From personal knowledge of CB radios, stick with an actual base unit and not an all in one handheld unit. I wanted a unit with SSB but didn't think I could fit one of that size in my TJ. That was until I made my own overhead mount and tied that to the roll bar. Came out great!
I have one and it does the job. Having the option of being able to take it with me if I needed to walk away from the jeep was a big reason I chose it. In the jeep I have a typical installation with a quick connect under the dash and a 4' Firestick on the tailgate.
I have a JK and ride with the top and doors off quite a bit even to work everyday. There's not much room to mount a full size CB other than in the console. That was why I was leaning toward the 75-822--and it has weather stations.
If all CB's can only produce 4 watts, what's the advantages of using a traditional base unit?
A lot of it really depends on what you want it for. If you get a SSB capable radio, it pushes 20w in the SSB range. My preference has always been using SSB because it's pretty cool to be able to skip your signal across the US with a 4' antenna and stock radio. I've done it plenty of times. I have a CB in both my Jeep here and in the one in Florida and have never had an issue while keeping the top down or doors off.
I don't see any disadvantage in using a handheld CB unit. Although the mounting solution for a fixed unit from JeepNolan looks great.
I own the European version called Midland Alan 42. Nealy identical but with different frequency range. I am fully satisfied. Easy to handle, good and clear sound.
Don't know the Cobra model being also very popular in the US. But I would recommend you to compare the Midland and the Cobra. Make your own decision !
Good call on the weather stations, I like 7 at least.
The most limiting factor of super compacts or handhelds is the duckie antenna. It you wire it to an external antenna as someone mentioned they had, it is just about as good as a full size, but doesn't have all the neato internals that can help ya out. On a trail you will never miss em, it should suffice just fine.
ALL 11M (CB) communication cannot exceed 4w, so most cb radios PEP at about 3.5w. SSB doesn't send more power. In basic explination, radiowaves carry 3 parts - a carrier wave and two sidebands. The carrier takes 50% of broadcast power and the sides split the rest. In SSB operation, the carrier wave and one of the side band waves (lower or upper) is dropped, leaving only 1 "SingleSideBand" to be transmitted. The other guy must have his radio set to do the same, else you won't have good comms.
It is basically using a narrow bandwidth for CB. This allows all the TX power to be focused on the SSB, pushing what would go at ~25% broadcast power to 100%, allowing 4x stronger signal strength which greatly increases distance. If everyone used it, twice as many "channels" would appear on CB, but if a reg CB is operating on say 19, he is occupying 19 Lower, Upper, and Carrier - so you can't talk simultaniously on 19 in SSB.
If ya want cross country all the time spend the 15$ and get your Ham ticket. If ya got a 20w SSB "CB", it is an imported 10M and not legal for use in the US. Just sayin
I think I am still leaning toward the 75-822. I was going to install its own 12V socket (powered straight from the battery) in the my Rugged Ridge A-pillar switch pod I bought but haven't installed yet. I was going to install the antenna cord through there as well. As far as antenna's go, I was thinking a firestick 3' or 4'.
That sounds like a good plan. Make sure you get an adjustable Firestick so you can fine tune it. I had a friend help tune mine with his SWR meter and it helped.
The all in one's are convient and nice from a security point. They work much better with an external antenna. You will appreciate an external speaker, much better volume.
I also have the midland portable it works fine even with the stock antenna.I only use it for trail rides so it works fine couple hundred yards apart no problem.
I ordered the 75-822 yesterday with a 4' firestick antenna with tunable tip. It is scheduled to ship on Friday! Maybe if I get done with my chores this weekend, I can install it.
A Yaesu FT-2900R 144Mhz 2M radio currently with a 4' 2M Firestik.
If I were to get a CB it would likely be a Cobra 29LX, but I haven't had much of a need for one.
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