Why do truckers use linear amplilfiers with their CB radios?

I let my license lapse and have been out of amateur radio for over ten years, what is the most popular band that trucker hams use? 2 meters was the big mobile band last time I was involved.

 

My neighbor got a 2m and couldn't find anyone to talk to, so I doubt that's it, at least not in Ga. One thing about hammers is they're often a smarter bunch overall (not every one tho) and you can get more intelligent convo going.
There are smart CB'ers too...they just happen to be listening to XM or tapes or...at least shutting it off when passing thru town to avoid the moronic masses who then turn theirs on. CB has gotten lonely in the last 10 years unless you enjoy psychotic babbling and dirty underwear.

 

I know this is gonna open a can of worms,but here goes anyhow.What exactly does a linear amp do and if I was gonna get one what would a good one be and does anyone know where I can get a power swing kit for a galaxy 959.

 

Tell me about it. Holy moly, I have met a few winners over the years while I was in amateur radio. I also made some very good friends. Local hams actually get to know each other. I haven't had a CB in over 20 years and I remember it was pretty trashy back then.

 

I've gotten to know a lot of people within the past year that I have met through CB radio...

Smarter bunch? I'm educated. I have a college degree...I'm an investigator...for the state...and the Court... hmmm... but I must be stupid since I use a CB right?

Rlight276, despite what some of these know it all folks say... Linears do work. My setup in my pickup truck is basically a Galaxy 44V with a Palomar 225 pushing it. The radio I have right now swings very well and have not had to use the linear as much lately but, if you have a good linear running you can reach out a lot further. also, most linears come with a preamp switch that is basically just a volume increase button but sometimes it comes in handy if you can hear someone from far off and can't understand them. Don't let the others discourage you because remember... you can eat ham every morning and not have to have a license to do so...

 

No one was implying that CB users are stupid. In fact, I was commenting on some of the "winners," (said in a sarcastic way), that I have met in amateur radio. However, since there is such easy entry into CB use, the door is wide open to obnoxious people, that may or may not be smart, but many people, (whether they are hams or not does not matter), call them stupid. I'm sure you have heard them on the CB and it doesn't sound like you are one of them.

 

This is just TOO FUNNY!!

 

A linear amp amplifies the outgoing signal of your radio. It allows you to be heard at a further distance than if you ran the radio "barefoot"...meaning no amp.

Most often you don't need an amp but some people think they need 5000 watts to talk across the truck stop. Keep in mind an amp on a CB is illegal and if caught they can confiscate it and fine you.

If you were going to get one.....depends if you're going to use it for AM only (what a basic 40 channel CB runs) or is you were going to run it with a sideband radio like a Cobra 148 or a Uniden Grant. Not all amps can run with a SSB radio BUT a good amp would be an Xforce or a Davemade or a Fatboy.

A "power swing kit".....????? LOL you must mean a "swing kit"....well you can get one of those anywhere but any real CB enthusiast (that really knows a radio inside and out) will tell you to "save your money" because a swing kit is another gimmick to get you to throw your money away. It would be the same thing as if I sold you some NOS stickers and told you that if you stuck them on your radio you'd have more power.....and you believed me.

Hee hee I like this quote....

 

X-FORCE? DAVEMADE???? You gotta be crappin'. Those are C-class bleeding SEIVES! I got rid of my 1200 Xforce because my neighbors couldn't watch tv when I was on, and even a lowpass filter didnt do the trick. I'd never have another. And Davemade...he was the X-force partner back in the day I heard, and just took the available tech and tried to improve it. Haven't heard about his later models tho...maybe he cleaned up...but I dunno, I'd be wary.
I like Texas Star, some Palomars, and my base uses a KLV 400 that likes to pop fuses a lot, but runs very clean. All lower budget amps that work well enough, but I'd prefer a good A class Ham amp.

 

alright alright. Truce....

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt because it is hard to read people on the computer. You can't tell when people are being sarcastic.