CB Radio Users Inside!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 10,977
Likes: 5
From: Lancaster, Pa.
Chase and Dave, I run a Cobra 29 heated up a bit with talkback,echo with dual firesticks. I got mine mounted under that cubby to the right of the steering wheel. My friend with the Connex gave me this one. Joe, nice Galaxy
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
I've got mine between the sun visors.
Here's some reading for those interested. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...t-and-why.html
Here's some reading for those interested. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...t-and-why.html
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
I just recently saw a F250 drive by that has his antenna mounted around the edge of the hood using some kind of mount that probably mounted to the side of the engine bay.
But getting down to the more basics of CB radio. What would I be looking for? I don't have any friends with a CB so I wouldn't be planning to talk on road trips but maybe a few times right now. Can I just leave it on scan and listen in on stuff? Anything I should do? Anything I should NEVER do?
Does antenna height matter? What is this tuning reference?
But getting down to the more basics of CB radio. What would I be looking for? I don't have any friends with a CB so I wouldn't be planning to talk on road trips but maybe a few times right now. Can I just leave it on scan and listen in on stuff? Anything I should do? Anything I should NEVER do?
Does antenna height matter? What is this tuning reference?
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 4
From: Suffolk, VA
I agree that out of the box, the $40 Midlands are as good as the high end units. The best antenna is the 108" stainless steel whip, hands down. No tuning required with that. But if you don't want to deal with that high antenna, find one you like and have it properly tuned. If the CB shop you go to doesn't do it, find another one.
The higher priced units have features such as weather, instant channel 9, recall, scan, and some other things. I have never had a use for these things and stick with a good basic radio.
I use a Uniden Pro 510XL. It's a good radio and reasonably priced. In the Jeep I have an old Midland that works great. Antenna tuning is key to reception... Find a shop that uses a short wave meter, or a friend that knows how to use one.
The higher priced units have features such as weather, instant channel 9, recall, scan, and some other things. I have never had a use for these things and stick with a good basic radio.
I use a Uniden Pro 510XL. It's a good radio and reasonably priced. In the Jeep I have an old Midland that works great. Antenna tuning is key to reception... Find a shop that uses a short wave meter, or a friend that knows how to use one.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: northwest missouri
i mounted mine on the back side of my console..my truck has captians chairs and a big center console and with the 6spd my options were shot on the front of the console or under the dash so i put mine on the back side of my console... its still pretty accessable and out of the way for the most part.....F350-6....i like your set-up..wish i had thought of that before i mounted mine.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 7
From: Anchorage, AK
I agree that out of the box, the $40 Midlands are as good as the high end units. The best antenna is the 108" stainless steel whip, hands down. No tuning required with that. But if you don't want to deal with that high antenna, find one you like and have it properly tuned. If the CB shop you go to doesn't do it, find another one.
The higher priced units have features such as weather, instant channel 9, recall, scan, and some other things. I have never had a use for these things and stick with a good basic radio.
I use a Uniden Pro 510XL. It's a good radio and reasonably priced. In the Jeep I have an old Midland that works great. Antenna tuning is key to reception... Find a shop that uses a short wave meter, or a friend that knows how to use one.
The higher priced units have features such as weather, instant channel 9, recall, scan, and some other things. I have never had a use for these things and stick with a good basic radio.
I use a Uniden Pro 510XL. It's a good radio and reasonably priced. In the Jeep I have an old Midland that works great. Antenna tuning is key to reception... Find a shop that uses a short wave meter, or a friend that knows how to use one.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
It's actually a 102" whip, and the meter used to tune antennas is called an SWR meter. "SWR" means "Standing Wave Ratio". Standing waves on the transmission line (coax in this case) is what happens when there is an impedance mismatch between a source & load. The idea is to keep it as low as possible, which is better for the radio's final output transistor(s).
If anyone needs help with that, let me know. It's pretty simple to tune a CB antenna. You check the SWR on ch 1, ch 20, and ch 40. If the SWR is high on 1, but lower on 40, you have to shorten the antenna. If it's high on 40, but lower on 1, you have to lengthen it. That's the simplified version...
If anyone needs help with that, let me know. It's pretty simple to tune a CB antenna. You check the SWR on ch 1, ch 20, and ch 40. If the SWR is high on 1, but lower on 40, you have to shorten the antenna. If it's high on 40, but lower on 1, you have to lengthen it. That's the simplified version...
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 1
i mounted mine on the back side of my console..my truck has captians chairs and a big center console and with the 6spd my options were shot on the front of the console or under the dash so i put mine on the back side of my console... its still pretty accessable and out of the way for the most part.....F350-6....i like your set-up..wish i had thought of that before i mounted mine.
Its close here, but this is in "low" gear
Heres a better shot of my antenna...
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Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 4
From: Suffolk, VA
It's actually a 102" whip, and the meter used to tune antennas is called an SWR meter. "SWR" means "Standing Wave Ratio". Standing waves on the transmission line (coax in this case) is what happens when there is an impedance mismatch between a source & load. The idea is to keep it as low as possible, which is better for the radio's final output transistor(s).
If anyone needs help with that, let me know. It's pretty simple to tune a CB antenna. You check the SWR on ch 1, ch 20, and ch 40. If the SWR is high on 1, but lower on 40, you have to shorten the antenna. If it's high on 40, but lower on 1, you have to lengthen it. That's the simplified version...
If anyone needs help with that, let me know. It's pretty simple to tune a CB antenna. You check the SWR on ch 1, ch 20, and ch 40. If the SWR is high on 1, but lower on 40, you have to shorten the antenna. If it's high on 40, but lower on 1, you have to lengthen it. That's the simplified version...
Anywho, what I do know about tuning a shorter antenna is that it the placement and the vehicle determines all of this. Other than that, I have my CB guy do it!
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
Likes: 2
From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
I need to correct myself -- I got it backwards!! If it's high on 40 but low on 1, you shorten it. If it's high on 1 and low on 40, you lengthen it. Sorry!!! 
. Too many Coronas tonight I guess...... 
. Too many Coronas tonight I guess......
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
From: Millbrook Alabama
My little Uniden( a 510 ProXL) is mounted where Chris' is, between the visors. I am running a Wilson 1000 Mag mount, and my little radio has been P&T'd. It will talk out to about 17 miles in the open flat lands of south Alabama and Louisiana, but, throw some hills in the way and it'll only go 8. I like my little radio just as much as the Connex that I had down in LA back in 05, its simple, turn it to a channel, and talk.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
Who you guys talking to besides truckers? I had my CB in my Ranger truck and heard mostly truckers. Got sick of their BS. It's in the shed now. I will say it was handy for wrecks and traffic jam avoidance. That aside, yawn.
Cell phones seem to be making this obsolete. And yes, SWR is antenna matching theory which is math, along with a check with a meter. It is a trade off in wavelengths. Newer stuff can even compensate for that. New technology is higher in the band and requires none of this matching. Yes, I worked military communications for some years. Not sure where SW is nowadays though.
Cell phones seem to be making this obsolete. And yes, SWR is antenna matching theory which is math, along with a check with a meter. It is a trade off in wavelengths. Newer stuff can even compensate for that. New technology is higher in the band and requires none of this matching. Yes, I worked military communications for some years. Not sure where SW is nowadays though.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, WI
I have my antenna mounted on my hood with a k40 "trunk mount" system. It just clamps to the drivers side of the hood. It has a great twist off system for when I need to remove it. I also have a Cobra 148 but mine is hooked to a 100W amp. I had a shop tune the cb, amp and antenna and the guy tuning it said if I ever wanted to sell the system, to give him a call! That is how well it works for me.
What ever the system you go with; do not skimp on the antenna and have it adjusted correctly. BTW; I have my cb mouned as close as I could to the floor, under the radio.
FT
What ever the system you go with; do not skimp on the antenna and have it adjusted correctly. BTW; I have my cb mouned as close as I could to the floor, under the radio.
FT
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
From: Millbrook Alabama
Who you guys talking to besides truckers? I had my CB in my Ranger truck and heard mostly truckers. Got sick of their BS. It's in the shed now. I will say it was handy for wrecks and traffic jam avoidance. That aside, yawn.
Cell phones seem to be making this obsolete. And yes, SWR is antenna matching theory which is math, along with a check with a meter. It is a trade off in wavelengths. Newer stuff can even compensate for that. New technology is higher in the band and requires none of this matching. Yes, I worked military communications for some years. Not sure where SW is nowadays though.
Cell phones seem to be making this obsolete. And yes, SWR is antenna matching theory which is math, along with a check with a meter. It is a trade off in wavelengths. Newer stuff can even compensate for that. New technology is higher in the band and requires none of this matching. Yes, I worked military communications for some years. Not sure where SW is nowadays though.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,892
Likes: 2
From: Middle Tennessee
