Cobra 19

[clantonman1983]

but wouldn't your transmit and recieve be fine if you had a very good antenna???

where does the actual unit come into play on that one?

[Red Fox]

I had a 25 for many years, wore out 2 faceplates on it. Our shop tech modded it to 17 watts early on and I never tried to mess with it because he said that was the best range for that amp and it would last me.
It did.
29's however, could be turned up a bit more without worry. I can't speak for the new radios; I don't know if they use the same boards as before.

[clantonman1983]

but thats what am asking. i am not a CB expert so i don't always understand everything that you guys are talkinga bout.

you said you had your old unit turned up to 17 watts... but what does tha tmean? does that just mean that it is louder coming out of other peoples radios? or does that actually help you transmit further? I thought that the antenna was the main thing that did that.

[Red Fox]

You're right. If you don't have an antenna, you don't have a radio.
Turning the power up doesn't make it louder, it gives it more carrier to transmit farther. Modulation is loudness, but overmodulation is distortion and wasted power. 100% is where you want that when talking, not whistling or yelling or whispering.
BTW, I had a K40 once and thought it stunk when I used it with power. I don't like them.

[clantonman1983]

well, I went ahead and put in my order for a Cobra 25.

[clantonman1983]

went by the cb shop again. its a cobra 25 that is putting out 35 watts. dang straight. all i need is a good antenna...

any suggestions as to the best antenna to get?

[squirrellsgnwild]

for an easy to setup antenna i would go lil wilson (36") or wilson 1000 magnet (66'')

[FriedTater]

You say you have a truck,does it have a tool box ?
Is the toolbox flush mount or raised ?

Detail please

Originally Posted by clantonman1983

went by the cb shop again. its a cobra 25 that is putting out 35 watts. dang straight. all i need is a good antenna...

any suggestions as to the best antenna to get?

[Red Fox]

I'm not sure here about the newer 25's, but 35 watts (doubt that's Byrd watts!) seems like a lot for that board, and if it is, he's probably turned it all the way up. They used to be prone to dying that way; I wouldn't run it hard if it were me. Clean modulation setup would help things too, and make a nice sounding radio.
BTW - most ALL of you would just about cry when your rig was put on a Byrd meter and find out what your actual wattage is. It can be embarrassing in a way.

[clantonman1983]

Fried Tater... I don't have a toolbox, I have a bedcover. Guy at the shop said the best place would be my roof but someone else also mentioned one of those antennas that bolt onto the front of my bed.

Red Fox...Yeah i know what you mean. I wasn't planning on getting anything modded like that but i got a real good deal. i think it was somewhere in the vicinity of 30 to 35 watts when he hooked it up to a meter. I trust him though, he's pretty good. most people i know that have a 25 said that's what they usually run. somewhere between 25 to 35.