HELP! I want one of them there big radios

Discussion in 'CB Radio Forum' started by Zephex, Aug 21, 2014.

  1. Zephex

    Zephex Light Load Member

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    Jul 8, 2013
    Blue Ridge GA
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    Not much of a driver to ######## on the radio but I always have it on and I do like to warn other drivers of possible problems. Reports from other drivers have saved my ### more than once.

    I'm in a cascadia with built in antennas. Yes, they suck. Running a bearcat 980....don't care for it either but I bought it free with fuel points.

    I plan to buy a cascadia mirror mount perch and put a single Wilson 5000 on it. I have 2 but they say its not worth the hassle of tweaking 2 antennas as they are harder to set up right. Planning on running a 5ft piece of good coax to it. Really all I want now is a radio. Never bought a big radio so I need some help.

    I don't need cow bells and all that ####. A slight echo may be OK but not to the point where I cant be understood. I don't get those guys that can broadcast for 20 miles but you can't understand a #### word they are saying. I want to be heard when I talk. I don't need to be heard 50 miles away but certainly more than the 1 mile I have now lol. I'd also like the radio to focus out incoming noise pretty well.

    Oh and I have to use existing power wiring. I'm not running huge power wires to my radio. I don't need that much power.


    What do you guys suggest? There are many brands...galaxy, connex, stryker, and more but I know nothing about how good they are. Before anyone yells at me, I am a licensed ham even though I never use it. KI4SXY is mine.
     
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  3. Picklechips

    Picklechips Light Load Member

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    Without running larger gauge wire I am at a loss. Do you know what gauge wire you have currently and how long the hot wire is? The reason I ask is because the more watts you put out the more amps your radio will draw. The more amps you draw the thicker your wire will have to be.

    You can get something like a Galaxy 55. That radio will put out 40 watts is tuned right, but I don't think 40 watts will do what you want.

    Anyway I don't know much about big radios I run a Cobra 29 and a box. That's the way to go IMO but if you can't run wire you are out of luck there.
     
  4. Zephex

    Zephex Light Load Member

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    Jul 8, 2013
    Blue Ridge GA
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    Cool, good to know. Ill check out what the guage of wire is in the truck. Its stock so whatever if is. Im guessing 16 or 14. Even if I went with the Galaxy 55 pushing 40 watts, thats 10x more than I get with a stock CB at 4watts. I just dont know which brand is the best so thats why I was askin
     
  5. Mudguppy

    Mudguppy Degenerate Immoralist

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    Wooley Swamp
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    I have the same radio (BC 980) and also got mine with points (paid about $50 I think). I was having the same problems with it on my '08 Pete and a Wilson T2000. I took it to a GOOD tech for a simple peak and tune ($20) and now I get out and receive 4-6 miles consistently (up to 8-10 with no obstructions/flat land and the right conditions). It now puts out around 14 watts after the P&T. Just a thought....
     
  6. Drifter42

    Drifter42 Hopper Heartache

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    Seymour IN
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    Get a peak and tune on the 980 and get you one of those Rm Italy KL203 amps to run behind it. Does not draw very many amps and gets about 100 watts am and 160 ssb. That should get you on out there.
     
  7. Voyager1968

    Voyager1968 Road Train Member

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    Phoenix, AZ
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    This is not an advertisement or an endorsement for a particular CB shop, just an informational post and possible recommendation.

    You can take a look at a Mirage MX-36HP. Supposedly it will tune to about 50-60 watts and is the size of a Cobra 29, which is nice because most export 10m radios are considerably larger and don't fit (without modifications) in the overhead mounting locations, which are set up for a Cobra. I myself am considering getting one.

    Again, the posting of this link is **NOT** an endorsement of or for the particular seller, but an informational link to show the radio, as Mirage's website, is basically just a photo with no specs or information.

    https://www.bellscb.com/products/tenmeter/ranger/Mirage_MX-36HP.htm
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2014
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  8. Drifter42

    Drifter42 Hopper Heartache

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    Pretty good price on that radio.
     
  9. kor b

    kor b Light Load Member

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    When comparing a radio putting out 4 watts to one putting out 40 watts, thinking the 40 watt radio is 10x more powerful as the 4 watter is flawed thinking. When your power output doubles, the receiving radio can barely notice a difference. And that applies to any number you start with. 4 to 8 -----40 to 80-----300 to 600.
     
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  10. Turbo-T

    Turbo-T Road Train Member

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    If you don't care for the echo and want to be heard, my advice is (1.) DON'T buy a radio with echo (yes they CAN be had w/o it, the export radios that is) OR (2.) If you do buy one with it, don't turn it on.

    The reason you can't understand anyone with the echo on, is because most anyone who runs echo doesn't know how to set it correctly. The talkback just "gives" you an idea, but what you sound like over the talk back and how it really sounds over the air, are NOT the same!

    Since you don't want to run big power wires to your radio, that limits you in what kinds of radios you can run. In your case, I'd look into something with under 50 watts of power, such as a General Lee (if you plan to work AM only) or a n RCI 2950 (if you want to work SSB). Being that you're a tech ham, you can legally work 28.000-28.299 on CW (RCI 2950 lets you do this) and 28.300-28.499 on SSB voice. Also the RCI-2950 doesn't have the echo (unless someone added it).

    And if you're a ham, why not use the license?

    Another nice radio, is the Magnum 257. It too is a talker, and smaller than the 2950, and doesn't have echo (again unless someone added it)

    Also you say you want to be heard past a mile.....I'd look into your antenna and coax. On a clear day with no skip, you should get out a good 5 miles + on a 4 watt radio and a Wilson 5000. Unless of course you have high SWR issues. A big radio won't fix an SWR issue.

    HTH
     
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  11. volvo244t

    volvo244t Road Train Member

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    I would sell the Wilsons. They tend not to work well on the Cascadia. Instead, get a long fiberglass (5.5' Francis, 7' SkipShooter) or a 24" shaft Predator 10-K, Monkey Made MM-9 Long, etc. Base-loaded antennae and short-shafted center-loaded antennae just don't cut it on the Cascadia.
     
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