CB Preference-which is the best?

I am still trying to get my setup straight!!I think I am going with the Cobra 18 and Not the 19. The only difference is that the 19 has the PA system and the 18 which is more expensive has the weather band radio on it. I think I can use it more than yelling and folks who piss me off on the street. I am going to run dual 3 ft whips one on each side. Can someone post a picture of there 1st gen Tacoma with dual whips and the braket and the route of the Coax from the antennas. I still dont know how I am going to do this hopefully someone out there has done this and can help me out.

 

Guys,
Just bought a midland 75 I think it is, trying to figure out how you route power and antenna to it? Also, how you tune it. Thanks guys. Also, what is the range expected on it, and what the best antenna is.

 

It's on my Christmas wish list

 

whats the opinion on a Wilson Lil Willy? Found one on CL with the magnet mount

 

Great antenna if your not pushing any power. Make sure to check the base well before you purchase it, they tend to crack over time.

 

Thanks for the heads up. Price is $35 with a cheap cobra CB radio

Oh and sorry I have no idea what pushing power means?

 

Just keep in mind that a little wil is $35 new. I'm not sure what the cheap Cobra is, but a 19 is like $40 new. So for $75 you could have brand new junk. Pushing power is anything more than 4watts

 

Ahh. Hmm well maybe I will do some more reading/research and see what else I can come up with.

 

You plug in to you cig lighter.
that same dongle has the attachment for an antenna. Read my build for how I did mine.
Range on it wasn't as good I think as my Cobra 19 DX IV
tuning is via the antenna and an SWR meter
antenna is subjective to a certain degree, but I like my Wilson flex. Much more flexy than a thick firestik.

 

To get the most out of the CB you have to take it to get peaked and Tuned. The Only place to have this dont that i know of is signal communications behind franks truck stop in cheasapeke. They are great people over there and know their shit. you will have to take the radio out and give it to them it will take about 30 min but the CB will be at another level when they get done. If you have a tunable tip antenna they will do that as well. Just tuning the antenna is not going to work if you want to get the most out of your CB you must have it peaked and tuned. I have mounted my dual whips on mine i just have to figure out my route path for the COAX and Power. They must be on the oposite side of each other or you will get a humming noise from hell when you give the truck gas. Hope this helps yall with these CBs most of you probably already know this. I a from a little town in mississippi and we do alot of dog deer hunting using CB in the trucks. I will post some picture up of my Antennas. I seem to cannot find a tacoma with Dual whip setup online(with a good picture)that i can see to mount mine so i just did a little measuring and came up with something. I am not sure if I like it though. I will post it to see what yall think.

 

Most higher end radios are peaked and tuned from the factory, and be aware that if you have someone modify your radio you run the risk of damaging it because they will be pushed to the limit of what they are designed for. Also, not to burst your bubble but dual whips do not give you any better performance. Not to mention the fact that they are a huge PITA to set up. A single whip mounted as high as posible in the center of the vehicle is always your best bet.

 

Check out the new Uniden 880 about to be released, also Uniden 980 not far behind. Alot of Radio IMO.

 

The Dual Whips are more for looks than performance in which I am aware of the effects of the dual whip antenna setup to the single antenna. As far as the peaked and tuned I am just telling from my experience. I had the Cobra DXIV and it was peaked and tuned and worked just as good as the Cobra 29 that I had before. This time I am going with the Cobra 18 weatherband in which i am sure has not been Peaked and tuned. I my opinion this helps. Like I said this is just what I am doing to mine and what I have done in the past.

 

I hear ya man. I'm just stating that there are too many monkeys that work on radios nowadays. Just make sure it's a respected shop because some will either over mod the radio or not do anything at all and charge you for it. As far as the cobra 18, and I speak from experience, it is one of the worst radios out there. You would be better off with the 19 or 29.

 

Really? I am a big fan of the 19 and it was a really good radio. I think the only difference from the 18 and 19 is that the 19 had the PA and the 18 has the weatherband. But I wouldnt think that anything that Cobra makes is not a goood radio. Damn what kind of issues did you have if you dont mind me asking? Shit i wish you would have cought me about 4 days ago. ohh well I will do the best i can with what I have. Let me know what the issues were? Thanks man

 

It's just not a good performing radio overall. The receive and transmit are poor as is the transmit sound quality. I ran this radio for a year with an amp. I recently got a Connex 3300 and the locals I normally talk to commented for a full week how much better it sounded. So it will work, but just don't expect to be blown away by it. Also, there are no mods that I know of that can be done to it, trust me I researched. So if you still have the 19 I suggest using that a trying to sell the 18. .02

 

looking at getting a uniden pro 520 XL with a 4' firestik FS and a 3" HD spring, i want to mount it to the inside of the drivers side rear tail light, what else will i need to get it set up? i hardly know anything about CB's but have been reading this thread, show much coax cable and will i have enough surface area of metal to get a good signal from with it mounted back there? i have a DCLB

 

you will probably need 18' of coax. I used 12' and im a reg cab.


if you mount it to the steel support ont the inside of the bed you will have the whole frame as your ground plane

 

Subd!

 

Like already stated, 18 feet of coax should be plenty. It's better to have too much than not enough. You should also invest in a SWR meter ($20) or borrow one to tune your antenna to the radio. Good luck and don't get frustrated, CB's are not plug and play.