Company Install

Make sure you run that radio straight to the batteries for power. You cannot run it off the power points in the roof, there simply isnt enough there..

That is alot of radio for some one who doesnt know alot about radios, might I suggest something simpler for a beginning operator til you get the hang of the radio and all its features? Just a suggestion..

 

For a starter radio I recommend a Cobra 25 LTD or a Uniden PC68. Both can be had for less than $100 new and will give you everything you will need. Also both of these radios are legal so as long as you don't have some shop peak and tune it.

The radio you have is not even a legal CB radio; it's actually a 10 meter (read: ham) export radio that's sold illegally in the U.S. It's illegal because it does not comply with part 95 of the FCC rules which is what covers what you can and cannot do to a Cb radio/on the CB radio frequency.

The 98VHP you have may or may not be converted to work on the CB bad as all export radios are made to work on 10 meters only until someone does the conversion to work on the CB band. Keep this in mind because many times drivers have accidently turned onto the ham bands (most commonly the morse code segment of the 28 mhz frequency) only to be tracked down by hams/turned in/have FCC warning letters and/or $10k + fines.

Also just to keep in mind a lot of the chatter you will hear over the CB maybe be amusing or it may be non sense you care not to hear. While you can find a decent conversation every so often, a lot of times you will hear truckers telling each other to "shaddup stupid" and "I'll whup yer ###" amongst racial slurs and other types of profanity.

I did a google search on your radio:



And yes you will want to hook this one directly to the battery due to having a built in linear. Also you will want to ensure there's adequate air flow on the bottom of the radio as it may get a little warm during use.

Looks like definitely a lot of radio for a first timer starter....you've got single side band, roger beep, echo, a built in linear, talk back....probably more features on that radio than you'll ever use.

 

98VHP is alot of Radio. I'll agree with all the points that theother posters have made, however, If you want the best then go for it. These are a smokin radio. I have a couple friends who run them. Look at it this way, if you buy this off the bat you'll have no need to upgrade. So instead of buying a radio selling it 6 months later buying something else and then getting burnt out on it and repeating this 3 or 4 times I say just go for it but be sure to have someone who knows what they are doing help you install it and set it up for you. Also be sure you learn how to operate it so as to not get yourself into trouble. JMO

 

hillbilly has a point.....I started small and worked my way up to a Galaxy DX 95T2, its a great radio and I love it, but I know I wouldn't've appreciated it as my first one. I still suggest what Turbo T does, especially for the fact that if you dont know where you are in all them channels, things can get expensive....fast

 

If you want all the bells and whistles legally, The Galaxy DX 959 or 979 is right for you.

 

Based on you seem to have your head together I would spend it on the 98vhp. Just follow above advice I gave in my original post as well as others. You will never need another radio if you get the 98. JMO

 

A CB is a CB, truth be told, the 98 VHP is actually called an "export radio". When it comes off the assembly line, it doesn't talk on the CB frequencies, it talks on the 10 meter ham frequencies.

In order for it to work on the 11 meter CB band, it has to have a conversion done. Once converted, it will still cover the 10 meter ham bands but it will also cover the 11 meter CB band. However it's still illegal since it doesn't comply with part 95 of the FCC rules which governs what a CB radio can and cannot do.

And this is not the only export radio avaliable....Connex and Stryker, as well as magnum also are considered export radios. in fact, if it has a band switch like the 98 VHP does (goes from A-B-C-D-E-F) it is an export radio.

Now, as long as you never get off of the 11 meter CB band, you will probably be ok, unless Uncle Charlie and his buddies happen to be going thru the weigh stations and checking out people's radios to make sure they're not illegal. I have heard they have in the past done this.

Just a word of caution, as I see that radio has a freq. counter....the CB radio band is 26.965 mhz to 27.405 mhz. As long as you stay between these 2 frequencies (channels 1-40) you will be on the CB band. Channel 19 is 27.185 mhz.

Now if you flip that band switch and land somewhere on 28.XXX, now you're in the ham territory and it's one sure way to make them mad if you're not licensed to be there. And especially if you start keying up between 28.001 and 28.300, that's the non voice morse code area of the 10 meter band...the hams if they hear ya can't even respond back to tell you to get off the air (well they could but they're not supposed to since it's non voice area plus they're not supposed to talk to any unlicensed people) You can bird dog on the 10 meter band all ya want, just don't key up unless you have the ham ticket to do so.

Hopefully this will help ya some.