CB base station radio options - possible SDR?

[JSMachine]

I'm building up a CB base station and trying to decide what radio to run. I am putting up a tower outside of my home shop that will have the antenna and it will be fed with about 50' of RG213. inside I do have a pc with two screens for my business work. This will mainly be for listening and maybe occasional transmitting here and there. I have an older cobra 25LTD and a 29LTD. Either of these would work fine with a power supply, but the issue is they don't scan or have SSB. I am also interested in the 10M band as well (I have an Extra license), which would require a different radio altogether.

Instead of scanning, Someone suggested using a SDR type setup, which I have never used. I anyone running one of these? From the way it was explained, it would give me a visual of the entire band where I could see or (possibly hear as well) if there is any activity on the entire band.

 

[KB4MSZ]

You heard correctly. Here is a screen shot of the SDR software that I use on my SDRPlay RSPdx. This is displaying the entire (40 channel) CB band at once. It can be configured to display up to 10 mhz at a time, which would be well below and well above the legal 40 channels. The vertical lines you see are interference caused by my ethernet connection, I usually unplug it when I'm using the receiver.

 

[slowmover]

2022 was a watershed year. Any radio worth having now has NRC (Noise Reduction Circuitry). It’s not optional.

I’d always advocate AM/SSB as minimum. Scan is pretty much standard. The increase in performance is worth the coin.

IMO, should have ones automobile set up to install radio there when traveling. Use in shop till then.

Quite a range of choices. From about $200 to $400 given 10M.

This one is entry-level. Has everything needed, most nothing not.

As to preference I’d move to the Radioddity QT60 for value received.

2023 Best Mobile CB

Via mobile experience as an OTR truck driver. Several thousand hours annual use. Earlier references to the Qixiang factory’s new circuit board elsewhere. Several brands. The above possibly the best known example at present. Paired with the equally new Driver Extreme DRX-9010 External Speaker...

forums.radioreference.com

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[slowmover]

delete

 

[JSMachine]

2022 was a watershed year. Any radio worth having now has NRC (Noise Reduction Circuitry). It’s not optional.

I’d always advocate AM/SSB as minimum. Scan is pretty much standard. The increase in performance is worth the coin.

IMO, should have ones automobile set up to install radio there when traveling. Use in shop till then.

Quite a range of choices. From about $200 to $400 given 10M.

This one is entry-level. Has everything needed, most nothing not.

As to preference I’d move to the Radioddity QT60 for value received.

View attachment 165314

2023 Best Mobile CB

Via mobile experience as an OTR truck driver. Several thousand hours annual use. Earlier references to the Qixiang factory’s new circuit board elsewhere. Several brands. The above possibly the best known example at present. Paired with the equally new Driver Extreme DRX-9010 External Speaker...

forums.radioreference.com

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.

I have a Quad 6 in my vehicle. I don't want to remove it and put it in my shop, but I sure wouldn't mind it for the versatility. Not sure how the one you posted compares.

I just really hate to not put the 25LTD or 29LTD to use, but they really are kind of behind on the tech.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

If you are going to add SDR you might look into a solution that will share your CB antenna with the SDR as well as provide overload protection for the SDR. Depending on your setup an added RF limiter might be a good idea.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0289/7782/3843/files/MFJ-1708B-SDR_MFJ-1708B-SDR-S_Manual.pdf?v=1586534123

MFJ-1708B-SDR, SDR RF SENSING T/R SWITCH WITH SO-239

Replaced the MFJ-1708SDR RF Sensed TR Switches with a receive splitter designed to be used with a transceiver and a separate receiver such as the popular SDR receivers. The Splitter gives high isolation between the transceiver and SDR Receive port to reduce crosstalk and interference between the...

mfjenterprises.com

 

[slowmover]

I have a Quad 6 in my vehicle. I don't want to remove it and put it in my shop, but I sure wouldn't mind it for the versatility. Not sure how the one you posted compares.

I just really hate to not put the 25LTD or 29LTD to use, but they really are kind of behind on the tech.

The one I posted is superior in all ways.