C.B. Radio

I bought a Uniden XL520 on Amazon for $45.00. Compact, no bells and whistles, just gain, squelch and volume. Works great. Just make sure to tune any CB to the antenna with a SWR meter, otherwise you can fry your radio. NEVER try to use a radio WITHOUT an antenna. You will fry it.

Just had a CB installed in the company truck. I've been meaning to get one for awhile but timing as well as cost, was a limiting factor. Do you or anyone else have any advice for a rookie with the CB?

Thanks

I am merely trying to point out the importance of communication to the new drivers out here. Learn how to use the radio and you will not here all of the garbage.

Amplifiers and "boosted" CB radios are illegal in the US. If you get caught--and don't just assume you won't--the fine can be $10,000 per use/ The FCC has taken a serious interest in CB shops that sell amplifiers and perform modifications on CB radios to increase power. They've closed down a few--and even inspected trucks at stops. If you have a CB radio in your truck an FCC official can demand to inspect it. Refusing to allow him to do that will result in a whopping fine. Do you really need that kind of hassle? Stick with a stock radio and run it without an amp. Pay attention to your antenna setup--that will get you a lot further than installing an amp or other illegal modifications. Remember--when you tune your antenna for best output you're also tuning it for best received signal capability. Be safe.

I've got an old cobra 29 or some such from the early to mid eighties that I'll have to go dig out of storage. I can't remember for sure but it's also got a 100 or 150 watt booster on it as well. I know they're probably illegal as all heck these days. They were back then as well but no buddy really cared. My buddies and I all had them mounted in our vans or 4X4's and would use them mostly out in the desert to keep track of each other when we'd go camping and or dirt bike riding and such. Heck on a good night we could probably transmit or 20 - 30 miles or so, maybe more. I'm pretty sure it's still there unless my kid ran off with it. LOL!

Problem with the booster (or linear amplifier), is that it steps on everyone around you. Most folks find it rude and annoying, and the folks nearby that you want to talk to, will find you near unintelligible. Unless you're running a base station out in the boonies, no real reason to run that many watts.

You can have the finals replaced on your Cobra 29, and get up to 20-25 watts which is just fine for the road, and doesn't slam folks nearby (well, not too bad). I've got a final & echo mod on mine - sounds nice and clear.

Rick

Amplifiers and "boosted" CB radios are illegal in the US. If you get caught--and don't just assume you won't--the fine can be $10,000 per use/ The FCC has taken a serious interest in CB shops that sell amplifiers and perform modifications on CB radios to increase power. They've closed down a few--and even inspected trucks at stops. If you have a CB radio in your truck an FCC official can demand to inspect it. Refusing to allow him to do that will result in a whopping fine. Do you really need that kind of hassle? Stick with a stock radio and run it without an amp. Pay attention to your antenna setup--that will get you a lot further than installing an amp or other illegal modifications. Remember--when you tune your antenna for best output you're also tuning it for best received signal capability. Be safe.

While the above isn't "legally inaccurate" - the FCC isn't riding around looking for truckers with LA's. They ARE looking at BASE STATIONS that are running out of spec.

Reason being: they "walk over" TV reception, wireless phones, and all sorts of other fun stuff for their neighbors.

FCC Enforcement Bureau Page

A look at this page - shows they are going after folks that are operating "pirate radio stations" (mainly in the FM band from the few cases I perused), or selling wholly illegal equipment setups.

Didn't really see anything that referenced CB radios. Funland Candy Company has way better things to do - than chase CB owners. They, like every other enforcement arm of the government, are looking at folks they can SQUEEZE MONEY OUT OF.

I'm running upgraded finals and a swing mod in my Cobra29. I get around 15 watts out, and much better modulation (swing between 0 mod and 100% modulation - remember CB is AM - AMPLITUDE MODULATION). Enough to punch through the garbage and be heard - but not enough to attract attention or be annoying to folks around me. Have the echo mod also - but a very light touch of it turned on. Mine was done by a pro down here, that has been the top EBay seller of Cobra's Magnum1013 (and a personal friend of mine). If you're looking for a decent mod'd tuned radio - that would be the guy I would recommend.

As Ed mentions - none of it means anything, if your transmission line (wiring and antenna) is not up to snuff and tuned properly.

I've got a 100 watt LA that I ran decades ago - when I was "into" all this Road Warrior crapola. I've still got it in a box somewhere. Not worth the hassle to hookup and tune (has to be connected right to the battery) - plus it really annoys the heck out of folks around you. I'm not looking to DX to China.

So while I'm sure Ed is trying to be helpful, resurrecting this old post - unless you are running big wattage and are causing folks to complain - the FCC is not out looking for your rig. Run big watts in a base station - and they'll get to you eventually.

Rick