CB radios operate on the 11M band (27MHZ)
for communication to work from CB to CB both need a CB, Mic, and a reputable antenna like Firestick and or Wilson.
there are plenty of CB radio manufacturers, but their all based off the same principal.
there are cheep ones that get the job done.
http://www.amazon.com/COBRA-MOBILE-COMPACT-INST-19ULTRAIII/dp/B003EB38C4/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425564084&sr=1-4&keywords=cb+radioand then there are ones that make it easer on the other end to hear you.
http://www.amazon.com/Uniden-BEARCAT-Sideband-WeatherBand-980SSB/dp/B007B5ZAES/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1425564084&sr=1-6&keywords=cb+radiobrand A does the same thing as brand B. the main difference between them is looks, buttons, and functions.
hooking the cb radio up directly to the battery is recommended. avoid any plug in type power deliveries.
a cheep battery isolator only for the cb radio would be handy in order to minimize alternator rpm feedback.
if there is extra cb antenna cable, do not wrap it up neatly as this would cause the wrapped part of the wire to become the antenna. instead, wrap the cord up in no particular manor, no patterns. ball it up and forget about it.
the below paragraphs are from
advancedspecialties.net. there is so much information on cb equipment that I would be typing for days to get this out.
WHAT RANGE WILL A CB RADIO GIVE ME? "Generally Speaking", range for a mobile CB Radio could be anywhere from 1 or 2 miles, to even 20 to 25 Miles or more, depending on the terrain, type of antennas used, & other factors. The "typical" range to expect from a mobile CB, with a good antenna, is about 2 to 5 miles, but you will actually get both more & less than this, in certian areas & terrain, & as you drive around. Home Base Station CB setups, with larger building roof mounted Base antennas, will usually give more range than the ground level mobile units do, & the small handheld "walkie-Talkie styles will usually give much less.
WHAT IS THE BEST ANTENNA FOR MY MOBILE CB RADIO?There are many variables, but here are some good general guidelines & "Rules of Thumb" to follow. First, The Taller the antenna, the better it will work. Mount your antenna as high as possible on the vehicle, & try to get at least 50% of it over the roofline. Usually, all else being equal, the Tallest, longest antenna you are comfortable with, mounted as high as possible, will give the best performance. For Example, mounting a new 4 foot CB antenna in the same spot where you were using a 2 foot, will usually give better results. It wouldn't really matter what "brand name", color, or style the 2 ft antenna was. Mounting Height on the vehicle, & the antenna length should be more important than other considerations. Keep in mind that, generally, CB antennas that are less than 3 feet tall, those that "stick to the glass", & the AM/FM/CB "combo" antennas & adaptors usually do not give the best performance, they are bought & sold mainly for "convienience" & "cosmetic" reasons
ARE CB TRANSMIT AMPLIFIERS (BOOSTERS, MODULATORS, LINEARS?No. It is against USA FCC rules to use an external transmit Amplifier on CB radio channels in the USA. It is also against current FCC rules to sell or market amps that are capable of operating "out of the box" between the 24-35 Mhz frequencies (CB falls within this range). That being said, there seems to be many places that sell them anyway, However we Do Not sell them.
^^^^
if you do get one and use it, don't be stupid and say where your near. you never know who is listening since it is not a secure com.WHAT IS THE "FREEBAND", "UPPERS" or "OUTBAND"?These Terms refer to frequencies or "Extra" channels that are directly above or below the standard 40 CB channels (approx 26-28Mhz). While not FCC assigned for either CB or Amateur use in the USA, These 11 meter freqs are never the less very popular with some hobbyists (worldwide), & are mostly used by "bootleg" CB &/or Amateur operators that internally modify their CB, Amateur, "Export or 10 Meter" Radios to "reach" these channels. Although many of these frequenciess are still "technically" assigned for commercial or other users, Most legitimate licensed users of these frequencies abandoned them long ago, & now you will usually only hear "unlicensed bootleg operators" when monitoring these frequencies.
IF ALL CB's ARE LIMITED TO 4W & 40ch, ISN'T A $69 SET AS GOOD AS A $200 CB?NO. Factors like Receive sensitivity & selectivity, Noise Filtering & Transmit modulation quality & more will all be better in a more expensive model. You get what you pay for. Also, features like Mic & RF gain controls, Talkback control, built in meter functions, noise blankers, & more, will also vary with different CB's
WHAT IS "SWR" & ANTENNA TUNING?SWR (Standing Wave Ratio)is a measure of how well your antenna is "matched" or "tuned" to operate at CB channel frequencies, & to your vehicle. Unlike TV, AM/FM or Scanner antennas that do not Transmit, the CB & other "transmit" antennas need to be tuned to operate or Transmit correctly & most effieciently. If severely "out of tune" (having a poor SWR reading), damage to the transmitter can result. While most good CB antennas, when mounted & grounded correctly as the maker intended, will usually have a "safe SWR", keep in mind that it is still a good idea to check & optimize your SWR reading. Regardless of Mfgr's claims, there really is no way to "Factory pretune" mobile antennas for the CB frequencies. The same exact antenna can actually give very different SWR Readings, when mounted on different vehicles, or even in different spots on the same vehicle! Remember, When Setting the SWR you are NOT Matching the Antenna to the Radio, but rather the Antenna to the vehicle, & frequency of operation.
heres a link provided by LFH to properly tune your antenna or antennas:
http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/Articles/How%20to%20use%20a%20SWR%20meter.htmyou could get away with using a $40 CB radio and a $15 antenna from Wal-Mart, but you aren't ever going to be heard!
there are terms such as top loaded, center loaded (love mine!!!), and NGP antennas. each have their strengths and weaknesses.
http://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/selection-guides/18542007-choosing-the-best-cb-antennaFiresticks are popular with off roaders because their legal in clubs and are durable. but do tend to snap in extreme conditions. stainless steel whips are mostly illegal in clubs due to the belief they are more dangerous then a fiberglass whip. if you have a stainless steel whip, you will be asked to tie it down or remove it.
there are various ways of mounting a CB antenna. all is up to your personal performance though some mounting options are better then others.
dcbelcher26: most common Jeep mounting area, not ideal, but with a top loaded antenna, shouldn't be a big deal.
PALiftedKK: not the most ideal area. same idea as rear light mount.
NAMoulton1 mounted front driver side flare: not ideal spot at all; drill holes in the thin sheet metal flare; possibility of spring and antenna making wear marks on clear coat.
Roof mount: the best possible mounting option, but the most inconvenient for garage kept vehicles.
Matt: Bleepin jeep CB tuning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UsOmfVErO8plese contact me if you would like your picture featured/removed.Post your CB equipment setup.
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