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-   -   whats the best cb (http://www.fordrangerforum.com/interior-tech/24123-whats-cb.html)

lgriff07 01-10-2011 05:46 AM

whats the best cb
 
hey guys what is the best cb and where is the best place to buy..

OscarMike 01-10-2011 08:46 AM

Re: whats the best cb
 
As far as stock radio's go, Cobra 29's are decent...

I have a Midland 1001Z, and it works great. $25, and I have gotten 8 miles of range out of it typically.

Brodie_laj 01-10-2011 08:46 AM

Re: whats the best cb
 
Thats a very open question, it mainly depends on your antenna setup, a cheap radio with a great antenna setup will be better than a really high end radio with a crap antenna setup

However, a nice radio is the Cobra 29 LTD Classic, it shows a price of $119.99 on Cobras website

check there website out, there is even radios with bluetooth now and digital displays


Also, here is a post i put in another thread, it has a bit of info and tips about hooking up your radio

Here is how i mounted my radio and antenna
I bolted the bracket for the radio on, the bolt and nut catches a peice of plastic under the radio area so it is really sturdy... kind of hard to explain, drop your glove box down and look in that are and you can see it.
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/s...j/DSCF1899.jpg
http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/s...j/DSCF1900.jpg

The antenna i have is a 4' fiberglass whip from the source and i mounted it to the bed rail with the mirror mount, but i just used one half of the mount.... on the bed rail there are 2 holes already and the mount bolted up perfectly to the 2 holes

As for the coax i ran it under the truck and through a plug in the floor by the back of the cab, that got the wire between the carpet and the body of the truck, then behind the drivers side seat there is another plug on the carpet that i ran the wire out of, now i ran the wire underneath my console and out to under my radio bezel where the radio is mounted... out of the whole install i only see about 3" of wire

apparently if your coax is running through the engine bay or outside the truck you may get a static, also the power cable going to the radio is best connected directly to the battery opposed to the fuse panel or 12v outlet

I used 9' of coax for an ext cab and i had just enough wire

My reception is very good, many times when i am out on the highway i will have my squelch almost all the way to the left with no static or anything... not to sure how far out i get but i think it is pretty good.

http://i578.photobucket.com/albums/s...j/DSCF1898.jpg


If your truck is automatic, that is a good spot to mount the radio and then you can still mount an overhead console on the roof of the cab

westtntrucker 01-11-2011 11:29 AM

Re: whats the best cb
 
I've been driving trucks for 24 years. My radio of choice is the cobra 29 ltd. Find a good c.b. Shop in your area (usually right at or near a truck stop) and talk to the tech. You can have it "peaked and tuned" and if you want, a "connex" board installed to give you echo and reverb.
I also suggest chucking the stock mike. Buy an astatic or rk56 noise canceling mike. They do wonders for voice clarity even with a window rolled down. But remember, with a NC mike, you have to hold it right to your lips for proper operation.
Antennas, a single steel whip type is the best choice. K40,

westtntrucker 01-11-2011 11:45 AM

Re: whats the best cb
 
(continued) or Wilson trucker series.
Truck stops usually have good sales on cb's. You van pick up a new 29ltd for 80-100 bucks. I think the pilot or loves truck stops ate selling a uniden pc68 for about 50$ after a mail in rebate. Unidens are also good radios.
Next you will want a good external speaker. Also sold at truck stops. The speaker that comes in radios are crap and not optimally located for you to hear good.
Next will be the coax. K40 makes a coax with a removable end so you can push it through a smaller hole in, say a body plug underneath.
These prices are general from memory,
$80- radio
$50- peak and tune
$50- noise canceling mike
$20- k40 coax
$60- Wilson trucker antenna
$10- antenna mount
$25- external speaker
$300 total for a ready to ride, super trucker, chicken hauler radio!

p.s. Cobra has a new radio out that looks pretty call. It's their 50th anniversary edition. Don't know anything about it yet whether it's goo or junk. Just for info.
Good luck to ya.
$

CLJ99ranger 01-12-2011 03:32 PM

Re: whats the best cb
 
Where i live at all the hunt clubs use hi/low cb's. I have a hi/low superstar 121 radio. Its by far one of the nicest hi/low cb's i have had. i have mine hooked up to a 102" whip and can easlily pick up the hunt club from 10-20 miles away

01B3000 01-12-2011 03:45 PM

Re: whats the best cb
 
Going back to Brodie_laj's mounting. I mounted mine a little different, his mounting will work for an auto ranger, mine being a manual, I took a sheet of diamond plate, bent it and screwed it down in between my seats
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/membe...ls-crooked.jpg

Not the best picture but you get the idea, i will put some better ones up maybe later.
My radio is the Cobra 19DX IV, its attached to a 4.5 foot fiberglass whip, this radio is great because it is compact, uet still powerfull, and easy to use

Brodie_laj 01-12-2011 10:09 PM

Re: whats the best cb
 
That mount looks great Travis, might give a lot of people with a manual trans and idea, pretty sweet switch panel you got there too!


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