If you want a mag mount go with a wilson 1000.
For the best price go to copper.com

 

Honestly, with that radio, don't bother trying to amplify it...its just going to bleed and sound like crap.

If you're serious about CB radio, you're not going to care about what the radio and/or antenna looks like. Just shooting straight with you, that little hand held might talk a mile, and it might not. To run a radio with an amp and really get out some, you'll need a REAL radio and antenna.

For instance, I know guys who run basic cobra 29's or uniden 68's, with a mild tune and a GOOD antenna will talk 15 miles (this varies upon so many things, mind you).

 

Peaked and tuned Galaxy DX 959 SSB with a Wilson 1000 antenna.

 

If you really want some mobile communications that can reach out further, you need to go Ham radio. Yes, you need to study for, take and pass a 35 question test to get your license but it's not hard to do. You CAN do it if you are serious.

I know that CB's do have their place. They are a step above the FRS/GMRS radios for distance, but not much and IMHO, CBs are not that good for communications when the band is tied up with the foul mouthed idiots. We Hams don't call CB Childrens Band for nothing!

Medic73

 

...CBs are not that good for communications when the band is tied up with the foul mouthed idiots. We Hams don't call CB Childrens Band for nothing!

Medic73

And us rednecks dont call you boys ham hocks for nothing. :
And yes, you are correct that HAM would be much better. But some of us don't want the paper trail related to that license. So we might get that HAM, but it will merely set on that shelf for a 'justincase'. In th emeantime, we will tolerate our CB's and turn them off when the language gets foul. Do the Wilson 1000 for the mag mount. I have a Uniden GrantXL SSB and it suits its purpose.:thumb:

 

Stop feeding the troll your souls guys, along with the crude spelling and the "luxury car" bait it is quite obviously trolling at its worst. I intend to set up an international survivalistboards.com troll patrol.....that rhymes and you know it.....I declare myself supreme master commander....recruitment in to this elite unit is open!!!

 

I guess I am a troll then

 

I run a Galaxy 919 tuned at Sparkys CB. A Wilson Little Wil antenna because it is the best mag in the 36" range. I think the Wilson 1000 is 60 inches, to tall on top of my pickup.

 

Do I need a wilson 5000 if im not putting more power than a handheld through it? I narrowed it down to a K40 or Wilson 5000. Both are about the same price. How much more distance will I get with the Wilson 5000?

http://www.rightchannelradios.com/wilson-cb-antenna-109/wilson-5000-magnet-cb-antenna-357.html

 

i've used both and hands down the wilson 5000 is the better antenna...better coax on it to, so if you upgrade in the future you will be better off.

 

Get a strong one so we can hear you from prison.:thumb:

 

Best CB antenna? 102 inch whip on a ball mount that's properly grounded.

 

:thumb: That's what I run mounted in the center of the vehicle.


________________________

III ~ Peaceful, but prepared.

"Obama, the skid-mark in the underwear of American history." - J.R.L. -

 

Is anyone gonna mention he needs to tune the antenna with a SWR meter before he smokes the transmit circuit.

 

He's asking about amplifiers before he seems to know anything about CB. He's probably going to smoke the radio anyway ... and possibly his car too.

To the OP ...

Learn what you are doing first before even considering an amplifier. Better yet, don't use an amplifier. If you know what you are doing you won't need one.

 

That's what I decided. No research done at all and the CB picked is not really that great. So he will learn the hard way if he is to lazy to do some reading.

 

I have one of those midland radios too.
But mine was tuned, tweaked, boosted to ~18 watts and has low 40, 40, and high 40 channels.:

PS. But it fell in the lake last time looking for my guns.

 

Oops, I forgot to answer part of your questions... sorry about that.

Yes, Ham radio can scan many frequencies like a "normal scanner". It also can Transmit and Receive on the Amateur Radio Frequencies that the radios are designed to do so on. Some Hams will also open the radios up by changing some of the circuts inside the radio that will allow them to receive and/or transmit outside the normal TX/RX frequencies, but to talk outside the band is illegal.

One thing that Hams are good at is finding out that someone without a license is talking on the bands. It's not hard to find used radios in pawn shops and some dealers do not require you to provide your call sign to purchase radios either. But if you start talking on the radios and you don't have a license, it usually doesn't take long to figure out that you are doing so illegally and Hams are REAL good at finding the location of transmitting radios. We do a fun activity called Fox Hunting, which is trying to locate a hidden transmitter. We make a game out of it and even though the "hidden transmitter, or FOX" only transmits for a few seconds and onlt every few minutes, we have equipment that can lock in on their position and it usually takes only a few minutes to locate the Fox.

Anyone can transmit on ANY radio frequency in an emergency, but just buying a Ham Radio and trying to start talking on it can get you in a lot of trouble and I don't reccommend it. Listening is just fine, but to talk on the frequencies does require that you do have a license or you are operating under a licensed Ham's control, called "Third Party Traffic".

Hams are pretty good about showing their equipment to anyone that shows an interest. Do an internet search in your area for a local Ham Club and try and go to a meeting. Let them know that you are not a Ham, but are interested in finsing out more about Ham Radio.

You will most likely be invited to check out the radios in their vehicles and possibly asked if you want to go and see their "Ham Shack". They will demonstrate for you the radios and talking on them and probably allow you to do some Third Party Traffic if you ask.

Like I've been saying, it's not hard to study and pass the exams and it is a lot of fun once you do get your "ticket" (license).

Medic73

 

I'll let others tell you more about CB Radio. Yes, I also have CBs and have used them for years, but they are not my first choice when I must communicate with others reliably.

...Some Hams will also open the radios up by changing some of the circuts inside the radio that will allow them to receive and/or transmit outside the normal TX/RX frequencies, but to talk outside the band is illegal...

Being able to communicate with those on CB is good because almost every truck hauling goods has one in it. The majority of Jeeps that actually go off-road are also highly likely to have a CB in it.

My Icom has been opened up. In the event of an emergency, the radio could be used on CB frequencies and modulation to assist in the aid of persons of need. A HAM radio is not "type certified" for normal use on CB frequencies.

(In truth, so long as the the output power is reduced to be within legal limits, only a government three letter agency would be likely to determine it was not a "type certified" transmitter).

A final caution about "opening up" a HAM radio. The transmit circuit is tuned for the INTENDED frequencies used. If you try to transmit on a freq that is "filtered out" the radio may very well let the smoke out of the final amplifier.

And, well ... since electronics all works on magic ... once you let the smoke out all the magic stops... and so does your communications...

 

Medic73,
Where does one go to get a HAM license?

 

Go to the website http://www.arrl.com or http://www.qrz.com
You can find out lots of information about Amateur Radio there and at the qrz.com site, they even have practice tests that you can start taking. Those practice tests are the exact same questions and answer choices from the real test and if you get it wrong, it will tell you what the correct answer is. Just keep taking those practice tests over and over until you are passing the practice tests which take a 70% if I remember correctly. There are different versions of each test, so make sure you don't stick with the first version over and over because the real tests for the Tech License is 35 questions from the 350 question pool. You want to be able to correctly answer all 350 questions to know that you can pass the test, but it really isn't that hard.

You can also buy the study books, which I really recommend because they will give you the reason WHY the correct answer is correct and they will help give you a reference guide to look at after you do have your license.

The ARRL and Qrz sites will have a link somewhere that will tell you about local Ham Radio Clubs AND where the testing exams are held and when. I think you should go to a Ham Club meeting and get to know some of the Hams there. They should be open to answering your questions and many Ham Clubs actually put on the License Exams. They can give you great local information to help you achieve your goal.

Good luck,
Medic73

 

no matter how much or how little power you are putting out, the antenna needs to be the correct wavelength for the frequency. (468/frequency in Mhz). i have talked to japan from the east coast on 10 watts on the 10 meter amateur band, with a properly tuned antenna. perhaps you could do a google FAQ search before asking redundant questions next time.
ps, if i offended you for not researching, too bad, i am not going to get into a flame war, and i typically don't look at posts like this after i have responded.

 

The one I got is the best handheld out there? Whats not that great about it.? I want a handheld that will also work in any car that I am in?

Will I burn anything up if I just run my CB and a Wilson 5000 antenna?

Do any CB's legally run more than 4 watts?

 

Any CB sold in the US is supposed to be 4 watts max on AM and I believe 12 watts on SSB. If you see one higher it is most likely an illegal modification or import.

Running a stock CB will not burn anything up as long as you hook it up correctly. With the handheld you'll probably just use a cigarette lighter plug anyway.

It's when you start getting into high power amplifiers that you will start a fire, or at the very least blow out your equipment, if you don't know what you are doing.

Peaking it out a few watts over the legal limit (4 watts) really won't gain you any great advantage. It MAY hep on some rare occasion but a good antenna at 4 watts is much better than a mediocre one at 20. Amateur radio operators routinely talk around the world using only a few watts.

Seriously, if you are just starting out use a legal CB (which you already have) and a good antenna and you will be good to go. Someone recommended the Wilson 1000. Good recommendation.

 

For the HAMS;
What happened to the Novice Sub band on 10 meters? From what I am reading here, it appears the entire Novice class no longer exists?

I have an old Cobra 148gtl that is modified so it covers it's own range, all the way up to and including the Novice sub band. It's going to suck if I have to study all the way up to General to use it.

As for amps and such. Back when I was going to study for the test (wish i followed through), one rule stated somethig to the effect that "In an emergency, you may legally use any, and all equipment at your disposal" This clause allowed for HAMS to build, posses and sell 10,000+ watt amps legally if they want, but could not crank the output up past 1500 watts unless an emergency dictated the need for that extra power.

I have been to HAM fests, and seem some HUGE amps for the HF range that in no way shape or form were limited to only 1500 watts. I'm talking huge tubes, water cooled unites as big as a small refrigerator. When I asked the guy selling it for $12,000.00 what the output was, he stated 1500 on house current, but it "Might" do more in an emergency if I ran it with 220. I asked what it would do powered by a 440 line. He said he did not have the equipment to test it at that level but assured me it would not blow up. He seemed to be implying the output was only limited by how much you put in.

I have seen MANY 5,000 watt HF amps as well, all the same story, water cooled, huge tubes, 12 watts in, 1500 watts out,powerd in 110 house current, but the specs stated one could run it on 220V and imput 100 watts to the amp for a verbally stated output (and i quote) in excess of 5,000.

So the world of amature radio has some very exciting possibilities. ALL would be perfect legal to use in an "Emergency" of which a SHTF would certainly qualify.

 

I bought a wilson 5000. What will a vehicle mounted CB do that my handheld wont? I prefer a handheld b.c I can take it anywhere and switch it between vehicles. Will a vehicle mounted unit transmit further or something that my handheld wont?