• To anyone looking to acquire commercial radio programming software:

    Please do not make requests for copies of radio programming software which is sold (or was sold) by the manufacturer for any monetary value. All requests will be deleted and a forum infraction issued. Making a request such as this is attempting to engage in software piracy and this forum cannot be involved or associated with this activity. The same goes for any private transaction via Private Message. Even if you attempt to engage in this activity in PM's we will still enforce the forum rules. Your PM's are not private and the administration has the right to read them if there's a hint to criminal activity.

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    To obtain Motorola software see the Sticky in the Motorola forum.

    The various other vendors often permit their dealers to sell the software online (i.e., Kenwood). Please use Google or some other search engine to find a dealer that sells the software. Typically each series or individual radio requires its own software package. Often the Kenwood software is less than $100 so don't be a cheapskate; just purchase it.

    For M/A Com/Harris/GE, etc: there are two software packages that program all current and past radios. One package is for conventional programming and the other for trunked programming. The trunked package is in upwards of $2,500. The conventional package is more reasonable though is still several hundred dollars. The benefit is you do not need multiple versions for each radio (unlike Motorola).

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Need to educate myself on the world of CB

Zboltman

Newbie
Joined
Aug 22, 2024
Messages
4
Bought a UNIDEN BEARCAT 980 for "emergency" purposes. Is there a place where I can read about antenna bandwidths and concepts there in? Would like to learn all about different antenna concepts. I'm very new at this. Been in electronics since I was 7 years old. Just retired from working in PLC automation. But the radio world is new to me and I really want to educate myself before I come on here asking specific advice questons.
 

DeeEx

Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2018
Messages
186
Location
New England
Welcome!

There’s lots of threads of knowledge in this forum.

Slowmover’s posts highlight some of the groundbreaking leaps and bounds in technology and features that have come about recently. This old man has followed his guidance and been very pleased with my purchases— and I thought I was too old to appreciate something anew!
 

prcguy

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
16,073
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
There are also a lot of lies and misconceptions in the CB world, if you listen to any particular CB channel you will hear some of the same BS that has been regurgitated for the last 60yrs. There are plenty of web sites that point out some of the common misconceptions and provide some actual facts. I have not fact checked all of these but here are a few popular sites that might teach you a few things.

Antenna Myths


 

slowmover

Active Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2020
Messages
2,567
Location
Fort Worth
Welcome.

This subforum is one of several applicable on this site. @prcguy linked several others.

I got serious 6-7/years ago. Then — as I really didn’t find much — decided to outline my experience. Hoping that would be of help to others. My experience is with Mobile, 95% on AM.

Citizen Band
isn’t so much the gear as it’s the context in which it’s used. Both gear & context are larger than most imagine.

Linked is a typical thread (no disparagement to participants). The 1970s gave folks an idea about what CB was supposed to be. It was an introduction, not an end in itself.

Today it is possibly more interesting than it’s ever been.


The links within the link are where I’ve tried to provide context. Gear, Install, Operation.


There is First Class install advice available (k0bg, and here; you’ll find search terms). There is plenty about newest radios. What matters more are the antenna & power systems.

There are the enemies of Operation crowding AM & SSB during this period of solar cycle. The difficulties of a far noisier electronic background than fifty years ago, also.

This is a great period in which to obtain, IMO, revolutionary gear, and to tune, adjust and out-smart these opponents. None of which a man might have done the same way just a few years ago (no Skip, and no NRC radios).

A great radio system can be done, and heavy experience in short order to accompany that of the man who doesnt treat this as passive activity.

While my lense is meant to bring the largest group of users into focus (truck drivers), it isn’t meant to be exclusive.

I hope you enjoy those links included.
One doesn’t run out of new avenues to explore.

.
 
Last edited:

Zboltman

Newbie
Joined
Aug 22, 2024
Messages
4
There are also a lot of lies and misconceptions in the CB world, if you listen to any particular CB channel you will hear some of the same BS that has been regurgitated for the last 60yrs. There are plenty of web sites that point out some of the common misconceptions and provide some actual facts. I have not fact checked all of these but here are a few popular sites that might teach you a few things.

Antenna Myths


Thank you. I'll take a little time to read thru all of these.

Welcome.

This subforum is one of several applicable on this site. @prcguy linked several others.

I got serious 6-7/years ago. Then — as I really didn’t find much — decided to outline my experience. Hoping that would be of help to others. My experience is with Mobile, 95% on AM.

Citizen Band
isn’t so much the gear as it’s the context in which it’s used. Both gear & context are larger than most imagine.

Linked is a typical thread (no disparagement to participants). The 1970s gave folks an idea about what CB was supposed to be. It was an introduction, not an end in itself.

Today it is possibly more interesting than it’s ever been.


The links within the link are where I’ve tried to provide context. Gear, Install, Operation.


There is First Class install advice available (k0bg, and here; you’ll find search terms). There is plenty about newest radios. What matters more are the antenna & power systems.

There are the enemies of Operation crowding AM & SSB during this period of solar cycle. The difficulties of a far noisier electronic background than fifty years ago, also.

This is a great period in which to obtain, IMO, revolutionary gear, and to tune, adjust and out-smart these opponents. None of which a man might have done the same way just a few years ago (no Skip, and no NRC radios).

A great radio system can be done, and heavy experience in short order to accompany that of the man who doesnt treat this as passive activity.

While my lense is meant to bring the largest group of users into focus (truck drivers), it isn’t meant to be exclusive.

I hope you enjoy those links included.
One doesn’t run out of new avenues to explore.

.
Thank you, I will explore the links and look into the meaning of the acronyms that you used.
 

niceguy71

Active Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2023
Messages
581
Location
Massachusetts
There are also a lot of lies and misconceptions in the CB world, if you listen to any particular CB channel you will hear some of the same BS that has been regurgitated for the last 60yrs. There are plenty of web sites that point out some of the common misconceptions and provide some actual facts. I have not fact checked all of these but here are a few popular sites that might teach you a few things.

Antenna Myths


people lie about CB's???? next you'll tell me a 2 or 3 foot FireStick won't really go over 10 miles range??
 

Zboltman

Newbie
Joined
Aug 22, 2024
Messages
4
OK folks; all I can say is WOW. I am overwhelmed by the amount of information and technology that goes into have the correct antenna system. Most of what I've read appears to apply to higher end users than what I am planning on. (Although, no matter the user, the right antenna appears to make all the difference.)
I have ordered this antenna to mount to my roof rack:

Aries Automotive ARIES 10822 SINGLE 4` FOOT 500 WATT CB RADIO ANTENNA KIT W/MIRROR MOUNT AND COAX (BLACK)​

Planning on keeping it as simple as possible.
I have come up with one question: Will mounting the antenna to the metal roof rack give me a ground plane?
And one more question: The antenna comes with a 4' cable; Can I make an extension for it without increasing the impedance beyond what is tolerable, essentially killing the "Q" value?
 

niceguy71

Active Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2023
Messages
581
Location
Massachusetts
OK folks; all I can say is WOW. I am overwhelmed by the amount of information and technology that goes into have the correct antenna system. Most of what I've read appears to apply to higher end users than what I am planning on. (Although, no matter the user, the right antenna appears to make all the difference.)
I have ordered this antenna to mount to my roof rack:

Aries Automotive ARIES 10822 SINGLE 4` FOOT 500 WATT CB RADIO ANTENNA KIT W/MIRROR MOUNT AND COAX (BLACK)​

Planning on keeping it as simple as possible.
I have come up with one question: Will mounting the antenna to the metal roof rack give me a ground plane?
And one more question: The antenna comes with a 4' cable; Can I make an extension for it without increasing the impedance beyond what is tolerable, essentially killing the "Q" value?
I'm not familiar with that antenna... there are some proven winners out there....but I don't know that one..... I think the guys here could have recommended a great antenna that would have done all you wanted and maybe even more...... I'm surprised you bought an antenna before getting recommendations from these guys
 

prcguy

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jun 30, 2006
Messages
16,073
Location
So Cal - Richardson, TX - Tewksbury, MA
OK folks; all I can say is WOW. I am overwhelmed by the amount of information and technology that goes into have the correct antenna system. Most of what I've read appears to apply to higher end users than what I am planning on. (Although, no matter the user, the right antenna appears to make all the difference.)
I have ordered this antenna to mount to my roof rack:

Aries Automotive ARIES 10822 SINGLE 4` FOOT 500 WATT CB RADIO ANTENNA KIT W/MIRROR MOUNT AND COAX (BLACK)​

Planning on keeping it as simple as possible.
I have come up with one question: Will mounting the antenna to the metal roof rack give me a ground plane?
And one more question: The antenna comes with a 4' cable; Can I make an extension for it without increasing the impedance beyond what is tolerable, essentially killing the "Q" value?
Roof rack does not provide a very good setup, it places the feed point of the antenna too high above the ground plane and there is a very poor ground connection to the roof sheet metal. Antenna performance and the ability to tune the antenna will be affected. If you were to connect a wide piece of braided ground strap from the antenna mount to the roof it would work much better but then you would be drilling a hole in the roof for a bolt to stick out.
 

Zboltman

Newbie
Joined
Aug 22, 2024
Messages
4
I'm not familiar with that antenna... there are some proven winners out there....but I don't know that one..... I think the guys here could have recommended a great antenna that would have done all you wanted and maybe even more...... I'm surprised you bought an antenna before getting recommendations from these guys
I ordered the antenna before my Wife suggested I go on a forum and learn from you folks. (My Mistake!)
It is easily returnable to slamazon.

Roof rack does not provide a very good setup, it places the feed point of the antenna too high above the ground plane and there is a very poor ground connection to the roof sheet metal. Antenna performance and the ability to tune the antenna will be affected. If you were to connect a wide piece of braided ground strap from the antenna mount to the roof it would work much better but then you would be drilling a hole in the roof for a bolt to stick out.
This I understand. My car is old and I can deform a roof gutter edge to mount it on? The antenna I ordered is not ideal, would you have any suggestions for me to mount on the roof edge?

Yes you can use a longer section of coax or buy a pl-258 barrel to mate the coax extension
I have connectors and some old 75 ohm cable. Should I use a different type of coax?
 

nokones

Newbie
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
566
Location
Sun City West, AZ
Yes, use 50 ohm cable and connectors.

It would be best to buy quality cable and connectors from a reputable radio electronics supplier such as DX Engineering or other similar supplier and not a discount retailer that doesn't specialize in radio electronics.
 

KI4ZNG

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jan 30, 2010
Messages
82
There are also a lot of lies and misconceptions in the CB world, if you listen to any particular CB channel you will hear some of the same BS that has been regurgitated for the last 60yrs. There are plenty of web sites that point out some of the common misconceptions and provide some actual facts. I have not fact checked all of these but here are a few popular sites that might teach you a few things.

Antenna Myths


Good reading material thanks.
 

KC3ECJ

Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2015
Messages
573
Yes, use 50 ohm cable and connectors.

It would be best to buy quality cable and connectors from a reputable radio electronics supplier such as DX Engineering or other similar supplier and not a discount retailer that doesn't specialize in radio electronics.
Depending on how it's used, 75 ohm is fine.

My HF horizontal dipole is fed with 75 ohm coax.

F connectors can be used on multiple types of 50 ohm coax.
 

nokones

Newbie
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Messages
566
Location
Sun City West, AZ
I'm not the one that requires 50 ohms. However, I think its best that you comply with your radio and antenna in what you should be sticking in between the two.
 
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