New toy in the mail!

[upstatedoc]

Just got my Midland 75-822 via UPS. Small hand held CB. Plugged it in and took it on my commute. Lots of static. I did hear two guys taking about their medical problems (go figure) for about 10 seconds, but that's about it. I think I need an external antenna. The box it came in has an order form all ready for the companion antenna. Should I go for a "whip" or a glass mounted?

[kw79]

I think the whips are a little better, but the glass mounted probably look better.

I would go with a Wilson. Really good antennas. I used the Wilson 1000 before and it was excellent. For a handheld, you can get away with the Little Wil or the Wilson 500.

[upstatedoc]

Kind of off topic but there is a classic movie on tonight on MGMHD. Breaker! Breaker! with chuck norris. big rigs, cb's, leo's, radar traps. came out in the cb radio heydays. family fun!

btw, its hard typing when your holding a hungry 3 week old.

[crazyVOLVOrob]

yes you need a Whip antenna.

Lil wil if you want to get your car in the garage with antenna on. My Wilson 500 is so tall that when mounted just on my trunk I can't get in my garage without scraping the antenna

[johndoesix]

Don't forget to tune the external antenna when you get it. They normally come with simple instructions on tuning. The best way to tune is with a meter, but that is usually out of reach for most people.

[AirMoore]

Don't forget to tune the external antenna when you get it. They normally come with simple instructions on tuning. The best way to tune is with a meter, but that is usually out of reach for most people.

I CERTAINLY agree with your advice that the antenna must be tuned (as others have said) BUT I will note:

Tuning with a meter is the only way to correctly check SWR so it better not be out of reach for most people if they intend to use a CB! (Unless your CB has a SWR light, but that doesn't tell you SWR, just lets you know when its too high. I think my 959 is set at 2.0 or 3.0 before the SWR light comes on)...
Even a CB with an SWR meter (though inaccurate) is better then nothing. Point being: You need a meter to check SWR numbers. Then again, most CB's that have SWR lights, also have a meter... so they go hand in hand.


Its $50 for your own meter from RS... and you have it for life, hardly out of reach I would say. (Save 1 dollar a day for 2 months). There are even less expensive meters out there ($15bucks).

The only other way is to have a local shop tune it.



At any rate: You do need that external whip for acceptable performance... no question about that. The least you should get is a Lil' Wil' and go UP from there (500,1000,5000) if you are looking at Wilson antennas... which I always suggest for the average user.


I HAVE TO ask, why o why did you get a hand-held? Who advised you to go that route? I must say I am disappointed... your Rig's overall effectiveness will be decreased, make no reservations about that. I know its protable, looks a bit better, but darn... even the smallest 510's and Cobra's are a world apart on performance (especially if they are tweaked just a tiny bit).

Its better then nothing, you will find a CB priceless on the thruway... but understand you are limiting yourself a fair amount in the process of buying that unit.


PS: To help eliminate that background static... try to set your "Squelch" control correctly.