(Part 2) Best products from r/cbradio

I'm with others in saying that a small, dedicated unit will be "better", but I personally own the Uniden. With a magmount and a 12V cigarette plug, it works great! The only downside is that when you turn the unit off, it reverts to Ch9. I listen to 19, so every time I turn it on, I have to click up 10 channels. Big deal...

Aside from that small gripe, the Uniden has been an excellent little radio. I didn't NEED a handheld when I made my purchase, but it is nice knowing I could go truly mobile with the rubber duck and batteries if I had to. Remember you will need an adapter to go from the small connection at the radio, to the larger fitting on the magmount antenna. Here is the one I purchased.

FireStik AR-3 Coax Adapter, UHF PL-259 to BNC https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JYHRFUI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_K6jbBbD3WKXKM

On a side note, I did install a small 35W linear amplifier to help "get out" a bit better. I always get excellent copies when I use it, and would recommend it in tandem with the handheld, as I was only getting 2.2W output on my meter when speaking into the radio (swinging). Using it car to car under 1/2 mile should be no issue running the radio barefoot, but it is something to consider.

Hope this information helps!

-Uniden PRO401HH

Uniden PRO401HH 40 Channel Handheld CB Radio https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N43KM5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_W3jbBb741Z69J

-K40 K-30 MagMount Antenna

K40 K-30 35" 300 Watts Stainless Steel Magnet Mount CB Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H2W270/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_U2jbBbVEFPAF4

-RM Italy KL-35 Linear Amplifier

https://m.newegg.com/products/9SIA53X1JT1896?ignorebbr=true&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-Mobile&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-Mobile-_-pla-_-Car+Amplifiers-_-9SIA53X1JT1896&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjfDMp7Oa2wIVVDqBCh1MAA2mEAQYASABEgJbGfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Here's my suggestion: President McKinley Radio

Good: AM/Sideband Radio. Automatic squelch. Small size (It's smaller than the Unident 980SSB), 3 color display, weather, Channel selector on the mic.

Bad: Pricey ($200)

If you can get past the price, this radio is a great radio. You will sound loud and receiving is pretty good with its Automatic squelch reduces the noise. It will fit pretty good in a car! I had it in my Ford Fiesta and now its in my Ford Focus. Plus Sideband in a radio.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS RADIO!!! I have the Unident 980SSB in my Explorer and while it has about the same features, I don't like the display when it gets hot (you can't read the face).

You didn't say where you are located but I'll guess your here in the US. There are no units that are legally sold here that are capable of working on both the CB and the GMRS/FRS bands. The FRS frequencies don't require a license right now, but the GMRS frequencies do.

Your best bet would be to have a CB and the walkie-talkie.

You would need something like this which is FRS and GMRS capable, just make sure you are only on the FRS frequencies to avoid any legal issues. The odds of you getting in trouble using the GMRS frequencies are low, but if you were to cause interference with a life -critical service do to using this radio on the wrong frequencies, you could get into trouble.

The channels that are programmed for FRS frequencies will be listed in the manual that is included with the radios. You don't have to use a set that is this cheap, I just wanted to find a good cheap set to point you in the right direction.

As a side note, you and your buddies could get amateur radio licences and then you could use way better radios than the crappy little FRS/GMRS radios and talk across much greater distances. Always a thought.

Good luck and have fun wheeling!

Yep I have a super duty with a single Wilson ant on the back passenger side but if I had to do it again id go with a single magnetic mount on a top of the cab.

That said, I did think about using the mount that firestik makes for the Mirrors. Whats the issue? The firestik mirror mount looks like it would fit on one of the two arms of the super duties Mirror. The only potential issue I saw was that because of the width of the mount, my mirrors would have to possible have been extended out which I don't normally do unless towing.

Here's the mount I was looking at:

Firestik K64 Plated 3-Way Mounting Bracket

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008R33O3W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_rHY-wbT89GNXD

Here are helpful links direct to the products I own.

About antennas: The antenna is important... as important (or more so) than the radio. My antenna choice (dipole) may not be the best choice for your needs. So, the ANTENNA link below goes to an AMAZON search for CB antennas for apartments, balcony, patio, etc. which may be a better fit to your needs.

Hope these are helpful! Big Bux, Bucks County PA 19047

UNIDEN 980SSB Radio & Mic https://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BEARCAT-Sideband-WeatherBand-980SSB/dp/B007B5ZAES/ref=sr_1_3

MegaWatt S-400-12 36 Amp Power Supply https://www.amazon.com/MegaWatt%C2%AE-S-400-12x-Adjustable-Supply-MegaWatt/dp/B00LIBRKQM

Driver's Product DPSWR2 External SWR Meter; https://www.amazon.com/Drivers-Product-Antennas-SO-239-Output/dp/B06VW7N5Q5/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1

Midland 21-406 External Speaker https://www.amazon.com/Midland-21-406-Amateur-Extension-Speaker/dp/B000246VPM/ref=sr_1_2

CB Antenna for Apartment, Patio, Balcony, or Indoors https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=cb+antenna+apartment&rh=n%3A172282%2Ck%3Acb+antenna+apartment

Amplifier

PA horn

CB to Amp cable (standard 3.5mm aux cable)

You’ll need speaker wire to run from the Amp to the PA and you’ll need to power the amp somehow. They sell an AC to DC power supply but if installing in a 12VDC vehicle you can run 12v to it directly but you’ll just need the barrel connector / plug end. You can buy those on amazon as well or if you have access to electronic scraps or spare laptop power supplies you can hack one off there and wire it to your system.

To use the speaker without the amplifier, not sure how loud it would be, probably not very because the CB can only put out like 12-15 Watts on PA, you can use this cable to hook the speaker to the CB

Hope that helps.

A hood channel mount like this firestik or this procomm with an antenna like this Tram or this firestik should work well and not look terribly out of place on a small car. A small mag mount like a K30 or lil will would be another good, non-permanent option.

Thanks for the info(im kind of new to CB so I wanted to ask and see if this kinda of set up would work).Now that you mention dipoles,I was think about getting either the indoor firestik or this[ https://www.gigaparts.com/radiowavz-20dbz.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkMGgybus2QIVk7rACh38LQHWEAQYASABEgIgNfD_BwE ],lets say I get the dipole from the link,would I have to set it up with a mast(s) or could I kinda just run it around the perimiter of my house's roof(kinda hugging it)for ease of setup(it also looks pretty low profile so I kinda thought it was a good idea)






(also can i use this for plugging one of these handhelds to the wall? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00452YFZU/ref=asc_df_B00452YFZU5373047/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B00452YFZU&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198056450525&hvpos=1o11&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7112004044057022446&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028207&hvtargid=pla-384041315683)

If you are mostly listening, you should be fine. Most cigarette outlets are rated for 8 amps at 13.8v. My Cobra 19 DX III only uses 1.2 amp on transmit so it is safe for me do what you are suggesting. Some vans and trucks have "power outlets" that are rated for 18-20 amps that would be perfect even for a long talker.

The power post you are suggesting scares me since leaves things so exposed. I ended up using the following that you can buy in almost any store with basic automotive electrical parts.
Terminals and Spades and a Replacement Cigarette Adapter. The Cigarette adapter in stores is usually rated for 3 amps. For CB's that should be plenty, but if the fuse pops after some long TX you may need to figure out running a Positive wire to the battery and the black to bolt to the car frame.

You should be happy with the Unidin. Also consider a cobra 25 or 29.

I'm running a 4' firestik antenna mounted under my hood on my Silverado. Just be sure to get 17' of the best coax you can find.

You can also consider a side mount.
https://www.amazon.com/Firestik-MKM2-Molded-Fire-Flex-W-Lugs/dp/B007W7SGBY/ref=asc_df_B007W7SGBY/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167122786755&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1599172983363457111&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=21176&hvtargid=pla-304379134020&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NPT4TK/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_B6ldvb1QH60FQ

Plenty of power for a radio and amp