My “answer” to using a basic CB is one learned by reading around.
A quarter-century back I had a Uniden PC76 converted from single to dual finals. Great performance, but on a big truck much easier than today’s to achieve a good installation (good transmit performance).
Reading around the past few years convinced me to try (spend to experiment) adding an RM ITALY KL-203 to a big truck radio installation.
Stock, untouched radio
Yesterday was a case-in-point. After loading at a shipper I headed north to a truckstop where I stayed last week.
Once on the highway and in a relatively forward straight line of transmission I was demonstrating this for another driver parked that same place.
His truck featured the factory-installation. Untouched since new not yet two years ago. He’d been gifted a new COBRA 29 LTD. Already had it at work the past few weeks.
He & I live in the same city and several years ago became friends at the level of work thru a temp job we’d both taken.
I’ve driven quite a while and have always been an interested student. His grasp exceeds mine. Not just his experience.
A while back I’d said to him on the phone I had a pair of 7’ Firestik antennas (barely used) I’d like to give him. At some point we might meet up somewhere in Texas.
Well, met up in Indiana yesterday. Found that coincidence funny. I was recommending the fried chicken to him early last week if he ever got thru as I’d stayed here last weekend.
I wouldn’t claim I know much, but I’ve worked hard churning my tires in the mud re CB radios in big trucks. Occasionally make progress towards the pavement. As a matter of interest it’s been greater than his.
So I had his full attention. (Why he’s good; few can do that). He’d gone thru some basic checks of gear and noise sources beforehand we’d discussed. Read up on linked info to set SWR.
While I was at the shipper he couldn’t hear me at the truckstop despite that I was getting radio checks from others at his location and farther.
But once on the road as above — with the amp turned on — he could hear me.
Not so with it off. Nor could he hear the radio checks from further south of me (2.5-miles away and closing)
I parked across lot and noted what I could from my position in re his TX.
We went thru swapping antennas and mount studs and then in reverse
as my new high dollar Astatic PDC-1 SWR Meter wasn’t showing better than 1.6:1. (Joke. Cheap truckstop meter).
Equipment
Installation
Test Gear
Motivation
We used what we had. The original configuration was the same reading as the new one. IN THE END. Loosened, tightened, shaken, stirred, on-the-rocks, truck pulled forward, etc. Some checks & tests.
But now he could easily hear me, hear highway radio checks at distance, and he swung my trucks radio meter farther.
Good enough for truck stop work.
Point to all this is that we may not get all we want the first time. Other factors are involved and MAY mask what we think is problem.
The antenna system is where greatest attention needs be paid.
My friend now has a pair of ears that reach 13’6” in height. Height is might.
Before, he was at 9’6”.
We’ve established that while not yet as good as possible, coax & antennas are fine. Safe to transmit. Tried, but couldn’t find problems past what gear and a tiny bit of knowledge asked.
I’ve recommended an AM/SSB Uniden 980 (see threads), and the baby amp (will run on big truck CB circuit with radio).
No Golden Screwdriver necessary.
Gave him also one of my volume-buy SRA-198 Ranger mics. Compared it to the stock Cobra. Given his voice and preferred distance of mouth-to-mic, 3/4-gain Dynamike setting was clearest, best audio with the 198 from across the parking lot. Not much, but enough.
Not much is sorta how I look at radio thus far. Progress, not Perfection.
The 980 + 203 is what I’d recommend to anyone for mobile or base as where to start. AM plus SSB.
BIG Ears and LOUD Voice is how I describe it. No tech labor-charges.
$240 approx; the pair. So far as I’m concerned, THAT is the entry price. CB Radio isn’t a toy for a truck driver. It’s a tool. And few today know what’s good performance as modern truck design has made it difficult.
FWIW, I have spent $$ where money and value didn’t meet up. Some experiments (hairs up my ass) don’t work out. That’s success.
Needn’t go that route again. Like a dead-end road with no way to turn around a big truck.
So, put ‘er in Reverse and back an articulated, loaded rig 3-miles on a broken-asphalt, high-cambered road with blind curves. In the rain. After dark.
Think I should quit the job? Some would. That’s a level of frustration and risk far past the ordinary (truck could have rolled despite 3-mph backing speed). Hauling it out with a wrecker would be $900-$1200 and a missed delivery.
I triple-check those short-cuts nowadays. And want the best radio comms I can get.
So:
Get some chrome film and wrap it.
Place on shelf prominently.
Hit with spotlight.
Meditate, Cogitate, Beer-O-Rate
Gonna quit?
The radio is just one piece of many.
.
