Is cb ing worth it?

A Uniden pc66a cb was given to me a long time ago, and I ve been meaning to install in my 07 for some time. It s an old boxy cb. I know there are newer smaller units out there, but call me old fashion. I m not versed in the cb world, so I ve hesitated installing it. I m wondering if it s worth it. I have no idea where to start. I m thinking that antenna selection and location is important. At-any-rate, any pointers would be appreciated.

 

I'd throw it on ebay and make more than enough money to buy a new handheld unit.

 

gmrs.
and get your license (good for 10 years)
or HAM

 

Noted. It sounds like you are saying this cb isn t worth it. I m curious as to your reasoning.

What are the advantages of gmrs over cb

 

When the Apocalypse arrives, you will be happy you decided to save this.

 

Sure. I get it. But no doubt there are scenerios where a cb would come in handy. That s assuming a bunch of children are not jamming up the channels doing stupid shyt. Obviously cell phones are a powerfull tool in most situations, but I have been trying to limit the use of my cell phone. I leave it at home now., and have been thinking about the old cb I have in my closet. I just need advice on the appropriate antenna I should get, and how to set it all up.

 

If you travel a lot, it might be worth it.
Getting out in places you may not get cell service.
But then you are at the mercy of anyone else in the area even having their CB on to hear you.

I talked on one as an early teenager back in the mid 70s with my friends.
I used one at work back in the mid 90s, mostly with my coworkers if we ran together thru the 4 states we serviced..




The majority of us don't even bother running them anymore..

They are nice to have out on the road for traffic and cop reports.
But if you stay in the city, it is mostly idiots, agitators, and lonely OTR truck drivers on them now.

Not saying you are, but if one is concerned with the Apocalypse coming, you'd be better off getting a HAM license and a 10 meter HAM radio..

 

Go ham radio https://www.tundras.com/threads/tundra-ham-radio.57715/

 

They are big, take up a lot of real estate and outdated. Unless its been done you can have the wattage pumped up and have it tuned but thats a whole other rabbit hole.

Newer handhelds are miles ahead of these electronic wise and portable .

 

The main problem with CB is that it is an AM modulated band and all of the radios can only output 4 watts out of the box really.

These 2 specs really limit the range and utility of the band in general and then add to that the crowding in areas where they are popular and they are of even less use most times.

So the big base station versions usually still only offer the measly 4 watts of the handhelds and are a lot harder to make room for in a vehicle for little good reason,usually.

You can run them with a lot more power and pay good money for it but then you still have the crowded and noise plagued band to deal with so they are really still popular with Truckers who do stick to Interstate routes often where there will always be other users like them.

Having said this I still do carry a HT. CB because the more bands that I can work when needed is never a bad thing.

And sure the Antenna is the most important thing in a system if the radio is working as it should.

 

^ All true.

But most of us ran 10 meter radios with sidebands, (Galaxy, Connex, etc..) converted to 11 meter CB bands.
We illegally pushed a lot more then 4 watts..
OTR trucker diehards run linears (kickers), but you already knew that...

I agree with you on the properly tuned antenna.
One can have a top of the line Galaxy, but it ain't sh!t when your SWRs are out of wack...

CB radios are a lost and outdated art...............

 

"CB radios are a lost and outdated art..." Seriously. Bullcrap LOL
Not at all. It's good to have all your bases covered no matter what frequency band you prefer. Especially in deep canyons where you can't even hit a repeater. Not all states are as flat as a pancake..........not to mention but I have some fairly decent audio/RF/microwave test equipment at my disposal. 0.0001 Hz to 26.5 GHz. I can externally mix up to 75 GHz if needed. Measure VSWR up to 18 GHz. All frequency phased locked to a Fluke 910R frequency standard disciplined to SATS on 15 minute intervals to <5 E-14 Hz or better! Better than what most folks ever see in their life....including radio shops. I'm a pretty damn good RF/microwave prick when called for.....40+ years and counting. next...

 

I have a couple handheld cb's, a set of FRS/GMRS radios, and three UV5-R+ currently programmed with GMRS and NOAA. . Back in the day the airwaves were choked with cb users. Now with GMRS radios so readily available it can get quite cluttered at times. Ironic. So many don't bother to get a license. I have a Uniden Bearcat SSB mounted in my center console. Quite fun to use and no license required. CB's still fill a nitch. Also depends on need, use, location, budget, and experience like anything else.

 

Didn t understand what you just said, but it sounded pretty bad ass

 

Easier explanation. Get a CB if you are with a small group of wheelers or hunters and plan on staying together within a few miles.

Get GMRS if you can get everyone with CB to afford GMRS handheld or vehicle mounted radios because it’s more power and the potential for repeater use is there.

Get a HAM radio if you eat oatmeal and watch the price is right in your white socks and khakis and love to speak down to new people on the radio who just passed their technicians license test and say one letter phonetically incorrect.

 

Now that is just mean.
Maybe your experience but not representative of all of us.

What the hell has Oatmeal ever done wrong to you?

 

Yea ! Do it man. I live in a rural area with approx 40k population. Lots of off roaders and truckers still using cb radios. Granted, a lot of shit talking still going on ! But that's just fun and games, Lol
Antenna is always an issue..Try looking into a President New York antenna, It's modern looking.. Have fun and good luck.

 

Oatmeal...

 

Ovaltine?

 

Nothing. I add honey and peanut butter to mine. Maybe instead of oatmeal I could say black licorice.

 

It would have been simpler to say to go ahead and use your CB. It's fun!

 

I need a good coating of grease in the morning. Lumberjack sausage links, hashbrowns, and over-medium eggs is more like it...probably one reason why I only have $25 bucks in savings.

 

True. But are you eating that every morning at IHOP with your HAM club members in your velcro shoes?

 

But wait! There's more!

 

Only a non Ham would ask such a Trick question.

7-3rds

I have to go now,I am destinated.

 

No I m cook extraordinaire. I make it myself at home in my underwear and slippers

 

I usually grab mine when I travel long haul up on vacation to Ontario. A little of entertainment value listening in and sometimes a heads up on radar and accidents just happening. Saved my ass once avoiding a highway closure by immediately exiting and then figure out from there where to go. Apps today do same thing but now and then I get a heads up earlier than the app. More for fun and shits and giggles for me. I just plop the magnetic mount on top and go. Seems to at least pick up close enough for me to get relevant info for where I’m at. Once I get halfway through Michigan it gets real quiet since not as many people on them

 

I wonder if there s some type of material I could place under a magnetic antenne that would diminish scratches. My grand pappy had one that scratched up his truck something terrible.

 

I've just subscribed here to this thread. I also have an old CB I inherited 21 years ago and I have an '07 Tundra. I've never used it and I don't even remember if it's a 23 or a 40 channel. I'm curious where you plan to mount it as well as the antenna and everything else to see if I want to bother with it.

 

If you are worried about installation see if there is a local truck shop nearby or radio shack style shop that does installs. They will be your best bet for where to instal everything and what antenna you will want and bracket or mount for said antenna can go.

Also for anyone that is looking for a super clean instal and not taking up space this is the model I have and highly recommend.

https://www.cobra.com/collections/recreational-cb-radios/products/c75wxst