CB , Satelite Radio info for truckin newbies

As for a CB, yes. You don't have to listen to it 100% of the time, but it's nice to have to find out about traffic hazards, weather up the road, and some customers still have you put it on to call you to the dock or office.

As for the radio and the AUX plug and satellite; The best system is a plug and play unit. Buy one from Walmart or Best Buy. It'll be an external unit that will plug into your cigarette lighter for power and you run a small antennae out of the window or door to a high point in the truck. They also sell truck specific antennas that provide better reception and require mounting to a mirror or other bracket.

Having and AUX connection is wonderful. If you add a satellite radio you can use an auxiliary cord from the satellite unit to the AUX plug on the radio. This is the BEST connection for the two devices. If you don't have one you would need to use the FM modulator in the satellite unit and the reception is not as good. The AUX is also good for plugging a smart phone into the radio and playing any music you have on your phone. (ie. an iPhone with iTunes or Pandora radio app or iHeartRadio app).

I myself have a stereo that has a USB plug on it and I plug in my iPhone and listen to Pandora, iTunes, and also I have the Sirius/XM app on the iPhone. Far cry from scrolling through the channels or popping in tape after tape going down the road.

 

You can't go wrong with a Cobra 29. Anyone disagree?

 

Yes that is a good thought. Pandora is great. I don't know what I'll do without it. Lol.

 

I doubt anyone will, unless you need SSB for some reason.

I'm happy again.
I was unhappy because I couldn't use my 29 in my current truck. Always got a transmit warning light.
Every time I went into the shop I would mention it, and that it was probably the antenna wiring.
Nothing was ever done to fix it.

So yesterday I bought a new antenna and mounted it to the mirror bracket.
Back on the airwaves.

 

Yes, I'm not a CB snob but the Cobra 29 and the Uniden (66 or 68?) equivalent are the Toyota Camry/Honda Accord of CB radios. They are the most widely used, #### reliable, every shop knows how to work/modify them.

The only problem I've had with mine, one of each, was over-tightening the mounting bolts on one, and connecting the power cord with reverse polarity on the other. Both have been used for for 10 years off and on.

I don't even use a power mic. I've had them both peaked and tuned and get great range from them.

 

You definitely want a cb if for nothing else than knowing what lane to be in when coming up on an accident, good for hearing call outs on seat covers during the summer too.

 

In less than a year I have avoided 4 expressway backups that were 4 hours or more each by having the CB on.

Mikeeee

 

User error, on both counts.
Doesn't count.