Cb radio

[the laird]

Decided to purchase a midland cb and twig.its about twenty years since last used one.not even got one in the truck.going to Windermere in two weeks time so will try out then

[Diplomat]

It's getting like buses. No threads on this topic for ages and then two come along.

You couldn't have picked a better time, it looks like there is a revival under way!

Is it UK or Euro channels or both? I read some while back that the UK spec would run until there were no more users. As dealerss are selling them, that could be a while yet.

I used to find the road reports from truckers useful. I may well throw one in the van for the spring and see if it is worthwhile nowadays.


Frank

[the laird]

As I said twenty year ago I used them before mobiles we're a strong thing.it helped many times we also searched for a missing kiddy.until the air waves were poisoned it was very usefull.my old handle was exhaust pipe.think the new ones gonna be ,the laird,cool eh!

[Poohbear]

If you used one twenty years ago you'll probably be very dissapointed because it would probably have been AM (the illegal one) which had a range of about 10 miles or even more on a good day. When they legalised FM they virtually killed CB radio overnight because you were lucky if you got a range of more than about half a mile in a built up area. I think you've probably wasted your money unless alot of other people you know have them and you all happen to be within spitting distance of each other

[the laird]

Yeah kbiw what you mean but my sons gtn on and a few others with bongos also for in convoy but i can take it in the truck as well

[Driver+Passengers]

I DX'd into Italy about a year ago, on 4W.

[Poohbear]

I DX'd into Italy about a year ago, on 4W.

I have no idea what you're talking about but that is certainly not most people's experience of CB radio. You'd be lucky to "DX" into the Italian restaurant round the corner

[briwy]

I DX'd into Italy about a year ago, on 4W.

Yeah but the problem is that the Italians DX back with 100w burners and wipe everything out

[Driver+Passengers]

I DX'd into Italy about a year ago, on 4W.

Yeah but the problem is that the Italians DX back with 100w burners and wipe everything out

But I got there, which is my point.

Had an amusing time parked up on Skye last year, listening to guys on Lewis chat with guys in Gloucester. No doubt pushing a bit, but it beat watching an X-Men DVD.

[ELZE]

[quote="the laird"]As I said twenty year ago I used them before mobiles we're a strong thing.

Twenty years ago mobiles were the size of back packs with a handset! Ha-ha! I remember my old boss walking around the site with one looking rediculous.

[winchman]

My modren CB all totaly legal will do the 11 miles from work to home most days, I usually chat to people 3 of 4 miles away, in my experience if you pay good attention to the aerial and how its fitted you should achieve good results

[Diplomat]

My modren CB all totaly legal will do the 11 miles from work to home most days, I usually chat to people 3 of 4 miles away, in my experience if you pay good attention to the aerial and how its fitted you should achieve good results

Dead right about the aerial. Unfortunately it really needs to be just under 2.5 metres (9 feet) long to start becoming efficient. The 1981 regulations didn't allow more than 1.5 metres. I believe this has now been relaxed. Most short CB aerials won't radiate particularly well, even if they present a good match to the transmitter.


Driver+Passengers took advantage of ionospheric propagation to get to Italy and down to Gloucester from Skye. However that only occurs from time to time and is not reliable. Signals are often stronger than local working. I remember working 'skip' mode down to Cornwall and South West Ireland from the Oban area. Unfortunately, intermediate distances are too near so one couldn't work from Oban to Edinburgh or London to Birmingham for example.

Depending on whether you see CB as a local communication medium or as a scientific hobby, long range working can either be a pain in the backside with loud Italians and Russians blotting everyone out, or a novelty with an understandable sense of achievement. I was lucky enough to get my thrills contacting Australia and New Zealand with 3 Watts of Morse using a couple of valves (EF91, EL 91) way back in 1967 on 28 MHz so I have not been too worried about doing it on CB but I share the thrill of those who do.

When they legalised FM they virtually killed CB radio overnight because you were lucky if you got a range of more than about half a mile in a built up area. I think you've probably wasted your money unless alot of other people you know have them and you all happen to be within spitting distance of each other

FM with good receiver technology can rival AM, which is why it virtually took over for most other forms of analogue mobile radio. However on 27 MHz CB with close channel spacing which needs low deviation of the signal, FM just doesn't cut it. To sound good it needs to be engineered like marine VHF or the old Met Police system which used wider deviation. A very good reason for FM being specified for CB was the reduced chance of breakthrough on domestic audio and TV equipment, particularly if illegal amplifiers were used to boost the CB transmission. For FM the amplifers do not need to be linear like they do for AM and many illegal amplifiers do not have proper filtering to stop them transmitting spurious signals on other frequencies. Hence the much vaunted assertion by the authorities that 'aircraft will be put in danger'. The principle is enough to convince magistrates of seious criminality without any need for specific evidence of the existence of such emissions from an individual set up.

There is currently a lobby to introduce SSB, which is permitted in some EU and other countries. A big advantage is that the mode is more power efficient and there are no annoying whistles (as with AM) or distortion if too many people talk at once but as the person with the strongest transmission rules the channel it will inevitable lead again to unscrupulous use of amplifiers with their attendant problems. SSB will certainly appeal to those who want to chase countries as a hobby.

For car to car or home to car up to 10 miles or so, what we really need in the UK and Europe is the 5 Watt UHF FM system they have in Australia and New Zealand. A far better thought out system than 27 MHz CB which evolved from the US goverment giving away a part of the spectrum which was of no use to anybody else because of sporadic or sometimes sustained intercontinental interference and which will never ever be ideal for local working with small aerials.


Until something better comes along (aside from direct press to talk smartphones) I am ready to give 27 MHz FM and PMR 446 a try as an accessory to Bongoleering. I can't join in anything illegal as my amateur and marine licences are too valuable to lose, along with the inevitable confiscation of everything they could convince a magistrate could be used to perpetrate the 'offence', including the Bongo and my laptop.


Frank

[the laird]

Is a dv 27antenna still a good whip?

[briwy]

K40s were about the best I found years ago, twist lock on them as well so the scallys couldn't nick it.

[winchman]

We find this site and place to be good
http://www.4x4cb.com/
I had one of these bargain basement CBs for a year or so it was excellent
http://www.4x4cb.com/
I use a full size springer as per here
http://www.4x4cb.com/public/menu.cfm?Br ... tegory=430