Which CB Radio?

I didn't make it the CB shop just cut a piece and put connectors on the end. Should have been more descriptive.

 

Glad you cleared that up!:smt120

 

Yep ....

Coax is a tough home made project ...

 

This post is for the general audience of those who are looking for an inexpensive cb radio setup. Here are the low cost cb radio basics. If it transmits and receives 3 to 5 miles for not a lot of money, I am satisfied. What I will be discussing is all about factory stock cb radios.
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. The dirty little secret about cb's is that all the shiney radios at the truckstop put out about 3 watts of power. The legal power limit for a cb radio is 4 watts. All the radios have different prices, brand names and features. What you are paying for are features and the brand name. There is not much difference otherwise.
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.People spend way to much time on what radio to purchase and not nearly enough time on which antenna to buy. When dealing with a factory stock radio, the antenna is the single most important component that you will purchase for your cb radio setup. Nothing else even comes close.
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.The antennas and coax that comes with the truck is normally junk. Get whatever radio that you want add a good antenna and okay coax and you will do okay. Again, dealing with a factory stock cb radio, RG 58 coax of 12 feet or shorter is just fine. RG 8, or mini 8 as it is sometime called, is not going to increase your range enough to justify the increase cost. If you have a newer truck that uses one coax cable for AM/FM radio and CB, I definitely suggest that you use your own separate coax cable that is dedicated solely to the CB.
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. Again, the antenna is the most important component of your cb radio setup. Not the radio and not the coax cable. Spending more money on the antenna is more important than a fancier radio or more expensive coax. If you can afford a Wilson 2000 or similar antenna, you will be in great shape. If you need a less expensive antenna, go with a 4 1/2 to 5 foot antenna ie, Firestick, Francis or Wilson Silverload.
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.That is the basics. Amplifiers and high power stuff is just not what I am into.

 

Good info.........BUT.....(here we go again.......deep breath).......coax length can make a difference as to whether you have a good SWR or not on these new trucks. Yes I know that is indicative of a bad ground, but if you want to run a CB and 18ft gives you a good SWR and 9ft doesn't, what are you gonna do? (taking into consideration you don't have time or can't run ground straps and fix the problem.)

 

Ive been looking at the new digital cobras from a radio seller on ebay that is peaked, aligned and tuned. im guessing that would have to be better than most any radios that you can purchase that are stock, right?

 

NO! I wouldn't buy a radio from anybody that has had the covers off of it unless I knew who had been inside it. Just because they sell radios, does not mean they know how to properly tune one. That even goes for the retail places that have been around for years. I have seen enough, even from them, to know that I do not want them inside my radio at all!!!

 

Personally, I do not believe in radios that are modified from their original factory stock condition. There are just to many guys that think they know what they are doing. And, way to few that reallly know what they are doing. Jacking up the power is a great way to radically increase the heat level inside the radio's case and cause premature failure. I say leave it stock and it will last for many, many trouble free years. That is just my opinion and I am sticking to it.
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.As I said in a previous post, the antenna is the single most important component that you will buy for your CB radio setup. Keep your radio stock and save the money for an upgraded antenna. That is the most cost effective solution for the long term. Except if you are going to use an amplifier. But, amplifiers are something beyond my level of expertise.
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.To reply to Mike5511, I understand if you are slip seating etc that changing the coax length will change the Swr reading. That only fools the meter into a false reading. But, if that is your only option then you gotta do what you have to do.
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.As a general rule, I try to fix the problem as best I can. But in a practical sense there are exemptions for most general rules.

 

Whatever it takes to keep from burning up the finals! I too would prefer to fix the problem, but it isn't always feasible.

 

I too was shopping for a radio a couple months ago, I found a used Cobra Nightwatch on Craigslist for $50 I took a chance and bought it. and I discovered it had the echo put in in place of the SWR/CAL dial.

It's been a great radio perfect for my needs and I am so glad I bought it verses a new one in a truck stop (which I almost did).