CB Radio......useful?

[Patrick46]

 I was looking at this cb radio last week and today I see it's on sale at Amazon for only $40.99 and FREE shipping, it's normally $59.99.  
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004VXNI/ref=pe_316150_158065350_em_1p_0_ti

Yuppers!!! That be the one!

Great radio for the money. I've used these in semi trucks all over the great 48 (...and Canada, and Alaska too!)

 

[Cheli]

Yuppers!!! That be the one!

Great radio for the money. I've used these in semi trucks all over the great 48 (...and Canada, and Alaska too!)

Awesome, thank you.  Looks like I'm going to grab this baby.  hahaha

 

[LowTech]

Do not play w/ it w/o an antenna hooked up. It can damage it. Just an FYI.

 

[Cheli]

Do not play w/ it w/o an antenna hooked up.  It can damage it. Just an FYI.

I won't play with it, but thanks for the heads up.  I just want to grab a decent radio now for a good price so I have it later once I get a van and hit the road.  

 

[johnny b]

Don't forget to use Bob's Amazon link...

Click here to Shop Amazon

 

[highdesertranger]

a couple of points first on the Uniden CB, I am not familiar with that model but I have always found Unidens to be good radios.

on antennas, do not I repeat DO NOT try to transmit with your unit until you have the antenna tuned.

Debit that looks like a Firestick Antenna. are you positive there is not a tuning knob under that rubber cap on the end. if there isn't a knob you need to pull the cap and find the wire that wraps around. then you trim the wire in very small increments to tune. of course you need a SWR meter. with your antenna mounted in that location you will have a very small ground plane maybe not enough. you need a certain amount of metal under the antenna there is a formula for this.. highdesertranger

 

[Rustyvan]

Very few trucks have a cb anymore most of them have 2 way radios uhf or vhf

 

[highdesertranger]

I still get a lot of trucker traffic on my CB. highdesertranger

 

[B and C]

I still get a lot of trucker traffic on my CB.  highdesertranger

X2

 

[akrvbob]

Let me play devils advocate a bit. First, I'm sure it's a great radio you will like, but do you want to be buying a bunch of stuff and storing it for a year? The next year should be about getting rid of a whole bunch of stuff and minimalism, this just seems to go against the grain of that.

Second, are you certain of your budget of time and money for next year when you are getting into a van? Is there any chance at the last minute you will have less time and money than you thought you had? If so, maybe you will regret one more project and a little less money for something much more essential.

Maybe saving the $19 is not worth the possible drawbacks? Sometimes when you are making such a radical change in your life a better idea is a laser-like focus on the essentials of life and comfort.

Just food for thought. I'm not saying what the answer is for you, but maybe giving you more possible considerations.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

can't argue with Bob's advice. highdesertranger

 

[Cheli]

Let me play devils advocate a bit. First, I'm sure it's a great radio you will like, but do you want to be buying a bunch of stuff and storing it for a year? The next year should be about getting rid of a whole bunch of stuff and minimalism, this just seems to go against the grain of that.

Second, are you certain of your budget of time and money for next year when you are getting into a van? Is there any chance at the last minute you will have less time and money than you thought you had? If so, maybe you will regret one more project and a little less money for something much more essential.

Maybe saving the $19 is not worth the possible drawbacks? Sometimes when you are making such a radical change in your life a better idea is a laser-like focus on the essentials of life and comfort.

Just food for thought. I'm not saying what the answer is for you, but maybe giving you more possible considerations.
Bob

Those are some great points Bob, I didn't really think of it that way.  You are right, I really need to focus on getting rid of all the stuff I have and seriously downsize so I really don't need to be holding on to more things for a year.  When the time comes and I get a van I will need to be really focused on essentials.

Great advice, thank you for being devils advocate......I needed that.  

 

[LowTech]

Yes, and I also believe that when we know what we're going to do (ie, move into a rig), it's a good idea to start collecting the things needed for us to function well, and feel safe, in that reality.

I know that there's no way I could get everything I feel that I would need in a short amount of time. Hell I'm still working on it after 35 years.
I would definitely make up my list and start getting things as I could find, or afford, them. I sure wouldn't wait until I had a rig to start getting some things. Especially things that are not based on the type of vehicle I end up with.
I would probably even "trade off" things that I was getting rid of for things on my list. Like I sell something for X amount and that gets me something, or things, on my list for about the same amount.

I can't even imagine doing a build out w/o a collection of things already gathered. Most of the main things in the shelter that I'm living in/building I had before I got the shelter. Stove, sink, water tank, propane tank, futon, and radios (4).

 

[SoulRaven]

This is the antenna, it's mounted to the lip of the high-top. Is a ground plane a flat plane to which an antenna is grounded? At the 2015 RTR I asked for help to see if it was turned. Testing with the SWR meter with this Colorado guy we found out it's tuned. The antenna is non-adjustable (pre-tuned?). I am a noob when it comes to radio equipment. Look at where the antenna is situated, perhaps the high-top blocks signals trying to get through the passenger side of the van?

That looks like a firestik or similar, they are adjustable.

First, I would check to make sure you have a really good ground for both your antenna mount, and your CB radio.

Check your coax connections and remove/replace them several times to remove any accumulated oxidation.

Many truck stops have CB radio shops in them, and they know their stuff for getting the most out of your system.

 

[SoulRaven]

Ok so I know I'm not going to be getting my van and on the road for about a year but I'm thinking ahead.  I was looking at this cb radio last week and today I see it's on sale at Amazon for only $40.99 and FREE shipping, it's normally $59.99.  Does this seem like a good radio and something that would be worth getting now even though I'm only in the planning stages of my vandwelling dream?  I will get the antenna and anything else I need to hook it up later once I have a vehicle but for now I thought this might be something I should grab for the price.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004VXNI/ref=pe_316150_158065350_em_1p_0_ti

I prefer to buy my CB equipment at truck stops.  Great and proven products and easy to return if you ever have problems on the road.

 

[flying kurbmaster]

a cb wouldn't be on my priority list, if I come across one at a garage sale one day for a few buck with an antenna and all the bits I would likely buy it and install it cause l like the image of having a cb and a handle and I could say " breaker, breaker" it could entertain me while driving, I could listen to all that static and try to figure out what the heck they just said, this could occupy me to no end.

 

[blars]

My motorhome came with a CB, I've never turned it on in the 4 years I lived in it. Maybe someone at the RTR would like to trade for it. If you don't have your vehicle yet, it may come with a CB installed.

 

[Cheli]

If you don't have your vehicle yet, it may come with a CB installed.

Ahhhh another great point.  I shouldn't be planning for something I don't have yet because I don't know what I'm going to end up with and what it already has.

Thank you.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

While you are wise to put off actually buying anything at this time, there is no reason not to study and research it all while you are waiting.  For example:

http://www.olypen.com/craigh/antennab.htm

And remember, just cause you bought a vehicle that came with one, that doesn't mean the previous owner did it RIGHT!

Regards
John

 

[rvpopeye]

Good point OP.
When I bought my current rig there was a new Rat Shack CB under the dash.
The guy selling said "It never did work" he installed it himself and knew he did it right!

Well I got some time to investigate and he had attached the ground wire to the dash..............only thing was  , the dash was (wait for it) plastic.

I pulled the radio and installed my old Cobra 29 (with a new ground wire to the battery neg. terminal). There was a new K40 antenna mounted to the side of the rig just below the roof line and was a pretty good match from the factory.

Still got the Rat Shack CB in the original box somewhere in one of the compartments.
I was saving it as a backup.
Maybe it's time to pass it on????  
CBs can be found real cheap at yard sales , swap meets etc. But testing it before buying is a good idea.
And most any will work fine if you have a good properly tuned antenna.

CB traffic has dried up quite a bit these days , especially compared to the 70s+80s but there are still places where it is still popular. Same goes for truckers using them.
And places like the slabs use them for a major info link between residents.
The cussing is still there sometimes too.
I always had one in my truck and we even had them in the tour busses ,
Lots of good times on the air.
I think I'll be keeping one in the rig for a long time though.
Ya never know , it might be the only thing to get out with (talk on) someplace where you really need it.

Those little ham dual band rigs somebody posted the link to are a cheap option too.
No such thing as too many options.  
I've spend many hours with a ham at my side too , a lot less fun though IMO........

Break 19 break, break  copy ?
42 roger roger .
Keep an eye out for Kojac with a Kodak!
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