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Buying the right CB radio.
Dick Rettke
Thanks Jack, WalMart has a 4amp Cobra for $80, is that a good idea, and what
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is this stuff about the 7 channels for weather or what ever, what do you mean? da -=dr=- ----- Original Message -----
From: <jacka2@...> To: <toyota-campers@...> Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2001 11:56 AM Subject: [toyota-campers] Buying the right CB radio. I'm in the radio communications business. I design and |
I'm in the radio communications business. I design and
manufacture base com antennas. I've used all sorts of radios in my vehicles including GMRS, Ham, and CB. I travel all over the country, for my business. Here is what I have found works best on the road. CB is still the best choice for travel. Even more useful than your cell phone. Channel #13 is the one used by most RV'ers, according to the That said, we heard no other RVs on the whole trip to Fla. But were able to keep in touch between units quite well. Don't buy a cheap radio, (Radio Shack comes to mind here). Over all, Cobras seem to hold up the best and put out the best signal. Around 4 watts on the later ones. Cheap Radios do not hold up well in the extreme temp swings of a closed truck. Expect a range of 2 to 3 mile between units. Less when the band is noisy from skip. If you want more range you will need an illegal amp, of at least 25 watts. Many of the truckes use them. I don't. Try to buy a radio with 7 weather channels. 3 channels will work, but there may be times you won't hear (and that will happen when you need it the most). By hearing what was ahead of me I was able to duck into a rest stop and sleep through some very bad storms on the way home. Antennas need a ground. If your machine is glass, your best bet is the metal mirror tube on the doors. Or drill the hole in the fender and mount directly to the cab body. If your unit is metal ("Spam Can") you can mount anywhere. Drilling holes in these old units is OK, as even if you sell it, the next owner will need an antenna too. Do a nice clean job, and remember, longer is better, as far as CB antennas go. Glass/window "stick Um on's " work poorly at CB frequencies (27 Mh). Tuning the antenna for best match is fine, if you have the equipment. If not don't worry about it. Most will work, right out of the box. The worst part about CB radios is finding a place to make a mount in the small cab of our Toyotas. That's another reason to buy a good radio first time, as you only want to put it in, once. Jack. |
David and Wanda Orr
Thanks for the really good info on C.B. Radio..Can I use C,B. to
contact my Emer. road service or do I need a cell phone for that ? Thanks David Orr --- In toyota-campers@y..., "Dick Rettke" <dickrtke@c...> wrote: Thanks Jack, WalMart has a 4amp Cobra for $80, is that a good idea,and what is this stuff about the 7 channels for weather or what ever, whatdo you mean? da -=dr=- |
--- In toyota-campers@y..., "David and Wanda Orr" <orrdw@y...> wrote:
David. The CB radio cannot talk to any thing else except another CB radio. We carried a new, up to date, cell phone with us on the trip. It was not usable in the back country, nor far off the Interstates. Some small towns had towers but most did not. This was in the South, perhaps It's better in other parts of the country. Our phone was both digital and analog. Most truckers carry a phone as well as CB and all are on channel 19. A Trucker will always place an emergency call for you if contacted on CB. Many truckers carry 3 watt phones with truck mounted antennas. Their phones have much more range than your little hand held unit. Jack idea, and whatis this stuff about the 7 channels for weather or what ever, whatdo youmean? da -=dr=- |
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