CB confusion

Alrighty, this is a little different than truck mount CB setup. I am getting ready to put a CB setup on my trailer. Purpose is to be able to talk with neighbors (1-5 miles) and some of the local farm truck drivers as they drive by on the main road.

I am looking for advice on radio and antenna.

For the radio, I am thinking SSB. From what little I read, SSB has better long range?

The antenna will be mounted at the back of the trailer on a flat wall (one layer aluminum, one layer steel) approx 3" below the top of the trailer. It will ONLY be attached when the trailer is parked, so length isnt an issue.

I am thinking a ball mount with spring to make it stable on the wall if it gets windy and to give a good seal against water getting into the wall. Thinking to the left of the porch light above the marker light.


Anyone have a suggestion for what would work well and not cost as much as a new sat phone?

 

Is it a metal roof on the trailer?

 

Yes, aluminum.

 

Could get something like this. (2) 6' sections.

https://www.wearecb.com/procomm-patriot-12-foot-cb-base-antenna.html

 

Is that suggestion because it can be disassembled, or?
I have a spot where I can fit a 102" or that full 12' antenna inside. Same location where my fishing pole and pole spear will be mounted.
This is the mount type I was thinking. It should put the bottom of the antenna right at the edge.

 

the key is to get the antenna as high up on the trailer as possible. the metal will react with it a bit. Doesn't matter how it gets attached.. You could use a mount like that if you'd like.

 

Yeah, I think the ball mount will get it the highest I can.
You think the 2 piece would be better or a 102" whip. I know I will also get a firestick to put up there when I park in the woods (have a night/fire watch position that will give a little extra $ once I get the trailer done and just need enough for someone to drive next to the trailer and give info).

 

Nice. Are you in the forestry business? A 102" whip will be fine. Any of those methods that have been around for awhile will do. Get your hands on an affordable swr meter. It'll help you tune that antenna and get the most out of it.

 

How about the radio? Any suggestions? I was looking at the

$324 Uniden Bearcat 980 40- Channel SSB CB Radio with Sideband NOAA WeatherBand,7- Color Digital Display PA/CB Switch and Noise Cancelling Mic, Wireless Mic Compatible

Uniden Bearcat 980.

I know a few company owners. Was suppose to come back from Afghanistan to be one of the mechanics, but my back said otherwise.

 

I personally don't have any favorites. I'd probably just search a bit on YouTube and see which one sounds good to you.


Also might be worth looking into Ham radio too. You might have fun with it

 

My grandfather had a serious ham setup down in Key West with a massive tower that we would bring down before every severe storm. That thing was rediculous on the places he talked to. Had a global map on the wall with pins and designators on it.
I know my neighbors dont have ham. Can ham talk to cb?
I have also heard good things about the President line of cbs.

 

102" go big or go home.

Ham can't legally talk on CB frequencies. I'm not sure about the physical possibility.

I have a Bearcat 880, no SSB. I have no complaints.

 

Big is fine since it will be taken off whenever I am towing the trailer or there is storm going through with lightning.
I prefer just one that is mostly centered on the back wall as that will keep me from having to use a ladder, I can just stand in the doorway and reach up.

 

Ham is a different gig.

I'd just make sure you get a rig with Ssb abilities. Performance wise they will all be exactly the same no matter the price.

 

Anything else I need to look into? I see a couple different ball mounts. One looks like you strip the wire end, the other looks like it threads right in.
Any difference in wire quality? Total distance from the cb to the antenna will be about 2ft.

 

Can you show me a link or picture of what you're referring to?

We can get a parts list going for you. There's some small thing that'll help put the station together. A few extra $5 parts here and there make it nice and clean.

So we have

1. Where is if getting mounted
2. How is it getting mounted
3. What radio would you like.
4. Where will the radio be going
5. ^ How much Coax cable you need
6. Where will you power source for the radio come from

Also, I have some quick connects I can send you for the power wires on the radio. You'll just have to splice them in with some crimp connectors. Ez pz. But that'll make it so when you travel you can unplug the radio and put it somewhere safe if you'd like, or relocate it to another place.

 

It looks like most use the ring terminal style attachment for the wiring at the mount.

This is one that I found that appears to have a thread on attachment, but when I went to the link for it, it is unavailable. So, that clears that part up.
I dont need to have the radio removable. It will be mounted in a cabinet.
So,
1- Cabinet mount at back of trailer.
2- TBD once I get a radio and see the casing to build a bracket.
3- Uniden Bearcat 980, but not dead set if someone can suggest a better radio with SSB under $200 with a preference to stay away from chrome.
4- I assume you mean antenna? I am thinking a Hustler SSM1 mount & spring with 102" and a shorter antenna (for short range needs with overhead trees). Mounting on back wall as it will give me the highest point and offers the only steel backing on the trailer that is accessible and wont block an awning.
5- 2' of cable will be enough, 3 ft of cable will allow me to secure cable away from other wiring.
6- I can run power either directly from tue battery with its own fuse, or I can wire it to my main fuse panel and link it to a circuit they isnt often used like the shower sump pump.

Radio-

$324 Uniden BEARCAT 980 40- Channel SSB CB Radio with Sideband NOAA WeatherBand,7- Color Digital Display PA/CB Switch and Noise Cancelling Mic, Wireless Mic Compatible

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007B5ZAES
Mount-

$60 Hustler SSM1 Ss Professional Ball Mount And Spring

https://www.amazon.com/Hustler-SSM1...ustler+ssm-1+ball+mount&qid=1592150052&sr=8-1
Antenna 1-

$74 Hustler IC-56 Stainless Steel 102" (8.5 feet) CB Band Antenna Whip, 27 MHz Frequency, Resists Bending and Kinking, Stainless Steel 17-7ph Whip, Dissipation Ball Tip Reduces Unwanted Static

https://www.amazon.com/HUSTLER-IC56...45W1CBX362X&psc=1&refRID=QFTRTTZ5K45W1CBX362X
Antenna 2-

$46 FireStik FS-4BK 4' (r) Ii Fs Series Tunable Tip Cb Antenna - 900 Watts Black

https://www.amazon.com/FireStik-FS-...0309&sprefix=Firestick+antenna,aps,887&sr=8-2
Cable- tbd
Ext speaker-

$26 Uniden (BC15) Bearcat 15-Watt External Communications Speaker. Durable Rugged Design, Perfect for Amplifying Uniden Scanners, CB Radios, and Other Communications Receivers, Black

https://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BC15-Communications-Amplifying-Receivers/dp/B009PIRPG0

Again, I am not dead set on anything, id rather get it right the first time.

 

https://www.walmart.com/ip/90-Degre...=sem&msclkid=2b50a890801a13719282f678cc5a9eca

You don't need to go with a ball mount. ^^^

You also may want a small PA speaker, "get off my lawn"

Just a thought

 

Is a ball mount less effective than the 90* steel mount? The extra cost for the ball mount is fine it it works just as well as it looks better and seems that it would provide better weather resistance and wear protection for the cable going through the wall than just a hole and a grommet.

 

Yea it’s certainly cleaner