Why do truckers use linear amplilfiers with their CB radios?

Very true,
I have been building antennas and radios for over 30 years and sadly what is often overlooked is antenna efficiency and band conditions. Radio signals in the CB radio spectrum are completely dependent on a term called propagation (bouncing signal off the ionosphere)

99% of what truckers need is NO propagation (ground wave) Otherwise what people hear is the typical hetrodyne and noise. This also follows the 11 year sunspot cycle

Brent
W1IA

 

Whilst that all is true, let's not forget that 27mhz band isn't as easy to skip with as Ham channels, and it's a LOT more crowded and noisy.
The antenna contests around here (including shootouts) basically bring out the same basic designs, and wether or not you're using a director, what pill class you're in or barefoot, and maybe how many alternators you have on your V-8. My FoxPole will run right in there with Predators or whatever; we've been limited by the bandwidth IMO.

I find the sunspot cycle to be irregular, save for the peaks.

 

Sure i can. Get me on top of a small hill or even flat land and with the key cranked up to around 25 watts i will peg you out......as long as the final holds out anyway.

 

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


But not all hams do this. Some are so consumed by getting the longest contact they will run massive amounts of power to make it. Then turn around a say they were only useing a small ammount of power or even go to the extreme of using a remote station just to have bragging rights.

This type of behavior has been well documented in CQ and i think it is QRP ( not sure ) magazine. I think that when it comes down to it,there are more Aholes in ham then there are on the 11 meter band. Your a ham and i would think you have seen this first hand.

..and it sucks to. I got my ticket just to get away from the fools on the cb radio and i be ###### if there not on #### near every frequency on my FT-100D!

 

Yeah, 5 miles isn't squat. I can talk to Dalton Ga. 70 miles up I-75 at night, barefoot, so a full swing at 5 sounds about right.

 

Thank you Gadfly, now I know that I should go out and purchase a 300 watt linear amp so I can boost my TX signal by 3 S units. Should allow me to be better heard at distances.

Yeah I know not what you as a ham operator wanted to hear from another CB user but seriously there's more things that cause noise besides amps, and in today's society you either have to run with the pack or stay on the porch. This isn't 1975 anymore.

 

Theory doesn't always meet application either.

 

There is always the old radio saying that power (watts from a linear) and IQ are inversely proportional!

 

My radio never said that! Maybe yours did but we couldn't hear it because my radio was talking.

 

LMFAO! I think you just squashed a mud duck!