CB-HAM Radio?

[hamcheese]

Im looking on purchasing either a CB Radio or a HAM radio for the Marauder as I will be making runs from Southern California to Northern California. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[Windsor58]

I'm not up to date, but I remember a long time ago, there was a CB that had a box you mounted out of sight (under seat, in console, etc.) and had the controls on the hand held mic. That seemed like a nice clean approach that wouldn't tempt thieves as much (hide the mic when you leave the car and you couldn't see anything... other than the antenna, of course).
Good Luck.

[PurdueRifleman]

I've got a Cobra GLX (something) sitting around that I used back when I had a vic. Really good unit in terms of power and ease of use. Even without a linear it wasn't hard getting 40mi of range from on top of a hill.

[CWright]

I am on the road a good bit and actually have two CB's I use. For my travel car I use this one here because it is small and more to match interior. I had it peaked and tuned and it dead keys 4 watts and modulates about 30. Good little radio with CB, NOAA weather, and PA.
I found it cheaper at a PILOT truck stop. You might want to check truck stops out there.
http://www.midlandradio.com/CB-Radio.WYQ/1001LWX


The overall better radio is my Uniden PC68LTW
http://www.uniden.com/products/productdetail.cfm?product=PC68 LTW#

This one is a little bulkier and is it's only draw back to me. But it is peaked and tuned as well with a 5 watt dead key and 48 watt modulation. It also has the CB, Weather, and PA.

The antenna I use is the Wilson 1000. You can get in a magnetic mount or trunk lip mount. Wilson antenna's are tuned also to recieve NOAA weather signal. The K40 and most others don't recieve NOAA unless they specify on the packaging. If you don't do the weather radio I would still go with the Wilson due to clarity. The "Little Wil" is a perfect magnetic mount antenna as well made by Wilson. Anyway sorry this is so long but being on the road as much as I have been over the last 15 years, this I have found to work the best.

[Vortex]

Why mount a CB? I bought a $40 handheld CB at Walmart that works just fine without any external antennae. I know it would get better range with a longer antennae but I mainly listen to the truckers like when there is a wreck and dont do much talking on it.

[Egon Spengler]

I have a cb that was in my first car I ever owned about 11 years ago and I was thinking about mounting it in the marauder on the side of the center console.

[CWright]

I have a cb that was in my first car I ever owned about 11 years ago and I was thinking about mounting it in the marauder on the side of the center console.


I didn't want to drill through side of console so I use velcro. You can buy it at walmart for about 2.00. It is easy to remove and it will stick to the carpet on the side of the console with out falling. This allows me to take out when it's not being used.

On what Vortex mentioned:
Why mount a CB? I bought a $40 handheld CB at Walmart that works just fine without any external antennae. I know it would get better range with a longer antennae but I mainly listen to the truckers like when there is a wreck and dont do much talking on it.
__________________


Personally I like the bigger radio over the handheld due to distance. I don't talk on mine either much but they are great for listening to where the cops are. The bigger radio will give you a better listening distance. I also have the Midland handheld unit. Even if I tie it into my external wilson antenna I can hear further with my bigger radio.

[hamcheese]

http://www.midlandradio.com/CB-Radio.WYQ/1001LWX


The Midland radio; It is smaller. Do you think it will fit in the center console nicely? That is really what I would like, is to have it hidden away...minus the antenna of course. I think based on the reviews that I have read, I will go with the 'Little WIl' antenna.

Considering HAM radio; What are any considerations...are they on the same channels (can I monitor the same channels, weather etc.)?

The Midland radio sounds better, if in fact it does fit in the center console (and I'm not worried about drilling one hole for the cord, as I will NEVER sell the Marauder, and I like the velcro mounting idea).

Thanks all for the advice!

[CWright]

The Midland radio; It is smaller. Do you think it will fit in the center console nicely? That is really what I would like, is to have it hidden away...minus the antenna of course. I think based on the reviews that I have read, I will go with the 'Little WIl' antenna.

Considering HAM radio; What are any considerations...are they on the same channels (can I monitor the same channels, weather etc.)?

The Midland radio sounds better, if in fact it does fit in the center console (and I'm not worried about drilling one hole for the cord, as I will NEVER sell the Marauder, and I like the velcro mounting idea).

Thanks all for the advice!

To get in the center console it will take some modifying. It just depends on whether or not you want to do some cutting. As far as the Ham radio some cb's will convert to Ham. Galaxy makes some good one's but they are bigger than the uniden. Uniden does make a smaller radio. I have one of those too. It makes about 30 Watts of modulation when tuned. It doesn't have weather though. Model PRO510XL http://www.uniden.com/products/productdetail.cfm?product=PRO5 10XL or the PRO520XL http://www.uniden.com/images/images500/PRO520XL.jpg The only difference are the PA switch and RF gain on the 520. Good little radios the might fit better in console. The next thing to be concerned about mounting in there is the antenna connection. Might need to do a L shaped adapter. The pro510xl will be the smallest of the two and smaller than the midland. The midland and uniden 510 are close in width and length but the midland is thicker by about 1/4 inch.