Steve Martin

looking to invest in a cb radio. Would prefer a hand-held over a mounted "truck style" unit but not sure where to buy or what brand to buy. what are others using, and what should I not invest in. I've quickly looked at ebay, didn't find much, so I thought I'd ask here.

Thanks for your advice,

jugger911

I've yet to ever hear of a hand-held that was worth a nickle. We have about 200 of our drivers at UPS that run all sorts of CB's. I know several that have Galaxy55 radios that can reach as far as approximately 2-4 miles with a good antenna, being peeked & tuned and a linear amp. Just really depends on what your going to use it for really. The Galaxy's are actually borderline ham-radios with upper/lower channels. Around $300 I suppose. A regular Cobra29 CB is cheap and relatively good, around $100. Or you could just get a hand-held with an external antenna extension for your vehicle for probably around $80.

http://www.cbradiotalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8904

aaddpp

I recently ordered a hand held unit from amazon that was quite well reviewed. In practice though it was not very effective and I returned it. It's a shame because having a cb in a car is great due to the "traffic" info truckers pass along. The problem is that if I did not want duel K-40s hanging off the back of a full size suv, I am pretty sure I don't want them on a 928.

seriously though, if you do find a good solution please post because I miss my cb

WallyP

Casually glanced at the CB's while at Fry's a couple of weeks ago, and noticed that the antennae were much smaller and less obtrusive than the 108" steel whip that I had on my '59 Ford Pursuit Special.

Perhaps a quick removal mount so it is on for road trips and off around town.

ew928

Where's Brett Matthews when you need him?
Owner of 'Rosie' and runs a CB in his 928 when he goes to the get-togethers.

So do they make nice big CB antennas that have good range and dazzles and confuses laser beams.

pcar928fan

CB??? REALLY??? Cell phone...FRS radios, sure...CB??? FAIL! LOL! Now if you are a ham operator or have an R/V or a big truck or an SUV...ok, 928 + CB radio = FAIL for sure.

I am, however, looking forward to the story as to why this is a good idea for you! This is the first time I have EVER seen anyone ask this question!

Keep us posted and I'd LOVE to see pics!

Rob Edwards

Actually, I'd be interested in seeing whether anyone makes a computer card-based CB radio that could be incorporated into one of these carputer chassis, the little ???-ITX form factor ones. No real need for a handset on a dangling coily cord, just the ability to listen in on the truck traffic in the vicinity.

Who knows where the bears are? The truckers do.

Couple that with a uniden beartracker-on-a-PC-card, a data file of the local police scanner freqs, and maybe one of those fancy radar detectors connected to a GPS-enabled mapping program and over time you'd build a pretty good 'lay of the land' with regards to law enforcement nearby.

Not that I'd encourage this sort of technology....

aaddpp

I can't tell you how many times I have been tuned to the general channel on a CB (13 or 19 - I can recall now) and had truckers calling out active speed trap locations. If it were not for the need of an unsightly antenna, I would have a CB in every car I own...though I am not exactly sure where you would fit one in a 928.

Steve Martin

some one said that I should get one for a caravan to SITM. maybe they were talking about a two way walky talky? would the two way reach a distance? I dont think they have the ability to change channels, maybe I'm wrong?

Where I used to work, we had CB's in the lift-trucks, while the Lead hands had a portable units(with the mic on a slinky cord). I kinda looks like a scanner, but with the mic handset.

dr bob

We've used the little FRS radios for a while when caravaning. The short range is a blessing, in that you don't have to listen to Big Bubba talking to Bad Beaver half way across the country when you are trying to coordinate a group pee and coffee stop for a group. Add 'inexpensive' and 'handheld' and runs on its own batteries' and it's a winner for caravans. Realistic range is a few miles maybe, a mile maybe two reliably. In spite of the "15 mile range" advert claims by some.

I've looked at trying to mount some ham radio stuff in the car, specifically a multiband FM transceiver with a pretty tiny remote display head. Something that will at least listen in on the low-power CHP VHF extenders mounted in all the patrol vehicles. This is what the BearTrackers listen for, by the way. My implementation is a lot more active than the BearTracker method, FWIW. Ran a similar setup in my LA-to-Mammoth Express Explorer for years, never got a second look. But there really isn't enough spare space to mount the radio decks and the antenna in a stealthy manner in the 928.

cali4sun

I hear its a nice compliment to also have an 8 track player ..... Chicks dig it?!?!

'89 S4 GP White/Black
'76 912E Silver/Black sunroof

GUMBALL

Here is a handheld:
http://www.walcottcb.com/cobra-hhroa...?cPath=340_377
The radio is probably OK, but the little antenna will not give you more than 1/2 to 1 mile range.

I would be cautious with any radio from ebay - many have been tuned by a "golden screwdriver" tech, and as such are more problems than they are worth.

I don't know of a good radio shop in Ontario, but here is a link to a couple of radio forums that may be of help:
http://www.cbradioforum.com/
http://www.worldwidedx.com/

As for myself, I have used my "portable" radio (a Cobra 29) with a lighter plug power feed and a Wilson 1000 mag-mount antenna.

In my van, I have a "big radio" - a Magnum S9 with an X-Force 400HD amplifier and a Wilson 5K antenna. This gives me a comfortable range (depending on conditions) of about 15 to 30 miles. This will NOT fit in a 928 . . . . . .

Bill 86.5 928s

Why Try........check these guys out..... www.radioworld.ca/ ...this is where I buy my HAM gear and they also sell CB if you are interested. They are in Toronto off Steeles and Hwy 400....good luck

Here's another place you can check out online.. www.durhamradio.com
They also have a glass mount CB antenna....

Showrigger

i usually get them from cbs shops at truck stops, not the handhelds, i have had some and they work okay but a good cobra 29 or galaxy used goes for barely 100 and if you buy one from a cb shop they will usually tune it for you and boost its power (galaxy's usually will put out 40+watts) and get a good antenna and your set for a very long time...

karl ruiter

Most of the time a handlheld with a whip antenna does not do much. The whip antenna design need to push against a ground plane, and in a handheld you are the only ground plane. And you probably make a lousey one, so your antenna becomes one hand clapping. The reason why car mounted works better is because the car becomes the ground plane and it makes a pretty reasonable one.

FRS radios generally have a hard time reaching thier totally B.S. range spec over water on a clear day.