Posted 2007-12-10 11:35 AM (#72721) Subject: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Member
Posts: 28 Location: Pennsylvania
Hello! I want to purchase a CB Radio for in my truck. It has been about 20 years since I last used a CB. If possible, I would like to purchase one that will not require installation of an antenna. I mainly want it so I can be alerted of accidents, etc., when hauling. Also don't want to spend a lot of $$$$. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Posted 2007-12-10 3:02 PM (#72733 - in reply to #72721) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
Cobra makes a handheld unit that does not require an external antenna. Cost is right around $100. You can plug it into to 12volt source in your truck as well.
Posted 2007-12-10 4:21 PM (#72738 - in reply to #72721) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Veteran
Posts: 246 Location: Northern IN.
Yup, that's about your only option if you don't want to install an antena. I don't think you'll be very happy with it though. I've used one before and the range wasn't too great. I assume that you do realize they make quite a few different styles of magnet mount antenas that are fairly easy to stick on when ya need it and take back off after the trip. That's the way I'd personaly go, but depending on how much you want to use it, and how easy ya want to move it from one rig to another, maybe the handheld will do ya fine. Talk to y'all later...
Posted 2007-12-10 6:25 PM (#72741 - in reply to #72738) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
I use one that has a magnetic Ant. and has a plug to plug in the lighter. I just lay the antenna down in the bed of the truck shen it goes in the garage and stick it on top of the cab when towing on the road. It stays in the truck all the time but I could take it out in 10 seconds.
Posted 2007-12-11 3:21 AM (#72755 - in reply to #72721) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by A Friend In PA on 2007-12-10 11:35 AM
Hello! I want to purchase a CB Radio for in my truck. It has been about 20 years since I last used a CB. If possible, I would like to purchase one that will not require installation of an antenna. I mainly want it so I can be alerted of accidents, etc., when hauling. Also don't want to spend a lot of $$$$. Any suggestions? Thanks!
I assume you do not want a magnetic mount...
I am assuming you do NOT have West Coast or Jr West Coast mirrors to attach the antenna to??? If you do, it is a very simple installation...
I assume you are aware of the fact that handheld CB's don't have the reach that a unit with a vehicle mounted antenna has...as well as having to use one of your cigarette lighters as a power source, unless you want to underwrite EverReady Batteries...
Did you have a bad experience with a previous installation?
Posted 2007-12-11 9:34 AM (#72774 - in reply to #72721) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
I have the all in one unit that Paul showed. It works fairly well for me. You still have to wire it into a power source on the truck. I have it as a permanent mount in my truck right now. I also purchased the hand held Cobra and use it to move between the other trucks. I hooked in a magnetic antenna to it and it will get out about two miles. By the time you plug it in to the truck and run the antenna cord out, it takes up alot of space and is hard to use most of the time because of this.
Posted 2007-12-11 11:37 AM (#72778 - in reply to #72755) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Member
Posts: 28 Location: Pennsylvania
Thanks for your input. To answer your question, no, I did not have a bad experience. Are the new magnetic antennas wireless? That is what I am trying to avoid. Things have probably changed drastically since I was a kid and used one of these, but I remember my Dad running the wire for the antenna and then there was some type of complicated setup so the signal would be "just right". I just wanted to avoid all this. Upon looking at some of the antennas, I'm thinking it would be best to put the money in a better antenna. Which would give me better signal / range: one of the more "pricey" CB's, or a darn good antenna?
Posted 2007-12-11 6:00 PM (#72792 - in reply to #72778) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 379 Location: Columbia, TN
No the antenna is not wireless but I run it from the radio back by the console under the back floormatunder the back seat andout the back dor down at the bottomthen up between the bed and the truck and set the antenna on top of the roof . Sounds complicated now that I write it, but it isn't.
Posted 2007-12-11 11:36 PM (#72806 - in reply to #72721) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
My dealer for two way FM radios suggests that when using a magnetic mount antenna that you glue a thin piece of felt to the magnet. Then you won't scratch the paint. We did this on our Mounted Posse radios. Works great!
Posted 2007-12-12 2:25 AM (#72810 - in reply to #72778) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by A Friend In PA on 2007-12-11 11:37 AM
Thanks for your input. To answer your question, no, I did not have a bad experience. Are the new magnetic antennas wireless? That is what I am trying to avoid. Things have probably changed drastically since I was a kid and used one of these, but I remember my Dad running the wire for the antenna and then there was some type of complicated setup so the signal would be "just right". I just wanted to avoid all this. Upon looking at some of the antennas, I'm thinking it would be best to put the money in a better antenna. Which would give me better signal / range: one of the more "pricey" CB's, or a darn good antenna?
It was the length of the antenna that he was modifying to get an improved SWR...running the wire is just how "clean" an installation you want
Posted 2007-12-12 6:01 PM (#72869 - in reply to #72792) Subject: RE: CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
When I put in my antena I ran the cable under the plastic "cover" that runs along the bottom of the door/carpet and under the back seat where there was a predrilled hole with a cap on it. I just drilled a hole in the cap and used calk to re-seal it against splashing water. Then ran the cable between the cab and the bed up bed rail and bolted it on.
CB Radio...Any Suggestions?
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