best options for begginer

GWG · Mar 31, 2013

CaptainKirk said: ↑

Hey G. No need for apology. Everyone has to start somewhere. I'm just learning all this myself. I bought the Cobra 29 LX BT LCD and am really happy with it. The weather and scan features are a nice bonus. The bluetooth works really well. If your truck is noisy, you'll have to hold the microphone closer to your mouth, or hang it somewhere so it's closer, but that hasn't been a big issue for me. My wife and everyone else I talk to says it sounds good and they can't hear the radio or defroster in the background. You'll definitely want to get a good talkback/external speaker though. I recommend the Cobra brand...the RoadPro stuff sounds like a bad AM radio. Don't be attracted by the lower price.

I can't answer what the setup would be with a mega carrier. Either way, you'll probably end up with an older truck that has been screwed around with, so you might have to buy new cabling, mirror mounts, etc...

The Wilson 2000 has been fine for me, but any of the antennas are fine as long as SWR is tuned....SWR is "Standing Wave Radio", which is basically a measure of how much signal is "standing" by your antenna and is not being transmitted out, or even worse, it's stifling the remainder of your transmission. Most manuals say you don't want anything over two. From what I've experienced, you really want to be down to 1.5 or less (you'll see what this means when you hook up and starting tuning your radio, the Cobra 29 has built in SWR meter, as I assume most radios do.).

Channel 19 is the main trucker channel. I've rolled around on 9 a little and haven't heard much emergency traffic, so I don't know what those guys are doing these days. I've heard a lot of Spanish on 9 which I have been told is interference that propagates up from Mexico because they have no FCC type regulations there.

Good luck with your training and new career.

Kirk
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Kirk, thank you sooooooooooooooooo much. You have always been my favorite, orignal Star Trek character!!!!!! From the good ole days when Shatner played him!!!!

G MAN

GWG · Mar 31, 2013

Turbo-T said: ↑

SWR means "standing wave ratio". It's a measurement of how much of your signal goes out to as opposed to what goes back into the radio. You want this low as you can because 1. more signal getting out = greater chances of being heard, and 2. what goes back into the radio, ends up as heat, which in turn damages the internals of radio. For best results, ensure your SWR is 1.5:1 or lower. 2.0:1 is "ok" but 3.0:1 or higher is bad.

I can't comment on the Bluetooth radio as I have never owned one. I have owned, several Cobra 25 LTD and Uniden PC68 radios. IMO they are the best beginner radios, as they offer everything you'll want or need in one package, w/o being overpriced. Plus you can get them right now for $59 at Pilot if you use your Pilot rewards plus the factory rebate.

For antenna I recommend the Wilson 2000 trucker. I feel these offer superior performance over other trucker style antennas. Keep in mind your antenna is what makes or breaks your radio. A whip style antenna like the Wilson 2000 will pretty much always outperform a fiberglass antenna with the wire wound around it.

You also want good quality coax. Good coax is as essential as a good antenna. I like LMR-240UF myself but RG8X a.k.a. "mini 8" coax is good too. So I read, the factory truck's coax is garbage. Your coax is about as important as the antenna.

As for "who's going to do the install", I suggest you learn how to do it yourself. Installing a CB is very straight forward process. It'll save you $$ of having to pay someone to do it for you.

Channel 19 is still the trucking channel along the U.S. except some parts of California use 17 as theirs. Channel 9 is supposed to be used for emergencies, however not many people monitor channel 9 these days. Often when skip from Mexico rolls in, you'll hear Spanish speaking people on channel 9 as the FCC rules of reserving channel 9 for emergencies, does not apply to those living south of the border.
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Turbo T, thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much. I really appreciate it/you. As far as installing, do truck stops and or OC's from mega carriers have places to install this stuff and tweak it so it performs well? Again, money is of no concern, so I'd rather get it done right the first time!!! Thanks.

G MAN

Turbo-T · Mar 31, 2013

Some truck stops, if equipped with a CB shop, "might" be able to install for you. However as mentioned, I'd learn to do it yourself. It's very easy to do. Besides good CB techs are far and few these days.

If I didn't already have a full time job plus a family I'd invite you over and show you how to do it.

Drac1985 · Apr 4, 2013

DriverToBroker said: ↑

Pardon my ignorance but what is a coax? Also what is a good radio that won't break the bank?
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Coax is the back cable that runs from the back or yer radio to yer antenna. Radio's? Ya cant beat Cobra. Check out e-Bay, I purchased a used one that was mildly tweaked and came with a power mic. For what I paid I sould be arrested for theft.

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