I'm installing a CB rig on my Gen 4 Suzuki Jimny to get back into the hobby after a break.

To start off, I'm using a Thunderpole T-800 radio, with a Mini Orbiter antenna using a gutter mount.

I'm receiving other stations well, but have thus far been unable to make contact with anyone myself. Using a SWR meter, I can see I am transmitting around 3.2w, but my SWR is high (2.5-3.0) across all channels.

I'm unsure of how good a grounding contact I'm making with the gutter mount, or if perhaps my roof rack is causing problems.

I'll check ground continuity once I have a chance with a multimeter, but has anyone here used the Thunderpole branded gutter mount kit (https://www.thunderpole.co.uk/gutter-mounts/thunderpole-gutter-mount-kit.html) and can suggest best practise for grounding? The screw mounts are done up quite tight, and should have gone through to the bare metal (Jimny paint is incredibly thin).

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

So I posted here before asking about a radio that I didn’t know about and everyone said make sure anything I buy has side band. So I have the opportunity to purchase two of these Realistics and one Cobra for $75CDN.
Do I figure out which Realistic works the best and then flip the other one and the Cobra?

I just got the Retevis MB1 radio and its accompanying magnetic antenna installed in my 2023 F-150. As the truck has aluminum body panels, I am using an adhesive steel mount on the roof to allow for the magnetic antenna to be attached. Most of the radio traffic I am able to receive has heavy static and I can barely make out voices. This is on all channels, 1-40.

Do I need to modify my installation? Is the aluminum truck roof the problem? Am I simply out of range for clear reception?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

My rci x9 needs some tlc, and im wondering if I can get some work done to it. From what I was told on my last post, the receive noise is on par for the radio. Wondering if there's someone out there willing to try and address it and fix it?

I just got a good deal on a Stryker and I'm curious if anyone has figured out how to mount it in the existing 2006+ tray, I currently have a Cobra but I'd like to put the Stryker in place of it and ist too wide. Just curious about possible workarounds

I'm just trying to get into CB radio with some old gear gifted/I had laying around from my dad, the setup is made of an rci2950 from probably the 80's, 33 meters of coax 50 ohm from lemm (the big one, I don't remember the name), a Sirio signal keeper 1/4 wave and if needed a swr and power meter; my objective would be to DX at least in my country, possibly using just the radio (I have an amplifier but I don't plan on using it at least for now) but I can't get basically any signal, mostly static, some distorted talking masked by the noise and if I get good reception other stations don't seem to get me.

the antenna is mounted on a ladder and a pole, not that high but not too low compared to the position I would mount it (I plan on mounting it if I can get some good qso), swr is good, cables should be soldered good, why do I get nothing across all bands? (am, and usb).

I tried some ft8 listening but I can't get a lot, on ham bands I can read some traffic tho.

really any tips are welcome, for now my main worry is to be able to listen to something, also I should note that propagation should be decent, it's been a month so far, two weeks with this antenna

edit: I tried switching coax and radio (another old one), still nothing

Just came across the sub and was curious if using CBs is still a thing for truck drivers or other? C 19 still the go to?

If so, how do I know if it's connected correctly?

hi all, looking to put a steel whip on my truck but didnt want to drill into the roof. ive seen antenna mounts that attach to the bed near the tailgate. i am building a headache rack and wanted to attach mine there. will the antenna work? i read that i need a ground plane but would it not work if it is on the same plane as the roof is?

I currently have a Cobra 29 NW connected to the internal antenna on a 2022 Freightliner. I would like to get an external antenna. Right now I have about .5 radius of sending/receiving. Just don’t know anything about CBs. Looking for advice for an antenna, mount, and new mic if needed. Thanks in advance.

I dont recall which hole it goes into. Midland 70-1337b.

Ever since truck cab was repainted and interior put back now my antenna light is on when mics keyed. It has new coaxial and new Wilson 2000 antennas. I tried radio in another truck and it’s fine tried deferent radio in truck that light comes on. Tried different coaxial same thing. Checked to make sure the plastic insulator is in properly on mirror brackets. What am I missing. I’m not real knowledgeable on the technical aspects but have always been able to solve problems. This one has me baffled on what has changed since repaint?

Reporter Katie Thornton asks: What do we lose when we give up our public airwaves?

A deep-pocketed group of finance bros that is trying to wrestle the airwaves away from the public, and use them for a money-making scheme completely antithetical to broadcasting. This week we share an episode of The Divided Dial, which first aired last year.

I found this almost new handheld during a move. It looks brand new and works well. I can’t pick up much of anything besides two guys bitching about life near me on channel 35 at night but it’s cool to have as a reminder of how life once was with a CB on the road.

I’d rather not make an account to several different ancient forums so I figured I’d ask here-where would be the best place to mount an antenna on my Ranger? I have a 3ft, so I was thinking on the headache rack, but I’m wondering if there will be too much interference there. My other thought was on the back of the bed, but I’m pretty sure I’d need a taller antenna if I were to do that. I appreciate y’all’s advice

I have a Cobra 75 with a 2ft firestik mounted to a rugged radio hood bracket. I am getting high swr with everything installed. To be clear, this is the swr on the handheld display, I don't own a meter. In the pic I have the ground between the bottom bolt and the bracket (between the nut of the SO-239 connector and the bracket). The bracket is powder coated. I connected the ground strap to a bolt on the frame (12in length). Just wondering where to start troubleshooting, or if it is a problem?

Greetings.

I am researching hard because I want to get my first CB installed in my pickup.

As I understand it, a single radio cannot simultaneously and instantly receive all potentially available signals across AM/FM/SSB. You can get radios that can receive all, but not at the same time. I have to ask: What is the point, then? I understand the range benefits of things other than AM, but if most users transmit on AM (especially traditional and/or older [like me] users use AM, why would you run in FM or SSB?

I'm sure I'm missing something. If not, I think I would be fine just getting a Cobra 29 of some sort and a good antenna/antenna setup and "set it and forget it".

Thanks very much for any insight!

I AM STILL FAIRLY NEW TO THIS HOBBY SO DONT DRAG ME TO HARD!

I Picked up a stryker 497 from a fella the other night and I have ZERO experience with anything this new(2022). Took it to a friend of mine who owns his own shop and had him look it over. I had a feeling i was buying a lemon of some sort just based of the interaction with the seller, but what the hell. It has zero receive and just as much transmit. The warming light in the bottom of the meter flashes red when keying up. My guy says he dosent think there's anything that can be done. There's a sticker on the side of the radio from a company out of Kentucky that I'll be calling tomorrow just for yucks. Any info or tricks with these things would be awesome but im not getting my hopes up with this thing right yet. TIA!

My car isn’t big, so I need to be careful about taking up too much space. What would be the smallest SSB capable CB? Thanks!

top of 11m was a "rendez vous" for dx, how about now ?

Hey, y'all, this is a warning to you high-powered operators. I'm a trucker, so this is voice 2 text. As I'm currently driving, I just want to pass out a warning. I believe I saw 2 enforcement vehicles from the government for high-powered CB set ups. So whether you're a driver or a home base, you might wanna be a little careful. It was on i80 west in Wyoming. I hate to see anyone. Get a fine even if I get annoyed sometimes too with the high-powered signals.

Pulled up to the fuel island today, and while I was waiting to get to the pump I decided to put my CB on scan… what the hell is happening on channel 5 & 6?! 😂😂

It went from a guy that sounded like he was preaching for the end of times, to a Hispanic guy singing, and I think r2d2 chimed in a few times.

Look, I’m all for shooting skip, but even channel 6 has the decency to keep it down there. I cannot even hear the highway chatter because some dorks in Las Vegas , and Puerto Rico are blanketing out the entire channel for a whole three states….

Can we as hobbyists try and take that to any of the other Channels that drivers aren’t relying on…

Ever since I imported a mini truck this year (96 Honda Acty HA4) I thought it'd be fun to have a CB to hear truckers / construction / etc.

I haven't had good luck so far. I picked up a used Midland 75-822 portable and over a few drives (I-65 near Nashville) I have heard nothing but static.

Figured it was bad signal with the built in antenna, so went and bought a cheap mag mount 26" to test with, slapped it on the top of the cab, and still nothing.

I'm hearing static on all channels, and sometimes the static gets louder for 1-5 seconds almost like someone is talking but just receiving static.

Is CB just not used that much, so I haven't received anything yet?

Is there a different setup (minimal as possible) that would work better? Budget would be around $100

Dori Ghezzi, 1970s CB radio