Best CB system to buy

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by caviechick, Apr 26, 2011.

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  1. Yup

    Yup Medium Load Member

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    Apr 2, 2011
    Everywhere,USA(Texas)
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    Get a Tuned Cobra 25 from Sparky's,to get the edge over the stock mic
    and not pay the extremly inflated prices on RK56 noise caneling(sold every where) Ask Al at Sparkys about the STDX65 noise canceling mic.
    They work just as good as the RK56(actually better) for less money.
    Knowing Al he may just knock a chunk off the mic price due to the radio purchase.??

     
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  3. SHO-TYME

    SHO-TYME Road Train Member

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    A decent radio with a weather band will be good for him. I hear some of these driver's brag how "big" their radio is, funny thing, I don't know of any company that pays it's drivers more per mile for a "big" radio.........If you need to talk a long ways, use your cell phone and you won't get interrupted by the "I ain't got no panties on" guy.
     
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  4. deerslayer1143

    deerslayer1143 Light Load Member

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    Mar 15, 2011
    Dubuque, IA
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    My only other advice would be leary of the tech that claims he can get more out of the same radio than the next guy (i.e. louder) by "peaking and tuning" as some are prone to snipping and clipping parts in the radio that should not be clipped and will leave you sounding like dog crap and no one will want to talk to you.
    A radio should be tuned and aligned but know what's being done BEFORE you agree to buy.
    Cheaper isn't always better either.
     
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  5. chalupa

    chalupa Road Train Member

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    Jul 22, 2010
    Houston,Texas
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    Agreed, like they said...order one from one of th cb shops on here and have the mods done by them.

    It's pretty much a gimme that your not going to talk over a few miles without power and you can get that later. A barefoot cb will do just fine getting across the median and communicating with the locals about warehouse locations etc.
     
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  6. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    Aug 12, 2009
    Seminole Florida
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    Yep ....

    When someone says .....

    :biggrin_2556: We can make your radio do things no one else can :biggrin_2556:
    It's like the guy in the dark trench coat with :biggrin_2553: TRUST ME :biggrin_2553:
     
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  7. caviechick

    caviechick Bobtail Member

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    Feb 19, 2011
    Springfield, MA
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    Thank you everyone! I have read all this to my husband over the phone and now we will check out all the CB's mentioned! And thanks for the advice about what to be on the lookout for! I love my hubby but sometimes he is way too trusting of people who try sell him the "brooklyn bridge".

    :biggrin_25514:

    Quoting Sho-Tyme "If you need to talk a long ways, use your cell phone and you won't get interrupted by the "I ain't got no panties on" guy"


    LOL thats funny
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2011
  8. Xcis

    Xcis Medium Load Member

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    Bridgeport, Pa
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    If anyone wants to save some money, buy a radio when it is on sale at a truckstop. The legal power limit for a CB radio is 4 watts. A radio that is pure stock, straight from the factory, unmodified or amplified is going to put out 3 watts. That means that both the most expensive and least expensive radios are going to have basically the same output power. You see, more money buys you more features and a more prestigous brand name; but, not more power.
    .
    If he is going to be driving a company truck, it most likely will come with coax cable and antennas. Not exactly the highest quality stuff but most likely useable. He can easily replace an antenna. The antenna just screws into the antenna mount. For a tractor trailer, the consensus is that a 4 foot long antenna is the minimum you should use. Personally, I prefer the 4 1/2 to 6 foot long antennas. Oh and by the way, when the antenna is advertised as xxxx watts, that refers to how much it can handle going into the antenna. There is no way a 3 or 4 watt radio can transmit more power out the antenna than the radio put out. Unless of course you have an amplifier between the radio and the antenna.
    .
    The most valuable thing I can tell you is to check the SWR reading immediately after installing the radio and definitely before you start using the CB radio. You can get more information on how to check the SWR on the internet or by purchasing a used book on the internet like "The Big Dummies Guide to CB Radio". While I greatly dislike the title, it is a great book for someone who is new to CB radio. It is a very easy read, quite informative and pretty cheap to boot.
     
  9. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    Yep the rules are clear 4 watts max and 40 ch max .....
     
  10. eddennis1

    eddennis1 Light Load Member

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    Dec 23, 2010
    quanah, tx
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    Yes, those are the rules, and yes a stock radio will work. However, with a stock radio setting in a traffic jam trying to get some local info on how to get around it; 1. no one will hear you unless they are beside you and 2. no one will be able to help you unless they are setting beside you and the odds are the driver setting beside you doesn't know a way around the backup or he wouldn't be setting beside you. Maybe investing a little more money in a better unit will save you a headache in the long run. I personally like my General Lee, yes, yes,yes, i know its not REALLY a CB radio, but then it works very well and i have yet to be incarcerated by the FCC so I can only assume that they are busy with other tasks. Also I run a 5' Francis with 18' coax.
     
  11. WA4GCH

    WA4GCH Road Train Member

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    Seminole Florida
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    So you beleve that the only laws you obay are ones you feel are enforced or you like ?
     
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