Discussion
I was into the CB scene years ago when it was difficult all evening to find a clear channel! I did lots of DXing from my base station at home and had a variety of aerials including a DV27 on a ground plan kit, Sigma 4, 1/2 wave dipole,wot pole, echo mikes, 'boots', SWR meters, reverb chamber, base mike........i'll shut up as i'm sounding like a geek!
AdvanceRoadcraft said:
Linear amp...."but it's only powered up when it's set to receive, officer!". (And it's hidden away in the boot, not on show with the set.)
Best, B
I had a linear amp in the house (also know as a kicker). Remember turning it on and the neighbour knocking on the door complaining that there tv kept getting interference and could hear my voice through it. How was i to know they was only meant for moving vechiles, i was only 15 at the time Best, B
AdvanceRoadcraft said:
OK, thanks to all who replied. I'm going ahead anyway!
Kit bought; install this week. I'll let you know how I get on.
I've used those PMR446 jobbies for keeping in touch with a group (bikes) when on tour and for instructing. Tried 'em all from the cheapest to Ride magazine's top stuff. (Even had one unit fitted by the manufacturers at the NEC.)
Without exception I found them a useful bit of kit (even the cheapest) for, say, half a click in line of sight; never found one that wasn't useless at 1km+ on the open road or round any corner in a city.
Maybe more modern stuff is better? But, if the CB bands are so empty, I'm wondering why we didn't splash out a little more cash for the sake of legally upggrading from 0.5 to 4 Watts and from a rubber duck to a decent whip.
Best, B
I tried some of those '£29.99 for a pack of 2' 0.5 watt 'PMR446' radios that are available everywhere... and I found them crap but useful if you know what I mean. I could see the potential for road trips.Kit bought; install this week. I'll let you know how I get on.
I've used those PMR446 jobbies for keeping in touch with a group (bikes) when on tour and for instructing. Tried 'em all from the cheapest to Ride magazine's top stuff. (Even had one unit fitted by the manufacturers at the NEC.)
Without exception I found them a useful bit of kit (even the cheapest) for, say, half a click in line of sight; never found one that wasn't useless at 1km+ on the open road or round any corner in a city.
Maybe more modern stuff is better? But, if the CB bands are so empty, I'm wondering why we didn't splash out a little more cash for the sake of legally upggrading from 0.5 to 4 Watts and from a rubber duck to a decent whip.
Best, B
So I went the whole hog and bought 4 of these and programmed them to the licence free UK/Euro PMR446 channels - http://www.yaesu.com/indexvs.cfm?cmd=DisplayProduc...
Yaesu VX177 - 5 Watts of UHF power instead of 0.5w, batteries last all day even with heavy use, waterproof, shock proof, compact.
We get about 10 miles out of them car to car and about 20+ miles when out of the car and on the mountains.
Used them on road trips to France etc and one car could head off down the Autoroute a few miles to 'check all was clear' before giving the go signal to the following cars to hit the loud pedal.
Absolutely worth every penny for car to car chatter. You can even use a digital squelch/scrambler on them so you don't get interrupted.
No doubt someone really boring with a beard and bobble hat will be along in a moment to tell me they are illegal as they chuck out 5 watts instead of 0.5
Silverdaz said:
AdvanceRoadcraft said:
Linear amp...."but it's only powered up when it's set to receive, officer!". (And it's hidden away in the boot, not on show with the set.)
Best, B
I had a linear amp in the house (also know as a kicker). Remember turning it on and the neighbour knocking on the door complaining that there tv kept getting interference and could hear my voice through it. How was i to know they was only meant for moving vechiles, i was only 15 at the time Best, B
Thanks
Over
Silverdaz said:
It boosts your signal power and gives better range. Think the legal limit was 5 watts but you can get up to 200 watt liner amps maybe more now. Last time i had a cb was in the 80's.
Legal limit's 4 watts and you can get burners that run up to 1kw if you have the cash and the antenna system to cope.I used to run a 100 in the car and a 250 at home through an Antron 99
ahhh.. nostalgia!
K50 DEL said:
Silverdaz said:
It boosts your signal power and gives better range. Think the legal limit was 5 watts but you can get up to 200 watt liner amps maybe more now. Last time i had a cb was in the 80's.
Legal limit's 4 watts and you can get burners that run up to 1kw if you have the cash and the antenna system to cope.I used to run a 100 in the car and a 250 at home through an Antron 99
ahhh.. nostalgia!
d stole it out of my Sierra from a pub carpark in Norwich.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff