Zanzibar Red 996

I'm planing a loop of USA this summer and want to
Install a CB Radio
Have you done this ? I want info on :
1. Highest quality CB
2. How did you install Radio ?
3. How did you insall Antenna ?
I'm thinking radio under seat, Antenna I'm not sure of
Looking for real advice

jordanturbo

Personally I used the Cobra 29LX. It was sort of second from the top of the line, I believe when they sold it to me. The top of the line was only $40 more but had features that I didn't really need/want or would not be usable due to its location. I ran the power behind my dash and tie it into my radio power. For the antenna I tan it through the hole and grommet in the firewall for the factory harness before mounting it on the car's front fender. You cant hide the radio completely though because you will still have to access features on it while driving like changing the station etc.

Overall I was pretty happy with the unit. I didn't really know how to use it, the weather channel was handy, range seemed good. I was only really using it though for help avoiding police radar traps and tickets.

Cobra 29 LX

Zanzibar Red 996

I've used one to ask truckers for resturant advice
I'd also use it when out in the middle of nowhere
for breakdown help

5CHN3LL

I personally would opt for a handheld Cobra or Midland unit rather than installing a CB and an antenna. You can still, depending on the model you choose, use a remote mic so you don't have to hold the whole unit.

*edit* Sorry, I see from your other thread that you are looking to permanently install, rather than use a handheld. I really urge you to reconsider this. If you want something REALLY useful and permanent, get yourself a ham radio operator's license, get a decent handheld transceiver, and find a list of repeaters across the country. */edit*

If you opt for an installed CB and a whip antenna, I also recommend a compound bow - once you find out where Boss Hogg and Roscoe are hiding, you can shoot flaming arrows at them.

Zanzibar Red 996

Hand helds just don't have the power
And obviously the Antenna is lacking
Not to say I'd have a tall antenna but a exterior installed
of some sort.
Also I'm going to install a cell phone amp/antenna

911 Crazy

Had a Midland in my 928 for the majority of the 240k miles I put on her. You instantly become the most popular person on the channel when truckers find out what you're driving. They see plent of nice rides but none that they can talk to. Quite a few of them are car buffs and it really makes the time pass. Plus you here the funniest stories from truckers. GL

Macster

I used a Cobra handheld. Powered by 9 dry cells. It got out sometimes 2 miles. With an external magnetic antenna it would get out around 10 miles and receive from even further away.

The only time I had to rely upon the CB radio for help was when I hit some road debris outside of Strong City KS on 50 highway late at night. I had to stop no coolant. And no cell phone.

On the handheld I got a trucker to stop and he let me use his cell phone to call a tow truck. Nice guy. I offered to fill one of his fuel tanks. No thanks. I offered to buy him a dinner. No thanks. I offered him some money to pay for his time and the use of his phone. No thanks.

I always make room for big rigs and I always try to warn them of speed traps and other things.

steepsnow

I occasionally use a Cobra 29LTD for long distance road trips. It is not a permanent mount. For me the constant crackle and chatter is a bit much for daily driving.

Try to find someone who "optimizes" CB radios for truckers. I think the service is called "Peak and Tune." I suggest getting this "mod." It makes a big difference in sound quality with less static and much longer range.

A K40 antenna can be magnetically attached to the roof, just behind the sunroof. It does look a bit silly at about 5 ft tall. However, for a CB antenna, the higher, the better. I use a small thin microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses as a "pad" to keep the antenna from scratching the roof. As a strong magnet, it will get some nasty stuff that needs to be wiped off before mounting.

Regarding the staying power of the magnet, on a trip across Highway 50 in central Utah/Nevada (the Loneliest Road in America), the antenna's magnetic attachment was tested near Autobahn speeds for long periods of time after "clearance" from friendly truckers sometimes as much as 20+ miles away.

BTW - a very fun road with several desert mountain passes from sea-level to 7,000 ft, then back down to flats across valley floors. ...and much faster than I-80 from Den to San Fran (esp. with a CB radio)

+1 on funny trucker stories

a few more tips:
1) Share your "Bear" sightings or other road hazard warnings

2) If you have a female in the car with a sexy voice, a.k.a. "nice seat cover" (in CB/Trucker slang), you will have lots of chatty truckers with detailed "bear" info.

3) Print a list of CB Slang terms and pick a good "Handle"

Macster

Agree. Nice way to pass the time -- I mostly just listen -- and it helps me to stay awake on those long late night sections.

I'd get a kick out of surprising a driver. Once in the Boxster I heard a trucker ask another about the center pipe of my Boxster. Was it factory or aftermarket? I replied "factory" and there was dead silence then we all had a nice chat for miles and miles.

Another time in bad weather I had the rear fog light on. A trucker asked over the air if the driver of that blue 4-wheeler knew he had a brake light stuck on. I got on the air and told him it was the rear fog light and offered to turn it off and did. Dead silence again.

Yet another time on the 50 or so miles on 50 highway from Sedalia to Lee's Summit I listened to one male truck driver give a nice thorough review of every strip/titty joint we passed. Then every once in a while a woman truck driver with a nice voice would call out a bear position. Best 50 or so miles I've ever had between Sedalia and Lee's Summit.

Macster

Good point about the optimization.

I stopped at a trucker CB radio shop on I-5 up north in CA and a guy there helped tune my ~3 foot hight wire antenna for my handheld and the improvement was amazing.

I never tested the mag base grip at autobahn speeds but it would I'm sure hold just fine.

Getting the antenna on the roof -- or even on the rear trunk lid -- makes a big difference how far out one can broadcast and how far out one can receive.

Zanzibar Red 996

Steep snow
You mounted antenna on roof behind sunroof
How did you route cable ?

steepsnow

^ Passenger window or sunroof tilt. As mentioned, the CB is temporary for me.
RG-58 cable is just under 1/4 inch. The passenger window rubber allows it close most of the way and allos the cable to run "out of the way." The noise of the tilted sunroof is not too bad, but the cable "dangles."

I put the CB behind the passenger seat, where I can reach the ***** as needed.

During road trips, I usually take off the antenna in urban settings. I run the antenna from the back seats under the front passenger seat for storage. So far, it has not gotten a permanent bend or damage.

BTW - My other car is a Rover Disco II. I use the CB on it sometimes for 4-wheeling. The CB mods and antenna work great for that application also.

tks12

same with a CB on a bike, you would be surprised how many truckers ride
one time I was coming up from fl late at night, and I had my HID spots on, you could get about 12-13 seconds or reflection at 80 mph out of them, I could hear the truckers far far in front wondering what was coming up from behind , (miles back mind you) when I killed the hids and came up close they were shocked it was a bike, when I responded telling them what Iw as running they were really shocked <g>, it was a nice break from the lonely middle of the night ride too

truckers on the road seem to watch out for motorcycles across this country, and now I know why, many ride...

911 Crazy

I drove my 928 cross country about 10 times and the CB is what I listened to 90% of the time. It is fun when they talk about you and they don 't know you're listening and then you chime in. Can lead to long conversations. Plus they'll also look out for you. Drove nonstop from LA to Columbus, Ohio in 29 hours averaging 90 mph. Could never have averaged that speed or stayed awake that long without my CB!

Pyzik

It depends how far you want your signal to reach but if your looking to get about 10 miles most and still have great quality conversation go with a radio that is about 15$ buy it now on eBay ! It called GE help! Not GE help 2 ! That radio actually has full 4 watts of power and is excellent for mine 928! i live in chicago and i have alot of interference here and still 10 miles but for guys down south its much better!I have tried with my buddy , he has cobra 29 classic which has also "4 watts" he was impressed! its a kit thing so it's all you need ! just remember it has to be GE help! not help 2.has