Regular CB Worth Temporary Install?

[rescuecomm]

Could have used a CB on the trip to Pigeon Forge last week for road info. I had an old Cobra 25 laying around. Can the truckers hear you on a radio that hasn't been peaked and tuned? Maybe a new handheld on a 5 foot antenna just as good?

 

[mmckenna]

Could have used a CB on the trip to Pigeon Forge last week for road info. I had an old Cobra 25 laying around. Can the truckers hear you on a radio that hasn't been peaked and tuned? Maybe a new handheld on a 5 foot antenna just as good?

I have never in my life used a "peaked and tuned" CB and I never had any issues talking to anyone local.
I don't try and talk to that guy named Skip, however.

A stock radio and a good antenna is all you need.

A lot of the Peak-n-Tunes are hack jobs done by guys with little to no experience. Some of them just look at the RF power output and that is it. Sometimes they get higher RF out, but the signal is splattering all over the place.

Stock radio is fine for that sort of stuff. But don't expect to hear a lot. CB isn't what it once was.

 

[K7MFC]

As someone unfamiliar with this, is there anything left to “peak and tune” in a modern CB radio with all the integrated circuit boards?

 

[mmckenna]

As someone unfamiliar with this, is there anything left to “peak and tune” in a modern CB radio with all the integrated circuit boards?

Usually messing with coils to squeeze out a few more watts. Unfortunately, it seems like the guys who do this stuff don't look have a spectrum analyzer to see if all that new found power is staying on channel.

Put the money into a better antenna, it'll do more for performance.

 

[mastr]

This thread has been my entertainment for the day, thanks.

 

[dave3825]

I don't try and talk to that guy named Skip, however.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

As someone unfamiliar with this, is there anything left to “peak and tune” in a modern CB radio with all the integrated circuit boards?

At best the seller is pocketing an extra $35 and doing nothing. But usually they go in and turn some pot or adjust some coil for more smoke and without any knowledge of how the circuitry behaves. I would pay more for a radio in a factory sealed box.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Could have used a CB on the trip to Pigeon Forge last week for road info. I had an old Cobra 25 laying around. Can the truckers hear you on a radio that hasn't been peaked and tuned? Maybe a new handheld on a 5 foot antenna just as good?

Your old radio is probably fine. Handheld CB's are not very useful except in a rental vehicle when using an external antenna. Get a decent antenna. Drill the hole.

 

[scanmanmi]

Can the truckers hear you on a radio

I think it's more of a matter of having them not installed or turned off than your power. I took mine down there and all I heard was a radio check on the Parkway.

 

[rescuecomm]

Things must be slow on RR since the Batforce swooped down on my lowly CB thread. Maybe someone who has used a CB on an interstate highway in the last two weeks will comment.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Things must be slow on RR since the Batforce swooped down on my lowly CB thread. Maybe someone who has used a CB on an interstate highway in the last two weeks will comment.

Last year when that huge east coast blizzard shut things down a few truckers reported their CB radios found them an exit and a place to sleep for the night.

 

[rescuecomm]

So does it take a 60 watt 10 meter export radio conversion running 100% plus modulation to get their attention. I pulled the CB ten years ago when I stopped driving the interstate highway to the job. It was impossible to get traffic information then when trucker radio transmissions were wide banded to say the least. I've got a corner 3/8-24 mount that works okay on 6 and 10 meters.

 

[mass-man]

I travel interstate 20/30 across TX often! While I don’t have a CB in the car I do have a scanner that does a decent job on 27mhz with my old A/S antenna! I take it hoping for useful highway info and frankly don’t hear much at all! And my routes are constantly under construction with many delays. Maybe one fella yelling at another cuz he passed too close but that’s about it! I hear more drivers on 146.52 and 55 and can talk to them there. Just my $.02!!!!

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

So does it take a 60 watt 10 meter export radio conversion running 100% plus modulation to get their attention. I pulled the CB ten years ago when I stopped driving the interstate highway to the job. It was impossible to get traffic information then when trucker radio transmissions were wide banded to say the least. I've got a corner 3/8-24 mount that works okay on 6 and 10 meters.

There are probably a bunch of loud mouths with amplifiers and "tweaked" radios that you might hear on a daily basis.

You could always put one of these up under the dash and switch it on and off remotely from a spare switch.





But if you do, get one of these to place after it so you don't mess with the local ATC towers. It will also improve your reception.

 

[slowmover]

There are probably a bunch of loud mouths with amplifiers and "tweaked" radios that you might hear on a daily basis.

You could always put one of these up under the dash and switch it on and off remotely from a spare switch.



View attachment 133054

But if you do, get one of these to place after it so you don't mess with the local ATC towers. It will also improve your reception.

View attachment 133055

Both are outstanding additions to performance. I use the exact same in the Kenworth (as well as a feed line choke and and a coax filter at radio.

(Working a slip-seater mock-up in a TRC-2 case; cover removed; radio is a Galaxy 959b. The West Mtn Speaker goes atop).
Slip Seater was a designation for a truck driver getting into and out of different tractors daily. His radio was in a case ready to plug-in. I’m tired of taking two days to install a radio, so this one will ride on the passenger seat).

Below, this third piece is what takes CB Radio performance over the top. CB becomes a whole new world once DSP is added. Can’t stress enough just how important it is to deal with moving signals. West Mountain Radio CLEARSPEECH DSP Speaker. (Hear as far as you can be heard).



As to the ones who aren’t hearing anything on AM-19: wrong day (weekend) and/or wrong hours (1600 or later)?

The majority of truck driver air time will be a weekday and from 0500 to 0900 busiest, then sharply tapering until 1500-1600.

Past that it’s an inferior installation and/or poor choices in antenna mount & antenna.

Hear, and Get Heard.

www.k0bg.com

.

 

[slowmover]

I travel interstate 20/30 across TX often! While I don’t have a CB in the car I do have a scanner that does a decent job on 27mhz with my old A/S antenna! I take it hoping for useful highway info and frankly don’t hear much at all! And my routes are constantly under construction with many delays. Maybe one fella yelling at another cuz he passed too close but that’s about it! I hear more drivers on 146.52 and 55 and can talk to them there. Just my $.02!!!!

Scanner-only is a mistake you want info.
It’s give & take.

CB Radio ain’t passive entertainment.

I am based in Ft Worth and don’t ever have a problem raising others unless it’s from noon Saturday till noon Sunday no matter which direction I head out be it New Mexico or Arkansas.

Tapers past 1500 on Friday, and doesn’t return full force till just past dawn on Monday.

CB today is for The Few.
Make the choice.

.

 

[slowmover]

Is it worth a temporary set-up?

Here’s the one being worked up for my son a couple of years ago. Belted to a MOLLE panel hangs behind passenger seat. Pretty much at eye level



Power was run from battery thru firewall.
Distribution via a SOTABEAM kit box.

Coax stays attached to SIRIO antenna.
Antenna whip strapped to grab handles above rear door.

A “slip seat” kind of thing where the gear is removed as desired.

.

 

[slowmover]

One of my second-line back up radios is a Galaxy 86V fitted to a Walcott Radio Bag ($12).

The mic stays attached. Power and Coax jumpers are lumped with it into a zippered pocket





.

 

[slowmover]

PRESIDENT Randy handheld portable as “regular” mobile radio with an Intenna:

See this & following posts + links

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[slowmover]

As someone unfamiliar with this, is there anything left to “peak and tune” in a modern CB radio with all the integrated circuit boards?

Power is usually a little below 4W.
Modulation usually set low.

Nothing that matters a lot.

Buying from a good retailer and paying the extra means keeping them in business. There are 4-5 I use and am happy with them all.

Otherwise, just go online.