Powerful radio

You were talking about switching radios. So don’t compare your current antenna with your 29 you already stated on replacing. @Ridgeline was recommending working to a antenna upgrade before the radio. He is just trying to assist. Antenna is important, even the mount. At least go with both upgrades.

 

If this is your goal..........you're talking about at least a $1000-2000 investment! That includes a big radio, either with a built-in amp or an external amp. Add to the cost of the transmitter is the proper installation of an antenna system that will give you the performance you're looking for. Add more cost to proper power feeds for that "big hammer" you're transmitting with! Then, depending on what vehicle you're using, proper RF grounds, location of antenna, type of antenna, etc.
Do some research before emptying your wallet! Find someone who has some good knowledge about CB's and listen!
Here's one for you..... you want to know the difference between that General Lee and that 120 watt Ranger? Price! Nobody on the other end is going to honestly know the difference power wise!

JD

 

I went through the same learning curve as you seem to be struggling with. I wanted more power, everyone kept telling me to improve my antenna..of course I wouldn’t listen. So I went and dropped the coin to have my radio rebuilt etc….put it back in and same results. I hung my head when I walked back into the CB shop and got the mount, antenna and coax he’d been telling me to try.
Amazingly it fixed everything and I finally had a great setup.
From my experience start with the antenna first.

 

It’s actually easier to skip across the country than to go 10-20 miles. He’s transmitting that far because the signal is bouncing off the atmosphere and back down to earth, called skywave or skip. It’s great for very long distances, but not for short ranges. If you were 20 miles away from Mud Duck, chances are, you wouldn’t hear him because the signal would be going literally over your head.

For closer range, you rely on the signal following the ground, also called groundwave. For this, you are essentially limited by line-of-sight and distance to the horizon. More power will help get through some obstacles better, but if you have a mountain between you, no amount of power is going to overcome that. Because of this, more power gives more range but only to a degree. There’s a point at which you’ll get diminishing returns. 20 miles for groundwave is stretching it regardless of power unless your antenna is up on a tower.

 

@Ridgeline keeps spreading the wisdom.
Is anybody listening?
1. Select the single antenna setup for simplicity.
2. Start with the proper antenna for your projected power.
The longer the better. Ex: with the stud height at 7.5 feet from the ground
you can use a max 6 ft antenna. To stay legal and avoid damage.
3. Replace the original stud with a steel one that best withstand the wind drag.
4. Install a new 50 Ohms impedance good quality coaxial cable.
Long enough to cover the distance from the stud to the overhead bin. Plus a little extra.
5. Add a good ground/replace existing ground. Which one may best apply in your situation.
6. Connect the CB Radio to an external SWR meter .
7. Connect the SWR meter to the antenna.
8. Power up and dead key the CB Radio on CH20 to check the SWR reading.
9. The reflected signal should read between 1.1 to 2.0. Higher than that, you need help.
I mean professional help. For the antenna system.

 

Well I wish either craig or rabbi would explain this better than I did but I thank ACD explained it and did a GREAT job.

See what you are missing is this fact, wattage has something to do with transmission of a signal, 80% of the system to get out is the antenna, not the radio.

 

I think you have this preconceived notion that money buys power, not really what I’ve experienced. I was like you and at times and spent excessive money to “talk” and only ended up wasting that money. Listen to the advice you’re getting and find a reputable tech like I did that will show you the proper set up. From what I’ve seen the big radio that you hear in New Mexico, the same as I do in Florida, isn’t even a base station, it’s as he describes a finely tuned set up. My 29, with a good coax, a 40$ dollar ranger mic, and less than 50$ antenna is the best set up I’ve had in 20 years. The service to the radio, the mic the coax and the antenna were all available at the shop in baldwin Florida I referenced previously.