cb radio thread
un-Touch'd krew
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 51,774
Likes: 1
From: My own level of hell
I buy the Cobra line all the time for my wheeling rigs and they work just fine. You need to remember it isn't like a cell signal and will only broadcast dependent mostly on length of antennae and line of sight. You can bump up the power on some models to 12 watts+ and it will give you amazing range, but if you are caught by FCC (yes it happens still) you are in for a big fine so set it up on a switch if you go that route and make sure you get an antennae that won't glow too bright pushing that kind of power (yes they will literally glow with huge amounts of power).
I used to run a 30 watt setup in my truck when I was in Nebraska and was able to transmit about 40 miles reliably on average and bounced to 180 with the right conditions. It is fairly easy to surpass that but you really have to tune your gear to get that kind of range and not many can reply to you out that far, it is good for an SOS signal though if you are in the sticks.
I used to run a 30 watt setup in my truck when I was in Nebraska and was able to transmit about 40 miles reliably on average and bounced to 180 with the right conditions. It is fairly easy to surpass that but you really have to tune your gear to get that kind of range and not many can reply to you out that far, it is good for an SOS signal though if you are in the sticks.
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"I'll keep my money, guns and freedom. You can keep the "Change."
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Thread Starter
Shake n Bake!
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11,794
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
was waiting for your opinion, thanks. i was looking at a cobra but im not really sure which model i should get or what price range i should be in. im not looking to get as big of a range as what you described, but i was told of a cb radio shop some odd miles away from me that tunes antennas and whatnot..
un-Touch'd krew
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 51,774
Likes: 1
From: My own level of hell
Meh you can do it yourself. Get an SWR meter from Rad Shack and hook it inline between the radio and the antannae. Read up on adjusting the ant. and what optimal range of SWR is. Once you are set you only need to check it maybe two or three times a year but usually they don't go out of phase, You can leave the meter inline and it will be fine as well as being able to keep your eye on your broadcast ability.
The units I buy generally cost in the range of $20 or so, not fancy but they work just fine...kind of a K.I.S.S. methodology IMO.
The units I buy generally cost in the range of $20 or so, not fancy but they work just fine...kind of a K.I.S.S. methodology IMO.
__________________
"I'll keep my money, guns and freedom. You can keep the "Change."
"I'll keep my money, guns and freedom. You can keep the "Change."
I
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,525
Likes: 0
From: Westside til I die
Quit callin me radio, 91.
Quit callin me 91, radio!
Quit callin me 91, radio!
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2015 Ford Mustang GT Fastback - Ingot Silver - 6M - Performance Package - Gibson Catback, JLT CAI, FR 47lb injectors, BAMA E85 tune, Eibach Sportline, BMR wheel hop kit, UPR oil separator, Steeda shifter bushing/bracket
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