What's the best CB to run??

The one that works.



On a real note, I'm running a peaked and tuned uniden bear cat 980ssb with a 54 inch whip antenna that I'm still in the processe of tuning.

 

I have my popcorn out because at some point in this thread someone is going to bring up that drivers that don't use CBs are evil Nazi's out to make life as hard as they can for everybody. I predict by this time tomorrow there will be at least 1 post like that

 

I use a Cobra 29 with weather bands, I have two of them (not in the same truck). The problem is, no matter the radio, the "CB Rambos" are still going to sound the same, static or no-static.

 

Reposted, missed the quote.

 

I think the (best) CB Radio ever produced was the Tram Diamond 40. It came out before the CB bandwidth was enlarged from 23 to 40 channels. My Father had one that a guy modified so it would get all 40 channels. It was a great CB with a great power output. Every once in a while you will see one but they are about as rare today as an honest politician. Honestly as little as I used a CB the last CB I bought was at a small place near Houston. I think I paid about $25 for it. Just a small no name radio that did what I wanted a CB for.

 

CB shops are all over the Country

 

Another thing my Father taught me was find someone you trust to work on your CB and don't let just anybody near your main radio. Dad always used a top of the line radio. However he also kept an old standby close too. If he had a problem old standby was used till he got to someone he trusted. I'm kinda the same way. Granted there are CB shops all over the country. You would never see me taking a $200 to $500 worth of CB radio equipment and let "skippy" get his hands on it. Not trying to bad mouth "skippy" but an ounce of prevention is worth 200 pounds of cure. However my last few years of driving this really never concerned me much because I very rarely turned my radio on and used an old toss away.

 

"One of these days I'm going to get a Big Strapper radio."

 

I have a Mirage 81, about 60 watts. It's not the biggest radio out there but works and sounds good. But, you don't need a big radio, what you do need though is a decent quality radio that has been peaked and tuned matched with a good coax, not the factory coax already installed in your truck. You can buy coax at the truck stops and its still better run in through your door than the factory stuff. You don't need to have a giant antenna if you not trying to put out big wattage but you will need decent antenna that is tuned and set up for your radio. Your SWR is very important for transmission. Go to a radio shop, talk, ask questions, a lot of times you can get a better radio used than you could buy new for the same money. The important thing is to get someone who knows what their doing to do the work. I have never had work at Walcot,IA but have heard good things. The radio shop at the Sapp Bro's exit 73 on 80 in IL. has done work for me, good work, a little pricey. SteelRods in Remmington,IN. I 65 exit 201 are very good, honest, and fair priced.
good luck

 

Mines in the attic. Uniden President Grant 25 watt dead key with a 400w bi linar, 120 channels and beer can antennas. Ah the days of old.