This is one of the best beginner videos lately. Your radio videos have improved so much the past 5 or so years. I really like using a trail cam battery instead of a car battery.
16 and 4 are traditionally the off road channels (4x4=16) and are mostly used for off roading. Overland Bound officially uses 16 as the CB calling channel. Another great vid!
Are these radio resources you are looking into, or off road resources? Channels 15 and 16 were designated SSB channels to accommodate 23 channel SSB radios. They are still used today and I often hear a lot of overseas stations on 16 SSB. There are also regular net's that take place on 16 LSB. If you have been researching radio sources, then you know what a net is. Traditionally, these (15/16) were the only designated SSB channels there were until the introduction of 40 channel usage. At that point, 31 thru 40 were adopted in as well. Everyone knows, 15, 16, 31 thru 40, are sideband. @@WhiteCavendish
Great video! I am glad to see people getting back into CB. No subscriptions are user fees. The one thing you forgot to mention is the fact that once you get everything you need then you start wanting more. More channels,bigger antenna, more power and the list go's on. LOl 73's from 828 Guitarman.
Here it´s either 19 or Lower 29, all the base stations went down there to escape the skip. So really only two channels around here locally. Kinda a shame cause you would think the CB is dead if you only have regular 40 channels.
@@FarpointFarms Yeah, the local guys been using AM since the 70´s, so it just will not change. It would be cool to have FM locally, but we are all on AM, and once in a while a ¨"new" radio will pop up, like a Golden Eagle. Also many of the old timers only have AM with an expansion mod.
Do you have a recommendation on a 9 foot whip antenna where to buy 1 I found my 2 old CB radio I had when I was a kid have fun talking to local in morning for about 10 minutes a day. Keep on when I drive around
Me too! Australia is now one of the most expensive countries in the world to live. Everything is 3-4 times more expensive than what you guys pay.@@FarpointFarms
@@FarpointFarms I can see that, but this might have been a chance to actually be pro-active on using FM for clarity of the signal especially with more and more radios are coming out with it. Looking forward to your next video.
I had a few CB radios 40 years ago, so thank you for getting me refamiliarized. For my car, I see what looks like a decent radio for $50 and wonder what features I get with a $100?
@@mikecricket113 I'd verify ground is good with a circuit checker, modify a three prong plug by cutting off the hot and neutral prongs, drag a rough file across the face to knock off the sharp stubs that will remain and, for good measure, use some good electrical tape and tape over where the prongs have been filed down. BUT FIRST!... After checking with a circuit checker, I'd use a meter and make sure that your ground is grounded. Back in days of yore, the old computers used to use ground voltage (zero) as reference for zeros (0V = 0, 5V = 1). Every rental I moved into the first thing I'd do is check voltage between all three prongs of an outlet (H-N, H-G, N-G). In order for an outlet to be safe for a computer, there had to be less than a third of a volt between N-G. It's possible a homes/buildings electrical grounding could be a floating ground. I've seen it. I've seen chassis grounds have higher voltages than earth grounds.
Channel 9 is not out of use in the USA the Sheriff in Yuma County, AZ is still using channel 9 using SSB. Most cars are using SSB now days not AM. Also most SSB will also have AM capabilities.
You were the one who convinced me to get (back) into the hobby, and get a ssb McKinley radio. I had a ham license, but I let it lapse. I also really enjoy listening to shortwave.
In my area, several CB channels have been taken over by oil/gas exploration companies traffic control. They control vehicle movement on/off drilling pads. Then, there are the skip channels. On AM, channels 6, 9, 11, 19. On SSB, channels 37, 38, 39. And dare I mention the language? In my opinion, if a radio operator has to throw an "F" bomb every 3rd word, they don't have a very good command on the english language. And it is very offensive to this Christian. For these reasons, I rarely even listen to my mobile radio anymore. Since I don't have a cell phone, my main purpose of having the radio in my SUV, is to have a way to summon help, should I have a break down along the road. Since the CB band isn't regulated and monitored by the FCC, it has become very trashy and unpleasant.
Can't they use the radio waves like we all do? I go to plenty of shippers and they keep their base stations on a specific channel so we can check in when we get there.
@@williekaminski3705 So, yes and no. They can monitor and respond to drivers at ports, or terminals or whatnot, but they are not supposed to be using it for their primary communications between company cars, terminal to dispatch, that sort of thing. Think of a tow truck company, as this is where I found the law on this issue. A Tow truck company had 3 trucks and a main office. They used CB radios in all their trucks plus a Base at the main office to "Radio dispatch" the trucks to wrecks and what not. The problem arrived when they picked a channel and started to use it exclusively for their business. CB users in the area reported it and they were fined. There is a Business band for that type of work.
As they represent a fraction of the cb use at this time, I didn't want to confuse new users with even more options. AM in in all the radios, and SSB is in use by around 25% of active cb users. FM? Less and 1%. That will hopefully change, but not for many years to come.
Question please…….thinking of putting a “base” unit in my house so I can communicate 20-30 miles out to my children in case cell phones go out. They would have a mobile CB in their car ( Cobra 50 WXST ). Would this work ?
I doubt that you will be able to get that far of reception. a GMRS radio might work better for you especially if there are repeaters in the surrounding areas
Good quality RG213 wire. A good grounding system and of course SWR adjustments on your Base antenna. I have my Antron A99 set down to 1.2 across all 40 or better. Height is also a plus when it comes to Base setups. The higher off the ground, the better the line of sight reception.
Ole timer new to your channel. I used to be all into it, back in the early 70's. I even had a base station with a tower, set of beams, and a silver eagle D104. LOL.. I really can't get into the whole setup again, cause I lease now and don't own a place, or I would. I'm interested in hand held cb hand helds. Maybe even with ssb too. I basically want to use it for on the move via vehicle and traveling by feet lol... Got any suggestions?
I have a 4-watt President Walker FCC and an A-99 antenna. Mostly all I'm hearing on am is a lot of garbage skip from far away put out by people probably using a whole lot of illegal power? Does CB ever get any better than this?
I miss running a CB I used a mobile Cobra 29 LTD as a base station. NEVER seen those CBs for that cheap so not sure where you are getting those prices at not even on Ebay are they that good
New again to the CB world. How do you get past all the noise and skips? I hear people a thousand miles away and no one local? My CB is tuned and matched to my antenna. If it makes a difference I’m in the Northeast.
Local chat now usually happens only on a channel or two and only at certain times of day. If your radio has a scan function, let it roll until someone closer pops up!
Awesome video, hopefully it will help get more people on the air. In my area we are blessed with a lot of locals, Someone is out there just about anytime of the day. Take care Erik, Enjoy the hobby!
Same to you my friend! I've got some old timers near me that spend their evenings chatting, so when I moved here I was in heaven. Since then, I've got a few younger guys to join the conversations as well. Love it!
Hey Guy, watching and i know squat and im ignorant of the reference to,"if the skip working today?," plus im researching the FREE internet over CB radio!?!?!? Hardware & Etc, how-to PLZ!
@@FarpointFarms Okay, and I appreciate the assist too! A caveat; regarding CB internet access, it's real & I've discovered just (1) video on it but it's awesome!!!
How can a smartphone be used as a CB radio if there is no internet connection available (e.g. with which additional hardware equipment or adapter/converter)?
None. Sadly Cell phones are 100% locked into cell towers. When power goes down, so do the towers after the battery's run down. CB is a totally different system that operates as a single radio contacting other single radios so that the "System" can't fail.
I used to run a Realistic 23 channel base station with an Avanti AV-101 Astroplane antenna. Now I love in a condo so I can’t mount an antenna so no more radio.
Hi eric do you anybody that work on old Fenton courier model 40 ssb I have one like to get work on and get it tune up and working again please let me know if you do Eric
So im a paid on call firefighter in the northeast and a ford police interceptor utility I'm looking at picking up has a Cobra Ultra iii in it can it be programmed for my fire department frequencies?
Prices have definitely gone up! I couldn’t find any decent radios on eBay at the prices you listed, not even remotely close at this time! I have had some luck on FB market place as well as Craigslist. eBay seems to think they are all collectors items! Great video and I look forward to seeing what comes next!
Put a Uniden 980 & 3ft antenna on a new Bronco. The antenna is mounted on back to the right of spare tire (say passenger seat) sticks above the roofline a foot-ish. My question is after talking to some truckers on I-80 and figuring MAYBE 2 mile range...could the Bronco's non metal roof be hampering my range ? I picked up an SWR meter but haven't gotten out away from town to see if i can adjust a bit to make better. Was hoping for 5-6 mile range, which I had achieved with a 2013 Wrangler with similar roof & setup. Thanks in advance for any thoughts/suggestions.
Yes, the fiberglass roof on the broco is likely the issue. the SQR Meter will be the tell. You may have to rethink the antenna position to get a better signal.
Good inexpensive hobby to get back into, I have got 35 dollars invested in 3- forty channel CB radios and a magnet antenna. Thanks for keeping and revitalizing this hobby.
During the 80's I used a 1st version President Lincoln with a 12' stainless steel whip and 18' of RG8, I had the antenna mounted at the top left corner of the bed of a 1965 C10 with a 1/4" thick steel 6" X 12" plate bent 90 degrees to form an L mounting bracket and mounted near the tailgate, no amps all barefoot, the SWR at all channels were 1.0 to 1.1, I was able to communicate worldwide on SSB, and numerous states on AM, it had good grounding and the 1/4" bracket acted as a ground plane. I definitely miss that set up and days of DXing with numerous QSL cards from around the world.
@@FarpointFarms Back then we had no clubs or meetings but we helped each other with their setups weather it's a mobile or base station, also there was hardly any obnoxious skips and commotion interference.
yooo, I got a little question: what does "11 meters" mean? also. if I wanted to use a TRC-503 for off-grid use (camping) with solar energy, what is the entire set-up i'd need? please include EVERYTHING (radio, microphone, antenna, etc)
11 meters is the CB radio band. it's the length of the wave. I made a video on off grid setups take a look at that and see if you still have questions.
Great CB Radio Content I'm Miami 305 on LSB Channel 37 38 Which it is 27.3750 27.3850 and sometime on 27,3950 Which is Channel 39. I'm sometime on it from 4:00 Pm sometime 5 PM. and so on Conditions are bad now but I can tell you guys this it going to be Great Starting Next Year or the Following one. we just have to Hang in there until this Happen. 73 to all of you guys from the Miami area
Great info for the beginner!! Four watts... how quaint (LOL) Been in the hobby for almost 50 years. It has changed a lot over the years but it does seem to be coming back. I find myself on 11 meters more than other bands, tends to be more friendly and down to earth.
If you run legal power, you learn that the antenna is the most important part of a station. Antenna and coax. A great antenna turns the crappiest radio into King Kong. A bad antenna turns the best radio into a mudduck.
This video is the most comprehensive and easy to understand for a newcomer (myself) to learn about CB radio. Thanks for making this video, I’m now a subscriber.
So can someone please help me asap. I ordered a trc 216 from a user in Canada and the manuel said the TRC can only be used in Canada not the US. Is that true? Canadian CB radios cannot be used in the USA?
@@FarpointFarms The manual I got with it says" Units manufactured for sale and use in Canada are not identical to units type accepted by the FCC. Canadian models have been approved by DOC and are to be used only Canada". Do I return it or keep it?
The antenna is no joke. I talked to a guy sixty miles away on four watts (because he couldn't see his radio clear enough to SSB) on the Antron before the wind claimed it.
Back a few years ago I use to run a Yaesu FT-101 into an Antron 99 Base antenna and kick ass. The thing is that if no one is listening what is the point. CB radio is dead and the only people on it are to dumb to get the Ham Radio licence.
I just did explain. People don't like to talk to "know it alls" They'd rather find their way in no mans land than have a pretentious elmer constantly badgering them about some obscure rule no one cares about. @@cbman4767
i have gotten and abandoned cb radios about once a decade or so since there was still a license for cbs... love the chatter ,hate the liniers and hars an discontent❤
@@FarpointFarms you just kinda look like Jeffrey dean morgan with the beard 🤣 seriously though the info is great and I’m hunting down my first CB and antenna for my car now
In the late 60's the Citizens Band radio was carved out of the Ham Radio Part of the frequency and given it's own band with 27 megahertz band. Pretty strict back then. Then the trucking industry adopted it for their use,(I was a trucker)to keep up with where the speed traps etc. were.Truckers still use them but not as much in the last few years.I know because I was a trucker for 20 yrs. A boyfriend of my sister was an electronic whiz and built me a Heathkit 5 channel CB back when I was 13 yrs. old. Later on I became a trucker and retired about 3 yrs. ago.Still got some CB's. 72 yrs.old now.
@@FarpointFarms i’m sorry Just want to make sure I’m understanding correctly. so I would tie a ground wire from the chassis of the radio to the three prong plug where my power supply plugs in and connect that ground wire up to the ground on that power supply plug and plug that into my wall?
I have to disagree with the range of the President New Virginia antenna. I have the same antenna on the same car in the same location and can talk up to 14 miles on AM and 28 miles on sideband to base stations and about half the range mobile to mobile. You should range test it. You'll be surprised.
Good to know! I have one on my Mirage and I was able to get 7 miles on it, but that's here in the mountains where range is greatly reduced. I put that number on it as I wanted to point out that antenna size does drastically change the range of these radios.
You did not say anything about the hundred to. thousand watts amplifiers that everyone are using. Fcc gave up on this year's ago. There worried about much bigger things. If you don't have a amp you don't have nothing. This is what you need to be talking about
E an old realistic trc 415. My grandson is having a lot of fun with it. Is there a way to bump up modulation or just getting more out of it? Love your channel and thanks for good quality, family friendly content 👍
Hi Eric I like CB radio I am stil) using My cobra model 148 I've been using since the late 70s and a starduster antenna and I also have a radio in both of my vehicles have handhelds in both my vehicles thanks for all your good videos Eric keep up the good work I wish I was able to pick you up on the radio and be able to talk to you you're too far away I'm out in Northern California have a great day my brother God bless you and your family stay safe oldgeorge.
Thanks for this intro to CB. I guess one needs a License to transmit on CB? If so, what do you recommend as a receiver-only for non-licensed users (listeners) to CB?
No! There is no license for CB radio!! It's one of the best parts of the hobby. Buy one at a yard sale and get right on the air, no checks or codes needed.
Great video. My main problem with my late 70's/early 80's Cobras (148 GTL AND 142 GTL) is finding someone who works on them. They've been sitting for quite a while, and need to be checked out for operation.
That was interesting especially how cheap the radios and kit are. In the UK where I live things are much more expensive. I was a self employed courier driving a small van all over the UK and had a CB because thee truckers would put out messages about delays or accidents quicker than what local radio stations did. In the UK CB is not as popular as it was but all heavy goods lorry drivers all have them.
You are correct. Our local channel is 26.875 for whatever reason, and then 27.205 for the morning time group. Very aggravating for someone that cares about swr as much as me. A little more difficult to tune an antenna with that much spread in frequency.
Was helping my uncle clean out a old mobile home and found a 102 stainless whip . I was pretty happy to say the least. Been using a lil Wilson on my f250 truck roof . Gonna put the whip on my ranger I think . Great video .
I apologize if you covered this material and I missed it I have watched so many videos on CB radios my brain is brimming with all sorts of information and disinformation. Do I need to have the amp connected when I test the SWR of my antenna? I purchased a CB and amp that have been tuned to each other but not the antenna. I am hooking it up to a 10 ft whip.
I live in Springfield Oregon and I will be transmitting from up in the McKenzie. With any luck at all you might hear me. I just got back from camping up there and I was able to listen to people from Hawaii Texas Georgia and possibly New Zealand but I'm not sure if he was just joking.
@@psychonauthacker Brother, you are not going to believe this, but I lived in Springfield and took my 1982 Chevy Citation up to McKenzie to talk on CB more than once. Great time in my life! That was back in 1994/5.
@@FarpointFarms I love this area I keep getting drawn back. We camp directly across the reservoir from cougar Hot springs. The reservoir is empty now most of the time but at one point there was an island halfway between my camp spot and the trailhead for the hot springs. That area is my stomping ground.
I have a 75 foot tall poured cement silo that is full of steel rerod and the ladder rungs are steel part of the structure could I just clamp a 102 whip on the top rung and use that for a base station antenna?
