CB Radio Newb. Need Help. - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

sledgehammer1990 · 05-26-2009, 05:59 PM

Hey, so I am planning a trip with a friend of mine. We will be heading to my mountain house and there are a tone of trails up there, but no cell service. We decided to get some CB radios for communication purposes.

If someone could help me out because I have no idea what I am doing. I have heard some things about the Uniden Pro 520 and it looks pretty good. A weather feature would be nice though. Not something to expensive, but not something crappy either.

What else do I need besides the radio? What antenna? Speaker or something? I was thinking about grabbing a 48" fiberglass antenna to attach the bumper for trail riding.

Thanks for looking.

**rizzjc** · 05-26-2009, 06:16 PM

I'm not a cb guy myself, but antenna is important. CB is low power, and you can't do anything (legally) about that. So, if you need the best performance you can get, then you want a good (long) antenna. Full fiberglass whip will probably work pretty good. Always did for me, back in H.S. when I had a cb in my car. Look around for CBs - you should be able to find something with the features you want, without going crazy. Others might have specific recommendations.

dudefromflorida · 05-26-2009, 06:25 PM

Just look around online for some good deals for a Radio, they are not hard to find.. I think newegg.com had some that had the NOAA channel you are talking about. Also local places like radioshack will have some... Walmart even carries one that works jsut fine, but does not have the NOAA channel. The maximum legal wattage a radio can run is 4 watts. So when you are looking for distance to talk to your friend dont invest your money in the radio, they all do the same thing jsut some have other stuff on the radio to get a clearer hear on the person talking. For distance you wnat a good antenna, there is where you want to invest your money. The best ones in my opinon are wilsons, they are a magnet mount and hardly ever need to be tuned. I have a 102" whip that i got from radioshack and it works jsut fine i can get a clean handle on people miles away from me.
Just remember, it is not the radio that you wnat to worry about then you are looking for distance, it is the antenna.

sledgehammer1990 · 05-26-2009, 10:02 PM

I will still look around for a radio, but I think I am going to go with a 102" Stainless Steel Whip Element for CB Antenna

Edit: I have gathered a list of parts. Hows this?

Uniden Pro Series (PRO-538W) 40-Channel CB Radio
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...6&clickid=cart

102" Stainless Steel Whip Element for CB Antenna
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...8&clickid=cart

Mobile CB Antenna Ball Mount Base
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...8&clickid=cart

Chrome-Plated Spring CB Antenna Mount
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...9&clickid=cart

**rizzjc** · 05-26-2009, 11:23 PM

I think that will do pretty well for you. Didn't you want weather channels though? They ARE a little more expensive though, so I wouldn't do it either. I've got NOAA Weather alert on my mobile ham radio. It's nice to have, but my ham radio was $125, 50 watts, so I don't think I'd spend $150 on a CB with weather alert.

sledgehammer1990 · 05-27-2009, 12:43 PM

Cool, BTW, thats why I chose the Uniden 538 instead of the 520 because of the weather feature.

Quote:

Includes 40 channels and 3 instant weather channels to keep you aware of what's happening

91ROKKRAWLER · 05-27-2009, 12:49 PM

i'm running dual 4 foot top loaded antennas with a (modified) Cobra 19. I know I got at least 3-4 Miles out.

**rizzjc** · 05-27-2009, 01:15 PM

OK, cool, I didn't see the NOAA mentioned on there, but they kinda buried it. That should work out well for you!

sledgehammer1990 · 07-01-2009, 07:25 PM

Well, I received and installed my antenna. It was pretty simple and I ran the wire to the front. Just need to get the CB tomorrow and hook it up. Damn! Thats one large antenna.

*CobraMountaineer* · 07-14-2009, 11:03 PM

what mountains do you have a place? We have a place on the eastern edge of the Allegheny Nation forest in McKean.

sledgehammer1990 · 07-15-2009, 12:11 AM

Yes, I do have a place in driftwood PA. It is in Cameron County. Seems pretty close to yours.

05-26-2009, 05:59 PM	#1
sledgehammer1990 Wannabe Elite Explorer Doylestown, PA '94 XLT Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs	CB Radio Newb. Need Help. Hey, so I am planning a trip with a friend of mine. We will be heading to my mountain house and there are a tone of trails up there, but no cell service. We decided to get some CB radios for communication purposes. If someone could help me out because I have no idea what I am doing. I have heard some things about the Uniden Pro 520 and it looks pretty good. A weather feature would be nice though. Not something to expensive, but not something crappy either. What else do I need besides the radio? What antenna? Speaker or something? I was thinking about grabbing a 48" fiberglass antenna to attach the bumper for trail riding. Thanks for looking.

05-26-2009, 06:16 PM	#2
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	I'm not a cb guy myself, but antenna is important. CB is low power, and you can't do anything (legally) about that. So, if you need the best performance you can get, then you want a good (long) antenna. Full fiberglass whip will probably work pretty good. Always did for me, back in H.S. when I had a cb in my car. Look around for CBs - you should be able to find something with the features you want, without going crazy. Others might have specific recommendations. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

05-26-2009, 10:02 PM	#4
sledgehammer1990 Wannabe Elite Explorer Doylestown, PA '94 XLT Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs	I will still look around for a radio, but I think I am going to go with a 102" Stainless Steel Whip Element for CB Antenna Edit: I have gathered a list of parts. Hows this? Uniden Pro Series (PRO-538W) 40-Channel CB Radio http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...6&clickid=cart 102" Stainless Steel Whip Element for CB Antenna http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...8&clickid=cart Mobile CB Antenna Ball Mount Base http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...8&clickid=cart Chrome-Plated Spring CB Antenna Mount http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...9&clickid=cart Last edited by sledgehammer1990; 05-26-2009 at 10:47 PM.

05-26-2009, 11:23 PM	#5
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	I think that will do pretty well for you. Didn't you want weather channels though? They ARE a little more expensive though, so I wouldn't do it either. I've got NOAA Weather alert on my mobile ham radio. It's nice to have, but my ham radio was $125, 50 watts, so I don't think I'd spend $150 on a CB with weather alert. __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

05-27-2009, 12:49 PM	#7
91ROKKRAWLER Wannabe Elite Explorer Bend, OR '91 Xploder Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 416 Vehicle Specs	i'm running dual 4 foot top loaded antennas with a (modified) Cobra 19. I know I got at least 3-4 Miles out. __________________ PROJECT: FLEXY 1991 Ford Explorer XLT 4 door - 33" BFG Mudz K&N Cone Air Filter - Flowmaster 40 Muffler 5.5" Superlift Lift Kit - 4" Tuff Country Nitrogen Shocks

05-26-2009, 06:25 PM	#3
dudefromflorida Wannabe Elite Explorer Fuquay Varina, NC '94 Sport Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 50 Vehicle Specs	Just look around online for some good deals for a Radio, they are not hard to find.. I think newegg.com had some that had the NOAA channel you are talking about. Also local places like radioshack will have some... Walmart even carries one that works jsut fine, but does not have the NOAA channel. The maximum legal wattage a radio can run is 4 watts. So when you are looking for distance to talk to your friend dont invest your money in the radio, they all do the same thing jsut some have other stuff on the radio to get a clearer hear on the person talking. For distance you wnat a good antenna, there is where you want to invest your money. The best ones in my opinon are wilsons, they are a magnet mount and hardly ever need to be tuned. I have a 102" whip that i got from radioshack and it works jsut fine i can get a clean handle on people miles away from me. Just remember, it is not the radio that you wnat to worry about then you are looking for distance, it is the antenna.

05-27-2009, 01:15 PM	#8
rizzjc Scubajoe - Radio Mod Garner, NC '97 AWD V8 XLT Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,817 Vehicle Specs	OK, cool, I didn't see the NOAA mentioned on there, but they kinda buried it. That should work out well for you! __________________ *Joe, N1LVN* '97 XLT AWD V8 STOCK Amsoil Synthetics throughout. Amsoil Ea air filter. Bilsteins. Scanguage. Search ExplorerForum

07-01-2009, 07:25 PM	#9
sledgehammer1990 Wannabe Elite Explorer Doylestown, PA '94 XLT Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs	Well, I received and installed my antenna. It was pretty simple and I ran the wire to the front. Just need to get the CB tomorrow and hook it up. Damn! Thats one large antenna.

07-14-2009, 11:03 PM	#10
CobraMountaineer Gotta Love It... Salisbury, MD 1998 Merc Mountaineer Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 108 Vehicle Specs	what mountains do you have a place? We have a place on the eastern edge of the Allegheny Nation forest in McKean. __________________ 1998 Mercury Mounty OBD1 303E Engine, BBK 70mm TB 3" Cat Back Flowmaster Stock Lift(for now) Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Vehicle MEMA RACES/ARES SKYWARN Spotter/Chaser

07-15-2009, 12:11 AM	#11
sledgehammer1990 Wannabe Elite Explorer Doylestown, PA '94 XLT Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 306 Vehicle Specs	Yes, I do have a place in driftwood PA. It is in Cameron County. Seems pretty close to yours.