Posted: 6/23/2010 11:54:35 PM EDT
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Tap-Tap? Is this thing on? Is this the proper place to ask this question?
Bought a CB radio a number of years ago, (Big Lots––$35) but while it was waiting to go into the car, it disappeared when things were being sorted in the apartment. Found it the other day, still in its box, unopened. So......how do I test it to see if it still works? I have another one in my car, but I had the store install that one, with its cables in the back of a firmly bolted radio (in the CD slot of my Forester), going directly to the battery and the antennae cable under the interior panels......in short, unaccessible. If the radio still works, fine. I have one or two uses for it. If not......well, it was found again as part of grand spring cleaning. ______________________________________________ ("Hello? Hello? Is anyone out there? We found something in the ice."––radio voice, (wtte), advertisement for "The Thing") |
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An antennae is not a problem; have a second magnetic base with connector and a mast. It's one of the reasons why I'm even considering this that in case of a bug out evacuation, to be able to equip another family car with communications.
So that leaves the power source question............which now that you mention it, comes down to two points. What do I need (or where do I look for directions) for connecting a power source for testing ....................... and how do I do quickly and safely for a bug out car? As far as the other station, that's not a problem; I do radio checks frequently with my mounted unit (I'm right next to the highway). 10-97........10-2.........10-4. Oh, wait, that's my old police days. Now it's just, "radio check, please". ________________________________________________________ ("Up scope!"––(wtte), any submarine movie) |
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Quoted:
So that leaves the power source question............which now that you mention it, comes down to two points. What do I need (or where do I look for directions) for connecting a power source for testing ....................... and how do I do quickly and safely for a bug out car? CB ––> power leads ––> battery Not that hard. 
CB ––> power leads ––> battery ––> ammo can Not much harder. 
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For temporary hook up or to make it movable between vehicles, go to radio shack and get a cigarette lighter (sorry, POWER OUTLET) plug with the push in connections. You can then just take the power wires from the CB and insert them into the plug and go. All POWER OUTLETS in current vehicles are rated at 15-20 amps. Your CB might pull 2amps. Probably less.
As a side note: You'll hear the same thing quoted over and over about survival gear of any type. Take the CB out and use it. Learn what it does and what it doesn't do. Even HAMs who (supposedly) know what they're doing, build emergency comm boxes know they need to test the daylights out of them after they are put together. A real emergency is not the time to figure out the mag mount cable is frayed, or that it doesn't reach from where the antenna is to where the CB is. |
| Using the power outlet is usually not advised for amateur radio, but it actually works OK for CB most of the time. CB is low-power (4 watts) and doesn't draw a large amount of current, so the power outlet adapter does a decent job. I wouldn't recommend it if your only socket is one that is dirty from use for a lighter though. |
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