CB Radio Help
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Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Lakewood, Colorado
CB Radio Help
Well now that i got the truck running great minus the exhaust leak... I want to do a few things to it...
I still got to get a gauge pod for my gauges. I am going to put Cab/Marker lights on it. I need to wire up my fog lights.
And i would like to put a CB and PA system on it. I will prolly run dual 48 inch black antennas out of the bed rails by the cab. I would like to get a CB radio that will allow me to hook up a speaker and use it to tell that driver ahead of me to get their *** in gear... What type of systems should i be looking at?
Never had a CB before but a few of my buddies have them in their trucks and i would like to get one in mine. It might come in useful on the high way too when i go to the cabin and what not.
Thanks guys!
I still got to get a gauge pod for my gauges. I am going to put Cab/Marker lights on it. I need to wire up my fog lights.
And i would like to put a CB and PA system on it. I will prolly run dual 48 inch black antennas out of the bed rails by the cab. I would like to get a CB radio that will allow me to hook up a speaker and use it to tell that driver ahead of me to get their *** in gear... What type of systems should i be looking at?
Never had a CB before but a few of my buddies have them in their trucks and i would like to get one in mine. It might come in useful on the high way too when i go to the cabin and what not.
Thanks guys!
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Florida
First check with your buddies. It sucks to by a radio that can't be modded to talk to your friends, meaning if they are running side bands or 10m you will need a capable radio. I've always had galaxy's and like them. My DX73v has ext speaker and PA output along with a lot of other toys.
The one thing I haven't tried to figure out yet is what speaker to couple to my radio. Years ago, I put an 8ohm building PA on one, and I had to add an amplifier to get any volume out of it.
Co-phased antennas are a bit of work. If you can swing it, a tuned single mast at 1/4 wave is cheap and performs quite well.
The one thing I haven't tried to figure out yet is what speaker to couple to my radio. Years ago, I put an 8ohm building PA on one, and I had to add an amplifier to get any volume out of it.
Co-phased antennas are a bit of work. If you can swing it, a tuned single mast at 1/4 wave is cheap and performs quite well.
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Ok as far as cb's go Brand name is the way to go. The truck stops usually carry good priced radios with PA feature on em. dual antennas look good but just wire one up tuning duals is a pain and if one get hit and knocked out of tune its more of a main. make sure u ground everything good for best reception. being that ur mounting to bed rails id stay away from fiberglass whips due to ground plane being so bad and get a pair of wilson 2000's or just do a roofmount like a maxrad or larsen. for a pa speaker id go get a marine grade pa horn from ur local boating shop they are about the size of a car alarm horn and will mount just about anywhere.
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From: Lakewood, Colorado
Looking at a Galaxy 939 right now...
and i like the idea of only wiring up one of the antennas... redneck, but great idea and prolly what i will do!
I dont want an antenna that flys around, i want the solid ones that are like 3/8s inch think and dont swing around but at like 80 MPH.
A boating horn would be water proof too, so thats a great idea! Thanks guys! Going to go to the CB shop on friday and take a look at what i can get for around 300 bucks for it all!
and i like the idea of only wiring up one of the antennas... redneck, but great idea and prolly what i will do!
I dont want an antenna that flys around, i want the solid ones that are like 3/8s inch think and dont swing around but at like 80 MPH.
A boating horn would be water proof too, so thats a great idea! Thanks guys! Going to go to the CB shop on friday and take a look at what i can get for around 300 bucks for it all!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
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just wack about a 1 foot section off of a short cb cord and it makes it look like both antennas are hooked up. but tuning one when it comes to fiberglass is alot easier than 2 especially if you hit something with an antenna or it gets messed up. we carry a small pa horn similar to what you can pick up at a boating shop and they are like 15 dollars. make sure you ground everything good and run your power wire to your battery even if you use a relay to switch it with the ignition you want the battery to eliminate interference and background noise
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Bellingham, MA
I'm running a Magnum S9 in my truck right now with a Wilson 5000 magnet roof mount. They have Wilson 5000's that you can drill your roof, but I definitely didn't want to do that. I'm very happy with this setup as I've talked all across the US with mine in short period of time. It is basically a 10 meter radio converted to talk 11 meter. It also has the P/A capability. I'm also running a Texas Star 500 watt amp, which I mainly use for receive to pull in people that are in the distance. I try will take some pics of my set up today and post them.
The thing that I really like about this radio is that it has Upper/Lower sideband and FM. Some of these radios go for about the same amount of money and don't have sideband. The radio puts out more power on sideband and it's great for talking further distances. I'm very happy with this radio as I've been told it sounds nice and clean even with the amp running.
Good luck with your installation. I think a CB is a great thing to have in your truck. It's great for just traffic reports as well.
The thing that I really like about this radio is that it has Upper/Lower sideband and FM. Some of these radios go for about the same amount of money and don't have sideband. The radio puts out more power on sideband and it's great for talking further distances. I'm very happy with this radio as I've been told it sounds nice and clean even with the amp running.
Good luck with your installation. I think a CB is a great thing to have in your truck. It's great for just traffic reports as well.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
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First check with your buddies. It sucks to by a radio that can't be modded to talk to your friends, meaning if they are running side bands or 10m you will need a capable radio. I've always had galaxy's and like them. My DX73v has ext speaker and PA output along with a lot of other toys.
The one thing I haven't tried to figure out yet is what speaker to couple to my radio. Years ago, I put an 8ohm building PA on one, and I had to add an amplifier to get any volume out of it.
Co-phased antennas are a bit of work. If you can swing it, a tuned single mast at 1/4 wave is cheap and performs quite well.
The one thing I haven't tried to figure out yet is what speaker to couple to my radio. Years ago, I put an 8ohm building PA on one, and I had to add an amplifier to get any volume out of it.
Co-phased antennas are a bit of work. If you can swing it, a tuned single mast at 1/4 wave is cheap and performs quite well.
Are you advocating using 10m illegally?
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
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From: Central Florida
Nope, just making sure he needs CB and not 10m. However 10m can be done legally, I think all that is required is a simple test to get the license.
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Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
Sure there is. Maybe where you live no one runs 10m, but around here, most people run 2 bands below CB (26.065-26.865). They aren't legal, but I have yet to see an FCC rep hunting any of them down.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
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Huh? I don't understand any of that stuff. I want to add a cb to my new truck, and it has been close to 20 yrs. since I bought a c.b. , so I don't know what to look for and am clueless with the new technology, can someone reccomend a radio that is good and not too expensive? Maybe fill me in on the new tech. a little bit? I would appreciate it.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
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From: Central Florida
What we are talking about with the CB vs 10 meter radios is the frequency. CB radios transmit a wavelength of about 11 meters. The Citizen Band is very noisy since everyone and their brother can just start talking. The 11 meter radios are illegal to operate without a license, but I've never seen or heard of anyone getting checked by the FCC. The 10 meter band gives you more frequencies and is more expensive so it's got less traffic.
Like with any 2 way radio, it's useless if you can't talk to anyone with it. 19 the trucker channel, so CB still has it's uses, but hunting clubs and farmers will typically pick a quite channel in the side bands. So if you want to talk to one of those, (legally or illegally) you need a radio that can transmit on those Freqs. Usually the 11/10 meter radios are made by Galaxy, Connex, Ranger, then there are a few others like Cherokee and old Cobras that can be converted with minor modification.
My grandfather used to have a cherokee and I had a modified mobile cherokee for a while. They weren't bad radios at all, but I still prefer my big galaxy.
Like with any 2 way radio, it's useless if you can't talk to anyone with it. 19 the trucker channel, so CB still has it's uses, but hunting clubs and farmers will typically pick a quite channel in the side bands. So if you want to talk to one of those, (legally or illegally) you need a radio that can transmit on those Freqs. Usually the 11/10 meter radios are made by Galaxy, Connex, Ranger, then there are a few others like Cherokee and old Cobras that can be converted with minor modification.
My grandfather used to have a cherokee and I had a modified mobile cherokee for a while. They weren't bad radios at all, but I still prefer my big galaxy.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Lakewood, Colorado
Thanks for the explaninaton....
But i will not be buying one soon... my radiator just took a crap, so thats priority.
But i think the galaxy 939 will be the winner of choice when i do end up buying one!
But i will not be buying one soon... my radiator just took a crap, so thats priority.
But i think the galaxy 939 will be the winner of choice when i do end up buying one!
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,007
Likes: 4
From: Central Florida
Those are Ham radios and may not talk on the CB freqs. Another down side is, they will most likely use the Freq instead of a channel counter. For what you want, stick with a CB that has been modded. The mod isn't much, in Galaxy's case, it's plugging in one of the switches and soldering a jumper. The Cherokee just need a dab of solder to get 4 more bands.
Clays' radio shop can help you out with anything along those lines.
Clays' radio shop can help you out with anything along those lines.