It's no joke. I'm on radio number 4 now. I will text you tomorrow. On the tape. Here's my radio. Also while testing my new radio I heard a familiar voice. There's a guy who calls himself TinCan in my area. Well he told me he was local and we should meet up, so we did. And no joke, this guy has a CB radio hooked up to a UPS for a computer and a big extension then an antenna, on a BICYCLE!!!

 

He calls me WeatherMan, which I'm okay with.


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I think in general quality is going downhill. I bought a unit this past fall, before reading ALL the reviews. while it was shipping I read how this particular unit had some flaky connection somewhere and required soldering somewhere. got it, tested it for a cpl wks, no problem, then 1 day, dead. liked it cuz it was small. threw it in a bag and started using my old radio shack unit which is now in it's 4th vehicle. it's bigger and no velcro will hold it, so it's screwed down. c'est la vie, need some vaca time to open the new one and look for that loose connexion

fyi - for power I only use the accessory outlet in the console compartment and a mag antenna. not gonna hard wire or ground anything in this car

 

I did not have any issue with the CB in mine. I doubt static electricity would cause them to fail.

I am willing to bet you have much better luck with the Cobra 29. That is a tried and tested design used by truckers all over the place. I wish I had known you wanted to try one. I have a 29 sitting in my garage I don't use anymore.

 

That was my hope by going with the 29 is that is a tried and true radio that's been around since I was a kid and is so easy to work that I could fit it if I needed to. It already receives considerably better than all my old radios, is louder, and over is just better. I just hope it holds up because I'm getting real sick and tired of spending 100$ every 3 or 4 months because a radio has quit working and can't be worked on.

I just thought I'd bring it up, just in case anyone else had this problem.

I have a habit of finding stuff like this. My old Kia Sorento I had a tail light converter for towing (before one was available from the dealer) and I'd burn them out every few weeks. Turns out there was a problem with the electronics that was causing the off the shelf converters to fry and you had to buy the dealer kit.

I'm REALLY hoping it's not a line condition that's causing these to fail. I do have ground isolators installed, it's dual fused, one fuse at the radio and one for the hot line it's connected to in the jeep. Although sometime this month I'm gonna have to run the antenna cable through the roof rather than through the door as I've spent the last 3 weeks drying out my interior because water flowed along he antenna cable and flooded the cargo area of my jeep.


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I'm gonna have to run the antenna cable through the roof rather than through the door as I've spent the last 3 weeks drying out my interior because water flowed along he antenna cable and flooded the cargo area of my jeep.

fyi - I run my wire down along the left side of the hatch and don't bring it into the hatch until it is lower than the curve at the bottom. seems to work on all my hatchbacks, Escape, Forester & now this. on the others, I used hatchback mounts which were great but still ran the cable the same way. def. need an 18' cable tho

 

My dad had one as well back in the day. CB radio isn't monitored or respected like it used to be. So do us all a favor and learn to properly use a CB. While others may not follow the rules that doesn't mean we all don't. Sadly today these radios are use more like a long distance walkie talkie which is why I'd like to make the switch to Ham radio but I've been dragging my feet. Also, I wanna give this a few months and see how the radio holds up. If it works out well I'll start making the switch to much more expensive Ham radio.


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I use a Cobra Roadtrip handheld CB. Plug the power cable into the 12V outlet in the center console and connect the audio cable from the CB to the auxiliary input under the dash.
Works ok just not great reception since I don't use an external antenna. Went wheeling and it worked ok for talking short distances.
The CB has its own batteries so am just trying not to discharge them. Then I can use the CB outside of the TH.

 

Bad ground, noisy alternator, alternator putting out to much juice?

Or, bad luck. :;

I used to use a midland battery powered one but not in my TH. I had one that plugged into the power outlet and that was the two Wilson cbs I had.

The ground is fine. I'm even using power filters to clean up the power coming in to reduce interference. I don't think the alternator is putting out too much power. It'd have to put out over 15v to cause a problem and at that point other equipment would quit working too. Although dirty power from the alternator could be a problem. And for those that don't know there is a difference between clean power and dirty power. I really don't have the means to test for that any more. I think there's just so few of us that do use a radio that I don't have any comparison.

 

Bad ground, noisy alternator, alternator putting out to much juice?

Or, bad luck. :;

 

@gravitywell, cut at the white line.

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Then you take that adaptor off. Two nuts or twist screws should hold that U bracket on. Take that off then unbolt that contraption on it. Boom, you have a useable CB. Assuming it functions properly.


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Done!

 

Oh and take that silly adaptor off the u bracket. You'll need that u bracket.


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Was working on that while you were typing!

 

Well, there ya go!


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Well, leave it to me to destroy a 3' FireStic antenna mounted on a quick disconnect and to a heavy duty spring. Now I'm stuck with only my 5' antenna that I don't like to run because it makes the rig too tall. Might have to go back to a steel whip antenna for around town.


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Well, leave it to me to destroy a 3' FireStic antenna

lol, won't be the first, wudya do?

 

I now need a CB...dammit guys!

 

stay away from this one. it has issues with loose or bad connections. mine worked fine and then crapped out. other reviewers had similar issues but I gave it a shot anyway cuz it's so small and has weather. still need to open it up and find the loose connection. went back to my older radio shack unit with weather. it's bigger but rock solid and has been with me into now my 3rd SUV

but DO NOT buy this one:
Midland 1001LWX 40 Channel Mobile CB with ANL, RF Gain, PA, and Weather Scan
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176RNLA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Not being snarky (I know, it's @Rojhan, but believe it or not... )

Are folks actually getting use out of CB? I gave up on it literally decades agao due to the (ab)use of it; language, hot-rodded equipment, lack of audio quality, lack of reliability, ...

Cel phones are MUCH more prevalant now than in "the age of CB" and Ham radio is much more useful to me.

 

Not being snarky (I know, it's @Rojah, but believe it or not... )

Are folks actually getting use out of CB? I gave up on it literally decades agao due to the (ab)use of it; language, hot-rodded equipment, lack of audio quality, lack of reliability, ...

Cel phones are MUCH more prevalant now than in "the age of CB" and Ham radio is much more useful to me.

Cell phones are useless on trails though in the middle of nowhere, and only allow for really one other participant. Most off road events require/recommend a CB to be able to contact throughout the group.

 

@Rojhan I get use out of mine more for storm chasing because who better to know what going on with weather on the ground than truckers? I haven't had a chance to use it as a trail radio. Eventually and I know I've been saying it for two years, I'm gonna get my ham radio license. But unless I can make the antenna setup quick disconnect like my CB setup it'll be pointless cause I won't be able to park under the carport I pay for at my apartment. Speaking of that carport, that's was destroyed my antenna. I totally forgot it was still on, I backed under my carport and heard the antenna hit the roof. I pulled forward to take it off when it snagged the overhang or ledge and broke. Luckily nothing else was damaged and the spring did allow the antenna to fold under the car port but pulling forward is what destroyed it. There's no way my 5' would fit under that car port.


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@Rojhan But unless I can make the antenna setup quick disconnect like my CB setup it'll be pointless cause I won't be able to park under the carport I pay for at my apartment.
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http://jeepcherokeeclub.com/49-exterior/116594-diy-antenna-mount-ham-cb.html#post1309146

I had a folding/NMO mount until I went to fixed NMO. I leave my 1/4-wave antenna on unless I'm traveling and then I swap it out for the 1/2-wave. The 1/4-wave, mounted to my Gobi rack easily fits under my ~7-1/2' garage door opening.

NMO can be unscrewed by hand and the thumb-knob let me drop the antenna. Of course, if you forget and leave it up....

There are also motorized mounts which are significantly more expensive. You can wire them to raise/retract based on ignition on, but generally you don't turn off the ignition *before* you get into the garge...

 

Mine is on a quick disconnect, pull the whole antenna straight down, twist then lift. Takes a whole second. I just forgot. It's really a great solution. 3' for in town and on the trail, 5' for long distance and storm chasing. Even though the 3' was tuned better.

Like I said, eventually I'll get to ham radio but I've got so many other projects going I've got to wait. And I'm pretty sure once I get into ham radio I'm gonna spend a ton of money like I always do.

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Ordered up my Firestik Firefly 3', Firestik Firering 18' coax, mount, and cigarette lighter adapter (temporary).

Going to the Father-in-laws this weekend to install it.

@Len1304 Why don't you mount the antenna on the Gobi Ladder, like @HazzardSky did? That's where I'm going to install my 3' Firefly.

 

Because then it won't be grounded properly. And because the ladder is going to have my rotopax fuel can AND possibly a flag holder for doing jeep convoys.


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Do you trust the ladder to hold ~40lbs (5 gallons) of gas + container under dynamic load?

 

If my 225lbs doesn't make the ladder move I trust it. @myfirstcherokee has actually already done this cause he picked the idea out of my head!


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There's a difference between static and dynamic load. 40lbs of something bouncing around could have a lot more impact than 200lbs just stepping on it.

I've installed the ladder on my Gobi and the sheet metal on top plus the two small bolts on the bottom is all that is holding it together.

 

I do think I'd trust it. In addition the rotopax are only about 3 gallons. But you're right, it's something that should be watched for.


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quick plug for a mag mount, if you run in to Boston for an interview and have to park in a municipal lot, you only have to run out and flip off the antenna, no wrenches required ... I used to have a hatchback mount and had to carry 2 wrenches so that I could detach when/where necessary, like at car washes & parking garages, etc

 

Mine had a quick disconnect. Just step out and pull it right off. I considered a fold down unit but they appear to have too much play in them.


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Well, Pap's cb powers up, and I got a load of stuff in the mail today.

 

Well, Pap's cb powers up, and I got a load of stuff in the mail today.

how's that working out for you? I just noticed the radio has a lot of controls including maybe a built in swr meter?

 

Alrighty, did you get an SWR meter?


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Father in law has one, he's going to help this weekend.

He had me power it up, with strict instructions not to touch the mic. Just making sure the unit powered up.