annoying big radios

[hillbilly]

I beleive in using a fcc approved cb radio. I have done some research and found ten meter radios are nothing more than annoying illeagley powerd cb radios. even the hams i know wouldn,t use them. I currently use a uniden pc78ltw and with my antenna and good coax I can hear most nights 10+ miles I have even talked to other drivers that far away. so tell me what is the facination with these loud booming illedgeble echo to illeagle radios. I am more likely to respond and have a conversation with a driver on a regular fcc approved cb than someone who blows me out of the cab of the truck when they key up. just a bit of advice from a driver who loves cb radio by a uniden, cobra, midland, texas ranger, or if you got money to throw away a fcc approved galaxy 959. and a good antenna and stop trying to talk bigger than you are. I,ve met people face to face who have big radios and had to laugh to quote sheriff bufford t. justice "you sounded a lot taller on radio"

[MACK E-6]

The worst ones are those with the earsplitting beeps when they key up. Some will even hold conversations with themselves so people will think "Wow, I wonder who he's talking to that's so damn far away nobody else can hear him."

[kc0rey]

Glad you found this section Hillbilly.

I am striving to educate the foks that post and read here. The big problem is the CB shops lie or just don't know any better. Many times the driver really has no idea what his radio sounds like. And listen to some of the "radio Checks". Everything from "It's workin" to "It's putting out like my EX-Ole Lady, across 3 counties and 2 states!" <----I coined that one my self. You'll get a thumbs up for a radio that is off frequency and/or distorted.

The real proof is in the antenna.

[David Autrey]

Yeah, I've wondered about that, if there are repeater type stations you can trans to, and hear it, I guess it would work too, to have a second unit right there? or is it too close? been told on the yard mine sounds wrough, swapped mics. haven't been around anyone patient enough recent to respond. Would be a lovely service to offer at a stop or store.

I must have had three explanations of how to tune a radio, is there a pdf of the proceedure someplace? Or read back in these posts?

[kc0rey]

David,
It sounds like you have a problem with frequency or your signal is dirty for one or more reasons.

Your best bet is a qualified shop or send it back to the manufacturer.

[Truck Vet]

To answer your your question why would anyone want a big radio:
I would like to be able to hold a conversation on the CB and continue
it long enough to switch channels. I have never owned a 'big' radio.
I would not own one that could not be switched down to 4 watts because
that is where I would keep it 99.9 percent of the time. However
I would like a high quality radio with a good speaker so I don't have
to mount a remote. I agree with your post those 'big' radios
piss me off too. But I believe that for every one that is being used to
annoy everyone within 20 miles there are 3 big radios out there
that are used to try to find out some important information and be used
responsibly. You just don't notice them as much.

[ol'buzzard]

ah the joys of cb, much as it was back in the ealry 70's, when i decide it wan't worth it to me as a 4 wheeler to put up with the crap anymore. 30 years later and nothing has really changed. with an out of the box radio of decent quality, and well tuned antenae, you can talk to people hundreds of miles away, when the skip is running good.

my answer for those that insist on barring me from getting information, or annoying the heck out me sometimes borders on what i would refer to as justifiable homicide. that is why i quit using them. plus all the garbage that was on them even then. i have a long list of radio peeves, but won't go into them, you all know what bothers you and we probably think alike. for those that don't have any consideration for other people tho, may your life be short and less than enjoyable.

[Aussie]

Back in the 70's in Gosford, Australia I used to sit under a Microwave Tower and listen to and occaisonally manage to have a conversation with people in the USA if the skip was good and as there is really nothing between the 2 land masses, it was possible - the tower provided some sort of boost somehow as if I moved away from it, the signal faded. All I used was a SSB with a power Mike and that radio is still used by my older brother in AU - can't even remember the brand but it did'nt start life as a SSB. Now I use a out of the box Uniden, Wilson 2000 Antenna, standard coax and it works fine so why try to fix something that's working just fine!

[SNI_Gary_OC]

I have to agree with you Hillbilly, they are tend to be a bit to loud with poor sound quality. But, some of the bigger radios do sound good but it depends not only on how the radio is set but on the pitch of voice, the volume of the voice, and how clearly the user speaks.

[MACK E-6]

Nothing like hearing them loud and clear on EVERY channel...