Cb antennas

Paladin · January 08, 2008, 08:37:42 PM

I was scrounging through some old boxes and found my old cb's from waaaaaay back in the day. Remember the CB craze and Smokey and the Bandit - 1978?
Anyway, I think I'll look to buy a new radio someday but I wanted to throw one of these in the bus just so's I can monitor the noise - I assume there is still noise?
Where is the best place to mount and what type antenna works well nowadays? I don't want some ungodly whip hanging off the bus decapitating foreign tourists but of course you want range so....

Now I gotta find my old linear and power mic!

-Dave

Ed Hackenbruch · January 08, 2008, 09:15:30 PM

Not a lot of chatter out there compared to years ago. Used to be you couldn't find a channel that wasn't tied up. Now I have driven as far as 400 miles on an interstate and never heard a soul. Seems like all of the truckers that go by are talking on cell phones now.

buswarrior · January 08, 2008, 09:54:02 PM

CB still a good cheap way of keeping track of a group running together.

Same as before, you get some blue language, depending on where you are and who is talking...

I've had some fun trying to get the rf right, have to get the tip up away from the roof.

Experts? Chime in, I'd like to get some tips too!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

Kristinsgrandpa · January 08, 2008, 10:25:28 PM

I'm like you gents, I haven't had a CB in a vehicle in 20 years.

I found my SWR meter the other day and wondered if it still worked, it should I guess. It thankfully still has the instructions in the box.

I have a spring base gutter mount (loaded with a tunable tip) that I'm going to try. I also have a 4' spring base glass antenna and maybe a mirror mount. I hope one of them will work.

I don't want to talk to the moon, just a mile or so down the road.

I've heard that different channels are used in different areas now, is that right?

You might do a google and find something new.

Ed.

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · January 09, 2008, 04:36:21 AM

Hi Guy's,

I installed a CB in my bus when it was complete. A real kool Cobra with all the workings in the mike...

On our first trip to Fl., I had to turn it off because of all the "profanity" It's real bad to say the least!

Theese truckers are foul on the air. What ever happen to the FCC? Do they even monitor it anymore?

With young kids abord, it's the last thing I want them hearing....

Nick-

JackConrad · January 09, 2008, 05:19:44 AM

We have a Cobra CB radio and co-phased 2' antennas (mounted to front end on drip rail on each side of the bus). We were able to trim the antennas to 1.2:1. Since we travel mostly "non interstate" roads we hear very little on the radio. We use ours mostly when running with other busnuts, usually on channel 21. On the rare occasion we are traveling on interstates, we monitor channel 19 for traffic situations. Jack

oldmansax · January 09, 2008, 05:37:48 AM

I agree with Nick, the language in atrocious! I didn't like it when I was a trucker & like it even less now. However, I will switch it on for traffic sometimes. I have an earphone so I only pollute my ears and not the whole bus!

Jack, is channel 21 the "official" busnut or camper channel? If not, can we make the official channel? I have often been traveling & seen another bus. I would have liked to give them a holler but pretty much knew they didn't have their radio on because of the above reasons.

What do you think?

Nick Badame Refrig/ACC · January 09, 2008, 05:53:39 AM

Quote from: oldmansax on January 09, 2008, 05:37:48 AM
I agree with Nick, the language in atrocious! I didn't like it when I was a trucker & like it even less now. However, I will switch it on for traffic sometimes. I have an earphone so I only pollute my ears and not the whole bus!

Jack, is channel 21 the "official" busnut or camper channel? If not, can we make the official channel? I have often been traveling & seen another bus. I would have liked to give them a holler but pretty much knew they didn't have their radio on because of the above reasons.

What do you think?

I'm with you on the "channel 21" idea....
My vote is in
Nick-

DavidInWilmNC · January 09, 2008, 05:56:23 AM

I've also thought about installing a CB in my bus. In fact, I found a really old 23 channel radio in my shed back in the summer! I must have acquired it in a box of junk along the way. A good portion of my trips, so far, are on interstates - 95, 20, and 26 - and there is a LOT of truck and RV (and bus conversion) traffic on these roads. I-95 is especially loaded with truck traffic. I was investigating CB antennas a while back and found a fair number on eBay. A mount like this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120206122925 would be pretty discrete. If you wanted to remove the antenna from it at some point (for non-use of the radio), it really wouldn't be too visible. I have a cheap hand-held CB that bought a few years ago... it sounds like I should get it out and see if there's any useful talk on it next time I'm on that route in the car. An 'official' bus / RV channel would be a fun idea.

On another note, are 2-meter or 6-meter radios used much by truckers? I've got a hand-held Icom 2-meter that's pretty nice. Those do require a license, but it's not hard to obtain. I have one, but have no clue as to what my call letters are! For some odd reason, I thought I'd be interested in SW radios a few years ago and actually bought a pristine Kenwood radio. My license doesn't allow for me to transmit on it, but I have listened to it for a bit. I had toyed with the idea of mounting it in the bus, but probably won't actually do that. I should sell it, actually, but it's such a cool looking piece of equipment! Here's a picture of it:

David

lostagain · January 09, 2008, 06:54:15 AM

Although not used as much any more, especially in Canada, I still find it usefull in the bus. I can talk to a trucker that is close by about the traffic, or if he wants to get by me, or they're always curious about my bus or what's in it. Pulling into a strange town, I've been able to get directions at times. If I see CB antenaes on a truck, I ask if they can copy me (on 19), sometimes they'll answer. You can go for hours whithour hearing anything in Canada. A lot of trucks are using VHF now, much broader range. The best use of a CB is when convoying with friends.

Runcutter · January 09, 2008, 06:57:52 AM

The 4107 had a CB radio when we purchased it. I had the radio on during much of the initial trip home (New England to Dallas), although I did turn it off from time to time when the language became annoying. It saved us from a potential problem while on the interstate in Tennessee. A trucker called to tell us that the temporary (cardboard) license plate was dangling and flapping. I pulled off at the next exit, and replaced the missing nut with wire as a temporary fix. So, the radio saved us from driving 600 or so miles with no license plate.

It was also interesting to hear a discussion between truckers regarding the coach, that it looked like the one some gospel singer (whom I'd never heard of) used to own.

I'll keep it, although I would like to find a less obnoxious place for the antenna (front and center above the destination sign).

Arthur

Jerry32 · January 09, 2008, 08:34:45 AM

My bus had a CB in it when I got it and it didn't work. replaced it with anoother unit and worked just fine but put a larger antenna on and workd better. I talk to truckers accasionally and when coming down to Yuma from quartsite had a rolling visit with one trucker that was behimd me Jerry

Tenor · January 09, 2008, 09:24:57 AM

My family tends to camp with a group of 3 to 5 other families and we use CB's. It has saved my neck several times, especially once my old bus caught on fire (a 4905). It had a permanent mount with a 3 or 4 ft antenna right above the destination sign. I have a 102" whip to install on this one and I have not had a great brainstorm on where to put it. Let's hear some suggestions.

JackConrad · January 09, 2008, 09:26:51 AM

Quote from: oldmansax on January 09, 2008, 05:37:48 AM
Jack, is channel 21 the "official" busnut or camper channel? If not, can we make the official channel? I have often been traveling & seen another bus. I would have liked to give them a holler but pretty much knew they didn't have their radio on because of the above reasons.

What do you think?

I have no idea if it is the "official" channel. Several years ago, we were traveling with several other busnuts and one of them suggested tuning our radios to channel 21. We did and have just kept using that channel. Jack

WEC4104 · January 09, 2008, 11:32:32 AM

I have always had a CB in my 4104, but do not have it on much. Yes, the language on ch19 is enough to make a sailor blush, so when traveling with the family I use a small ear piece like the kind that used to come with old AM transistor radios.

If it is just me listening, even though the language is bad, it is not like I have never heard those words before. The truely annoying part are the guys that just pick up the microphone to "stir the pot". Seems like there is always some jerk trying to pick a verbal fight with someone else. If they can't bait somebody into an argument, they try to tick everybody off by constantly broadcasting whistles, noises, or some stupid thing. I can only take so much of these clowns acting like 6 year olds before I shut the thing off.

On the positive side, I do get traffic info and once in a while hear compliments on my coach. I have had truckers contact me and remark how sweet the 6-71 sounded as they came up along side me.