Doing the same thing except on my Jeep. Here is a ref for ant mount that is more applicable for a Taco than a Jeep. It gives a good review on the NMO
mount. http://www.hamradio.me/antennas/nmo-mobile-antenna-mount-opt...
I am using the nmo on a fender bracket due to the plastic roof on the Jeep. Fender mounts are applicable to just about any vehicle and are little
compromised compared to a hole in the metal roof.
Doing the same thing except on my Jeep. Here is a ref for ant mount that is more applicable for a Taco than a Jeep. It gives a good review on the NMO
mount. http://www.hamradio.me/antennas/nmo-mobile-antenna-mount-opt...
I am using the nmo on a fender bracket due to the plastic roof on the Jeep. Fender mounts are applicable to just about any vehicle and are little
compromised compared to a hole in the metal roof.
Not drilling a hole in my roof, sorry. The antenna will only be up there for group trips, so not all the time. I don't want to hear the noise of skip
and static while driving as I have XM satellite radio, instead. Anyway how do you do "hands-free" driving with a CB or is there a blue tooth option?
LOL
Yes, with a magnetic mount, I can place the antenna in the center of my large roof ground plane, creating great omnidirectional radiation of my
signal. Thank you.
I don't believe it! David K is outfitting his truck with a CB radio!!
Well if it was good enough in the 1970's, then it is just fine for the 2010's!
It was just 23 channels when I got involved but soon jumped to 40 with the surge in popularity. We used to add extra crystals to have private channels
either above 23 or below 1, back in the day. Oh, and linear amplifiers too... 4 watts just doesn't cut it when skip is in!
If you want better communications use a VHF FM radio like SCORE uses. No static or noise. I have several mobile units at 50 watts but if you only need
a handheld for comms like on the PLR trail the Baofeng from Amazon works really good for about $30. Just use the key lockout for those technically
challenged.
??? Never heard of this before?
The issue is that everyone would need one, and at the moment, everyone on our group caravans has a CB, except me... unless TW loans me his!
I am looking at the Cobra 75WXST as it is small (all in the mike) yet has good reviews and low noise filtration.
DK you are right as far as the PLR group is concerned but having a VHF radio comes in handy for the off road races and the Baofeng is easy to tune for
the marine frequencies, ie: rescue services.
The antenna seriously needs to be adjusted otherwise you will have both poor range and risk damaging the radio. An SWR of 2 or under is desired
through all 40 channels. You check the SWR on channel 1 and 40. You adjust the height of the antenna so at both extreme channels are below 2.0,
ideally.
The radio waves leave from the antenna, if the antenna is not matched to the location & radio then the radio signals (energy/ heat) cannot get
"out" of the antenna well... that causes a heat/ energy buildup inside then CB's "finals".
Here is YouTube on how to trim the antenna for the lowest SWR reading:
After trial and error (money spent foolishly) I have found that the Blue Diamond brand, U.S.A. manufactured, cable stretcher to be the best, but they
aren't cheap.
I have found RG-8U to be the best low loss coax with ham radio, but a real PITA when used with a stretcher. Remember, each 3 dB loss is a 50% cut in
transmitting power (5 watts becomes 2 1/2 watts). And that 5 watts is input power to the radio, not power out anyway.
The small hand held Baofeng, right out of the box, under 30 bucks, includes an antenna, clear communication, skip free, no SWR meter.
In a group "convoy" situation it works just fine - you cannot, however, get CB channels on it as far as I know.
For the money - this is the way to go.
Model: UV-5R+ on Amazon and elsewhere
This radio also gets the race frequencies, BFG, Weatherman, and most of the rest of them.
John
Exactly. We use a 65 watt radio in the truck for the races and the UV-5R while walking around. Works great...plus you can tune them for marine
frequencies while at the beach. Most everyone we know have moved on from CB.
People I jeep with all use marine or race radios too. Cb is 5 watts, marine is 25 watts, race radio 50 plus watts. I have both cb and marine
radios installed.
That's the way to go....Most Farmer ranchers have a base station in the shop, and radios in all the equipment...Side benefit is accessing a repeater
and being able to communicate cross country...I bought a Baofung handheld BF F8Hp which also allows me to talk to the cops and monitor emergency
service channels. Works fine sitting on the dash of my truck, no external antenna needed...about 55 bucks..Adios CB
Doing the same thing except on my Jeep. Here is a ref for ant mount that is more applicable for a Taco than a Jeep. It gives a good review on the NMO
mount. http://www.hamradio.me/antennas/nmo-mobile-antenna-mount-opt...
I am using the nmo on a fender bracket due to the plastic roof on the Jeep. Fender mounts are applicable to just about any vehicle and are little
compromised compared to a hole in the metal roof.
Not drilling a hole in my roof, sorry. The antenna will only be up there for group trips, so not all the time. I don't want to hear the noise of skip
and static while driving as I have XM satellite radio, instead. Anyway how do you do "hands-free" driving with a CB or is there a blue tooth option?
LOL
========
David,
No way I would suggest drilling a hole in your roof. Use a fender mount with a proper NMO attached to the fender mount
When the antenna is removed all that is left is the small bracket. The whole front of the vehicle results in a great ground plane.
I would suggest making your own bracket with a small piece of metal. Use the correct screws and it will be strong and removable.
Put the mount between the fender and the hood.
The CB is installed... wired direct to the battery... and I was surprised that I could not hear anyone on any channel the several minutes I had it on
and in scan mode. Don't truckers use CB anymore, either? No skip... just static, and set squelch just above static point. See, it's been ages since I
used a CB except on the PLR run.
So, next, I will check the SWR of the antenna and adjust if needed. If the antenna is not synced then that would be another reason why I heard no
CBers?
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
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"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
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