73-87chevytrucks.com

General Site Info => General Discussion => Topic started by: 85MudMonster on March 17, 2008, 11:40:10 pm

Title: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: 85MudMonster on March 17, 2008, 11:40:10 pm
Hey,
I just installed a Cobra CB radio in my truck over the weekend. I was just wondering who else had one in their truck, and what their Handle is, I'm having trouble figuring out what to use as a handle....

Dan
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Dragon on March 17, 2008, 11:55:17 pm
AHH YEAH BREAKER GOOD BUDDY! COME ON BACK!!! Anyone out there with their ears on???   Wow I'm a little Geek all over again ;D  LOL I have an old Non-Working Motorola AM/FM/CB Radio that was mounted by the Previous Owner, and I have been wanting to get it working since I got my truck :-\  I was Little Buddy when I was growing up, but probably will be using my SN when it is working again..... ;D
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Captkaos on March 18, 2008, 11:12:12 am
I don't have a handle, but I have one that is portable from one vehicle to another.  Just haven't mounted it yet.
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Toolmaster on March 18, 2008, 11:17:51 am
I go by Toolmaster !
Why not use Mud Monster ?
I got lots of CB's  ! We use them on the trails and at events to keep up with everyone.
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Redneckchevy on March 18, 2008, 11:30:33 am
Scrambling hillbilly lol 

Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Blazin on March 18, 2008, 11:43:04 am
8 ball is what I go by on the old citizens band radio. In life it seems like you are always behind the 8 ball!
I used to have them in all my rigs. Over the years got new rigs and they didn't get installed. my Blazer still has a working unit though for wheelin.

Breaker breaker one nine, this heres the Rubber Duck you gotchyourearson? Comon!

Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: joesgarage71 on March 18, 2008, 01:08:48 pm
 They call me Twobitt when there not mad at me, I have a 29 fer my big truck and a 25 in my 04' both have bigger finals, talk back, conex boards and have been peaked and tuned, about 24 watts, ya need some wattage to talk in these hills for more than two min. My 25 talks better than the 29 but thats due to the 102 whip I have on the 04' Hey whats a hillbilly pick up without a steel whip right!
 Steve
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: 85MudMonster on March 18, 2008, 01:16:01 pm
I was thinking about using Mud Monster as my Handle, I just wasn't sure if that would sound good over the airwaves :-\... but it'll probably be better than anything else I can come up with. The Cobra Radio I got is a 19 Ultra III, it's pretty good, just puts out your standard 4 watts, I don't know how to make it do more like everyone else does....
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: joesgarage71 on March 18, 2008, 01:30:40 pm
 I don't think the radio shops can soup that one up any, get a good antenna and you should do just fine,  untill you start to get walked on all the time by other radios and you want MORE POWER!! If there is a truck stop near by see if they have a CB Shop and talk to the guy about antennas and tunning your radio. if your near a truck stop and or the interstate (Big road) there are drivers that sell there extra radios and you can get a good cobra 29 or 25 for like 45-75 bucks.
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Dragon on March 18, 2008, 02:44:55 pm
I don't think the radio shops can soup that one up any
Hmmm that would be odd, most of the Good Shops where I grew up could mod anything for power, as long as you slid them the right amount($10-100, depending on how much of an increase)...  Sure you would be limited to a point, but not as bad as it would be untuned....


MUDMONSTER MUDMONSTER, ARE YA OUT THERE WITH YOUR EARS ON GOOD BUDDY??? COME ON BACK!!!
Hmmmm sounds fine to me ;D

Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: zieg85 on March 18, 2008, 03:43:22 pm
I got a midland, but haven't installed it yet.  Kentucky Gambler here, KALV6173 over and out...
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 18, 2008, 03:56:21 pm
Blimey, we HAVE got something in common!! Used to have mobile and basestations as a lad and CQDX all over Europe! Ok I did have a monster twig and running amps etc and the echo mike blah blah blah
Used two handles, RedEye and CCD which stood for the "Crazy Crude Dude!"

ooooooh the dayz
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Captkaos on March 18, 2008, 05:01:23 pm
Toolmaster put an antennae in a high tree at our mothers house LONG time ago.  I don't remember who he was talking to that was the farthest away but I remember is wasn't in Birmingham.....
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Toolmaster on March 18, 2008, 05:33:42 pm
I had postcards from 48 states. Never did get out to Hawaii. Also had a few from across the big waters.
That antenna was over 70 feet up that tree. I went up it one time and when they cut the tree down, it still had parts in it. I still have all that stuff amps radios sliders mic's ....... in Mom's basement, Just never set it up when I moved out. We had 40 + channels before they ever sold them in the store's.
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Captkaos on March 18, 2008, 06:41:54 pm
There are still parts in here yard of a section of the antennea too..
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: 85MudMonster on March 18, 2008, 10:02:54 pm
Blitzer, how old are you man? And I was reading in your signature that you don't like England and that stateside is better, so why not move to the US and come hang out with some of us sometime?

So do you guys think a CB shop could tune my Radio or not, cause I know where a CB shop is at down here and wouldn't mind a few extra watts outta this radio, cause if I put the squelch too, High I don't pick hardly anything up, and too low and it's just squawking. There seems to be no middle ground for getting good reception....
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Dragon on March 19, 2008, 02:12:03 am
My Grandfather built a large motorized Antenna for his backyard that he had for quite a few years(I think he put it up in the late 60's/early 70's), and didn't take it down till '99/01.  That thing was Crazy looking design wise(His design), and I remember pretending it was Darth Vader's Tie-Fighter trying to land on the house...   On Clear Nights, he could adjust it right, and we could hear People Speaking Japanese,Spanish,German,French, and Aussie accents :o  He never would tell me the range of the thing, cause he didn't want me playing with it too much...  He is a Retired Navy Maintenance Chief, and also a Retired from doing Government Maintenance Jobs, so he has the background to build a setup for distance!   A year or so ago, we were cleaning some of my stuff out of his house, and he let me nab what was left of his CB Setup, which I hope I can get working again sometime 8)

MudMonster, if you want to get your CB modded, why don't you call the Shop or take it down there to find out what they can do ??? If they can't do anything with it, take it back to where you got it, and put up one from the CB Shop...
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 19, 2008, 05:11:09 am
Blitzer, how old are you man? And I was reading in your signature that you don't like England and that stateside is better, so why not move to the US and come hang out with some of us sometime?

M8 I'm er let me think - 37! (mental age 25  ;))

I've only been to the States once, Miami last year. Dreadful experience!! I have a few friends in Calafornia and Ohio and met some friends from Toronto on me hols.

I'd like nothing more than move over there as the company I work for has various sites in the USA. Unfortunately my other half won't move 'cos of family  :( (and likkle one due in August   ;))

I guess I'll have to save the pennies, cents lol and have a 3week holiday travelling the "real" States  ;D Would be great to meet up with a few of you guys.
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Blazin on March 19, 2008, 07:10:55 am
Well what did you expect going to Miami!
Should have come to New England!
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: smitty77 on March 19, 2008, 07:26:17 am
So do you guys think a CB shop could tune my Radio or not, cause I know where a CB shop is at down here and wouldn't mind a few extra watts outta this radio, cause if I put the squelch too, High I don't pick hardly anything up, and too low and it's just squawking. There seems to be no middle ground for getting good reception....
Tuning won't help that, you'll just piss your money away.  Spend the $$$ on a better antenna.  Power is good for short-range pissing contests when you want to "step on someone" and drown out their signal.  We have a 200 watt "kicker" on the CB at the asphalt plant here at work for talking to our trucks and they can hear us 15 miles away (20 on a good day), but it did nothing for our reception.  We can hear our loudest trucker (he's putting out 30 watts) up to about 10 miles.

Check my posts in the Interior forum on CBs and see also Dragon's post about his grandfather's "crazy design" - which sounds to me like a cubical quad, which is basically two antennas stacked side-by-side and matched for performance.  It's takes some math and engineering to get it right, but you get a lot of bang in your signal.  You want big signal, you need a big antenna (or multiple antennas), there's no way around that.  I've been a ham radio and CB operator for almost 20 years and built dozens of antennas, from very small to big 6-element yagi types on 100 foot towers.  You can talk across the country (chasing skip) on a 4 watt CB if you have a good antenna that is tuned properly on your house.  Check out the setup on this page (my college ham radio club):  WPI Wireless Association (http://users.wpi.edu/~wpiwa/).  If the atmospheric conditions are right, you can talk all over the globe with that setup on 5 or 10 watts.  100 watts is a lot more reliable.

Another note, if you get a lot of "squawky" sounds even when there's no chatter on the channel, you may be getting noise from the ignition system or other electrical components in the vehicle, which will drown out the reception, no matter how big your antenna.  Does the noise become less or go away completely when the truck is off?  If so, you need to find the source of the noise and try to isolate it with a choke, filter, or something.
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: 85MudMonster on March 19, 2008, 11:44:15 am
I've never been to florida, I've been to almost every state, like 40 of them or so, and I've lived in like 9 different states. I've seen both oceans and yet never left this country. I'd like to go to Germany and drive on the autobahn, no speed limit, why don't we have a big ass highway like that???
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: Bitzer! on March 19, 2008, 02:19:35 pm
Well what did you expect going to Miami!
Should have come to New England!

If your England's like my England...............I'll leave it  ;D
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: JJSZABO on March 19, 2008, 02:31:14 pm
Well what did you expect going to Miami!
Should have come to New England!

Miami - there are no Americans left :-\  I use to live in Boca Raton (I couldn't wait to move).

Love to have you here in Maryland but the State and Local Governments are turning this place into a little Soviet Union with all their Environmental Regulations, Bay clean up crap, carbon emmisions, High business taxes and personal taxes and now lately, with local garbage districts where you have to use the garbage collection company that the local government allows. 

I would love to move back to PA but the wife says NO (she's from MD and wont move >:()

Off my rant... :) back to happier thoughts.
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: DnStClr on March 19, 2008, 06:27:26 pm
I run a cobra 29 in my Duramax because I haul a fifth wheel. It's saved me from a few traps.
Don't use a handle anymore. It used to be slowpoke when we lived in Ohio.
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/1056278005042203791YfzrVP?vhost=rides
Title: Re: CB Radios, what's up with that?
Post by: joesgarage71 on March 19, 2008, 10:50:18 pm
So do you guys think a CB shop could tune my Radio or not, cause I know where a CB shop is at down here and wouldn't mind a few extra watts outta this radio, cause if I put the squelch too, High I don't pick hardly anything up, and too low and it's just squawking. There seems to be no middle ground for getting good reception....
They might peak and tune your radio and set your SWR's so you get better reception. Take that radio to the shop and see what the man says. Maybe you can still return it to the store and get a better radio. lol
 Steve