What have you for a CB setup?

libarata

Expedition Leader
A lot of why there has been little innovation past how you see your channel in CB radios, is because most of the technology behind the faceplate has remained the same, due to legislation NOT having changed in how long? HAM is always evolving, because there is a core group of technophiles that want better, and better. If the Cobra 75 can exist, they can certainly make it into what you suggest, but then why not cram it all into a handset?
 

Grinder313

Observer
I have a 40ch handset(free). It came with an antenna but the coax has a cut in it and it uses an RCA jack instead of BNC... The tech has been around for a long time for sure. If I find some RG174(small and flexible 50ohm coax) I will use it with a mag mount antenna to use in rentals, company cars and Wife's Xterra.
 

Vegas_Nick

Adventurer
^^
I would strongly suggest getting the Uniden PRO-510XL (or a 520XL) over a Cobra 75. The 75's compact proportions don't make up for it's dismal tonal quality on transmit, occasionally making those without extension speakers struggle to understand you... (probably why it's sound is so muffled, it's parts (notably the audio xfmr & IC, and possibly the mic element) are too tiny/low quality to be effective).

With a 510 or 520, others should be able to hear you with a much brighter, cleaner tone (which usually translates into being able to talk further distance as well), and it's still small enough you can find a convenient spot for it in most any vehicle.





Can't agree more here.
It also can't be stressed enough to mount it up on the highest practical point of your vehicle too. Those worried about overhead tree branches busting it off only need to put a good antenna spring on their mount (I've had a 5.5' Francis CB26 whip with a spring atop the roof of mine for 10+ years now without a problem).

The best replacement that I have found for the Cobra 75 is the Midland 75-822. The transmit quality and audio is better than the Cobra. One thing that I did find with the Cobra 75 is that replacing the final transistor with the old 2SC1969 does help it immensely. I sell and install a ton of both units, but the Midland is my fav for small compact radios.

As to SSB, my favorite is the Uniden BC-980. I have always been a 148GTL fan until this thing came out.
 

Grinder313

Observer
Yes but probably not "legal" to use. Galaxy(929, 939, 949 and 959 may be "Legal"), Magnum, Ranger, Stryker, President, Connex...
 

craig333

Expedition Leader
I can sympathize with the lack of flat surfaces problem. Not even a spot to stick a dash plaque on my truck. Goes outside too. My aftermarket bumper is the only spot I can set a coffee cup down.
 

libarata

Expedition Leader
Yes but probably not "legal" to use. Galaxy(929, 939, 949 and 959 may be "Legal"), Magnum, Ranger, Stryker, President, Connex...

Galaxy units would be great for a homestead radio(10+ acres) base station, but in a vehicle? Hah, better have a big *** dash! So I really have not lost my googlefu, and we are legally stuck with three options. Blasted!
 

Vegas_Nick

Adventurer
And they are price prohibitive for most. A good Magnum 10 Meter radio is $400 or so. I have customers that think an $200 for an entire radio setup with installation is expensive! :Wow1:
 

Joanne

Adventurer
And they are price prohibitive for most. A good Magnum 10 Meter radio is $400 or so. I have customers that think an $200 for an entire radio setup with installation is expensive! :Wow1:

Yeah, folks just don't want to pony up the $$. My last radio was a Cobra 29 with a Wilson 1000. I just sold the truck and the guy wanted the radio left in as part of the deal. My new F250 will get set up with new gear. Thinking of a Galaxy or a President. Certainly more dough. Looking forward to outfitting the new truck.

Joanne
 

Robert Bills

Explorer
I have a Galaxy "export" radio that I pulled from an old Ford diesel pickup that I used to own. It was a great radio matched up to a Wilson 1000. Its just sitting in a box now, waiting for the day that I acquire a vehicle with enough acreage in the cab for a clean install.
 

Vegas_Nick

Adventurer
Yeah, folks just don't want to pony up the $$. My last radio was a Cobra 29 with a Wilson 1000. I just sold the truck and the guy wanted the radio left in as part of the deal. My new F250 will get set up with new gear. Thinking of a Galaxy or a President. Certainly more dough. Looking forward to outfitting the new truck.

Joanne

Joanne, give me a call or email when you get ready. I can certainly save you some $$ on that Galaxy!

I keep a Cobra 29 in my go-box as a loaner radio along with a Wilson Lil-Wil. They make a great couple. :)
 

AlbanyTom

Adventurer
The best replacement that I have found for the Cobra 75 is the Midland 75-822. The transmit quality and audio is better than the Cobra. One thing that I did find with the Cobra 75 is that replacing the final transistor with the old 2SC1969 does help it immensely. I sell and install a ton of both units, but the Midland is my fav for small compact radios.

As to SSB, my favorite is the Uniden BC-980. I have always been a 148GTL fan until this thing came out.

Thanks for that info! I'd been thinking about the cobra, but that's enough to get me to switch.
 

4x4junkie

Explorer
Really, what would be nice would be a small CB. The size of the detachable face of some dual band ham radios - maybe 2" tall x 4" wide, but only about 2" deep. There's no reason a 5W radio has to be any bigger than that. 6" x 4" x 1.5" is the size the radio needed to be 20+ years ago...nowadays that is the size a 50W radio should be. In a full sized pickup, or a class-A truck, or an old crown vic, mounting a couple of big radios isn't a big deal. But Robert's right, there's just no good place to mount one where it's visible in many new trucks, Xterra included.

I'm completely with you... It's unfortunate no one has a unit with a simple remote-mountable head, yet still uses a normal-everyday type hand mic that's not all cluttered up with controls on it. All the "cram-everything-into-the-handset" crap is for the birds.
If someone was ambitious (and good with a soldering iron), I'm sure the head of a Uniden Pro-510XL could be "remoted" relatively easily using a multiconductor shielded cable (I actually saw a guy do this to a 148GTL (!) about 20 years ago and had some level of success with it). The radio's On/Off function would have to be done via a small relay afterward, but everything else should function fine with the longer wire length.


The 510XL at 4-1/2" x 1-3/8" x 6-1/2" however still is not exactly huge... Finding spots for that in a newer vehicle is probably easier than some of you may think... Possibilities could include: above the rearview mirror, atop the center of the dash, against the side of the center console (or transmission hump), below & right of the steering column (barring your knee doesn't hit it there), or possibly under the HVAC / 4WD control pod part of the dash that I see in some online pics of Xterras. There are likely still more spots as well.

For those averse to drilling holes for brackets, Scotch (3M) makes an "Outdoor Mounting Tape" which can be used to mount the unit directly (it's similar to double-sided foam tape, but MUCH stronger, and is gray in color). It's immune to heat, cold, & moisture, doesn't dry out or harden, yet it can still be removed by inserting a putty knife or similar object in between where it's attached and working it through the tape to lift it off. Home Depot and others have it in the tape & glue section.

I think it's really worth making a valiant effort to find a spot for a 510XL in ANY vehicle given how much clearer it's audio is over that of the 75 (both on TX and RX). Though I'm not familiar with the Midland Vegas Nick mentions, I'd still wager a bet the little Uniden's audio is better (it's on par with radios costing 3× its price).


How many of you listen to CH9? I tuned in on my way home yesterday, and I was immediately assaulted with gruff sounding Spanish.

Was probably atmospheric band conditions ("skip") coming in from Mexico. I don't think ch9 was ever officially designated for emergency use in Mexico, and even here in the states I occasionally hear people having normal conversations on it, since it's hardly ever used or monitored for emergencies anymore due to it falling out of favor for cell phones.
Back when I got into radios maybe 30 years ago there usually were REACT teams that monitored the channel throughout the day. It was interesting to listen to the reports of accidents, stalled cars and/or drunks on the road being relayed to highway patrol (or other agency as appropriate) over the channel.

SSB rigs can actually be a lot of fun when the band opens up to DX like that, as it's possible to talk to Europe and even Australia from pretty much anywhere the US if you have a good directional antenna.
 
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Grinder313

Observer
My DD is a 1996 Saturn SC1. I have run "big" radios like my President Jackson under the steering column/dash. Surely most SUV's and trucks have more room... I do advise not to mount a radio on top of dash, the heat will kill it.
 

AlbanyTom

Adventurer
The interior room in some trucks is deceptive... I had more room in both my old ford escort and focus than I do in my current truck. In those cars I had no trouble mounting a full size 2m rig - an FT-2500, which is pretty big. In the truck, if I mounted below the dash in front of me, my legs would hit it, and/or I couldn't see it while driving. No room to either the left or right of the hump, without legs banging. No room under the center stack of stuff, it's only a few inches deep and wide. No room above in the center, console up there and lights, unless it's back too far to see. No room between the console and shifter in front. No room above the dash, except a little spot in the center. Just no room for a big radio.

I do have room to mount a remote head for a dual band 2m/440 radio, under the center stack, and that's what I'll do. For CB, if I ever mount one, I'll use the midland all in the mike thing.

I still think there might be a market for a high end remote head CB. Icom could gut a 706, reprogram it to only do CB, take out the FM capability, fans, heatsinks, and high end finals, and get it type accepted as a CB, and it would likely be the highest quality cb ever made. It wouldn't be cheap, but I bet there would be a small market for it. Yaesu/vertex/standard does something like that with ht's being offered in commercial band/marine/ham/aircraft versions already, I think others do as well. It wouldn't be a $30 radio, but it would be a *nice* radio.
 

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