty from amazon... both are the same price. Radioddity QT-60 for $259 it makes a great base station.... 15 watts dead key and 60 watts PEP.... I also love a Radioddity QT-40 for $169 it's 10 watts dead key and 40 watts PEP ... it's laid out like an old school CB and is really nice, it can even have a few scanner channels installed so you can listen to your local police & fire .... I think I'll eventually put it in my pick-up as it's much easier to use while driving.
the QT-60 has an incredible beautiful display you can easily see, it's truly a fantastic base radio.... but it gets a glare on it in my mobile.. I can see the QT-40 channel display better... I can also find the knobs and turn it from AM to SSB a whole lot easier.

as for an antenna, tons of people have an Antron 99 and they work pretty good.... everyone here will suggest something better, most of the guys here have something much better...
I have the Antron 99 with ground plane kit for $229 and it does amazing... I talked to 22 countries in the first month I set it up ( and I only used it a few minutes here and there that month ) so if the guys here say their are better antenna's, you can't go wrong as the Antron 99 does fantastic so I can't even imagine how good a better antenna must work.

we are getting to the end of a great 12 year CB cycle... right now talking on 38 LSB I can talk to Europe daily with ease same with talking all over the USA.... another year the conditions will not be there, and you may have to wait a few years to get it this good again.

when you do your mobile install this video could help... probably not.. this is the first video I ever made and I am always so nervous on camera that I make no sense... I didn't show a lot of stuff and got a lot of stuff wrong... but this shows what a good CB and CB install with a good 5 foot tall antenna can do.

 

[WSAC829]

I have a 12 volt 2.5 amp power supply and an adjustable volts/amps power supply that goes up toa max of 30 volts & 5 amps.

Those should be fine for the “legal" lower power (4w/12w) CB’s. If however you decide on a higher power CB or 10 meter export radio (that easily convert to 11 meter) you’ll want at least a 10 amp power supply as 2.5/5amp is much too weak to power those.

As for new base stations, not many exist these days and most are way overpriced. The Galaxy DX-2547 is just a Galaxy DX-959 mobile in a box for 2x the cost of the 959. Even some older (20-40 years old) base stations are selling for ridiculous ($300-$800) prices on eBay and FB marketplace. You are better off buying a mobile radio and a good power supply which is what most people are doing. You might even save some money by going that route.

Welcome to the hobby, and remember…. CB stands for "constantly buying”.

 

[K6GBW]

I wouldn't worry about "base" radios as they are just a 12v radio stuck in a cabinet with a power supply. The only ones still made are old designs and they are over priced for what you get. Instead, just find a quality CB you like and add a power supply. The Powerwerx SS30 mentioned above is outstanding. I have two of them and they've been flawless for eight years. For the antenna, any of the popular base antennas will do what you want pretty well. The A99 is cheap, easy to install and does a yoemans job of getting out your signal. If you want it for "local" as opossed to DX then you'd likely be better off with an aluminum 5/8 wave with radials. They tend to be a bit better for local signals.

At the end of the day, just be realistic about what you can do with a CB. A good base set up is usually good for 8-10 miles and frankly that's all you need for most SHTF scenarios. So many people spin out and come up with just bizzare scenarios in their heads about what they really need. They go down a rabbit hole of spending money trying to make the radio do something it was never meant to do. A properly set up CB is still a good emergency radio for local issues, but also make sure you have a good old fashioned AM/FM pocket radio. If you get hit with a disaster of some kind that wipes out things localy the town radio stations may be down. That's where having an AM radio is really handy as you can pick up stations from well outside your local area and if things are that bad they'll be talking about it.

Good luck and have fun with it!

 

[WSAC829]

A good base set up is usually good for 8-10 miles

That’s not good range for a base station at all. For a mobile that’s pretty good though. With a stock Uniden Pro 810e base from 1987 i easily (at night when DX dies off) talk 25-30 miles on AM with 4 watts, and 45-60 miles on SSB with 15 watts. The guys i frequently talk to at night that are in my general area are anywhere from 5-70 miles away. I’m using an 18’ aluminum Sirio 1/2 wave antenna (no ground pane kit) on a 30 foot flag pole. That’s just barefoot. Completely legal. No fire in the wire. (If i turn on the little 100 watt KL-203 i have talked upwards of 105 miles locally).

 

[K6GBW]

Yeah yeah, I always get the guy that will argue, but I'm talking real world repeatable numbers. We always get guys that come on and say they talk thirty miles or whatever, then others try and repeat it and it doesn't work, while 8-10 miles is a reasonable expectation. Sure, there will be the occassional longer signal, but lets not give the guy expecations and then have them fail.

 

[makerdino059]

I don't think you can actually quote a real world standard that's going to work for anybody. There are so many variables in terrain, RF noise in the environment, what kind of antenna you have, whether or not there's a ground plane, many many variables. I've got an antenna on the way that's comparable to the A99 and I'll get what I get without any preconceived expectations.That's it. I'm not after massive amounts of Watts, I want to stay within the legal limits of CB radio. I've always wanted to get a ham licensed so maybe in a year or so I'll do that then I'll go for the bigger Watts legally. I'm a rule follower. Call me crazy.

As I've stated before, I do appreciate all feedback because it all matters and it's all good discussion. Carry on. 😉

 

[kc2asb]

As for new base stations, not many exist these days and most are way overpriced. The Galaxy DX-2547 is just a Galaxy DX-959 mobile in a box for 2x the cost of the 959. Even some older (20-40 years old) base stations are selling for ridiculous ($300-$800) prices on eBay and FB marketplace. You are better off buying a mobile radio and a good power supply which is what most people are doing.

I also agree with going with a mobile radio and good power supply. Base stations were more plentiful 20+ years ago, and there are plenty of quality rigs on the used market. However, at those prices, they are not a good value and will possibly need work, as aging capacitors can leak.

I like my Cobra 142GTL, but would not pay an inflated price today to get one.

 

[makerdino059]

Yeah I'm leaning more and more towards a mobile unit with a good power supply. Looking pretty hard at the current model of the President George.
The plan is to get the McKinley mobile install done first, mess with that for a while, once the weather gets warm get my antenna set up and move the McKinley inside and see how it all works out. At that point I'll make a final decision on what to buy for the base unit.

 

[EAFrizzle]

If you think you might consider getting your ham ticket, or think you might catch the radio bug, I'd suggest getting a 30 amp power supply. 30 amps is at a good price point before they turn into a major expense, and it'll cover a lot of future needs.

Many people here don't like switching power supplies, but mine doesn't give me any problems with interference or noise at all.


Mag mount antennas: not optimal installation, but I like and still use them. As close to center is best, but don't be too afraid to experiment to see what works best on your vehicle. I prefer as much straight steel in the air as I can get. I've got a Stryker SR-A10 and a Sirio Performer 5000, with accompanying mag mounts, and I much prefer the Stryker for construction and performance. Receive is noticeably better and it's better built all-around. While the Sirio magnet is larger and stronger, the Stryker is plenty strong and has heavier-duty coax. I like the idea of the fold-down on the Sirio, but it doesn't seem as durable as other fold-over and QD options.

If your base antenna is functionally and structurally like an Antron, there's some good info to have on performance. Having half-wave radiators means a ground plane kit isn't necessary for the antenna to function well. However, it radiates more at higher angles, making it excellent for stateside DX work. The down-sloping ground plane kit lowers that angle giving you a better local groundwave. Replacing the top fiberglass 1/4 wave section with a steel 102" whip will improve the reception.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[WSAC829]

Yeah yeah, I always get the guy that will argue, but I'm talking real world repeatable numbers. We always get guys that come on and say they talk thirty miles or whatever, then others try and repeat it and it doesn't work

Then something is wrong with their base station setup. These are real world numbers. Explain to me why the 15 guys i talk to can do this type of range every night if it’s not repeatable. If all 16 of us can talk those distances i pretty much assume that’s normal range since i’ve been talking to most of them for 30+ years now. Just to clear things up, this is base to base, not base to mobile.

 

[slowmover]

I think 10-15/miles for a base on relatively open ground is a reasonable number. I’ve found this true all over the USA. Doesn’t require big power (150W+) , but does assume at least an export mobile to run it (or KL203).

I’ve been surprised in Appalachia by this. Not so much on the Plains (where 30-miles at night from a base — I can hear him, he can’t hear my mobile — isn’t unusual even if it isn’t strictly common).

5-7/miles mobile given rooftop antenna of sufficient height (5’ +) outside of major metros; and that install is as good as can be (chasing S/NR problems).


The McKinley will need an outboard DSP device to be competitive. WEST MOUNTAIN RADIO has a selection. I’d rather have the modern radio in the mobile. A base station can dick around with all sorts of radios/devices given an excellent antenna system without the “oh, sheet” penalty of traffic snarling itself and big trucks still inbound towards you at 68-MPH.

The Mobile problem to solve is that nearly all radio rigs are badly spec’d and poorly installed. One needs to pull the weak signal out of the noise. An obsolete design radio — despite brand quality — won’t do when everything is in the line.

Snow isn’t a requirement. And, not the cause:

Put the volume level up on the TV soundbar. This is exactly how it sounds.

The dingbats in wrecked big trucks you can bet are screaming into mics on AM-19. May not be able to get out. Praying that oncoming big trucks have radio turned on and can start to slow, then stop short.

You might survive rear-ending the pile-up, but you won’t survive the oncoming traffic.

“Warning” a mile out is insufficient distance to avoid entanglement. Want 3-5/miles.

Easiest Mobile to copy:

Dang Ford..Could use some help on my antenna....

I have a 2024 F350 SD Platinum. I would like to put a CB radio in it for traveling with my 36ft 5th wheel. I installed a President Bill 3 radio with a 3 foot hood mounted Firefly antenna. I bought a Ford hood mount antenna kit from Right Channel Radio that was suppose to work good, I thought. I...

forums.radioreference.com

McK an excellent radio. Gave one to my son (9) years ago when it was tops in its category. Use it at home.


Stupid is as Stupid does: this crowd isn’t legally in the left lane; are all too fast for conditions; and all are tailgating.

This is now the norm. There is no fast lane on an Interstate.



The pile-ups are now daily, not a remarkable once-per-month occurrence. Nationally.

It will go wrong . . and there’s no time/distance by which one will be spared.

.

 

[slowmover]

Your mobile radio rig speaking to your base station wants the mobile to have every possible advantage.

The base station with the best antenna system you can put together will always have the advantage in Hear, and Get Heard.

QT80 mobile with NMO30 + w640 whip or a 7’ CB antenna is a recipe. Roof center.

Western NC has all sorts of LOS problems. At the same time from Knoxville headed east and throughout the state are many excellent radio rigs, mobile & base.

Get a topo map + Road Atlas and mark the distances 360-degrees your base can converse with the mobile. On AM and on SSB.

Half the US Population lives in these (7) Mega-Regions.

The ATL-Charlotte Megaregion has an enormous amount of truck traffic both N-S and E-W running thru it. Hell to drive on a bad week, but no proportional lack of good radios (unlike Texas or Florida megaregions).

Truck traffic into/out of NE red zone is almost all local/regional. Chicagoland its own world. Other regions have advantages/disadvantages, but none are alike to yours.

It will be rewarding to get a start, and to continue to improve over time.



.

 

[slowmover]

SAMLEX Radio Cabinet


SAMLEX makes cabinets for land mobile (Kenwood, Yaesu, etc) that with their 1235P-M ($232) 30A power supply exact fit (lower portion) could run an export without difficulty.


7.28W x 2.27T x 8.1D

The RADIODDITY QT80 “fits” upper portion so far as published dimensions are concerned @
6.22W x 1.89T x 9.92D



Bare cabinet price is approximately $60. See the SAMLEX catalog .pdf pp. 35 as there is a list of cabinet model numbers. (Custom is available?)

Note component case screws. These points attach thru pre-drilled cabinet.

— There’s an offering of the PRESIDENT Johnson ll shown online overseas in one of these cabinets with the 1223 P/S.

*NEW* President In A Base Station Format? Almost. Take A Look

We showed this not so long ago via Avera Netherlands and now it’s popped up with Neunerfunk. It’s a two part arrangement, the housing then you need to buy the power supply to fit also. I like it as…

simonthewizard.com

The TAC COMM Radio Carrier is more adaptable, so the point is that options exist of pre-made portable cabinetry . . the most difficult hurdle to DIY base station.

With a DRX-901 on its 10’ HQ audio cord mounted above listeners head (via latest design wall anchors or to stud with Sorbothane on wood to mount speaker bracket which itself has isolation bushings). Speaker location critical to audio quality.

The ballpark is $600+ with QT80 in flash bundle sale ($249).

There’s no ancient “base station” which could compare with a radio rig of this sort.

.

 

[makerdino059]

Base station antenna arrived. I assembled the mast only and it measures 18.5 feet/5.6 meters, so I guess it's a half wave antenna?
It's aluminum with set screws at each threaded coupling. One set of joint threads needed a bit of deburring because the previous owner over tightened the set screw. Being a retired automotive tech I have the tools on hand to repair threads. The final section has a slip in joint for SWR tuning. Seller said he had it "all tuned" but we'll see.
Warmer weather is on it's way so I'll wait until then to install it. I'll post a video on my YouTube channel (HackaweekTV) when I do.

 

[CAvoyager1960]

What a great thread (very similar to my recent journey) You have been given great advice... don't over think it. Keep it simple. Since you already have an antenna (sounds like a decent one) consider the radio... many choices, but I would recommend an "export 10 meter" radio (I have a radioddity QT-40 and love it! It has the old school look but can do much more (only $200) Sure, it can do a little more power but not that much (35 PEP watts on SSB but I only use about half that) I do mostly DX on SSB ("shooting skip") Sorry but local CB is "few and far between" (still could save your ars in a SHTF situation) In fact, you will have a base and a mobile Get a 10 amp power supply (I still like the old transformer type) One reason I don't push the power on my QT-40 is because I only have a 6 amp PS. Sure I understand wanting to "keep it legal" but I am taking my technician class test soon and want to do some 10 meter so wish I had got a 10 amp PS (it would have only cost $20 more LOL) How do you plan on mounting that antenna?

 

[makerdino059]

Our house is on a hillside with a 15 degree slope. The back of it has a deck that's about 7 feet above ground level. In one corner is a wood structure with a 4 x 4 post in one corner that about 7 feet high. I plan on using that as a mounting point. The house electric ground rod in almost directly below that and the corner room where my office is (radio location) is on that same corner of the house. If I mount it to a 10' piece of pipe then mount the pipe to the post ,I'll end up with the antenna base higher that the roof peak or about 25 feet above ground level.