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7mm and gang

instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited April 2002 in General Discussion
This is addressed to all the truckers who reside here.

In preperations for my cross continent move I am looking into a CB. Not too expensive, good to have in case of emergencies, and they can relieve some of the monotony.

This brings me to my questions. Are any brands/models heads above the competition and on the same page which should I stay away from? What's the difference between the channels? Are there standard freq's that drivers operate on vs others. I recall hearing that some are only used by LEO and others for emergency weather and such.

Just throwing out a general question, thanks.
Ferg

Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed

Comments

  • TOOLS1TOOLS1 Member Posts: 6,133
    edited November -1
    Get a Cobra LTD 29 Classic. And a Frances antenna. You wont regret it. Best value for the money. I bought mine in 89 spent $20 in 90 to have it peaked and tuned. Still going strong and am told all the time that it sounds good and comes in clear.
    Channel 19 is where every one calls on. Ecept Cal (dont know why). Channel 9 is for emergency.
    Have a safe trip and watch out for the wiggle waggons when there is an aligator in the lane. And stay clear of the pickle parks. Watch your back door goodbuddy. Catch you on the flip side 10-4.
    TOOLS
  • jujujuju Member Posts: 6,321
    edited November -1
    Uhhh, what he say? - wiggle wagon, pickle park? aligators?

    Damn, where are you guys driving LOL
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Cobra and Uniden are basically the same radio, only the face is different but the innards are the same. If you do not want to spend alot of money stat with a model 25, a model 29 is a little better. The uniden pc76 is a great buy. Stay away from radios with USB/LSB unless you know exactly how to work them, the side bands need to be tuned with a clarifier and is a pain in the butt. USB/LSB is good for talking distance called "skip" and also changes the power factor by taking away the carrier and only powering on modulation. The galaxies and others like them are actually HAM radios and need to be converted to cb band and that is a no no(but we all do it anyway!). A Ham radio has more freaking toys than you will ever need, I have a galaxie 88 and it operates from 25 megs to 29 megs, you can only use from 26.965 to 27.405mhz for cb use so all those extra channels are usless unless you have a HAM license. Galaxies also have FM capabilities, this is good if you are running with someone who is not far away because it is very clear but distance stinks without an amp, that is also a no no( but we use them anyhow).

    There is way too much to talk about in regards to this so I suggest picking up a Cobra 29 or a Uniden PC76. They have 40 AM channels and do the job just fine. Get a good magnet mount antenna, Wilson and K40 are the best. The antenna needs tuned is is a very simple process. The 29 and PC76 have built in SWR meters to help with that. If you need help setting the antenna give a shout and I can help you setting it. As far as channels, we concrete cowboys live on channel 19. Channel 9 is supposed to be for emergencys, some states do monitor the channel and help can be had if someone can hear you. When I first started playing with CB's as a youngster in the late 70's it was possible to talk 100 miles on stock equipment. Nowadays it is near impossible without help. The CB band(11 meters) is so noisy anymore it is hard to talk 5 miles. At night when the noise is down you can get 10-15 miles but not all the time.

    If you want to sound lke a bigrigger, buy the radio at a cb shop, have the tech do a peak and tune on the radio. Have a connex board installed to enhance modulation. Do not do like the billy bigriggers do and crank the dang echo up full tilt or you will get yelled at! Also a Roadking mike helps but is not necassary.

    A real good setup that will sound good and give a lot of service will cost less than $200 for radio and antenna. Any extras will cost a good bit, a peak and tune will be in the nieghborhood of $30, a connex board $60 and a roadking mike$60. It's all on what you want to spend. My setup for the big truck cost me close to $700 by the time I got all the mods done, the antenna's and mike. But it sounds good!

    If I missed anything let me know. Like I depending on what you want to do there is a lot to it. Like guns you can have a simple setup or a full blown custom job, and both will do the job.
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tools, Cal is goofy. If you are traveling east or west, they use 19. North and south they use 17 and 15, south of rt 46 is 15 and north of rt46 is 17. I've heard all kinds of reasons but I'm not sure exaclty why. Also I 15 between the state NV line and I 10 is 19. Washington and Oregon alot of guys stay on 17 for north and south. dang left coasters always making things so dang difficult.
  • super chickensuper chicken Member Posts: 58 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Uniden uses a plastic mic cord that will break in half in the freezing cold. You can always buy a new mic.

    I use a Cobra 29 with a power mic and dual whips

    Also have a Cobra 25
  • sandman2234sandman2234 Member Posts: 894 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wiggle wagons are usually "doubles".Some states even allow triples. Twin 45 footers is long enough.
    I yak on a cobra 148 with the upper and lower sidebands. If nothing else, gives you somebody else to listen to...but most people won't use it.
    Peak and tune is when they go inside the radio and tweak the output,and match it to your antenna. Make sure it is a tech that knows what he is doing. I have seen way too many radio's burnt up by turning them up too far. But you can increase your power from 5 watts to as far as 35 for just a little money.
    Pickle parks are where the lot lizzards (ie horizontal hostess, recreational reptiles, etc) hang out when they aren't at the truckstops.Otherwise know as rest areas.
    Aligators are those big pieces of tires that are left when one blows going down the road. Will tear up a car if you hit one, and if you hang out behind a truck that lets one go, it could total your car, and kill you in the process. Stay back.
    and one last thing, please don't use the bright lights to signal a truck to "come on back over" after they pass you. Nothing like bright lights in your mirror to ruin your night vison. If your vehicle won't let you turn them off for a second, tell them on the cb.
    Happy motoring, and expect a few foul words to come out of a few peoples mouths. It always amazes me to hear some people talk. Sometimes I even blush, and I was a sailor.


    Have Gun, will travel
  • sandman2234sandman2234 Member Posts: 894 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    books on tape can be rented at several places, like cracker barrel, and your local library (mail them back). They are good for hours of driving that would otherwise be boring. take several.

    Have Gun, will travel
  • Lone WolfeLone Wolfe Member Posts: 56 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ok i totally agree with everything said so far but if you get the
    Cobra DO NOT get the soundtracker not worth the paper the instructions are printed on.
  • 5db5db Member Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    instrumentofwar, Not to make too fine a point of it, but aren't you traveling with your Bride and a dog or two? I mean if this is the case, a little silence might be appreciated...

    If you have one shot...Accu-Shot Website
  • gunpaqgunpaq Member Posts: 4,607 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Has anyone heard the "Jersey City Alfie" traveling the norhteast. I always wanted to run that loud mouth over. He told a young JB driver from Georgia that the Tappan Zee bridge had a lower deck and directed him off an access ramp to avoid the backup as a joke. Ruined the guy's day.

    Pack slow, fall stable, pull high, hit dead center.

    Edited by - gunpaq on 04/20/2002 22:30:35
  • instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    One more thing, I assume that the guy's in Canada use Cb's also. Are there different bandbidths or nets they use?

    Where is a good place to get a cb/ant tuned? Radio Shack?

    Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed
  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Where are you at? The best places to get that done is a truck stop as most of them have cb shops
  • TOOLS1TOOLS1 Member Posts: 6,133
    edited November -1
    7mm nut I found an easy way to deal with CBing in CA. Just turn it off.
    I was always wondering about the thinking of people in CA. Then I met Toolbabe and just gave up on that to. She is from CA. I have never had a dull moment since meeting her.
    TOOLS
  • SUBMARINERSUBMARINER Member Posts: 1,362 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i got a galxy 88 it is twisted TIGHT.for spomeone that doesnt do it everyday find a used cobra 25 ltd get it tweaked and peaked.no night stalker crap!when you get it installed get a little wil ant and get those swr"s checked by your technician.you can get the biggest radio in the world and if your standing wave ratio is too high you wont get out past your bumper.DO NOT waste your money on a power mic.if you get it tuned and peaked by a decent tech you will not need it.

    SUBMARINE SAILOR,TRUCK DRIVER,NE'ER DO WELL, INSTIGATOR,AND RUSTY WALLACE FAN
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