Can you hear me now??? CB's, antenna's and set ups..... whatcha got?

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Socalramfan

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This seems lie a question out of the 70's-80's but what hell.

On a recent road trip, it dawned on me that as much as cellular companies "say" they have the country covered...... it's all BS. They might have the coverage, but the signal strength and reception sucks.

That being the case, got me to thinking about what would I do if I got stuck somewhere and wasn't able to "get a signal". I figured, if the Offroad group is still using it, there might be something to look into.

I've already done a search, but nothing recently so to say. Whatcha got? Do you use it? and lets see some pics etc.

Looking for ideas and possible options. Thanks in advance :waytogo:
 

GeometryFletch

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Increase your chances with a Ham radio, it's easy to get licensed. They're monitored more, superb operator protocols that keep the necessary information flowing. If you break down you could find help faster than a CB (unless you're at 4x4 function of sorts- few exceptions on this argument of course.) Or you could use APRS so loved ones can track you when off-road...exceptions there as well too. go to ARRL and click on licensing. You would go for your technician license. Message me if you want more info...
 

retired

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GMRS is so much nicer than CB's. We all went to GMRS radios and never looked back. Cost $70 for a license but it is just a pay it and be done it is good for 10 years and no testing etc.
 

averageguy

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I use one in my big truck at work every day. I wouldn't truck without it.
 

GTyankee

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GMRS only uses 2 watts
What is that distance wise, maybe 1/2 mile ?

Cbs transmit on up to 5 watts legally & your lucky to transmit 1 mile if there are no hills or forests, there are no repeaters to transmit further.
I am running around 90 watts & it transmits really clear, but the distance is still restricted. If the Sun Spots are really active & you are running good wattage & you are on a fair size hill, you hear people talking to each other for great distances. Like from a hill in San Diego to the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. That happens when atmospheric conditions are just right.


If there are FM Frequencies that can be used by the public, they usually have repeaters that are spaced out on the taller hills

The best thing to use would be HAM Radio
Get one with a remote head unit
Do your research
 

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GMRS only uses 2 watts
What is that distance wise, maybe 1/2 mile ?

Cbs transmit on up to 5 watts legally & your lucky to transmit 1 mile if there are no hills or forests, there are no repeaters to transmit further.
I am running around 90 watts & it transmits really clear, but the distance is still restricted. If the Sun Spots are really active & you are running good wattage & you are on a fair size hill, you hear people talking to each other for great distances. Like from a hill in San Diego to the Aleutian Islands near Alaska. That happens when atmospheric conditions are just right.


If there are FM Frequencies that can be used by the public, they usually have repeaters that are spaced out on the taller hills

The best thing to use would be HAM Radio
Get one with a remote head unit
Do your research
no that is for fmrs, gmrs are 5watt on up..my buddies live probably 6 and 8 miles as the crow flies from me and at least 14 miles from each other and we can talk to each other plain as day and there is a mountain between me and the one 8 miles a way and a city between the one 6 miles away. two of us have midland mxt105's and the other has a mxt275 which is 15 watts.

 

GTyankee

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CB Radio waves travel in straight line normally
From 1 hill top to another hill top, with nothing in between
the 2 transmitters is greatly increased over 2 transmitters at ground level with some trees & boulders

It is referred to as Clear Line of Sight

There are times when, atmospheric skip is in i can be in San Diego & i can very plainly hear a Truckers Chrome Shop in Eloy Arizona. They are running a Base Station, a Linear & they have an antenna on a tower.
Just because i can hear them, does not mean they can hear my best unit
 

bm02tj

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I have a hand held CB I can use in my truck but have an opened UHF VHF and a CB in my Jeep and I keep a list of repeaters in areas I travel
 
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Socalramfan

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Any additional pics of the set ups you guys are using?
 

GTyankee

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In 2008, i built a plywood unit for my old 1999 Chevy 1500, that was like a puzzle piece, the base was nailed together, but everything else was more like a 3D puzzle. The carpeting was cut to allow everything to be disabled
You can see the top of a Camaro console piece & ash tray.
The part that surrounds the CB slides directly toward the seat
That left the CB in place & then it could be lifted out & the wiring & antenna could quickly be detached & another CB could be slid into position

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GTyankee

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This is All in One CB
I rent it out to California Highway Patrol & Truck drivers that haul Oversize Loads & for one reason or another they don't have a CB with them & it is required by law, to move that kind of load without a CB

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Socalramfan

Socalramfan

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Gort

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I suppose that I'm old school -- I still use a CB in my Jeep, mostly for off-roading. But I do use it on the highway as well (you know, for traffic reports, "bear" sightings, etc.)

I agree that Ham is the way to go in the bigger picture. I'm currently studying for my license -- have been for a while, but COVID shut down all the local testing last year so now I have to study up again for the next testing opportunity.

For CB, though, a SSB CB gives you far better range than a traditional CB. I currently run a President McKinley SSB in my Jeep (overhead mount) -- far better with the same antenna than the Cobra 75 remote mount that it replaced.

I'm following this this thread looking for antenna and CB mounting ideas for my 2500. I'm the type of person that's very particular about how things are installed and mounted -- I *hate* drilling holes in the sheet metal or interior components if I can avoid it, and I abhor magnetic roof mount antennas with the cable run through and pinched in the rear doors of the vehicle.

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Rlaf75

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You could always do what my buddy does. He's got a Chevy Suburban devoted only to his CB set up which has 2 or 3 alternators and like 8 deep cell truck batteries lol. From CT he can talk to Puerto Rico and farther lol. He's in some sort of club or something
 
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Socalramfan

Socalramfan

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I suppose that I'm old school -- I still use a CB in my Jeep, mostly for off-roading. But I do use it on the highway as well (you know, for traffic reports, "bear" sightings, etc.)

I agree that Ham is the way to go in the bigger picture. I'm currently studying for my license -- have been for a while, but COVID shut down all the local testing last year so now I have to study up again for the next testing opportunity.

For CB, though, a SSB CB gives you far better range than a traditional CB. I currently run a President McKinley SSB in my Jeep (overhead mount) -- far better with the same antenna than the Cobra 75 remote mount that it replaced.

I'm following this this thread looking for antenna and CB mounting ideas for my 2500. I'm the type of person that's very particular about how things are installed and mounted -- I *hate* drilling holes in the sheet metal or interior components if I can avoid it, and I abhor magnetic roof mount antennas with the cable run through and pinched in the rear doors of the vehicle.

View attachment 466368

Same here. When the door is opened, I'd prefer any mods to be unnoticed and stealth, or at minimum OEM looking from the factory.

I know.... tossing a 4 foot antenna on the Ram isn't going to go past too many. I figure where ever I do decided to mount the antenna(s), at least, will be easily removable when not in use.
 

Gort

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Same here. When the door is opened, I'd prefer any mods to be unnoticed and stealth, or at minimum OEM looking from the factory.

I know.... tossing a 4 foot antenna on the Ram isn't going to go past too many. I figure where ever I do decided to mount the antenna(s), at least, will be easily removable when not in use.

On my Jeep I have a 4' Firestik antenna with a detachable mount on a spare tire carrier antenna mount. I ran the antenna cable through a rubber plug (unused) in the tailgate and routed it internally along the same path as the existing wiring for the 3rd brake light.

I suppose on the 2500 there's something (or I could fabricate something) to mount the antenna in one of the stake holes on the bed. But I'm still stuck on where/how to mount a decent CB inside the cabin, and how to route the antenna cable from the bed to the radio inside.
 

GTyankee

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1) antenna cable can easily be run along the trucks frame
2) slide yourself just in front of rear tires, you will notice a few rubber plugs in the Floor Pan, in fact you can cut new holes & buy rubber plugs from places like NAPA
3) when you open any door, there is a strip of rubber, plastic, or aluminum that protects the Door Sill.
Under those door strips, there is already hidden wiring & room for more, especially on the passenger side of the truck
4) don't just cut through the carpeting, because there are more wires under there, like for the drivers seat motors, the OEM 115 V inverter is either mounted on the front passenger seat frame or on top of the drive shaft hump
 
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