Actually its illegal to have a portable scanner in a vehicile in MOST states. You CAN get a license for them if you can prove "need". Fire department guys, rescue squads, that kind of thing. There is no way to "make trouble" with them really (all you can do is listen!). And NOT that I have one mounted to the front of the center console in my truck or anything! But honestly MOST cops dont know what they are, or that it's illegal when they see one! The BearCat BCT-8 can scan CB frequencies where most cant. This allows you to monitor ALL channels at the same time (thing scans as fast as 20 something channels per second!). If your monitoring both CB and police frequencies (all you do is tell it what state your in and it knows what frequencies to monitor) it gets A LOT less likely your ever going to get a ticket! (why its illegal!). They are illegal to take into Canada as well, but I've never known border cops to care enough to say anything. (If you get caught, SORRY, but dont blame me!) You could mount one IN the center concole where its well hidden from plane sight I guess. If your worried about your truck getting broke into, buy a black duffle bag or shirt that says POLICE in big white letters on the internet and leave it lay on the passenger seat in the truck. (even the dumbest crack head can piece THAT together and go on to the next car!)

Only thing you really need the CB for at all is so you can help out the guys helping YOU by passing on information to them about the road behind you. Or talk to people in your camper from the truck while driving. I used to use them when off road, but nobody has them anymore. It's GREAT when you can ask truckers ahead of you. "what lane do I need to be in to get around this traffic jam?"

 

theoretically speaking, of course, can a amp run on the Cobra 75 wx/st?

 

Amature radio operators are all allowed to have scanners. The entry level lisence is fairly easy to get and it will teach you the basics of radio operation. Just something to consider.

-Jay

 

Good thread... now I'm subscribed. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge, especially Big Cheese Stick.

 

My all time favorite radios is the Cobra 148GTL and the 29LTD.
Currently I'm still using 'ol dependable 148GTL(bought new in 1985) matched with the Wilson 1000 which is the best combination I've found performance wise since using CB in 1981
I saw somebody say "barefoot" now thats a CB'er

Tech Class License since Jan 2000

CHP

 

Im running an RCI 2950 DX it does regular CB, plus has FM transmit recieve so if ya have 2 and are traveling in a convoy its as clear as the phone. It has a few other bells and wistles also, such as 10 and 12 meter capability if ya wana get your HAM. For the HAM operators out their that are curious(or possibly fuming), I do not have a Liscence, but I do not leave the CB frequency range either. I have a mag mount wilson 5000 in the center of the crew cab for a nice big ground plane. I highly recomend this setup if you wanna get directions from people a little farther away.


what kind of mounts are people ussing without screwing into the dash or center hump? i thought of making a bracket to secure into the seat mounting bolts.

thanks,
Bone

 

http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/scanner5.html

This site will give you a good idea what the laws may be in your states. Some states flat out forbid Scanners. None I know of regulate CB's as long as they are unmodified.

"Theoretically speaking", a 75 wx/st works GREAT left completely stock, plugged into a 400 watt linear amp.! It will out talk ANY radio thats been "peaked and tweaked" by the best/most expensive in the business. If you have a radio "peaked" you usually cant run a linear amp anymore. Most amps are limited to a 7 watt input (a few arent). Peaking the radio will put you anywhere from 7 to 21 watts with GREAT modualation. And still get walked all over all day long by a guy with a K Mart radio and a 75 watt amp.!

The 75 wx/st is cool in that it has a scan feature built into it (scans all 40 channels until it picks up somebody talking). It also recieves weather channel info. drawback is it has a TINY speaker and isnt terribly clear/loud. Unless the guy your listening to has a REALLY bad radio you wont have any problems understanding anyone at all (I never have anyway). EVERYBODY has a different idea of what CB is best! Their opinions are usually HIGHLY biased toward whatever they happen to own. I personally stand by the Galaxy 959 because its got upper and lower side bands, a frequency counter, SWR meter, Unmatched clarity (check the #'s!), and is HIGHLY responsive to being peaked/tweaked. That all said... Yeah I'd like to have one, but dont. It goes for about $159, and I like my crappy little 75 wx/st because I can hide it under the seat in bad neighborhoods and not worry about some sleeze seeing a reason to break into my truck (I travel all over the country)! And I've gotten TONS of compliments on its sound and clarity when I turn on the little black box hidden under my seat! (no comments on what that may be!)

 

He's from Michigan. Click on his name and select user profile. The state will be there.

 

I had one of those Cobra 75 wx/st's in a 4Runner I had. I loved that thing. Nothing obvious in the cab, everything out of site, and yet it was all in my hand when I needed it. It came in very handy while on vacation in California with some friends. Some slime ball s.o.b. broke in and stole it one night though. I had it in the glovebox at the time and they must have thought it was just a really cool mic. I was left with a useless little box under the center console, and they left with a useless mic.

Matt

 

That 75 hides easily from prying eyes, but you still have an antenna sticking up that says "CB radio inside." No point, really, just an observation on why you may still gotten broken into even with the radio hidden.

I use the mag mount in the middle of the roof with as others have mentioned and that really gives the best results. If you are still concerned about advertising your CB like I mentioned above, you can get a little adapter that uses you stock FM radio antenna as the CB antenna. I have never used them and I bet the performance isn't that great, but it may be good for the casual user. Any here have any experience with those?

 

Great thread, can't wait to get one!

 

darth/calvin, STINKS to hear your truck got broke into! My guess would be some kid didnt really know WHAT it was, just looked valueable so he took it!

cokeman's got a great point about the antenna! But, I dont think your average teenager knows WHAT that antenna is for (CB's arent the cool toy they used to be for teenagers that all have cell phones anymore), my truck got broke into and completely gone through yet they left everything! Just looking for money the cops guessed.

A friend of mine has the little adapter to work with an FM radio antenna and MUCH to my shock it works pretty darn good with a stock 4 watt radio! Start upping the amperage (even "peaking") and you can start costing yourself a LOT of money though!

If you check out the web site, ILLEGAL is in BIG RED letters for Michigan (where I live). I went to 2 police stations to ask about this law, and aquireing a license and not ONE cop even knew about the law! OR the license!!! I went the the city / township hall and THEY couldnt tell me anything about it! This stinks because I know the one piece of cop that pulls me over will undoutedly be the one that knows ALL about it! (bye, bye $200 radio! Hello $200 fine.)

 

A few years back somebody broke into my truck and stole the faceplate off my stereo, but left rest of the stereo in the dash!!!

Lesson here: If your a crack head looking to steal stuff for drug money... DONT shoot up BEFORE you go theiving!!!

 

When I refered to the Turner 56 or Astatic mics,I was referring to the noise cancelling mics NOT the power mics which I don't care for myself.But I drive semi trucks for a living so the noise cancelling mic is somewhat necessary(lot of engine/wind noise in the cab)but not so much a big deal in a pickup,unless you ride around with the windows down.I've had my Uniden pc76 for 8 years,had it in & out of a dozen or better trucks with no problems.I have a Uniden pro510 in my pickup,it's stock,small & hides in the glovebox easily.Not preaching on the Uniden name,just got them both used at a good price.

 

My Larsen glass mount works great on 2m (get your ham license people!) )