This thread is the counterpoise to Best Mobile 2025 posited by @slowmover
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I'm in Mobile CB Hell...
- Thread starter jcrmadden
- Start date
Here's a video showing the audio "quality" and relative range. (warning: it's a shoddy cellphone video).
CB Radio Hell
CB Radio Hell
At 02:05 in the video I finally get heard by an oncoming truck.
I had him line of sight within a few seconds.
At 02:45 we pass each other going opposite directions.
No clue what radio but I spied a base load stryker on top.
At 03:35 I hear his last transmission "I'm losing you right there..."
I was driving 60 and he looked to be doing close to the same.
We were moving apart for only 50 seconds before I lost him.
2 miles max.
If all you want is 2 miles range that's fine I guess.
But the noise!
Even with NB and ANL on, the audio (from signal right on top of you) is untenable .
This was before 9 am this morning; before skip was really rolling.
I had him line of sight within a few seconds.
At 02:45 we pass each other going opposite directions.
No clue what radio but I spied a base load stryker on top.
At 03:35 I hear his last transmission "I'm losing you right there..."
I was driving 60 and he looked to be doing close to the same.
We were moving apart for only 50 seconds before I lost him.
2 miles max.
If all you want is 2 miles range that's fine I guess.
But the noise!
Even with NB and ANL on, the audio (from signal right on top of you) is untenable .
This was before 9 am this morning; before skip was really rolling.
slowmover
Active Member
If you’d laid that C29 atop a can of Schlitz then TX range would’ve increased the distance of taking a p***.
Yeah, it’s unreal how bad it was then compared to how to good it is now.
To be fair, just add a $225 DSP speaker and $110 7’ antenna. It’ll be okay, but it won’t be what it could.
A cheap extension speaker fastened to the radio would help a good bit. Turn it waaaay up!
Trying to make out the words with the brain having to fill in gaps is what the 99% think is a pretty good radio.
Conversely, a radio rig with such high fidelity reproduction that rapport can be instantaneous is the new normal. Words ain’t the content, they’re but clues to what matters.
— Folks, the OP is a user whose radio is on nearly every hour of the workday.
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Yeah, it’s unreal how bad it was then compared to how to good it is now.
To be fair, just add a $225 DSP speaker and $110 7’ antenna. It’ll be okay, but it won’t be what it could.
A cheap extension speaker fastened to the radio would help a good bit. Turn it waaaay up!
Trying to make out the words with the brain having to fill in gaps is what the 99% think is a pretty good radio.
Conversely, a radio rig with such high fidelity reproduction that rapport can be instantaneous is the new normal. Words ain’t the content, they’re but clues to what matters.
— Folks, the OP is a user whose radio is on nearly every hour of the workday.
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slowmover
Active Member
This was the only alternative just a few short years ago. The reason I bought a TAC-COMM case. Used the optional portable mounting bracket and a 20A power setup. More than what’s needed and a little too easy to screw up while underway.
And too tempting to truckstop ghouls. Everyone knows you ain’t on a C29.
There are those who say a YAESU FT450d doesn’t sound that great on 11M. It’s some work to get it sounding like other good radios on-air.
It was a good buy nearly unused at $500 when MSRP was $899.
Today $500 covers almost all of a modern NRC radio rig as in thread link from first post. And is a better overall performer in 11M mobile.
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And too tempting to truckstop ghouls. Everyone knows you ain’t on a C29.
There are those who say a YAESU FT450d doesn’t sound that great on 11M. It’s some work to get it sounding like other good radios on-air.
It was a good buy nearly unused at $500 when MSRP was $899.
Today $500 covers almost all of a modern NRC radio rig as in thread link from first post. And is a better overall performer in 11M mobile.
.
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Chris155
Member
My goodness, can’t imagine listening to that all day after getting used to modern dsp equipment. Looks like time upgrade the backup radio. QT40 is under 200, usually next day prime.
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slowmover
Active Member
Backup Radio
Post in thread 'Newbie'
Newbie
1). Run a radio case ground to seat bolt.
2). “Lightning Arrestor” WORKMANN A-28 at transceiver to same.
3). A couple of fat snap-over ferrites at each end of coax.
4). $25 power mic
5). “Bandit” DC filter if the KLH too expensive.
(Not as good I’d guess).
6). KES-5 (eBay) Orient it AWAY from you
7). Wilson 1000/5000 or S-1000/5000 mag mount.
8). KL203 (w/o power mic; get ASTATIC 636).
9). Radio Slip Seater Box to go under passenger seat belt can carry all except whip.
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Post in thread 'Newbie'
Newbie
1). Run a radio case ground to seat bolt.
2). “Lightning Arrestor” WORKMANN A-28 at transceiver to same.
3). A couple of fat snap-over ferrites at each end of coax.
4). $25 power mic
5). “Bandit” DC filter if the KLH too expensive.
(Not as good I’d guess).
6). KES-5 (eBay) Orient it AWAY from you
7). Wilson 1000/5000 or S-1000/5000 mag mount.
8). KL203 (w/o power mic; get ASTATIC 636).
9). Radio Slip Seater Box to go under passenger seat belt can carry all except whip.
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slowmover
Active Member
I could condense this farther down in size for a SlipSeater.
Gives up very little to new radio type.
Price prohibitive when new, today.
My older 99V2 was slated for internal DSP plus DDS-VFO. Better choice as SlipSeater as already has 40W.
forums.radioreference.com
— These older radios are generally more pleasant to which to listen all day than the newer “digital radios” (speaker choice crucial).
— It’s also easier to distinguish Local from Skip.
So I’ve felt that spending on them with new job descriptions isn’t prohibitive. They not only paid for themselves several times over, they’ll have already re-couped the future costs.
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Gives up very little to new radio type.
Price prohibitive when new, today.
My older 99V2 was slated for internal DSP plus DDS-VFO. Better choice as SlipSeater as already has 40W.
DDS-VFO
DDS-VFO A 21st Century upgrade for the better CB transceivers of the era just past. — No more SSB drift — Scan — VFO My desire is to also add DSP to the RX side. (West Mountain hadn’t seen that on a CB, yet, and kindly offered circuit diagram advice)...
— These older radios are generally more pleasant to which to listen all day than the newer “digital radios” (speaker choice crucial).
— It’s also easier to distinguish Local from Skip.
So I’ve felt that spending on them with new job descriptions isn’t prohibitive. They not only paid for themselves several times over, they’ll have already re-couped the future costs.
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slowmover
Active Member
Put some fun into “a crap C29”
78k10
Member
Ah, but the problem is that most don’t care. When I was in college, the guys I ran with all had cb’s. But they didn’t know jack all about SWR’s, and didn’t care. As long as they could talk 15 feet to the guy in front of them, that was good enough. One guy even said he was going to mount a 102” whip on his bumper. Great, that’s a good start! But he was just going to drill a hole in the bumper, mount the whip with a nut, and “wrap the coax around the stud. It’ll cut in and out, but it’ll be fine”. His exact words. I was speechless. Of course, he applied that logic to his entire life. It didn’t go well. Anyway, most folks just don’t care to do it right.
This truck (and radio) both belong to the company I work for. Plus, I should be back in my truck later today or tomorrow (please lord, have mercy).
A radio "kit" is already in the works with antenna and dc components already acquired. If I were going to be in this truck any longer I would definitely be obtaining a better radio a lot sooner.
slowmover
Active Member
Might need to make a trip in someone else’s vehicle someday. So putting together a SlipSeater Box is a to-do list item. (Can go on seat or floor).
This is how I spent $12 to carry the DX86V. Very minor alterations. Mic goes in pocket and so does power cord.
Radiobag CB Radio Tote with Shoulder Strap
Check out this Walcott Radio RADIOBAG at www.WalcottRadio.com
www.walcottradio.com
— It’s also how I installed a McKinley & KL203 years back for my son in his Toyota SUV: Attach this to MOLLE panel on passenger seatback. Use a headrest coat hanger to hide it under a shirt or jacket (safety vest & hard hat). Power along center console QD. Coax out to mag mount SIRIO-P 5k. (KES-5 under front seat; POWERWERX PD75 also).
If there are other men having to use substandard radio rigs with company vehicles might be a generic set of upgrades to a test pilot vehicle you/they could do for all company vehicles. Power + Mount (etc).
External Speaker awakens the appreciation of most men as now they can hear it consistently (any speaker).
I’ve shared what I did to get a nice radio rig in a big truck a number of times with other drivers at several companies. Had some success.
The more of us, the better.
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slowmover
Active Member
LOL. Too true.
Radio Rigs I know how to troll = get to the distance where your co-worker can just barely still hear, but can’t be heard. (After all, y’all have done a couple of “range tests”, roight?)
On “company channel” with X2018 mic sound effects (Post #16). As you speak to someone non-existent:
“Yeah, he’s in the sh****** back there at the MM217 rest area”. (No, he isn’t; boss already said he’d better not see anyone parked there anymore). “No, I ain’t but three miles past that” (actually about five miles; power down & sounds warbly as hell).
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