CB Question

Does one really need to have a cb peaked and tuned.........or is a stock cb with a good antenna and a good noise cancelling mic good.........also I have read that a stock cb is good from 1 to 3 miles, and a upgraded one is capable of 7 to 10+ miles.......Just so y'all know I have a cobra 29. And the antenna is a road pro 3 foot. Right now I will have it in my 4 wheeler until I graduate from trucking school and move on to a company after which I will install in the truck I am assigned.

Does one really need to have a cb peaked and tuned.........or is a stock cb with a good antenna and a good noise cancelling mic good.........also I have read that a stock cb is good from 1 to 3 miles, and a upgraded one is capable of 7 to 10+ miles.......Just so y'all know I have a cobra 29. And the antenna is a road pro 3 foot. Right now I will have it in my 4 wheeler until I graduate from trucking school and move on to a company after which I will install in the truck I am assigned.

Its nice to have that extra range, but you can start with what you've got and see if you really need it or not.

Any CB can be tweaked a little with stock output chips. What's really key - is that your rig be tuned for minimum SWR's (standing waves) with the antenna rig in your vehicle.

I have a Cobra 29 with upgraded output chipset and echo mod - but it still has to have the antenna tuned correctly for the vehicle/antenna setup it connects to.

Generically speaking - your 4 wheeler unit should just drop in and work fine when you move it into your truck - but for max output (with stock or mods), the antenna should be tuned.

Rick

Thanks for the replies....once I get my rig I will have a shop match and tune my set up to the truck....again thanks y'all

Thanks for the replies....once I get my rig I will have a shop match and tune my set up to the truck....again thanks y'all

As an Amateur Extra Class radio operator, I'll throw in my two cents..

It's all about the antenna. If you want to spend money, buy a better antenna. I've got a radio that's home built (80 meters band) that is used by several amateurs on a network talking between Fairbanks and Anchorage, AK.. That's just a tad over 300 road miles. They use a long wire antenna. Their "power" comes from a 9 volt battery and it's all morse code but still, they're reaching out and touching 30x farther than the "Updated" CB will reach. Everything except your morse key and the wire will fit inside a Sucrets Tin..

As an Extra Class, I can put up a 200' tower in my yard and run up to 1500 watts. Money would be better spent on a "Yagi" antenna. Think old timey Home TV antenna only the with different sized crossing rods tuned to the frequency.

As someone else said, definitely make sure you have the SWR's as good as you can get them.

I agree with Paul, a good antenna, well tuned, is the best investment. A stock CB has enough power to reach the horizon, given an antenna height of 12', that's a bit over 4 miles, more than enough distance for the typical uses of a CB.

Thanks y'all I will definitely upgrade my antenna to a higher grade once I get on with a company and go solo

You don't need a crazy expensive antenna, just one that matches your radio and make sure it has a proper ground. The new freightliner has the antenna molded into the side panel and they suck. Many people have purchased a mirror mount and upgraded the cable with great success. I use a pair of Fire Sticks on a Cobra 29 with a tune and swing kit. I can normally get around 5-6 mile range with it.

Depends on what you're after if you want damn good setup if you're ever in Bakersfield CA there is a guy there that will mod the crap out of your CB and hook you up with everything you need I've had other people hear me at some serious distance.