Why do truckers use linear amplilfiers with their CB radios?

The givens are:

Factory radio mount

Factory coax

Factory antennas.

1) Replace the antennas to get near 13’5” with a topload

2) Check coax and power for proper operation

3) Add an RM Italy 203 to a Uniden 980

4). Add a DSP Speaker.

The 70W plus of the little kicker will get you heard. And the DSP speaker will clarify what you couldn’t hear before.

As a start, it can’t be beat.

After that there’s no end to improvement. Make it a goal to be heard shooting skip without huge power and that goal defines avenues of problem-solving.

 

Those same guys unwilling to spend a couple hours making a custom bracket or improving their antenna system are the same guys who spend $1000.00 on an a big amplifier to help them transmit 50% the distance of my barefoot radio.
Wasting money without getting a benefit isn't too bright.

 

Amps ar great for talking at people, or plugging thier ear, that you can't hear.

 

Why do you call them Outlaw, what do you know about it?

 

I actually agree with you that the antenna is important, but my point is going over your head. Why make a custom bracket when you are in a different truck every week?

I doubt many guys spend $1000 on an amp. Maybe a few guys but not many

 

Why run a circuit breaker and connect power cables to the battery if driving a different truck every week? It's more time consuming as a custom antenna install, while offering less performance and increased noise.

Have you priced the Texas Star DX1600X lately? Purchase price, plus conversion cost and the cost of the power cables and quick disconnects and a circuit breaker would easily cost $1000.00.
Purchased new Texas Star DX1600X
People buy them all the time. They blow them up and replace them frequently as well due to an imperfect load. These new mosfet radios are nasty compared to the old bipolar radios. You need a close to perfect 50 ohm load when you run a mosfet radio into an amplifier. Trucks have been known to spontaneously combust when the amp goes into self oscillation.

 

RM Italy KL203. 100W advertised. 70W easily. $60-75. Size of a pack of cigarets. Will run off of factory provided power connection.

Output measured may be off (lower) as much depends on antenna design, construction and mount. Sure. No one disputes that.

So a Uniden 980 with a KL203 will set you back roughly $200. Gets you heard.

Add a $200 DSP speaker and now we’re at $400. Now you can hear what you couldn’t before.

Or, maybe a pair of 5’ to 7’ Skip-shooters for $60 on anything but a truck with West Coast mirrors, and that is as far as it will be taken.

Are we to the price of a Fine Tune CB yet? $500 for a system, or for just a radio (with less power).

Rebbe, the point is that many of us (maybe most) in company trucks can’t change stuff. So, where to start? What will work in ANY truck?

Hear, and get me heard?

.

 

Oh I know they exist. I used to sell amps. I sold one hell of a lot more $50-$100 amps than $500-$1000 amps. But thats not the point. The point is this: For a slip seater how in blue hell do you have the time to make an antenna 100% when you'll be in a different truck next week? Why bother? Get the antenna the best you can in the few moments available, plug in your KM Italy and call it a day.

 

The guys I hear the furthest are the ones who spent the least amount of money.
The ones who keep it simple seem to get the best results. The guy with the amp velcroed to the bottom of his radio seems to disappear from my receiver within the shortest distance, fwiw...I make a point to notice things like this.
No such thing as an antenna that "works well on any truck", however a stock Cobra 29 "works fine in any truck" assuming the antenna system has been dialed in to that truck, and rf grounds have been dealt with accordingly. Much cheaper to buy a ground strap than an amplifier and better results are achieved for a fraction of the price.

 

I simply like the sound a small kicker gives you. It commands respect. Im not worried about talking dozens of miles. Most of my conversations are from one side of the boulevard to the other