To Install or Not Install a mobile C.B. Radio ?

hvacesu78 · Post by **hvacesu78** » Mon Apr 14, 2003 3:44 pm

Having recently checked out recent pics of installs I was surprised to see a Citizens Band Radio Installed.
I've noticed that not many people have them which leads me to my poll.

Is a c.b. something to consider in my upcoming install ?

I am on the road on occasion will have V/U/Lowband/Ham stuff (hopefully)

Thanks for your ideas.

John

Max-trac · Post by **Max-trac** » Mon Apr 14, 2003 4:02 pm

Yes, but it better be a Mocat!
Great for listening to truckers, just crank the SQ up so you only hear a mile or so.....

007 · Post by **007** » Mon Apr 14, 2003 4:36 pm

They are so small now, that you may as well....especially if you are going to have 3 or 4 other radios. What's another antenna among friends, right?

KitN1MCC · Post by **KitN1MCC** » Mon Apr 14, 2003 5:16 pm

i have an old mocat in the house i might put it in the truck

jbxx · Post by **jbxx** » Mon Apr 14, 2003 7:26 pm

Most people seem kind of snotty about C.B.
but if you spend a lot of time on the open road
i.e. not around metropolitan areas, C.B. can have
a valid use. Many (if not almost all) truckers carry
C.B.'s and either hang out on 17 or 9.
J.B. AD6WX

911radio · Post by **911radio** » Mon Apr 14, 2003 7:57 pm

I am not a big fan of CB's, and if I talk 2 minutes a year on one I am lucky. I mainly just listen. Being a ham, a dispatcher and a GMRS licensee, I have access to all the freq's I need, but here in VA radar detectors are illegal

and for me the CB is just a good way to keep tabs on the speed traps.

Just my $0.02 worth.

cranbiz · Post by **cranbiz** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:32 am

I haven't installed mine yet (wasn't a priority) but it can be handy to have. Dispite most opinions , there is a place in radioland for one.

ExKa|iBuR · Post by **ExKa|iBuR** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:34 am

I wouldn't specifically make room for one, but if after you place your radios, you can fit one in..sure!

I've had a plan:

Use an old MaxTrac 16 channel control head, rip out the guts, and put the display, channel knob, etc... from a CB into it, so it at least LOOKS Motorola.

M

Radio_Cowboy · Post by **Radio_Cowboy** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 8:56 am

If you are on the road a lot, I'd say go for it!

I have a "redneck cellphone" in all my vehicles, just because there are several parts of this state where regular Cell Phones don't work, there are no Ham or GMRS repeaters, and even the Public Safety systems are kind of sparse. And like it's been said above...comes in handy to keep tabs on the smokey's....

Although a lot of the smokeys out here have them too.....

Channel 19 is the main "road" channel, where most of the truckers hang out on.

-RC-

007 · Post by **007** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 2:14 pm

Chris-

Should I put another ball mount on the other side of the Impala for a 102" CB whip??

Radio_Cowboy · Post by **Radio_Cowboy** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:06 pm

Well of coarse Jimmy! Can't have the FM whip getting lonely. Who knows, you might get lucky and even catch them trying to mate on a windy day....

-RC-

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 6:01 pm

If the noise floor wasn't so damn awful on CB it would be a bit more useful!

007 · Post by **007** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 9:10 pm

Radio_Cowboy wrote:Well of coarse Jimmy! Can't have the FM whip getting lonely. Who knows, you might get lucky and even catch them trying to mate on a windy day....

-RC-

HA HA - LMAO! How'd I know you'd say that?

hvacesu78 · Post by **hvacesu78** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 12:49 pm

Outstanding responses. Thank you to all. Hmmm, looks like I will be lookin out for somethin oh say come Dayton in the C.B. market.. hey even a Mocat may pop up !

Im thinkin the smaller slim or even the remote head/control unit would be nice, since I will prob monitor trucks etc.....

Thanks members... you all r great...

John

Post by Pj » Wed Apr 16, 2003 4:55 pm

I was thinking of using a splitter and running a swtich with my low band x9000 antenna, if the SWR isn't killed too much. Instead of using a dashmount CB, I can always pick up one of those RatShack remote mount ones and put it under the seat and just use it when traveling.. 4 mics are already too many...

elkbow · Post by **elkbow** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 5:18 pm

I would go ahead and install one. I would like one just to tell the truckers to get out of the fast lane when I'm passing. Good to listen to like everything else, also casual conversations with some truckers is a good way to pass the time when travelling.

My only problem, my housing I just made has no more room. I got the MCS200 UHF, A7 Spectra VHF, Kenwood TM-D700A and soon my Syntor X9000 lowband....plus I got enough antenna's to start my own business.

wa2zdy · Post by **wa2zdy** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 12:55 pm

Radio_Cowboy wrote:Well of coarse Jimmy! Can't have the FM whip getting lonely. Who knows, you might get lucky and even catch them trying to mate on a windy day.... :lol:
-RC-

Well, since most CB is AM, and you're talking about keeping the FM whip company, would the car with one on each side be an AM/FM car? !

I say go for the CB if you're on the open road a lot and have room for it. The 9 foot whip wouldn't really be necessary for monitoring the nearby traffic, but out in the middle of nowhere, it could make the difference between getting help or not. That would be a case by case decision I suppose.

Good luck.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Fri Apr 18, 2003 1:51 pm

I have a healthy distaste for CB these days and yes I had them years ago. NOISE FLOOR is beyond annoying, then roger beeps, echo mics, nimrods, wackos and such. I wonder if that nut job who used to say HELLO constantly over and over at several KW is still out there on CH40. Don't forget the ones who pirate on 10m, or the mil bands.

I'm rather suprised at how big trucking industry is and they haven't come up with something a bit better than CB at this point.

jcobb · Post by **jcobb** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 10:41 am

How many of us get this: (looking at 11 antennas on the truck) "Hey, how many CBs you got in that thang anyway?"

I usually get out of it by going "Hey look - a baby wolf!" and driving off while they're looking around.......

Jack

Radio_Cowboy · Post by **Radio_Cowboy** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 9:52 pm

wa2zdy wrote:
Well, since most CB is AM, and you're talking about keeping the FM whip company, would the car with one on each side be an AM/FM car?

Well, that way you aren't "Keeping it in the family"

-RC-

RESCUE161 · Post by **RESCUE161** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 6:03 am

jcobb wrote:How many of us get this: (looking at 11 antennas on the truck) "Hey, how many CBs you got in that thang anyway?"

I usually get out of it by going "Hey look - a baby wolf!" and driving off while they're looking around.......

Jack

I like that plan! I usually get into it trying to tell them that I don't have a CB... They just don't get it. Yeah, I'm going to try that next time...lol

Scott

To Install or Not Install a mobile C.B. Radio ?

Install a mobile C.B. radio ?

To Install or Not Install a mobile C.B. Radio ?