Im wanting to get a CB radio. I probably wont talk on it a whole lot, probably just when im traveling with some friends that have them. My question is what is the advantage to going with a Cb like the General Lee over the Cobra 75WX-st? I am mainly looking at the Cobra b/c of the space required to mount a full size Cb and the fact that the 07 trucks like mine dont have crap for places to mount anything.


My other question is what is the difference btwn a CB radio and a 10M mobile radio or whatever it is called?


does the general lee pick up the weather alert channels?

 

I would just get an entry level cobra or radio shack with the weather bands built in. You can snag one for 50 bucks or so and they're smaller and easier to install. Since you won't be using it much theres no reason to spend over a hundred bucks for the set up.

 

I've got a General Lee (peaked and tuned) and it is an awesome radio. It does not have weather channels built in though. I have also had a Cobra 75WXST. It is a decent little radio, but after using a full size radio like the General, I wouldn't go back. I didn't think I would talk much, but after talking somewhat, I find myself talking more and more. I have an '06 and the space is definately limited. Not sure if you have the full center console, but this is what I did:
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...d.php?t=171312

Also..... a regular CB talks @ 4 watts of power. A 10 Meter Mobile is anything over 4 watts of power. The General Lee I have is running about 45 watts of power. It just gets out better and sounds cleaner. However, 4 watts is legal power by FCC laws; anything over that, and technically you should have a Amateur Radio License.

 

I got a connex 3300 hp peaked tuned with a 200watt linear i can talk for miles a little pricey yes but very very nice especially when you can talk overtop most truckers out on the road lol total price for everything 665 dollars brand new that is radio linear coax and k 40 antenna

 

Get the radio shack if that's all you're going to use it for. I love the weather channels. Here's what I did.

 

cobra 29,cheap and reliable.peak and tune for $25 and talk for 10 miles,a good antenna is very important,if your going magnet mount get a Lil Wil or a K30

 

By the way..... I have a Cobra 75WXST that I used for just a few weeks that I'd willing to part with if that is the radio you choose. It'll also include a Radio Shack external speaker to clean up the audio a bit. PM me if interested.....

 

well i dont have the full center console, i have the fold away cup holders and the electonic shift transfer case, so i dont have many options for mounting anything over a Cobra 75. If im going to go for anything over that, then im going to get a sweet one. Probably a general lee.

if i dont want to reach out and touch some ppl across the state, is there any real advantage to getting a bigger unit then the Cobra?

So what is the best way to setup the Cobra 75? what antenna? I dont want to get an antenna that is too huge but something decent. How far away would i be able to reach with this setup?

Also can you tweak or "tune" a cobra 75?

06CTDforAU, pm'ing ya

 

I had the Cobra 75 set up with a Wilson 'Lil Wil antenna and it worked great for listening to truckers and recieving Weather stations. As far as range, I'm not really sure what to tell you there. I guess I've never really tried to see how far it would reach. I just know that it worked pretty decent for a legal CB. The antenna is the biggest factor. A legal CB with an excellent antenna system will out-perform an awesome CB with a crappy antenna system anyday. Unless you are wanting to talk skip or live in a big city with truckers that have powerful radios, there is no real advantage to getting a "big" CB.

As for "peaked and tuned" Cobra 75's, I have heard of some shops being able to do them. Not completely sure on that.

 

Cobra


Wilson 1000 antenna (hole in roof)

 

The general lees is a sweet radio but in the end alls it is is a re-faced connex 3300 and it has an extra ****. If your just wanting to talk with friends while your on the road trip then alls you need is something small like a cobra 19dx and a mag mount Wilson antenna. BUT, if you intend on talkin with truckers and getting heard then go with a 10 meter radio like a connex 3300 or a Magnum. Just what ever you go with get the radio peaked and tuned at a radio shop and have the swr's adjusted. Iv got a cobra 29 and a 400watt palomar with a 102'' whip antenna, makes my dodge look like a rc car!

 

Names Tj, how do you like your setup? How good does it sound, and do you get decent distance out of yours? is it tuned or is it all "stock"? What about an external speaker?

When i decide to do this, i dont want to drill any holes in my roof or anything like that, so what is the best Magnet mount antenna that i can get. I would like to mount it somewhere around my bed if possible. I dont want it to be HUGE but want it to be adequate.

does anyone know if these CB's are "tunable"?

 

after MANY SETUPS!!! this is what i found out.

Uniden radio with a Maxrad antenna tuned to a SWR of 1:1 will get you good transmission range of 6-10 miles.

General Lee with Maxrad antenna doesn't work that great because of the increase wattage. usable range with a MaxRad 3-5 miles.

General Lee with a 102" whip 1/4 wave antenna and no tuning required. 20-40 miles.

 

I have the Cobra and the Wilson 1K roof mount antenna, it is doing a great job. I have had a lot of different CB radios through the years, and this radio works right up there as compared to other stock radios. A good antenna is truly the secret to a good output. The Wilson 1K is an excellent ground plane antenna, one of the best actually. If you are looking for a basic setup, you cannot go wrong with that combination. If the audio is not to your likeing you can also add an external speaker, the control box does have provision for a speaker jack.

If you are looking to shoot skip and have the desire for a high-power output, then you need to go with something more powerful. Keep in mind that people have had problems with RF interference and their truck's ECM using high powered radios, also problems with RFI and power boxes functioning correctly, this to me would be more of a concern. If you are looking in the direction of adding a power module, then you will have to do your install with shielding in mind for your 12V power source or have the power module weatherproofed and install it in the engine bay.

CD

 

Don't waste your time with one of those CB in mic set ups... They will work OK, but they are not adjustable/tune able. Trust me, once you get walked on a couple of times you will want to do some mod'ing and with one of those you have already hit the ceiling...

I like my cobra 25, I had it tuned at a radio shop and it works great for my work truck. It is definately not the best radio out there but it gets the job done "OK" and the price is right on them if you catch them on sale...

If I had it to do all over again (getting started in CB's) the first thing I would have done is hold off on a radio purchase and go out and buy this book

"A screw driver's expert guide to CB radios" http://books.google.com/books?id=wUz...zOtBNA#PPP1,M1

Read that book (very easy reading for the beginnner) and arm yourself with alot of knowledge about radios and save yourself alot of money by not buying gimics that you don't need or don't work...

One of the biggest myths that the book points out and explains; is that you will NEVER achieve an SWR of 1:1 on a mobile system. The measurement is "the standard (perfection)" that can only be achieved in a controlled enviroment or with a "dummy load" that is used when tuning the radio...


I started playing with and tuning CB's for a hobby, I am FAR from an expert but I learn a little more and more every day... One thing I have learned is that most CB shops really don't know much about what they are doing and can easily charge you for something that they may or may not have done... There are alot of books out there that give you "power mods" that will give you alot more bang for your buck than what these guys are calling a "peak/tune"... if your willing to do a small amount of sodering on your radio (just be careful)...

I have a $5.00 garage sale radio shack CB that has a volume and squeclh **** on it (very old and bare bones). After I did the power mod on it and and tuned to full forward, it actually walks all over my cobra that was "tuned/peaked" by a pro...


OK so forget all the above, if your really just wanting a small cheap radio. Get one with the least amount of *****/ gadgets possible. The weather channel is a very nice option, but after that all you really want is a volume **** and a squelch ****, because the other stuff will just be more "junk you will have to fool with and really not know what it does"... A cobra 25WX NW would be a great radio and also the "nightWatch" kind of compliments your insturment cluster and it is very easy on the eyes at night...

I put my little radio in my Ram under the drivers seat facing towards the door. I really can't adjust it other then bearly reach the volume and squelch *****, but I leave it on channel 19 and the mic is just velco'd to the carpet right below the front of the seat (behind my feet)... I can reach down and grab it when I want to but it is out of the way (physically and visually) when don't need it.... But didn't want the radio taking up any of my floor space, especially if I need to haul 6 people and advertising to theives is not something I wanted...

BUT like others have said, the wiring / antenna and mounting location is by far the biggest factors in transmitting and recieving (more transmitting then recieving)....

I am now trying to figure out how to build a mobile "Circular Polarization" antenna (don't even know if it is possible yet) for my Ram just for fun... If I succeed then any little radio I hook it to should get out as far as I want...