| Author |
Message |
    
Sam36
New member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 1
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:48 pm: | 
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well where to begin...
well originally i wanted to put a cb radio into my car (2000 ford mustang). Main reason because i will be driving from texas to colorado soon and i was wanting something to play with to keep me awake for the trip.
Problem is i have no idea where to start and i only have a couple of weeks before my trip.
so i have been thinking about just getting a hand held cb and taking it with me and then i can atleast chat to truckers once they get close enough.
but one thing though was that i was wanting a handheld that is able to do ssb. i see that a couple of years ago there were about 4 models of these type of handhelds but they are no longer being sold (any reason why?). on internet sites they are going for $250+. i was really wanting one and some user reviews of them people were saying that they got to talk to people across the world with them. sounds like a lot of fun! is there any way i could get one of these? like maybe some place in europe that is still selling them?
other then that what else do any of yall recommend?
oh and what license do i need to operate a ham radio with? right now i have a fcc grol |
Milkman21218
Member
Username: Milkman21218
Post Number: 80
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |
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Sam,All reports state that all handheld ssb units are low powered,and worked very poor if at all. You would do much better with a moble radio.(TRUCKERS TALK ON AM NOT SSB, I'm a trucker)There are many find moble radios out. Coppers sells them at the LOWEST PRICES. I know that MAGNUM & STRYKER are the best 2 sounding radios on the market today. Get one and a good antenna,you will be very pleased. Call COPPER they will gladly help you choose a good set up. Ask for Suzanne,she's the best! Enjoy and have a safe trip! |
Sam36
New member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 2
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 3:59 pm: |
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well now I am kinda thinking about just getting a Magnum M257. |
Tech808
Moderator
Username: Tech808
Post Number: 10553
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 5:02 pm: |
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Sam36,
Unless you find a used one somewhere you will need to wait for the new assembly palnt to get up and going.
For the LATEST UPDATES on the MAGNUM 257 Check out the area here in the Copper Forum titled:
Manufacturers Questions
» RF Limited
»  MAGNUM 257 UPDATE!
Hope this help's,
Lon
Tech808
CEF808
N9CEF
CVC#2 |
Navyrebel782003
Intermediate Member
Username: Navyrebel782003
Post Number: 236
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 5:34 pm: |
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Sam36, if you can wait on the 257, then I would do that, these are great radios and about the size of a uniden 66. So far I love mine.
James
CEF#590
CVC#49
Va Beach |
Sam36
New member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 3
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 8:05 pm: |
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well after some thinking, i think for now i will get a hand held. just something to play with on my road trip. hopefully it will reach out atleast a mile. i thought about getting a better antenna for it but i think i will wait. when my funds get better and i have some more time i will invest in an antenna for my car and get a 257 :D |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1562
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:27 am: |
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SAM,Something a little more affordable and will give better performance is a mobile cb like the Cobra 19. You can order from Copper the radio and antenna. I'm thinking that for your trip you want convienence if I am correct. For less than the cost of the handheld you can get that new digital display Cobra 19 and the little cheapy magnet mount antenna. Just use a cigerette lighter plug to power the radio if you want. For your needs it will work perfect. Follow the instruction on the antenna for installing it. An easy way to know the antenna is working well is to look at the transmit meter when you key the mic and make your tuning adjustments, its really simple. The more bars you get the better the radio is putting out power. A handheld with the little rubber antenna inside the car is gonna be VERY disapointing and your not gonna hear anything. You gotta have an outside antenna on the car. Trust me I promise you will be glad you got the mobile radio instead of the walkie talkie! good luck and have a safe trip!
CEF491
Indiana |
Capt205
Intermediate Member
Username: Capt205
Post Number: 118
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 7:19 pm: |
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Get a little Uniden 510 and a mag mount Wilson 1000. This is a nice inexpensive setup, and the radio is a good talker. The whole setup cost maybe $100.00.
If you have fun with that setup....then start thinking about bigger and better. You can keep the uniden as a spare. |
Sam36
New member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 5
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 8:20 pm: |
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well i am kinda thinking about getting the cobra 19 (thanks for the tip Hotwire)
i got a post going in the antenna section about what to use on my car right now.
Thanks! |
Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 1579
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 1:52 pm: |
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Sam, Hey your welcome. I must add though I forgot about such a good little radio. The Uniden 510 that capt205 suggested is one heck of a radio also! Whatever you chose just stick with us here at Copper and you can't go wrong. We got your back! |
Dale
Advanced Member
Username: Dale
Post Number: 582
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 8:33 pm: |
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yes theuniden is one fine radio a little slimmer than the cobra may fit better in the car |
Sam36
Junior Member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 12
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 9:15 pm: |
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well i got the radio (cobra 19)installed in the dash i just have to hook it up, the wiring it came with is all chewed up so i will have to go to ratshack and get a new harness. (bought the radio at a pawn shop)
I did however test out the radio today. I have the antenna installed already. i just wanted to do a quick test so i popped the hood of my car and hot wired the cb to the battery and plugged in the antenna. tuned to channel 19 and was getting lots of people talking. my Tx only brought the needle on the rf guage up to the half way mark, but i havent even tried to tune the antenna yet and plus the hood of the car and the doors where open.
the thing that concerned me though is that it seemed everyone that i heard on there had an echo in their voice. not bad but very slight. not sure if that is normal or not. as some of you know i am new here and me hooking up the cb today was possibly the first cb commotion i had ever heard. maybe it is supposed to sound that way and i am just not used to it. im just wondering because since this is from a pawn shop i only have till friday to bring it back if it doesnt work. |
Im4jc
Intermediate Member
Username: Im4jc
Post Number: 156
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 7:35 am: |
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Sam, the echo you hear is not a function of "hearing", rather, it is other people's radios that have been modded to have echo during transmit. They think the more the echo, the cooler they are, lol. Sounds like your radio is working just fine. |
Sam36
Junior Member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 13
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 6:08 pm: |
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thats what i was wondering.. hmm
should have the radio installed tonight and get the swr set somewhat :D |
Sam36
Junior Member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 14
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 8:27 pm: |
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good news!
got the radio in and set the swr. managed to get it to 1.2 across the band. not sure how good the meter is, had trouble believing such a low swr at first. started out with like 1.6 on channel 1 and 1.3 on 40. it could all be wrong though, i only did it in my driveway next to my house and a chainlink fence and some power lines.
called out for a few "radio checks" and had some people get back with me, some were a few miles away. lots of trees and buildings around here so i guess i am doing pretty good |
Sam36
Junior Member
Username: Sam36
Post Number: 15
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Friday, July 28, 2006 - 8:30 pm: |
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also i read about the power mod that can be done on the cobra 25 ltd. says adjust L8 L9 and L10 for the highest tx. i could only find L10 and i ran it all the way out pretty much. bumped the tx from 3 on the guage to 4. i guess that wont hurt anything? |
