Cb radio help
- Thread starter joey5639
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superj
Well-known member
a lot of people run the cobra cb radio but i am not going to lie and say i know tons about them. you have to tune the antenna to the cb or you'll fry the cb but as far as tuning it, i don;t know how to do it. i have a cobra and some other cb and a firestick antenna but i haven;t tuned them. i actually took them off since every where i go, a cell phone works
JPNinPA
Well-known member
There are PA systems you could buy if that is all you want.
CB can be used on the trail to keep in touch with people in your group when out wheeling. Some clubs and ORV parks require them.
You need to buy, correctly install and Tune the antenna system ( wire, mount, antenna)
Uniden 520 has the PA system and Cobra 19
Here is a good website for info:Tech-Docs Index
I will copy over another post I listed out some good common selections.
http://www.jeepz.com/forum/jeep-ele...-antenna-parts-list-clarification-needed.html
CB can be used on the trail to keep in touch with people in your group when out wheeling. Some clubs and ORV parks require them.
You need to buy, correctly install and Tune the antenna system ( wire, mount, antenna)
Uniden 520 has the PA system and Cobra 19
Here is a good website for info:Tech-Docs Index
I will copy over another post I listed out some good common selections.
http://www.jeepz.com/forum/jeep-ele...-antenna-parts-list-clarification-needed.html
Last edited:
jfrabat
New member
I agree to the above 2 posts; but I will still answer your initial question. Obviously, the main use for a CB is for communications. Depending on your antenna, you can ussually reach out 1 or 2 miles without issues. With a good antenna, you can extend the range quite a bit, and, when atmospheric conditions are good, you can go for hundreds of miles, but you cannot rely on that as it does not happen all the time.
For regular communications, you can use the regular CB, or Single Side Band (or SSB), which allows for more reach than the standard CB communications. Most clubs and CB users (4X4 users, I mean) do not use SSB, but some other do, and it can be useful to have.
Another thing some CB's can do is receive weather information (WX channels) for your area. Again, useful for when you are out in the trail.
Your CB will be limited to 4W (FCC restriction), so you will depend on your antenna to determine your reach. This means that a well tuned antenna will get you a much larger range than an antenna that has not been tuned (technically, you could damage a CB if you do not tune the antenna, as the transmission is reflected to the CB). Of course, the best antennas are also the longer ones. I run a fiberglass one, and it still extends about a foot higher than the roof of my hardtop. Metal whips can be twice as long (but not necessarily). There are many options, and you need to research whats right for you.
On the not so legal side of things, you can also run a "brick" (linear amplifier), which would extend your range for transmissions, but unless the other person has a linear amplifier as well, your reception range will remain the same, which makes the point kind of moot. In my case, I DO have a linear amplifier, but rarely use it, since I also have a HAM (2M) radio which I use way more often (2M technically is shorter range, but with the local repeaters, it is actually longer).
Hope that answers your point....
For regular communications, you can use the regular CB, or Single Side Band (or SSB), which allows for more reach than the standard CB communications. Most clubs and CB users (4X4 users, I mean) do not use SSB, but some other do, and it can be useful to have.
Another thing some CB's can do is receive weather information (WX channels) for your area. Again, useful for when you are out in the trail.
Your CB will be limited to 4W (FCC restriction), so you will depend on your antenna to determine your reach. This means that a well tuned antenna will get you a much larger range than an antenna that has not been tuned (technically, you could damage a CB if you do not tune the antenna, as the transmission is reflected to the CB). Of course, the best antennas are also the longer ones. I run a fiberglass one, and it still extends about a foot higher than the roof of my hardtop. Metal whips can be twice as long (but not necessarily). There are many options, and you need to research whats right for you.
On the not so legal side of things, you can also run a "brick" (linear amplifier), which would extend your range for transmissions, but unless the other person has a linear amplifier as well, your reception range will remain the same, which makes the point kind of moot. In my case, I DO have a linear amplifier, but rarely use it, since I also have a HAM (2M) radio which I use way more often (2M technically is shorter range, but with the local repeaters, it is actually longer).
Hope that answers your point....
Sahara707
New member
I just installed a Cobra CB Radio. The mic is the only part of the radio that is visible, the radio part is behind the glove box. I used a 4" fire stick antenna, mounted off the back of the Rock Hard Rear tire carrier. Using a 30.00 SW Meter I tuned the radio and antenna in about 15 minutes. There's a thumb screw under the rubber cap at the top of the antenna. The main use is to communicate with club members on the trail.
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