CB radio easy home base and car set up.

As a truck driver, I use CB on a daily basis. I'm not a radio expert, but I'm a very experienced user.
For road conditions and info, CB is still more popular by far. Even at my town, when we have weather emergencies, the people go to the CB to give updates. GMRS is very cool and has more range, but to me, it serves another purpose like communication between vehicles or in your property operations. I carry both in my semi and in my personal truck.
Here is a not that expensive set up that works great.
links:
President Mckinley CB radio
www.amazon.com/...
Btech RPS-30M power supply
www.amazon.com/...
Midland 75-822 CB radio
www.amazon.com/...
HYS CB antenna for walkie talkie
www.amazon.com/...
Monitor stand for base CB
www.amazon.com/...
Firestik IBA-5 cb base station antenna
www.amazon.com/...
Surecom SW-111 swr and watt meter for CB
www.amazon.com/...
Cable antenna adapter for Surecom meter
www.amazon.com/...
Workman ground plane kit
www.amazon.com/...
Westinghouse igen 160s power station
www.amazon.com/...
Single cup holder mount for radio
www.amazon.com/...
Cup holder mount for mic and radio
www.amazon.com/...

[@justinrayguitars6024]

All sad ham's have a CB radio hidden somewhere! Great video

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

🤣🤣🤣👏

[@terrarecon]

Most HAM operators of the generation over 40 most likely started on CB before moving to HAM radio, so you are probably right.

[@beerandgasolinemagazine5581]

Back in the 80's I put a CB radio in my first car and had a lot of fun with it. Just last week I put a CB radio in my current car and having a lot of fun with it. CB just like GMRS and everything else out there has it's pros/cons, but for me the CB radio does exactly what I wanted it for which was to be able to communicate with people around me in my general area on the highway.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

I agree with you. Thanks for watching 👍

[@patriayvida4209]

Very good video. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end!!! I'm a Ham Radio Operator but I also have a CB... I can't forget that I started this hobby on CITIZENS BAND [ 27 MHZ ]. I love SSB on a CB Radio.. Well.... take care and keep posting these kind of videos. Till next video! 73s from KJ4BGW

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thanks for watching! Pura vida! 👍

[@bobgrob4]

just had the best conversation over CB (barefoot mobile) in years, last evening. Testing a recent antenna and new mic. We were about 10 miles apart. My radio tuned to dead key 11 and modulate 17. Ive had CB pretty much non-stop since the 70's. The way things are going, CB is getting more important all the time.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

That's awesome! I agree with you. CB is gaining traction again. Look at all the new models manufacturers are releasing. Thanks for watching!

[@s292010]

Thank you so much for making such an awesome and informative video! Hello from Toronto, Canada!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you for watching! 👍🏻

[@billredding2000]

I also chose a CB radio for my vehicle, since I do occasional long road-strips (TX, NM, CO) mainly on the Interstates, but also sometimes on state highways. I'm not really interested in TALKING with others, just LISTENING for (as you said) any road issues (accidents, traffic jams, etc.) and keeping in touch with NOAA weather news/alerts. When I'm off road, I have the CB (of course) but also a FRS band hand-held radio, and those who have GMRS radios in the convoy can still communicate with me...but I don't need/want a GMRS radio in my vehicle (partly because I don't want to get the license). As for off-road use, I don't need a whole lot of range so the CB & FRS radios are fine. As for a "home radio," I'll use a CB/SSB radio also (as you're doing). But for now, I don't need a GMRS radio, either a handheld or a larger unit I mount in my vehicle. -- BR

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Seems to me that you are well covered with your needs. Good! 👍 The FRS are a good complement of your set up. Thanks for watching.

[@HarryHamsterChannel]

As I recall, listening is still legal without a license.

[@billredding2000]

@@HarryHamsterChannel No license is required for using (listening & talking on) a CB radio or FRS radio...but IIRC, a license IS required for GMRS radios to talk on, maybe not -- as you said -- for only listening to. So yes, I could have gotten a GMRS radio (hand-held or a "base station") to just listen to and that'd still be legal. But just in case I DID need to respond/say something, legally I couldn't on a GMRS w/o a license. And of course, HAM radios requires a license for sure. And that's one reason I didn't want a GMRS, even though they have more range than a CB, are becoming more popular with 4x4-ers on the trail, and even though getting the license (just pay a fee) is not difficult -- I just wanted simple radios free to use w/o any "strings" attached. As for talking even on the free radios (CB/FRS), I'm just not interested in idle chit-chat...they're for "practical/productive use only" if you will. ;-) -- BR

[@HarryHamsterChannel]

@@billredding2000 The legal status of a radio does not affect it, electrically. Ohm's law rules. That was something we used to be taught, back in the day. Now, nobody knows electronics. Schools don't teach it. And if you don't need it. What's wrong with a cell phone? Just as repeater reliant as GMRS, but way better... Call mom 🙂

[@billredding2000]

@@HarryHamsterChannel Yes, you're right, and one could say in a SHTF situation, who care about "laws" anymore, yes? Use whatever radios you want sans license. After all, in that context, We don't need no stinking licenses, si? -- "Gold Hat," your friendly Bandido ("Treasure of the Sierra Madre," 1948) Still, I think you need to do some research on Emergency Preparedness, as how the radio works (electronics. radio waves, etc.) has nothing at all to do with my point as I was just addressing a concept in general, not specifics. Whatever, cell phone towers go out -- I personally experienced that during/after a hurricane (Hurricane Ike, Galveston Island, Texas, 2008) when I could not get out on my cellphone for 5 days after it hit (or it was FEMA blocking calls to reduce traffic as I heard/saw the tower's generator working just fine). because I couldn't call out (on my cell[phone) for 5 days, and after the rest of America saw the devastation left behind (houses washed-away, only their pilings left - -MAYBE!) on TV news (WE couldn't watch TV -- had no power or even water), she thought I was dead. Also, tower back-up generators may run out of diesel (they have a 3-days supply only?), with no one available to go refill it. Aside from natural disasters, man-made disasters ("civil unrest" -- riots/fires/burning/looting) may destroy cell towers. So a cell-phone won't work w/o their towers. However, radios are completely independent of all that -- except for GMRS repeater-stations -- radios such as HAM, GMRS, CB and FRS -- and all you need to run them is is a battery & decent radio antenna...and a 12v car battery will do. And there will be thousands of cars around to pull batteries from if need be. Or on my case, I use solar panels to recharge mine. So yeah, of course cellphones are great -- until they won't work anymore. Try calling Mom on a cellphone when the tower was destroyed, still up with no visible damage but still not working, or in some cases FEMA blocks access so only First Responders can get in, not the rest of us. BTW, can't "call Mom" -- she's dead. I'm the Last Dinosaur in my family (and the last of most people I knew). Good luck... -- BR

[@Venice617]

Very good video. Filled with a choc full of information and great insight. Thank you for creating and sharing. I appreciate it. I Subscribed and looking forward to more informative and helpful videos.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you for watching! 👍🏻

[@earnestmatlock9694]

Nice video with some good ideas. I got started with citizens band, back when a license was required, just fill out the questionnaire and pay the fee; old 23 channel days. I was a teenager back then. As an amateur radio operator, I have operating privileges on all the amateur bands with general class license. Games, does have advantages and disadvantages. Primarily it's a line of sight type signal characteristics; as it doesn't follow the curvature of the earth very well and will not pass through hills or mountains. Making it only viable for short ranges. CB band will travel along the curvature of the earth as you can receive skip type transmissions. It deals better with terrain issues and has much better potential range as long as conditions are within decent parameters. Many hunters use frs/gmrs while hunting especially if the area they are in doesn't have cell phone service. The area where my brothers hunt is loaded with deep creek bottoms and tall hills and gmrs didn't work at all but cb did work very well as the hills and bottoms didn't stop the signal travel. They keep a base station set up at the camp and the hunters use 4 wheelers and side by sides to get to and from on the lease. Install cb radios on the ATV/UTV and had good enough range to work. President has a cb model president bill; it's very small and compact and now has fm mode, which is new to cb. It also has a USB port so as to recharge a phone or just about anything else. Some amateur radio operators spend large amounts of money for equipment and towers and Yagi beam antennas. It's not necessary to do that. HF amateur radio transceivers are kinda expensive, but you can find good used gear and you could always buy entry level new gear as well and stay within reason. Most hf radios have a life span of 20-25 years usually. For 2 meters and 70 centimeters a baofeng uv5r will get you started with repeaters and simplex (radio to radio direct). The antenna and coax feed line is always a huge factor in performance of any radio. 73 and GOD bless; Earnest K5EWM.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you for sharing your vast experience! 👍

[@georgeetherege8347]

Good broad introduction to CB and a great personal endorsement for a practical hobby.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thanks for watching George 👍

[@fecheverria]

11 meter band is fun and DX is ver popular. CB radio is far from dead. Good video!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thanks Felipe!

[@ghz24]

Just for clarification the CB frequencies are low enough to be routinely bounced off the ionosphere and go much much farther than 462 MHz. Sure uhf can experience tropospheric ducting in rare circumstances but it's unpredictable compared to easily measured minimum usable frequency. There is a rule for CB that you're not supposed to make contacts more than 155.3 miles away because it is quite possible. Except by using repeaters gmrs can't hope to compare, both are line of sight for dependable communication so they will have similar ranges for similar setups.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Correct. But to me, they're for complete different purposes. GMRS gives more reliable comms and with more range than CB. Ideal for groups traveling together, farm opps, etc. Still, cb remains more popular on the road. On the other side, you have the skip transmissions on cb, and they are fun, but very unstable and not for practical purposes. Thanks for the feedback! 👍

[@jesselannigan2300]

Let's clarify some things: M.U.F. stands for MAXIMUM Useable Frequency, not minimum. It is determined by the solar flux calculator that monitors the Earth's magnetic field in response to electromagnetic radiation from sunspot activity, solar wind, the A and K index and the proton and electron charge of the ionosphere. Currently the 11 year solar cycle is rising and will peak in about 2 years before it starts it's decline back down to solar minimum. During the years of solar minimum the CB frequencies of 27mhz are virtually dead. You will get good atmospheric skip right now, but in 5-7 years you will be lucky to reach your friend across town. Also 11 meters (27Mhz) is on the higher end of the HF spectrum, which is more active during the day when the sun is up and the F layer of the ionosphere splits into two different layers. At night the F1 and F2 layers collapse back into one single F layer and is more stable on the lower frequencies of HF. This coincides with the MUF which is currently around 30mhz during the day but falls to around 7-15MHz at night, making CB unusable. Especially if you are using the 4 watts output on AM or FM modulation. You might get a little more luck out of using SSB but if you're running the stock 12 watts, you won't get much. Now let's talk about antennas. Antennas for CB are rather large (17 ft for a half wave vertical, 8.5 ft for a 1/4 wave whip antenna. You have to produce a large enough ground plane to let the signal propagate, which means if you attach a whip antenna to the center of the hood of your Dodge Ram 2500, you're still not going to have enough space to get a properly radiated signal. Also the antennas need to be tuned to get a low SWR throughout the band and even a 2:1 SWR will eat up 20% of your power as heat. If you're running stock 4 watt AM that means you're probably only getting 3 watts out. Which puts it in the same power output as a bubble pack FRS/GMRS radio. 3 watts performs way better on UHF than it does on HF. And I'm more than happy to prove that in demonstration. In contrast, GMRS can legally operate up to 50 watts, can be IP linked, and use repeaters for wide area coverage, and performs better in close range line of sight, UHF can penetrate solid objects like concrete walls whereas HF CB will reflect and not go through so GMRS wins in an urban environment and when high in the hills and mountains can go for a good hundred miles or more. Also GMRS can use directional antennas with increased forward gain to reach virtually anywhere on the horizon. I've used GMRS with 5 watts and a yagi to talk over 75 miles directly to a friend in a different state. GMRS licenses can be used by everyone in the family and as such is much more widely spread than CB and even cheap Walmart bubble pack FRS radios go for as low as $9 where even the cheapest garbage CB radio, antenna, coax, mount, power supply etc is going to run you well over $100 to set up. And GMRS can operate portable where 99% of all CB radios are mobile units that are attached either to a base station power supply, or a vehicle. I've said before that CB users are like a clown circus where GMRS operators are much more civil and friendly and much easier to talk to. I could go on with dozens of examples but it's proven that GMRS far outperforms CB in all aspects. The sharp rise of GMRS licenses and use vs CB is proof in itself.

[@ghz24]

@@jesselannigan2300 OK I misspoke and ment critical frequency not muf. Critical frequency can be measured and muf calculated from that. I can give you the equation if you want. I am well aware of the issues of 11 meter antennas and this is part of the issue of range, very few want a 106 inch whip on their roof and try and get by on an antenna neutered by dimension and location. That and the clowns and jerks are the main reason for CB going out of favor. I also get the relative ease of fitting a 7 inch whip on anything moble. Don't get me wrong I like gmrs and think the lack of over the horizon simplex capability is a benefit because it limits the "maul droppin duck stompin" alligator crowd to fairly local mischief. Cost wise CB wins it's easy to find used CB radios for peanuts. What does the gmrs radio that compares to a stock CB cost? How about the 50 watt mobles? You got 75 miles and that's impressive, kudos, but I've seen people working the 12 meter band with a modified radio shack CB running the 12 watts you scoff at making multiple contacts at 800-1200 miles. Ham contest records bear this out, I can't believe you think this point is even arguable. I just think it is over simplification to say CB has shorter range when it's chances of going beyond the horizon are infinitely better than a UHF signal unless you abandon line of sight and go for EME. Wait that gives me ideas. BTW your swr calculations are in error swr of 2 gives an 11% loss so less than half a watt and even neutered antennas can be tuned better than 2:1 which is pretty bad.

[@terrarecon]

@@jesselannigan2300 just stumbled on this channel and your post response to comments in this video. Good information thank you.

[@anthonyglaser929]

this is a really good and helpful video. Thanks for posting it.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you Anthony! 👍🏻

[@springof-wf8vy]

Awesome and get to the point video my good Sir. Thank you for explaining your equipment and or your setup . I have the same radio president McKinley that will use as my home base radio for communication purposes but also as a hobby, you’ve given me useful info thank you once again. God bless you and be safe out there. Hello from Texas . 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you for watching! Good luck with your new set up 👍

[@LatitudeSky]

Used to do a lot of interstate travel with analog and DSTAR ham and CB in the vehicle and only the CB was ever useful, and wow was it. Truckers are always talking about what's going on and the short range means whatever it is, it's actually relevant and local. By far and away CB is the most useful 2-way radio I have ever had. I still have a ham license but the only radio in my car now is a CB. It's a Cobra 18WX ST2 so I get scan and weather radio built in. The radio is cheap and good and easy to use. For me, it's ideal. I have an identical Cobra 18WX radio in my home so wherever I am, I have the same radio. My ham radio collects dust. Never touch it. Sold off the digital ham radios.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Agree! I like that Cobra. Thanks for watching

[@zell666hell]

Good informative video! Thumbs up bro! I just hooked up a President Electronics Bill II FCC in my pick up truck. With a Uniden BC906W Wireless CB Microphone hooked up to. And a President Walker III on the way to put in my tri axle dump truck.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

That's a nice set up you got 👍 Thank you!

[@GG-vx7gi]

Nice video. Good practical equipment recomendations. I am a licensed ham, but looking to add ssb cb and gmrs to a go box. Another benefit to gmrs is the potential for repeaters.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

As an experienced radio operator, I'm sure you will enjoy and find practical use to cb and gmrs. Thanks for watching.

[@mitchh6702]

Enjoyed your video everything is well explained would like to know more about your setup!! Very cool

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thanks! I'll prepare more videos in the coming weeks

[@shep6123]

I like it that’s what I’ve done for a while but I like the way you got hooked up in your car cause I never thought about using the thing for your pop holder which is my vans they’re cheap made but I thought well man I can make one of those out of wood nice nice I’m from Indiana and Crawfordsville CB handle shep 73 Nice set up nice set up I’m down at night like it

[@salitre_]

Gracias jefe !!! Excelente 🫡🔥🥇

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Gracias! 👍

[@thewaterheaterfactory]

Hard to talk to cb'ers in the u.s. because some use (truckers mostly) a linear amplifier to boost there signal (illegal) So you might here them across 3 channels , bleeding over. If you respond to them at 5 watts they won't here you. Otherwise fun and inexpensive hobby !! Great Video!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Yeah, some are a pain. But on the other hand, the other day, I picked up a warning from one of these high output cb's from 5 miles away on my cb walkie talkie. The interstate was completely shutdown. It gave me the opportunity to get out and not sit on the road for 5 hours! Thanks for watching!

[@HarryHamsterChannel]

Oh, they HEAR you. When there's something to hear. In fact, they hear better than you do. Higher antennas. They're your eyes and ears. Be glad they're running power. They're doing their jobs. Lay down.

[@firemanmedic8070]

Cb radio will always have a place in local communication. And on the road, but it’s very dependent on the area your in. Around here the logging trucks have cb in the woods. And ppl that travel the woods may or may not have them. Ham radio is way better. The repeaters are very reliable and you don’t need to spend much money invested in it. Just a test to get licensed, and a handheld radio with an external antenna and you have reliable communication, but I’m not saying cb ain’t good. I have 2, but ham radio is more reliable.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

HAM, I agree, is better for talking farther, and in emergencies, they are a good source of information, better organized by far, and they help a lot. But it is not my thing. I just want road info and close by communication. That's why I say that you need to know your purpose when choosing how to go. I can hear HAM on my shortwave but still learning on that. I might get a UV5R just to monitor because they really help on emergencies. 👍

[@firemanmedic8070]

@@practicalgadgetsandstuff if you get the uv-5r if you get the local repeaters frequency they have emergency nets during storms and stuff. And in an emergency ( life threatening ) you can call out for help.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

@Fireman Medic awesome! Thanks for the tip

[@unitedstatesirie7431]

@@practicalgadgetsandstuff I tell many people to buy and use a CB radio because the evil Freemason politicians are going to shut the cellphone towers off in many States of America.

[@edstar83]

Welcome to Australia mate. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGrKmIyFm5mmf9E

[@glenmo1]

Believe me CB is not dead.. there's still quite a few of us out here.. many of us are running a bit of power usually anywhere from modified CB radios or 10 meter modified radios running around 80 w.... To amplifiers between 125 watts and 800 w or anywhere in between... Some of us are running on SSB single side band when the skip is really noisy on a.m.,

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Agree. I believe that ssb is giving a boost to cb

[@glenmones713]

@@practicalgadgetsandstuff to talk locally during noisy skip.. all of my CB friends use SSB

[@davidacosta147]

Awesome 1964 West Waving.

[@eduardopower5254]

Hey Jefe, the only thing missing there is a nice cheap scanner.😊 Great videos, you have a new subscriber here. Gracias!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

🤣🤣 pues sí, solo eso falta. Gracias Eduardo!

[@UDX-21]

CB is the best, for me. Thanks for the video. I hit the like and other buttons. Have a happy Thanksgiving 21 S.C. Old Radio Night

[@HarryHamsterChannel]

Mom said: Don't talk to strangers. A portable and mag mount are all you need. The truckers reply if there's something pertinent going on. Otherwise, aside from answering a quick one liner like "This thing open to Phoenix?" they usually won't respond. They have jobs to maintain, cell phones, and satellite receivers. If you start rag chewing, they'll shut you off. You would do the same.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

I'm a trucker. We just don't answer to crap.

[@duaneshuster6366]

I like the set up and Stand your president is mounted to. The walkie talkie does not have enough punch on the audio ai had one. But there are more micro MOSFET radios out there now that are less expensive and easy to hide in car. You can also build a station in a plastic pelican case throw on seat or picnic table add a rechargable battery.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Awesome ideas! Thank you for watching

[@terrarecon]

There is a difference between dead and greatly diminished. CB is still not dead, but hardly anyone notices or even has CB front of mind. It is kept alive by a diminishing select few.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Not on my experience. I monitor all over the country both, cb and gmrs. GMRS is pretty much useless for road info. CB becomes very active with bad weather or road emergencies, which works great for me. Not interested in the old days chats.

[@terrarecon]

@@practicalgadgetsandstuff by the way, if you are a dad Happy Father's Day! I think we're talking about two different environments of radio use without realizing it. Sorry for the confusion. Let me add some clarify. CB has it's uses , however, I was speaking to usage for both CB and GMRS in remote off-road environments. As an off-roader I belong to three groups of off-road enthusiasts totaling about 34,000 people across the U.S. A growing number have gravitated from CB to FRS and GMRS (and yes, most still own CB's). And gravitated to a lesser extent to HAM, because of the need to take an exam. CB is not dead, but is not alive in all of the former places it used to be popular. However, I suspect you made this video because you heard such rumors about CB. There is always a little truth in every rumor. The question is, in what way? I would say mostly in the remote outdoors. So, you are probably correct about CB use on the highways compared to off-road. Thanks again for the video and Happy Father's Day!!!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Oh yes, I got it wrong. I completely agree with you. The way to go for off roading, or traveling with friends, is GMRS. I also use it a lot for hiking and camping. Thank you for the good wishes for Father's day. My best wishes to you.

[@ke4asc]

Just remember, GMRS requires an Fcc license here in the United States. Family Radio Service does not, and the radios are very different. The Gmrs license costs 35 dollars and covers your immediate family. That license is good for 10 years.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Yes thanks. I live in Georgia and have my license.

[@glenmo1]

I have been into CB radio since I was a kid in 1971.... My recommendations nowadays for someone getting started would be get yourself a cobra 29 .. the receive is phenomenal. As it has a noise blanker which is. Superior to just having a automatic noise limiter.... It also has a built-in SWR meter.. Cobra 29 would be the way to go... Second choice would be Cobra 25 LTD.... You can learn to turn up the peak power on these radios real easy.. and they will get about 17-25 watts PEP.... You also want to purchase al. Astatic . Microphone either noise canceling or do you D104 amplified mic.. if you're going for magna Mount antenna.. my recommendations are the Wilson 500.. for the Wilson 1000..... The Wilson little will.. is a great antenna and much shorter but it does not transmit as far as the Wilson 500 and 1000

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

That Cobra is an awesome radio. Thanks for your feedback!

[@TwitchRadio]

Not dead, but most are moving on to better things.. In my area most are moving to gmrs and ham radio... But I only use cb for the Rd and to talk skip

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Agree with you. I use it for the same purpose. On the road is the most used by far. I always carry also my gmrs, which I like a lot.

[@mitchh6702]

I still use CB DAILY home and on the road. Would like like to learn more about GMRS.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

@@mitchh6702 go to KZbin channel notarubicon. The best info to get into gmrs. Real life talk, no bs

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

Sick setup, You do not see this Everyday...

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you Vic! 👍

[@glenmo1]

I own two of those Midland walkie talkies.. if you go online there's a way to modify them a little solder bridge on the circuit board..... You will then receive and transmit..120 channels !! Yes you can go all the way in the free band which is above channel 40 just below the 10 m and you can go below channel One all the way down to just above the 12-meter band.... People have been talking on those frequencies since the early 1970s without any hassles... It's called free banding . It's really good when the skip is noisy in making it hard to communicate on the regular 40 channels... It's like having your own frequency as not many people go free band nowadays... I have purchased extendable antennas for both my walkie talkies.. as the short rubber duck antennas do not transmit far at all.. you could probably get a five to eight mile transmission with the extendable walkie-talkie in antennas....

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Wow. Impressive

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

I'm using the Hys antenna that is 13 inches and doubles the range. They ha a telescopic one that goes to 51 inches. That's the one?

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Bought the HYS 51 inch telescopic antenna. I'm impressed! It's a beast. The gain on range is awesome. I'll will add it to a video I'm preparing. Thanks for the tip!

[@Michael-xl8dz]

Yes I'm a New Subscriber

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you! I'll try to keep it fun 👍

[@Michael-xl8dz]

Have you posted anything on making your own dipole antenna for 11meter try to do that one good luck with the channel

[@christopherpeterson1400]

We go with VHF on the boat, and have our handheld hams also programmed with VHF.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Good set up! 👍

[@nasanction]

This is where you will find most people trying to communicate. I'm sorry but, They don't call it Citizens Band for nothing!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Indeed! 👍

[@radiohobbyist13]

In the area where I live I don't see even one vehicle with a CB antenna on it.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Have you try to scan channels? You might get surprised. Around here lots of people have them on their houses. An around town I take down the magnet antenna. I only used it for interstate driving.

[@goober9983]

most truckers don't even have cb antennas, they been replaced by cell phones. CB has been dead for at least ten years.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

@@goober9983 We still use it for road and traffic updates, which is my main interest. Other than that, I agree is dead.

[@edstar83]

Come to Australia. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGrKmIyFm5mmf9E

[@edstar83]

@@goober9983 How are you going to communicate with other truckers with a cell phone though? Cell phones don't make CB and Ham radios obsolete, On the contrary, they make you dependent on a private network service with not only crap coverage, but could be easily switched off by a tyrannical government at any time.. or destroyed during a war or zombie apocalypse Just like the internet.

[@neiljohnson6815]

Good video. Thanks for the info.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you Neil !

[@Screamingtut]

you should put it away from next to the house because the house will interfere with your signal

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

I tried every single corner of the balcony. For some reason this location gives me the best swr. Thank you for watching!

[@Screamingtut]

@@practicalgadgetsandstuff Cool, I'm 70 Years old and have been playing with SWL and getting old military aircraft ARC 5 Recivers on 80 & 40 meters from Canal Street in NYC Radio Road since I was 14. I was into SWL & CB back in 1967 but got into Ham Radio in the late 70s got my Ham Radio Lic in 1980. OK, but try it again & this time, take each of the 4 radial and place them at 90 degrees to each other, this is why you had gotten higher SWR, then place it on the edge of the balcony next to the railing away from the house, also from looking at the antenna website they said there is a way you can adjust the antenna's SWR with a set screw at the tip of the antenna. You can also try & mount the Antenna on top of the railing (off the floor) with a pair of C-clamps (clamped onto the radials,) It cannot hurt & you will get out better.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thanks for the tips!👍

[@Chris-ts8oh]

I have s bass and mobile still love cb

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Still fun! 👍

[@garycook5125]

No need for pesky call signs like Ham users who break all the Ham rules, anyway.

[@tomsherwood4650]

Also people put CB in the family car but the stuff you hear on there is not stuff for kids to hear either. SO they took it out and tossed it in the trunk or garage. A day or two of loud skip convinced alot of people to quit. And it does not even have the Channel 9 emergency feature anymore. Nothing but skip there. Cellphones negate CB easily in nearly all locations.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Agree, unfortunately, sometimes is like a zoo.

[@edstar83]

Cell phones can be switched off by a tyrannical government. Or damaged during a war. CB radio communication cannot.

[@johncrouch8988]

When the phones go silent and the satellites fall from the sky, everyone will want a cb radio!😆😮

[@foxman362]

You should look up old tube radio network on youtube it's tube cb radios from 50's,60's,70's.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Sounds cool. I will look for it. Thanks!

[@jorgeequihua5159]

Great video.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Thank you Jorge! 👍

[@charliebeck1448]

Where can u buy a ground plane kit I’m in Newfoundland canada

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Try this link.

[@barndweller4573]

I understand CB for mobile but if you want some long range and conversations with people instead of just some idiot cursing at you when not get your Amateur Radio License? Its easier than ever now. No Code required, people give you the test, no longer are the days where you have to travel hundreds of miles to a FCC office and take your tests. Just being a CBer is so limiting. Only one band to play with where Hams have many like more than 10 and that is just in the HF spectrum. There is even a Amateur Radio repeater on the International Space Station!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

I get your point. But my main use for comms is outside basically on the road. If you see both my cb and gmsr set ups are very portable. When at home is just for local comms when we are hit by bad weather. I don't have the time for HAM although I monitor some frequencies because they are very well organized and do a very good job helping on emergencies. Thanks for the imput 👍

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

@Adrian Is up to you. Whatever works best for you. In my case CB is essential for road conditions. And gmrs works best for hiking, camping, and traveling with other cars. Thanks for watching 👍

[@hfvhf987]

That "ground plane" is not a ground plane as it's not connected to the shield, it's connected to the radiating element, it's nothing more than a bit of metal making the antenna a bit longer.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

It is called ground plane outside the HAM world. Even by the manufacturers.

[@hfvhf987]

@@practicalgadgetsandstuff It's not a ground plane. It's part of the radiating element. How can it be a ground plane if it's not connected to ground?

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

@BMT3000 There's thousands of things that have the same of another. But whatever makes you happy, call it as you please. Below the definition of ground plane in comms: In telecommunication, a ground plane is a flat or nearly flat horizontal conducting surface that serves as part of an antenna, to reflect the radio waves from the other antenna elements. The plane does not necessarily have to be connected to ground to be used as a reflecting surface for radio waves.

[@mitchh6702]

Hey what radio set up do you use in the BIG TRUCK OTR???

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

I used to have a Cobra ltd 29, but since I bought the Midland 75-822, I just take it as walkie talkie. With the antenna I have gives me around 3 miles of range. That's enough for traffic updates on the road. And some truck drives have 50w or more, so you pick up info very easy.

[@DieselTrucker2018]

Yah... there's a lot of guys on the radio today RIPPIN THE $HIT OUT OF everyone !! This is usually the situation every time I turn it on... then it goes right back OFF!!

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Unfortunately, you are right. But when it gets out of control, I turn it off for a while. Still works. Last week, a warning saved me from a complete interstate shutdown for 5 hours.

[@alfredkwok9239]

CB is just the kinder garden level of Radio Communication and formal Amateur Radio has a much wider range of application and technology involved. My feeling is CB is just for non-professional operator.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

Your opinion. To me is just a practical tool. It works very good on the road.

[@jesselannigan2300]

CB radio is definitely not dead. It is the Gong Show and wild west of the radio spectrum. The whole thing sounds like a used car commercial. 38lsb sounds like every kid in an elementary school got a radio for Christmas and they all decided to use it at the same time. Amateur radio and GMRS operators laugh at CB. Why? Because it's a joke.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

🤣 I agree, you can find some crazy people there. But it works very well on the road. For comms between vehicles I rather use my gmrs.

[@tomsherwood4650]

Who wants to hear screaming idiots and babbling fools and be called a MF by a total stranger on a device that you don't need?

[@tomsherwood4650]

I tell you why CB "died". Because skip and amplifiers results in all the channels becoming useless for the intended purpose of local communications. Skip opens, an army of idiots making noises just to hear themselves talk wipes out everything. Now at night or when there is no skip, you could use it for local communications but the reliability is ruined by the idiots. CB originated as a licensed service to provide semi pro comms access for low budget operations, not as a hobby toy. That did not last too many years. People that were serious decided not to put up with the sht and took the radios out. Now with cellphones, they view it as worse than useless. And the fed surrendered enforcement decades ago so it will never get better. CB is at best a toy now.

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

I agree. It is annoying. But for on the spot info about traffic or road conditions is the only choice. I take also my gmrs on the road and is not useful for this purpose.

[@lesjones5684]

Please speak de English 😂😂😂😂

[@eagleeyex2939]

Can you give me cb radio as gift?

[@practicalgadgetsandstuff]

If the channel grows I can. Let's hope goes well