questions about buying a CB

The halfwave length of the CB frequency is 18 feet -- ONLY -- when the signal is traveling through air. While some people think that this has some connection to the proper length of the coax cable to be used, this is like saying that YOUR fuel economy is directly related to how fast I drive MY truck.
.
If any halfwave length has anything to do with the length of the coax cable, it would be the halfwave length of the CB frequency traveling through the coax cable. That halfwave length is 11 feet 10 inches. Now, 18 feet of coax will work. But, take note that 18 feet of coax is more than 50% longer than the 11 feet 10 inch halfwave length of the coax that you are using. Therefore, any halfwave length of the CB frequency ain't got nothing to do with the proper length of the coax cable.
.
In addition 18 feet of coax leaves you with a bunch of excess cable to deal with. If you mistakenly coil the excess cable in a loop, that can cause an impedence mismatch that will screw up your SWR and tuning of the antenna.
.
So, avoid the problem altogether and use a shorter length of coax. 12 feet of RG58 coax has nearly identical performance to 18 feet of RG8 (a difference of 0.12% of signal to the antenna) for approximately half the cost of 18 feet of RG 8 and it is more flexible and easier to route.

 

Coax length has little to do with matching anything IF it does you got other problems.

 

i bought a galaxy 949, its stock, sounds great, and every driver i talk to says its getting out loud and strong.

I like the dimmer function and the talkback

 

The 949 and 959 are good radios.

 

Yes the Blue leds suck. They are the only thing I hate about my Connex. I have to tape over both the meter and the channel window at night or I can't see a dang thing. The Blue LEDs are so bright that they actually close up your pupils making you loose your natural night vision.

You will be amazed at what you can see at night if you get rid of all the bright light in the cab and turn the dash lights way down low.

 

Agreed, Red or Amber are the preferred colors to use if you want optimum night vision

 

Can you recomend what things I should ask the tech to do that I pick to tune my radio? I have a dx959 (I like the dimmer feature on it) I dont want a monster radio just one that gets the best preformance it was designed for, I want people i talk to to be able to understand me clearly and as far out as is possible.
I am considering the shop in the flying j on I-65 exit 240, I spoke with the owner breifly one day, he said he would test it for free and would not do anything illegal to it, I don't pretend to know anything about how these things work but some advice on what to ask for and what to watch for would be very usefull.
thanks!

 

I would stay away from a 959. The good galaxy radios are the double digit radios. Just ask them how they tune it or what EXACTLY they are going to do. Most just turn the modulation up to 100% and turn up the deadkey to 4 watts. Thats about the average shop tune. Whatever you do don't let them cut the limiter. The good shops will align the frequencys and a few other things.

 

Why do you say this???? Do you know something others don't??? Or just regurgitating something you heard or read???? The Galaxy 959 or 949 are good choices for anyone who wants a legal 40 channel SSB CB.

 

Sure the 959 and other tripple digits are good radios, but I already stated what there defalts are in another thread. But for you, they tend to drift bad in SSB. I also stated that the double digits radios are better. DO YOU NOT AGREE for some reason. Are you jelouse that you don't have a double digit radio posibly? Are you upset that people can buy them and have them converted to have a nicer radio on cb bands? Its common knowledge that the double digits are a better radio. You get more bang for you buck. So why not buy one for alittle more money and have a nicer radio? Do you have a 959 or just repeating what you seen in a fly J shelf ad?