Why do truckers use linear amplilfiers with their CB radios?

What does it sound like with an amplifier? If the amplifier changes how your radio sounds, there must be a problem.

 

Because some of us want to have our friends three states away say “man, I hear you taking everyone out on channel 28. All the local base stations are trying to get to you right now.”

 

Sounds more beefy. More balls. Not a problem, an advantage.

 

Distortion impresses the guys in the parking lot but fades out when I get 5 miles down the road.
Meanwhile I can still hear the guy with the stock cobra 29 parked next to you complaining about "the guy with the big radio". ( which I'm unable to hear )
More balls up close = no balls in the distance.

 

Strange, when I get out far from another station, and I turn my amp on, they can hear me better. Maybe I need to sell my stuff and get a stock cobra 29.

 

Maybe your stuff works properly. 90% of the guys out there who are unwilling to put effort into the antenna system, think an amplifier is a cure for their laziness.

 

Your anecdotal stories are charming but stock radios sound mickey mouse to me. I'll take my Stryker thanks

 

All of my stuff works well. I confirm it on a swr meter and a bird reflect, and start talking. My super whack pack General Lee is still all original minus a cold solder joint repair, and amps are all original transistors.

 

Not everyone can be helped. Some folks deliberately sacrifice performance for the sake of vanity. Those folks who like to waste money at the expense of decreased range have no business offering "advice" to someone asking for advice or who doesn't have a clue about how to achieve decent range from a truck for the least amount of money.
Everybody is entitled to waste their own money though.

 

Rebbe, no one is disputing “what makes for best performance?”

Where to start, is the problem.

And timin770, it’s also not with a 500W Texas Star. Today’s trucks aren’t like those of 1987. Going straight to the battery on the negative can screw up diagnostics the ECM is trying to read.

Then sufficiently oversized power leads — with BLUE SEA termination fuses — that take into account the voltage drop of connections, etc. Routing is long, thus pinch point problems.

$100 isn’t even a starting price for the materials.

IOW, it’s the same problem as a custom install. Expertise. And a real threat to the truck with even one mistake.

Outline your recommendation with what is “proper” per www.K0BG.com. And routing.

What gear is a starter for anything? This question has answers that are effective.

Have to start somewhere.

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