Suggestions for CB & Antenna Purchase

[lidper24]

There we go... short answer would be my rather fleeting comprehension of how any of this is going to come together. I'll just post when I have more specific questions after actually acquiring the hardware.

[FoolishOne]

Just to give you a heads up, there are 2 types of antenna bases.

Permanent magnetics:


And threaded:

(The bottom is female threads (pin))

The magnet you just stick on and be done with that.

The threaded ones, you can made magnetic, like this:


or you get something like this:

Clip that on your trunk and screw the antenna on and off when needed. Run the wire up front.

Your end result (with a different trunk lip mount) is something like this:


I was just asking why you were going to get something with a magnetic base, when you really needed something with a threaded or "NMO style" base.

[Stealth Stalker]

Both of those are a lot of radio for the money. Probably a lot more features than you'll ever want, need, or understand, lol. Just remember that SWR meters are not an automatic or continuous monitor that you can glance up at to keep an eye on things. You have to actually take the time to calibrate and check the SWRs. It's definitely nice to have that ability on the fly though, without having to plug one in.

There is no performance benefit of the 5000 over the 1000 except power handling. Unless you're planning to run a couple kw of power, and transmitting long periods of time, I wouldn't spend the extra $$ for the 5000. Wilson is very definitely the way to go for optimum performance though.

There is a good article on the peak-and-tune thing here. Whether it is worth it or not is debatable, but that article addresses it well.

[Snowblind258]

There is no performance benefit of the 5000 over the 1000 except power handling. Unless you're planning to run a couple kw of power, and transmitting long periods of time, I wouldn't spend the extra $$ for the 5000. Wilson is very definitely the way to go for optimum performance though.

Thanks! Im glad i ran across that I am looking for a replacement for my cheap ebay CB Ant. now i think i will get the 1000 trunk lip.

[lidper24]

Thanks for the suggestion on the 1000 vs 5000. I'm not going to be transmitting for long periods (just calling in sightings), and the power is going to remain whatever it is on the factory model (i.e. no amplifier).

I get the SWR meter not being a continuous display, but the Galaxies at least claim to auto-calibrate the SWR and alert you via an LED if it goes too high.

As for the peaking and tuning--many of the online stores claim to do it. If anyone can recommend one that does it properly, it would be nice (any shops in the Boston area would be good barring that).

[crazyVOLVOrob]

Good chance that you will not be able to begin to appreciate the features and ability of the Galaxy dx959 or TRE 936. Both of those radio's have SWR meters but so many other radio's. In testing with AirMoore with my galaxy dx949(same as dx959 just no frequency meter) the internal SWR meter was slightly off. Saying my SWR was 1.4-1.5 when in reality it was 1.1 according to the external meter.

There is no real difference in the 1000 vs 5000. The only difference is the 5000 can handle more transmitting power, BUT that doesn't apply unless you are running an AMP which is illegal. I personally use a Wilson 500 which is a small step below the 1000 and 5000 but this antenna is still the 3rd best CB antenna around with only the 1000 and 5000 above it. And I say small step because the whip is not as long and it handles slightly less power than the 1000.

Peaking and tuning is a must. And one store that I can verify does it and does good work is Sparky's CB Shack. All the radio's from Sparky's CB Shack come peaked and tuned to you with no extra cost. I cannot recommend that place enough. In some testing with AirMoore my radio deadkey'd at 6-8watts under full power and swing up to 18-20watts. When the average radio not peaked and tuned deadkeys at 2.5-3.5watts and swings to only 10-12. Trust me I have bought 2 supposidly upper level radio's which were not peaked and tuned and was extremely disappointed. My $50 Uniden 510xl with a peak and tune to that had better performance that these 150-175 radios not peaked and tuned

Sparky's shipping and radio modification turn around is very quick.

Here is what I recommend to you that will have all the features you should want from a CB.
REQUIRED:
Radio- Galaxy dx-919 peaked, tuned and aligned for ($99.95) Link This radio has all the features you want with an internal SWR meter better than you will find on any other radio, variable transmit power(I keep mine at 75% on my galaxy so I dead key at 5-6watts) variable talkback (allows you to hear how your voice sounds to other radio's to make proper adjustment to mic gain).
Antenna- Wilson 500(check ebay for good price), 1000(Link), or 5000(Link) You can't go wrong with any of those antenna's. the Wilson 500 is only in mag mount where the 1000 and 5000 have an option for a trunk lip. Personally I just put my Wilson 500 on my trunk lid with no issues.

OPTIONAL
Radio- Have Sparky install both the Top Gun Modulator and Speech Compressor that will make your radio scream over other radio traffic. That's an addition cost of $36 + installation cost. But very worth it my radio is going in for those mod's in the near future (Link)

I can guarantee if you purchase at least my required set-up you will be blown away from the performance of the radio that you have. Galaxy in the world CB only uses the best components and hardware. Mosfet finals which it comes stock with are what other people switch their radio to when they want a more quality radio. I personally would have bought a Galaxy dx-919 when I purchased my dx949 but I found that I could get the dx 949 for the same price as the dx-919 so I went with the radio with more features. But the only real ones I use are the features you'll find on the dx919

[ussblade]

What i would do, i would get the following, from Sparky:

1. Galaxy 919 (i use the 949, and its a GREAT radio) 124.95 or go with the 919 with blue LED's like crazyVOLVOrob suggested.
2. Launchpad Triple Magnet Mount 44.95
3. Predator 10K with the 17 inch shaft. I dont know if sparky has these, but i know a place that does, and are pretty decent on price as well. 61.95 PM me for a link


Total setup is 231.95. plus shipping

On my 98 Saturn SL2, i use the following
Galaxy 949
Puck mount (i drilled into the roof, i used to have the tri-mag tho, it was GREAT)
Predator 10K with the 17 inch shaft.

I can receive well over 10 miles, and talk about as far as i receive.

The reason i suggest the 17 inch shaft for the Predator, is that the 17 inch will get the coils above your roofline, which is a must when dealing with coil type antennas.

Granted, this might be overkill if you are just making a trip or 2. I got a very small dinky setup at first, then the CB world grew on me, and ended up with the setup i have now, and without running any power, it is dang good.

In the CB world, height is might as far as antennas go. My antenna is 90 inches tall from the base to the tip. You can get the best radio in the world, but if you skimp out on your antenna, your radio will NOT perform well at all.

Blade

[lidper24]

Thanks to both of you for the suggestions. I don't need most of the features on the 949/959 (freq display for one I wouldn't use in 100 years...); just going for audio quality on my end (AirMoore's vids are a good example--I'd be very happy if mine sounded like that).


The 919 is a good radio for the price (99.95). Incidentally, the 979 looks very similar on the outside and costs about $50 more. Any (noticeable) difference in performance there?

[ussblade]

the 979 just have more features built in to the radio.

919:
AM only
Variable Power
Dimmer Control
Large Meter
SWR Warning Circuit
Built In SWR Meter
Talk Back
Modulation Meter
RF Gain, Mic Gain
ANL, NB

979:
AM and SSB
Talkback, with volume control
Clarifier (used for SSB operation)
Variable Power
Dimmer Control
Large Meter
SWR Warning Circuit
Built In SWR Meter
Talk Back
Modulation Meter
RF Gain , Mic Gain
ANL , NB


differences are, 979 has SSB with clarifier, and Talkback volume control.

Unless you really get into the CB world, i doubt u will ever use SSB.

They will perform pretty much the same. The extra $50 is mainly for SSB operation.

Blade

Forgot to add on my original post....i also use an external speaker for the CB, just some crappy no name speaker. if i wanted to drop some $$, i could get me an excellent sounding speaker, and it would just sound better. My CB is mounted to my dash, so my internal speaker is covered up, hence the external.

[ussblade]

Just to give you an idea....here is what my car looks like.

hxxp://qqq.thenecros.org/cbradio/mount/puck1.JPG


hxxp://qqq.thenecros.org/cbradio/NewImage.JPG


hxxp://qqq.thenecros.org/cbradio/IMAG0004.JPG


dang, i cant post pics yet, replace the xx with tt and the qqq w's you will be able to see them

Blade