CB advice for a road trip please

[kny2xb]

Good evening/morning;

DISCLAIMER: I realize that if there's another thread like this one, it will be moved
If there is, I'm sorry that I missed it in my search

I haven't been involved in CB since 1992, so I'm behind the times [just a little]

I'm going to be driving a 2010 Subaru Forester from Tampa Bay up to Western New York and back this summer

I'm going to go up 75, then through Ohio, and over to 90/NYS Thruway, and use the same route on the way back

I have:

a Radio Shack 21-1679 h-t with the Ni-MH pack and a center-load telescopic antenna [picked it up at a pawn shop as a 'what the heck, why not?' for $15.00]

It does have a separate 12V DC power jack [the charging jack is directly on the battery pack]

and

a 1980ish President Honest Abe AM mobile with the stock mike, but no mounting bracket or power cord

Does anyone have any recommendations for a temporary travel setup with either of these radios, or to go with something else?

If the Honest Abe is the way to go, does anyone know where I could buy a power cord and cigarette plug for it?

Obviously I need advice/input on a mag-mount antenna also [before anyone says it, I know that I'll need an antenna adapter for the h-t, already noticed that]

Thank You in advance for everyones time and advice

 

[mmckenna]

If I was in your boots with the list of scanners you have, as well as an obvious interest in radios, I'd go with a mag mount NMO CB antenna.

It'll cost a bit more, but what you'll gain is something you can reuse when you are finished with the road trip. Swap the NMO mount CB antenna for a suitable NMO base scanner antenna, and you can get many years of use out of it. Need the CB again? Just screw the CB antenna back on.

I'm not a big fan of mag mounts. I only use them for testing. I'd say, though, that your short term use, it's a good option.

Any quality NMO mag mount will work. Get one with enough coax to suit your needs and a connector to match your favorite radio. An adapter can be used to fit the others. Getting the antenna mounted as close as you can to the center of the vehicle roof will help provide a proper ground plane. Setting it off to one side can cause it to be slightly directional, but hey, it's CB....

Larsen NMO-27 was always a good performer when I had a CB in my truck. I must have installed 10 or more of those on friends and family vehicles back in the 90's. Durable and will stand up to a lot of abuse.

Mobile CB all the way, not the hand held. The louder audio from the mobile mount CB will make listening a lot easier. Adding an external speaker will help, too.
You might be able to wedge it between the seats, but that might block the speaker, see suggestion above about an external speaker.

The 3 pin power cord is pretty standard and should be easy to find. If you have a truck stop anywhere nearby, you'll likely find one there.

 

[mmckenna]

NMO-27 CB antenna:
http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-nmo27c-699.html

NMO magnetic mount with PL-259 connector to match the mobile CB:
http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/pctel-maxrad-rbg-1114.html

Later on, get yourself a scanner antenna and reuse the mag mount:
http://www.theantennafarm.com/catalog/larsen-nmo150-450-800-1050.html

You'll need an adapter if you want to connect to your scanner, but those aren't hard to find.

This power cord -should- work for your CB:
Amazon.com: RoadPro RPPS-220 Platinum Series 12V 3-Pin Plug Fused Replacement CB Power Cord: Automotive