CB/Radio communication?

What is your radio communication set up? Transceiver and antenna(s)?

Does anyone use other frequencies besides the CB? Like SSB, UHF/VHF, 10 meter, FM...

What kind of range do you get and in what kind of terrain?

My CB is dead and I’m planning on replacing it but haven’t yet decided what set up I’ll go with.

 

CB is my primary: uniden pro510, 5' firestik with spring and quick disconnect. front bumper mounted. simple and reliable. Can talk to a pack of 15 trucks as long as we are not too spread out. most guys have CB around here.

I used to be into ham radio, but few guys around here use it. Yaesu 7800 UHF/VHF and Larsen 2/70nmo antenna with spring. Simplex operation has noticeably better range than CB. The same group of 15 trucks can spread out while traveling fast through heavy dust and still reach front to back. Since it's FM it sounds almost telephone quality as opposed to CB where everyone sounds like a staticy trucker. Terrain like canyons can block the signal. I never use repeaters.

you're pretty much forced to run what your crew has adopted.

 

CB here too. Circa 1975 Kraco DeLuxe 23 channel, peaked and tuned, NOS off of e-pay. Firestick with spring mounted on a bracket by the tailgate. This thing can talk pretty damn good.

 

Just installed a Uniden ProXL 520 with a Little Will Mag Mount Antenna. Pretty happy with it for the price and size. Would like an antenna I can permanently mount but I am in parking garages too much currently. Fits nicely next to my shifter. Range was pretty good but I have not tuned it yet to optimize it. Over all pretty good cb for the price.

 

Does anyone have experience with the side bands of the CB?

 

Nice and clean! Great easy access!

 

That sounds pretty sweet. Those Yaesu transceivers are what I have my eye on. Have any pics of your install?
I’m liking the quad band and even more so the all-band. But damn they’re pricey! Although if I could radio the nearest town and call for help, that’d be nice. Although I suppose I could just get a Spot or some other form of EPRB that would double duty for hiking.

 

the remote mount faceplate is my favorite feature. keeps it clean up front with the radio body mounted on the back wall. I find even the 7800 radio is overly complex to use. Maybe the latest and greatest has improved that, or just adds to the insanity.

not much to see, but here is the faceplate:

 

nice, clean install..

 

If you travel a bit, a true dual recieve is great. I've got the Kenwood TM-V71A, but tyt has a more affordable one.

I have both CB and ham, but I use ham whenever I can. Our repeater system up here is really big.




Really you can get into it cheap first and go from there. $35 handheld radio. $30 mag antenna kit for the vehicle. $15 test that licenses you for 10 years and goes towards the volunteers expenses to give the test.