Any of you all into CB Radio?

[Cocked & Locked]

SSB & VFO's

I used to enjoy them years ago. Started out with the 23 channel ones then advanced to 40 channel SSB. Then came the sliders (Vf0's). The SEARS SSB was an awesome radio to convert even though it was not legal.

Ran one of those in my 70 Ford truck along with a 100 watt amp and steel whip.

In the house I had a Siltronix 1011 working 11 meters but soon became wary of running extra wattage from a fixed location. Sold that and replaced it with a frequency modified SEARS 40 SSB as the base...no additional wattage. Had a Shakespear Big Stick and PDLII antennas. Replaced the PDLII with a Moonraker IV and enjoyed flatside single sideband.

I talked to many places and had a couple of walls of QSL cards. Then I became paranoid and I quit. That was now decades ago.

Today I've got two Midland CB 40 channel (not sideband) radios in a box in the basement. They were given to my youngest son a few months ago. Those are stored here and are tormenting me.

 

[RussellD]

Back when I drove Tractor Trailer I ran a Galaxy radio and Texas Star 500 watt linear Amplifier. Radio kept me awake at night and was lots of fun!

 

[bburnette252]

So would buying a handheld cb be wise? Like do people still commonly communicate with them? I'd like to have one for SHTF scenarios and to mess with truckers on long boring trips.... [emoji41]


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[JJEH]

I think about getting one in my truck. Not sure why and when, but it might come in handy one day...

 

[bhayles]

In my teens for BSing with friends.
In my 30s for about 10 tewars when I was hauling produce coast to coast.
Just about to start back, along with ham, for SHTF communications.

 

[truckemup97]

So would buying a handheld cb be wise? Like do people still commonly communicate with them? I'd like to have one for SHTF scenarios and to mess with truckers on long boring trips.... [emoji41]


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You get what you pay for. A handheld is going to have limited range compared to a vehicle mounted radio, which has a more limited range than a properly set up base station. The most important part of any radio (IMO) is the antenna. If your antenna is not properly placed and not matched to your radio, you may as well be talking into a bucket.

Now, this is just my opinion, but it's kinda like buying a Taurus or a S&W. The Taurus will probably work. The S&W WILL work.

ETA: Be careful messing with truckers. We mess back. And your handheld will be like a gnat compared to my velociraptor Galaxy 99.

 

[thebeamanater107]

You get what you pay for. A handheld is going to have limited range compared to a vehicle mounted radio, which has a more limited range than a properly set up base station. The most important part of any radio (IMO) is the antenna. If your antenna is not properly placed and not matched to your radio, you may as well be talking into a bucket.

Now, this is just my opinion, but it's kinda like buying a Taurus or a S&W. The Taurus will probably work. The S&W WILL work.

ETA: Be careful messing with truckers. We mess back. And your handheld will be like a gnat compared to my velociraptor Galaxy 99.

My galaxy dx 29hp probably wouldn't even bother playing the signal coming from a handheld. My squelch is turned up a little high for that

the original point and click interface, by Smith & Wesson

 

[2001gmc]

So would buying a handheld cb be wise? Like do people still commonly communicate with them? I'd like to have one for SHTF scenarios and to mess with truckers on long boring trips.... [emoji41]


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I have the Cobra HH28 and it works well. I can get out around 10 miles in my truck with the little wil or K-30 with it. I can only get around 3-4 miles with the Cobra Telescopic retractable antenna using it as a handheld. I got the connector to hook it to the PL259's. When the power is out I hook it to my Antron 99 and can get out 20 miles or more easy. Its just a simple 40ch radio. No scan or weather or anything. Im thinking about gettin the Midland 75-822 it has some nice features for a handheld.

 

[K1500]

I have had one in every truck since I was 16. I don't talk too much, but it has saved me a handful of times regarding traffic and road conditions. The radios with the built in NOAA frequencies are even better. I am also a ham, but CB is still the best thing going for interstate traffic, etc. as every truck has one.

 

[bburnette252]

I have had one in every truck since I was 16. I don't talk too much, but it has saved me a handful of times regarding traffic and road conditions. The radios with the built in NOAA frequencies are even better. I am also a ham, but CB is still the best thing going for interstate traffic, etc. as every truck has one.

So truckers have them? Is this a requirement? How would I talk to one if I drove past one? Lol. This sounds like so much fun haha


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[Cocked & Locked]

So truckers have them? Is this a requirement? How would I talk to one if I drove past one? Lol. This sounds like so much fun haha


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Watch "Smokey & The Bandit" movie and you will know all (and more) you ever need to know.

 

[bburnette252]

I have the Cobra HH28 and it works well. I can get out around 10 miles in my truck with the little wil or K-30 with it. I can only get around 3-4 miles with the Cobra Telescopic retractable antenna using it as a handheld. I got the connector to hook it to the PL259's. When the power is out I hook it to my Antron 99 and can get out 20 miles or more easy. Its just a simple 40ch radio. No scan or weather or anything. Im thinking about gettin the Midland 75-822 it has some nice features for a handheld.

What does everyone think of these models and price?

-Handheld cobra roundtrip with antenna $30

-Cobra 38 wxst $25.



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[SmokeStack Lightning]

What does everyone think of these models and price?

-Handheld cobra roundtrip with antenna $30

-Cobra 38 wxst $25.



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Don't know about Cobra's CB's but I just bought 2 of their new portable weather radios (one for Mother's Day) and they really are a nice portable, rechargeble unit.

I've had other weather radios but this is the first I've had that still works when down in my storm shelter.

I do have a Cobra radar detector too which alarms when around red light camera's via GPS. Good unit, also.

The radar dectector has saved my biscuits from burning too many times to count.

 

[CW Spook]

CB hasn't held much of an attraction, compared to this...

 

[bburnette252]

CB hasn't held much of an attraction, compared to this...

Are you talking to the space station or something?


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[CW Spook]

'Never had a chance to talk to the ISS, but I do have confirmed contacts with the old Russian MIR in the late 80s, and with the Juno spacecraft that did an earth fly-by back in October.

 

[bburnette252]

'Never had a chance to talk to the ISS, but I do have confirmed contacts with the old Russian MIR in the late 80s, and with the Juno spacecraft that did an earth fly-by back in October.

Dang I was trying to be funny! But that's awesome.


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[bhayles]

CB hasn't held much of an attraction, compared to this...

Almost exactly like my setuo, right sown to the broadcast mic. How ya liking that MXL 990?

What's in your box? Mine is ASUS Sabretooth 990FX, AMD 8350, 32 GB of Crucial 1600 ram, 2 2GB video cards, Ultra 850 PS, 4 1TB drives...hmmm...leaving something out, I think...

 

[pumpgun]

i used to install Harris TRC/181 HF radios for the Air Force. tune it to 27195 and key the mike and nobody within miles was talking over me. the transmitter was 500 watts give or take and had a 30 foot bow tie antenna.

 

[CW Spook]

Almost exactly like my setuo, right sown to the broadcast mic. How ya liking that MXL 990?

What's in your box? Mine is ASUS Sabretooth 990FX, AMD 8350, 32 GB of Crucial 1600 ram, 2 2GB video cards, Ultra 850 PS, 4 1TB drives...hmmm...leaving something out, I think...

My computer is nowhere that fancy....just in i3, 8 GB RAM, 1 MB video card, a 250 GB solid-state main drive and an old 500GB Samsung for backup. Plenty of room for expansion though, if I ever need it. The Flex 6500 is basically a thin-client radio and I'm normally not over 25% CPU usage even with SmartSDR, the HRD Suite and Chrome all running. The mike is an Audio Technica AT3035, left over from my gigging days.