Looking for mobile gear and advice

[Rob Roy]

I'm brand new to the forum. Years ago in the 70's and 80's I had CB radios in my trucks but have since fallen away from the activity. I want to get back into two way radios and am looking for adise and equipment. Save your box of parts and old radios for the flea markets, I'm looking for premium radio and ant set up hopefully with an amp and pre amp.

[295 antenna]

Hello Rob Roy ' I am partial to converted 10 meter radios such as the Stryker 955 or the Magnum series Because of all the channels (the locals here talk on the "free band ")

[alexandre9099]

IIRC the cobra 142GTL is quite good for modding, mine is suposed to work on 10m and have more channels on 11m .

Most likely there are more recent radios that support that, maybe some more expensive sdr allow transmitting on *every* frequency

[Rob Roy]

Thank you, please correct me if I'm wrong, isn't a 10 meter a HAM radio? If so, what is a converted 10m? What would be a representation of the channels you talk on?

[Rob Roy]

Just a little research and I have read that the Cobra model 148 is a respectable unit. For years and years I ran a Cobra 19LTD and it seemed to work fine. I never really go into the SSB, but now I think it would be interesting. Is SSB and 10 meter the same thing?

[Rob Roy]

I bought a particular truck I want to put a CB in and it has come pre wired and equipped with dual mirror mount antennae. Can you or anyone recommend to me the type or style of whip(s) that I want to use? From my early recollections, dual antennae had to carefully calibrated and may be were not as desirable/ Is this still the same situation?

[Rob Roy]

What are the differences from the older Cobras to the radios sold today, what years?

[Rob Roy]

What is a preferred antennae for dual mirror mounts?

[Rob Roy]

Is there a difference in coax? I know for modern stereo equipment there is a variety of speaker and power wire now, what are the improvements made in coaxial?

[jessejamesdallas]

You ask allot of questions, which is good....

However, if your thinking of a ssb radio, I would NOT recommend the Cobra 148! (too much drift on ssb, and over-all crappy radio)

IMO...One of the best AM/SSB CB radios on the market right now is the President McKinley...(yes, I own one which is one reason I can recommend it) but it's not the first AM/SSB radio I have had, just for the money, it has lot's of features that are not found on radios it's size...

Galaxy 959's are decent ssb radios...Galaxy 979 is also decent, just a little small case.

As for the dual co-phase antenna set-up, I would scrap that idea, not enough spacing between the two antenna's to be of any benefit, plus harder to get dialed in...One on the roof would work much better.

[295 antenna]

Thank you, please correct me if I'm wrong, isn't a 10 meter a HAM radio? If so, what is a converted 10m? What would be a representation of the channels you talk on?

You are correct . I also have a galaxy 959 which is a very nice radio. here is a cb radio magazine video on the President McKinley radio. It looks good also.

YOUTUBE_ADMIN

YOUTUBE_ADMIN

[Kellin]

I would scrap the factory coax and either get a Wilson 18 foot or have one hand made by a prof. I also would not use the standard lug mounts youbsee at most truck stops. I found one made by frances on a popular online auction website (hint hint) get the one with Allen screw on bottom. Helped a lot with my SWR’s. I run single Wilson 5000 with 10 inch shaft on back of sleeper cab in center so the load coil is just above roof line. I also scraped the paint off the factory lip where the mount goes and ran a ground wire to the lip

[MDYoungblood]

My guess is this is for a vehicle even though you didn't state that fact. As far as antennas go, don't go cheap. A good antenna system will make even a so so radio get out. Look for something over 4ft or more, remember it is a mobile so the signal is starting out at ground level, not like a base with a antenna 40ft in the air.
Radio wise, it is the easiest thing to change if your not satisfied with it's performance. You have to look at things like size now a days, big radios just don't fit in today's cars, even trucks, no place to mount them.

3's

Greg

[YAESU450D]

Hi
Check out the CRT 7900 on you Tube
i bought one a few months back
and i cant fault it
great receive and a few extra watts too
not a bad price and a few come up on e bay cheap
also another good rig is the Alinco 135
many of both rigs used on this side of the pond with good reports


hope this helps

73,s
Chuck