Posted: 6/16/2012 7:55:57 AM EDT
| I searched for the topic and was unable to uncover anything, I'm sure that this subject has been discussed before. What are some options, how much change should I expect to drop? |
| A Cobra 29 or a Uniden Bearcat PC78 will do just fine. Theyre kinda the middle of the road standard. Then just get an antenna/antennas that you can adjust for SWR, the correct length antenna coax cable (18ft for single or dual 9ft for double antennas), and a decent SWR test meter and figure how youre gonna mount it all up. |
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wide range of radios and prices out there. if you just want local the cb will do it. but if you want more go the ham route.
most ham ops will try to talk you out of a cb from the start. but money will dictate your choice. ham cost $$,, no way around it but you do get the extra benifits for the extra money. cb is "very" cheap to get into but its dead except for truck driver channel. channel after channel of dead air. I'm willing to bet if SHTF cb air waves will light up big, but still will only be good for local unless you start putting big money behind it.. I would say do both. if you have a local group cb would get you by but info outside of that group would be little. |
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If you aren't against china stuff you can get a pretty nice dual band hand held ham radio for $60 shipped. I got my dad one and I am seriously impressed. Baofeng UV-5R. Single band name brand radio's start at about 100. I don't think thats so expensive. HF can get very expensive but VHF is pretty cheap and worlds better than CB. |
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Presently using Connex 33.
Peaked, tuned, running single co-ax on Francis whip antenna. Have run various 10 meters like Ranger, in fact three. Very clear radios and very delicate radios. Always ran my 10 meters off dual Wilson coil antanna with only the best in co-ax dual-rolled in head liner of truck cab. Galaxy isn't the radio it used to be. Had a 99 for several years, sold it. One Ranger was stolen. The other two literally were worn out. The best radio I've run to date was Cobra 148. That was years ago when radios were radios. Today's radios are throw aways in the under $300.00 range. 10 meters are great fun. I've run skip from Minnesota to Florida. 10 meters are expensive to maintain in mobil applications. Five miles is good range. Hilltop to hilltop mine seem good out to twenty. Of course, I'm talking mobile. I wouldn't have a base in the house for the simple reason I've got better things to do with home time and absolutely loathe base operators who have to operate on 19 for an audience. Flip side of that coin is when I run across base operators running on side cb bands I have the common courtesy to move my conversation to an alternate channel. The secret to being a good operator is restricting use to business or conversations among friends. Save the CB karate crap for discussions with your mirror. |
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I am a CB'er (began as a kid) and a Licensed Amateur Radio General Class Operator according to the FCC...
I love radio-any kind-just radio! Depending on what you wish to accomplish in the end....CB may be where you wanna start...maybe not!? Garand_Shooter...did a pretty great show on the Ham/Scanner/CB discussion on TSP a few months ago: Linked Here that may help you make some choices on where you are looking to go. I have a Galaxy 959 and Kenwood TM-G707 both installed in my truck.... Here to help.... SCW added link: TSP on CB radio... FWIW |
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Good thing you don't have that 300 watt amp on a CB anymore, because that's illegal as hell.  Yep it was this same way 20 years ago Oh, I know. When I was a little kid in the early '80s there were some FCC guys that showed up looking for a local that was running a kicker. 
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Good thing you don't have that 300 watt amp on a CB anymore, because that's illegal as hell. Yep it was this same way 20 years ago Oh, I know. When I was a little kid in the early '80s there were some FCC guys that showed up looking for a local that was running a kicker. they tried that here in Boone also but eveyrbody had one and only use it when moving. |
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CB was a blast in the late 80's early 90's before Nextel.....kinda went away, now it's kinda a mess on most days. Local ops are nearly impossible unless you have extra power. Over the Road is OK if you can stand the Rated NC-17 discourse with your kids in the cab with you...
Ham on the other hand allows Like Minded Individuals to connect at most anytime they please with Nominal Interference.... 'course my 959 swinging 48 watts will punch though some of the mess and is pretty fun when on the road alone.......... again, bot have a place in Emcomm Ops...and CB is as good as any place to start |
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CB was a blast in the late 80's early 90's before Nextel.....kinda went away, now it's kinda a mess on most days. Local ops are nearly impossible unless you have extra power. Over the Road is OK if you can stand the Rated NC-17 discourse with your kids in the cab with you... Ham on the other hand allows Like Minded Individuals to connect at most anytime they please with Nominal Interference.... 'course my 959 swinging 48 watts will punch though some of the mess and is pretty fun when on the road alone.......... again, bot have a place in Emcomm Ops...and CB is as good as any place to start Yeah, channel 19 is alot like GD in many ways.
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