Why do truckers use linear amplilfiers with their CB radios?

[Red Fox]

I remember when you couldn't get a word in on there. It's all about the sun, baby!

[WA4GCH]

Strange .....

But I run on CB and have for 45+ years and have never had a need for a amp .....
EVEN on 10 meters I only run about 80 watts SSB/FM and can work just about anyone I want .

To each his own ......

[Red Fox]

You found people on FM?
80w sideband is gonna get out nicely. For CB, I rarely use the amps, just 28w barefoot. Nice to have it when I need it.

[WA4GCH]

Morning Red Fox ...

I'm talking about 10 meters but to answer your question on 29.600 FM I have worked Germany form my car running about 4 watts and can sign into the 14.300 net ( control station is north of Boston ) with only 5 watts no problem .....
I just don't need more than the 100 watts MAX that my radios put out and don't use that unless I have too .....

On Cb I run a stock GRANT LT .....

[packerfan11]

Wanna see how dumb Cb'rs are??? Go to any trk stop, cb shop, Radio shack, and see all kinds of stuff for Cbs. Not much in the way for hammers...Ham radio guys to you laymen. Usually a hammer will look at something and say, " hell, I can make that" when a Cb'r wiould just rather buy it cuz its "cool". The last guy was right on...doesn't matter what kinda ray-dideo you got....antennae and coax is everything. My pop used to make antennas out of just plain wire across the tree tops. Talked around the world on 1 watt or so...I think one time he kicked on the "big dog 2000 watt Kicker" just so the guy in Russia, Asia, whereever he was could hear him. What gets me is the guys that need 1200 watts to talk across the parking lot....Geez. If I could get away with the 102 whip..I would. so a single, quality coax and a decent whip style antenna works best if grounded properly.

[Turbo-T]

Packerfan11 not all CBers are dumb, some yes but not all. I don't know of anyone that "needs" 1200 watts to talk across a parking lot, just that some prefer to have theirs on so in case someone else happens to hit the key a split second before they do, they can talk over him.

Oh and were in central MO are you?

[WA4GCH]

Originally Posted by semicomputing

Some amateur radio operators have contest for furthest distance with 1 watt of power. Usually on 20, 40 , or 80 meter, occasionally 160 meter. They take great pride in reaching 200-1000 miles on the least amount of power available.

KB0ZOR

YES YOU ARE RIGHT !

The problem is people THINK they need them to be heard and work skip however when the band is hot you can work the world on that 4 watts I have worked Germany from my car on 29.600 mhz FM running 4 watts .....

I had a HW-7 years ago and ran it on CW on 80 meters and with that one watt worked around the us and into Canada. My 6 meter station ran 10 watts for many years

I have found no advantage even as a HAM to powers over 100 watts except to tick off people around you ....

[Red Fox]

I want to see you shoot skip on 27mhz with 4 watts. Go ahead, make my day.

[WA4GCH]

Originally Posted by Red Fox

I want to see you shoot skip on 27mhz with 4 watts. Go ahead, make my day.

That is not a problem on any band from 20-6 meters ..... If you think Cb is diffrent from 10 meters it is not ..... I run a Grant LT and NO AMP ..... and I can be heard also from the car a MIDLAND radio on ch 21 early in the morning and when talking to my friend in St. Pete we have skip stations call us all the time.

You DO NOT NEED POWER on any band when the band is hot ...... Just a bit of luck ....

I have worked Germany with 4 watts from the car on 29.600 FM and have a QSL from that contact

CB radio here .....

[Turbo-T]

Originally Posted by Red Fox

I want to see you shoot skip on 27mhz with 4 watts. Go ahead, make my day.

I've done it on a 6 watt radio on regular AM, not sideband.