View Full Version : cb or 2way?


The-Hurricane
03-18-07, 02:37 PM
so me and my buddies want to get cb's. should we go with cb's or car mounted 2ways? which has better range? what are some good brands? places to get them??? im so getting one of those buggy whips and mounting it on my rear bumper. its going to be hot! any advice apretiated

tiny terror
03-18-07, 03:16 PM
I can't tell you which is better, but I just installed a Cobra in mine and I love it...

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e216/rabidbluesquirrel/CB.jpg

easy install...

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e216/rabidbluesquirrel/CBhookup2.jpg

antenna mounted to the tail light...

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e216/rabidbluesquirrel/CBantenna.jpg

I bought it in a full kit that came with everything. The only thing that I found was major important that I didn't know about was tuning the antenna. You need an SWR for that.

crazy_wolf168
03-18-07, 10:03 PM
2 way or ham radio you have to have a license to run CB you do not have to have a license I run both 2 meter ham radio and CB for them people without a license

The-Hurricane
03-19-07, 02:31 AM
tiny: where did you get the kit? cost? and thanks

crazy: what about those 2way motorlla radios you can buy anywhere you need a license for them? and thanks

TrAvELAr
03-19-07, 07:48 AM
tiny: where did you get the kit? cost? and thanks

crazy: what about those 2way motorlla radios you can buy anywhere you need a license for them? and thanks

You only need a license for the GRMS (think that's the acro) channels. Which is only a handful of the total channels available.

Materdaddy
03-19-07, 08:13 AM
Crazy, try using a little punctuation! That's a little misleading if read quickly online... with only removing words, it makes complete sense, but has bad information:

...you have to have a license to run CB ...

If you had proper punctuation, you'd realize that words were missing:

You have to have a license to run 2 way or ham radio. You do not have to have a license to run CB! I run both 2 meter ham radio and CB for them people without a license

Sorry, I'm not trying to be grammar police or be a jerk, but I had to do a double when reading your response because there was absolutely no punctuation!

Now, to the OP... CB is more commonly used. I think most people that use ham radios used them before Jeepin'. If you're looking strictly for trail communications, CB is probably going to be OK for you.

The-Hurricane
03-19-07, 01:22 PM
well me and my 3 buddies all delivery drive for the same boston pizza. we wanted radios or cbs to talk while driving instead of our cells, that way we can all talk at the same time, but the guys i go 4wheelin with, i think 1 has a cb. which has the better range??? i guess it depends on the size of your antenna right?

tiny terror
03-19-07, 02:31 PM
I bought from WalcottCB.com. I wanted a compact radio that I could remove easily because I usually don't have the top or the doors on all summer.

wrangler CB kit (http://www.walcottcb.com/jeepcombo1-75wxst-cbml-k48r18-and-fl3b-p-1034.html)

I spent about $180 and it came with everything needed, including the coax and antenna mount.

Materdaddy
03-19-07, 03:25 PM
well me and my 3 buddies all delivery drive for the same boston pizza. we wanted radios or cbs to talk while driving instead of our cells, that way we can all talk at the same time, but the guys i go 4wheelin with, i think 1 has a cb. which has the better range??? i guess it depends on the size of your antenna right?

No, it's all about wavelength and tons of other scientific stuff... ham/short wave has MUCH better range.. .CB will only work within a couple miles. Size of antenna doesn't play as much of a role as having it tuned properly, and having a good counterpoise. Do a little reading online, here's a couple links to get you started:

http://jeephorizons.com/tech/cb_ant_basic.html
http://jeephorizons.com/tech/cb_radio_basic.html
http://jeephorizons.com/tech/swr.html

killwhytey07
03-19-07, 07:31 PM
I had a CB in my YJ that I traded a couch for, it was a little cobra and it worked pretty well, though it wasn't tuned so I could only use it on the highway and such.

Nowadays it's hard to find CB radios, and equipment from my experience. I think radio shack stopped carrying them, so I ended getting my antennas from a truck stop (which by the way is a great place to find above the rocker type stuff). That would probably be your best bet, or ordering on-line

The-Hurricane
03-20-07, 02:21 AM
thanks everyone for your help, mat those are some stellar articles, thanks for finding them for me they were very informative and worthwhile, answered quite a few questions i had.

thanks again everyone

Hurricane

crazy_wolf168
03-20-07, 11:30 PM
try looking up HRO ham radio outlet they sell allot of good radios and GPS units at a fair price. Sorry about the spelling and grammar I suck at typing if you cant tell. I'm sure it is not easy to read at times

The-Hurricane
03-21-07, 01:44 AM
my grammar and spelling isnt the best either, no worries i get the jist of it. is there a spellcheck option on here? maybe there should be?? is that hard to do? im not intraweb savvy so i wouldent know

crazy_wolf168
03-21-07, 06:12 PM
ieSpell is a spell check you download and just use when you highlight a phrase and right click it

nwoods
03-21-07, 07:55 PM
Or use Firefox 2.0 (a free web browser) that automatically spell checks as you type. It rocks!

tjchad
04-02-07, 03:19 PM
Crazy, try using a little punctuation! That's a little misleading if read quickly online... with only removing words, it makes complete sense, but has bad information:



If you had proper punctuation, you'd realize that words were missing:



Sorry, I'm not trying to be grammar police or be a jerk, but I had to do a double when reading your response because there was absolutely no punctuation!



ME TOO MAT!!! I just got my 2M/70cm installed and running. I LIKE IT!

BTW- Congrats on the wedding!

Chad

Materdaddy
04-02-07, 06:01 PM
ME TOO MAT!!! I just got my 2M/70cm installed and running. I LIKE IT!

BTW- Congrats on the wedding!

Chad

Hey thanks!!! Long time no see! Where've you been?

You need to come wheeling with everybody!

crazy_wolf168
04-03-07, 12:41 AM
ME TOO MAT!!! I just got my 2M/70cm installed and running. I LIKE IT!

BTW- Congrats on the wedding!

Chad


Not to start anything but you know you have to have a license to run 2M/70Cm right?

tjchad
04-03-07, 07:33 AM
Not to start anything but you know you have to have a license to run 2M/70Cm right?

Yes Sir! KI6BIG.

crazy_wolf168
04-03-07, 12:48 PM
cool don't have mine yet, but I work for search and rescue so I can run under there license. Cant run the ham waves,I am studding for my tech class now. when I get it ill try and key you up. and I love the call signe ki6BIG

tjchad
04-03-07, 01:41 PM
cool don't have mine yet, but I work for search and rescue so I can run under there license. Cant run the ham waves,I am studding for my tech class now. when I get it ill try and key you up. and I love the call signe ki6BIG

Yeah, I was glad I got a cool c/s right off. Tech is pretty easy to get. Check out ARRL's site- you can download the entire question pool and if you go to QRZ.com there are practice tests you can do online.

crazy_wolf168
04-03-07, 02:25 PM
ya I have the Gordon west book has all 392 Q & A's in it and a cool CD the help you out

Old Fart
04-03-07, 08:56 PM
LOL, I feel old - I actually took Gordo's class - back in 81...:eek:

tjchad
04-13-07, 07:27 AM
I just reinstalled my Cobra 75WXT last night. I had my antenna on the same mount as my 2m antenna and it just shouldn't be there. Picked up a Teraflex mount (ORW has 'em in stock for $21.55 after tax). I had to pick up a new stud mount for the 4' Firestik so I stopped out at Mudshack on El Cajon Blvd to pick it up and have them analyze the antenna as well. Guy told me "You need to only run a stainless steel mount and it has to be closer to the tub." The freakin' thing BOLTS to the tub using the tailight mounting holes and an extra drilled hole with bolt! There is no way it can possibly get closer to the tub wo welding it to the tub. I asked about grounding, etc. but he just kept repeating his statement. I thanked him for his time, went home and threw my SWR meter on it and got 1.3 - 1.45 across all 40 channels- good enough for me...

Chad