Best brand of CB? Other questions too...

[rwdoyle17]

I'm looking to purchase a CB for my Jeep and I'm clueless as to what brand is best for about $100. I also want a nice long antenna for the back, I've heard firestik is good, but I don't know what model. Also, where is the best place to mount the CB itself inside the Jeep? I want to mount the antenna on the rear bump stop of the tire carrier, but other than that, I'm clueless.

What is your advice? Where is the ebst place to start looking for good CB's and antennae?

[BostonWrangler]

www.cbradioforum.com (http://www.cbradioforum.com) is a good place for info. Do some searching over there.

Your best bet for a radio around $100 is a Uniden. You may want weather, but probably not a lot of other bells and whistles.

Firestik is good, so is Wilson. Make sure you tune the antenna for good SWR. Mounting the antenna on the spare tire carrier seems like a popular option also.

As for the radio in the Jeep, there are tons of options. In a YJ, a good spot is just under the dash. I removed my ashtray and lighter assembly and installed my radio there. I got an external speaker and mounted it on the top part of the windshield frame pointing right at me. Worked just fine even at highway speeds.

[frankiefire702]

i got a radio shack special for 15.99 on sale works great! smile.gif sorry couldn't help myself but it's true.

[rwdoyle17]

Originally posted by BostonWrangler:
You may want weather, but probably not a lot of other bells and whistles.

Make sure you tune the antenna for good SWR.
Thanks for the info, can anyone clarify these answers a bit more? I'm a CB dummy here...

[frankiefire702]

I HAVE THE ANTENNA AND MOUNT ASSEMBLY RIGHT OUT OF THE QUADRATEC CATALOG AND SEEMS TO WORK PRETTY WELL. I'VE HAD IT FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND NO PROBLEMS SO FAR. IF YOUR LIKE ME AND ONLY USE IT FOR TRAIL RIDES YOU DON'T NEED AN EXPENSIVE CB REALLY. :D

[loaf]

Originally posted by rwdoyle17:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by BostonWrangler:
You may want weather, but probably not a lot of other bells and whistles.

Make sure you tune the antenna for good SWR.
Thanks for the info, can anyone clarify these answers a bit more? I'm a CB dummy here... </font>[/QUOTE]"Weather" meaning you can switch over to a set of channels (seven of them?) that broadcast weather alerts and such for your area. Real handy if you're caught in a storm or such.

SWR - It's a reading of the signal between radio and antenna. The lower the better and a high SWR can burn up a radio. SWR meters are cheap and easy to use from what I've been told.

[BostonWrangler]

Originally posted by Loaf:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by rwdoyle17:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by BostonWrangler:
You may want weather, but probably not a lot of other bells and whistles.

Make sure you tune the antenna for good SWR.
Thanks for the info, can anyone clarify these answers a bit more? I'm a CB dummy here... </font>[/QUOTE]"Weather" meaning you can switch over to a set of channels (seven of them?) that broadcast weather alerts and such for your area. Real handy if you're caught in a storm or such.

SWR - It's a reading of the signal between radio and antenna. The lower the better and a high SWR can burn up a radio. SWR meters are cheap and easy to use from what I've been told. </font>[/QUOTE]Pretty good smile.gif

Some radios have 10 weather channels. Basically the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) broadcasts locally at relatively low power from stations all over the country. You just have to pick whichever of your 3, 5, 7 or 10 available frequencies has the clearest reception.

SWR is Standing Wave Ratio. The closer to 1:1 you can get your antenna tuned, the better your radio will perform.

As stated above, if you aren't going to get into the hobby of CBing and just need a radio for trail rides, something on a budget will work just fine.

[Scrambler82]

:cool:

I was using a Uniden with a Wilson antenna, best setup I ever had, not too pricey too.

Uniden has been around for a long time, Cobra is good also.

FireStix, K-40, Antron, Antenna Specialist, Wilson all make good antenna, all work just about the same for CB.

Spend the most money on the antenna and good coax, not Rat Shaq for coax, and you don't need 18 feet of caox, only buy the amount you need to connect the radio to the antenna without any sahrp bends and allowing for any added meters.

Solder the connector in place not crimp and have the system SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) checked and set by someone that has done it before and knows what they are doing.

My choice on antennas would be Wilson 2 to 4 foot fiberglass, and Radio would be Uniden, buy the options you think you will need or none.
The systems Quadratec sells will work OK if your only need is for a trail radio and ocassional road work.

Luck,