Larson NMO-27 Question

[K6GBW]

Update

Just wanted to post a quick update. This Larson is working out great. I'm running it to a bone stock little Uniden Pro505XL, which is about as basic as it gets. I'm routinely talking to people 5-6 miles away and the noise floor is really low. I guess the point to take away is that when a radio is installed right and the antenna is well thought out and properly tuned these things will in fact work.

Yesterday it was hilarious. There was apparently a band opening and skip from Florida started rolling in. Some guy named "Jelly Belly" was on for a long time and sounded like he was just down the street. On other days I can hear the truckers chatting away. I live right near a major Los Angeles freeway and there is a rail yard not too far away. I can also hear the guys down at the Port pretty clearly. I guess I'm surprised at how much these things are still used, even with cellphones, GPS tracking, WAZE and all the rest. There is still that need to just reach out and speak to another human being!

The language has sure changed too. I guess everyone is referred to as a "Driver" these days.

I love my ham radios but occasionally the CB does come in handy!

 

[prcguy]

When I get back in town later in the week maybe we can try a contact to the LA port area.
prcguy

Just wanted to post a quick update. This Larson is working out great. I'm running it to a bone stock little Uniden Pro505XL, which is about as basic as it gets. I'm routinely talking to people 5-6 miles away and the noise floor is really low. I guess the point to take away is that when a radio is installed right and the antenna is well thought out and properly tuned these things will in fact work.

Yesterday it was hilarious. There was apparently a band opening and skip from Florida started rolling in. Some guy named "Jelly Belly" was on for a long time and sounded like he was just down the street. On other days I can hear the truckers chatting away. I live right near a major Los Angeles freeway and there is a rail yard not too far away. I can also hear the guys down at the Port pretty clearly. I guess I'm surprised at how much these things are still used, even with cellphones, GPS tracking, WAZE and all the rest. There is still that need to just reach out and speak to another human being!

The language has sure changed too. I guess everyone is referred to as a "Driver" these days.

I love my ham radios but occasionally the CB does come in handy!

 

[mmckenna]

I guess the point to take away is that when a radio is installed right and the antenna is well thought out and properly tuned these things will in fact work.

Glad to hear it's working well.

As for your statement, it's amazing how hard it is to get people to understand this. Doesn't matter if it's CB, GMRS, Amateur, or scanners, getting people to understand how important it is to properly install the radio, set up a -decent- antenna, and adjust everything correctly is like pulling teeth.
There seems to be a point where hobbyists give up and just slap in a cheap antenna, plug it all into the cigarette lighter and think it's "good enough".
A lot of the frustrations I see on this page are likely from poor installs and cutting corners.

 

[KQ4BX]

Keep in mind, at least with Ford trucks, Ford switched their entire plant over from Steel bodies, to all aluminum alloy. So you won't get a magnet mount to stick to a Ford made in the last few years. You can walk around with a magnet and see that it won't stick anywhere except for the frame, and trailer hitch, which mounts to the frame.

 

[FiveFilter]

Yeah, I'm glad my old '96 Ford F250 diesel is made of steel. I've been using it for 23 years now and still pulling my RV trailers all over the map.

Stuck on top of that ole steel mule I've got a 62-inch Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna, matched to a Midland 1001Z in the cabin. I can communicate very well with that pair, talking with the "drivers" on 19. That CB equipment has saved me a lot of hours that would have been lost without knowing of a wreck up ahead and what route to take to avoid it. If I can't avoid the wreck, it's fun to hear the truckers gripe about all sorts of things while waiting for the clean-up.