Caboverbob late introduction........

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I've got this little Hooker 100 that I'm sending to Denny to look over before I use it. Hopefully the support stuff is serviceable, it's a stud mount rig from the '70's and mrf450/453/454A transistors are still available.

Thanks for the positive response !

That's going to be a great setup, are you going to run the stock mic with it? There are a few different threads here about the 980. You will need to turn the dead key down, there is a trim pot inside for that. Turn the modulation and alc up a bit and you will be golden. The stock mic has a diffuser in front of the element. It's a black rubber ring with a hole in the center. If you remove it, the audio will open right up. It's the noise cancelling part so you might get more road noise, but it's something to try.

 

[Cabover Bob]

That's going to be a great setup, are you going to run the stock mic with it? There are a few different threads here about the 980. You will need to turn the dead key down, there is a trim pot inside for that. Turn the modulation and alc up a bit and you will be golden. The stock mic has a diffuser in front of the element. It's a black rubber ring with a hole in the center. If you remove it, the audio will open right up. It's the noise cancelling part so you might get more road noise, but it's something to try.

I will not be touching anything inside, I'm a Piledriver by trade, fat fingers n heavy boots. Denny is doing the amp and a SS121 for me, will send hom the 980 too.

I thought it was cool that they included a 4 pin mic adaptor, not sure about the wiring though, but have my SR-198 on it for now.

 

[Robb]

I have been using the one in San Mateo recently, close to work. Santa Rosa salesgirl told me that I couldn't build this tool tray from plastic, SM store was much more helpful. I do bottom end on a nostalgia top fuel dragster, this is my tool tray that I built for it using their Starboard product.

You in the Bay ?

I used to go to the TAP on The Alameida near downtown SJ when I lived near the Bay.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I will not be touching anything inside, I'm a Piledriver by trade, fat fingers n heavy boots. Denny is doing the amp and a SS121 for me, will send hom the 980 too.

I thought it was cool that they included a 4 pin mic adaptor, not sure about the wiring though, but have my SR-198 on it for now.

The adapter is for the Cobra, Galaxy, Ranger, Stryker style mic so lots to choose from. The D104m6b hand mic will make it loud for sure.

 

[Slowmover]

Well it's been a slow process, and for some reason I've bought two additional radios before getting the first one running........go figure.......

I scored a 980ssb nib for $70 a couple of weeks ago, decided to mount up today. I am a fan of Ram phone mount stuff, ran them on handlebars of several HD's over the years, many miles at very excessive speeds and even a couple crashes, phone was always intact, so I figured I'd try the Ram stuff for this install.

I was able to access a seat bolt, replaced it with a stud and then locked down the seat with a nut/washer. Cut some spacers to the correct height and put the Ram ball on the stud.

6" single section aluminum arm, and then another Ram ball on the radio bracket. I will install a Ram ball on the other radio (Connex) bracket making it easy to swap radios in/out.

Hoping to get the antenna mount installed tomorrow..........

On a separate note, I also completed the install of a Viair compressor/tank/regulator setup today, including relay switch for 110 psi on/145 psi off. Rear manifold for air supply and air bag Schraeder valves also installed, just need to run the supply tubing.

Peace !

Air-powered channel changing.
Dude, thats the shiznit!!

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[Rwb]

Jimmy John WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG ?

 

[Cabover Bob]

Well, 6 months later and I finally got around to hooking up one of the radios that I've acquired. I first tried the 980ssb, way too complicated for me. So I hooked up the Connex 3300hp-zx that Denny worked on for me. Paired with a SRA-198 and a Sirio 5000 on a custom mount on the headache rack of my Ram 2500, I got the swr down to 1.4:1 before the set screw hex rounded out on me. Using this setup for pilot car work with oversized loads, as well as local nonsense, and getting good reports. Radio is mounted to the trans hump using Ram ball and 6" straight arm, I'll try to grab a pic tomorrow. Still need to get grounding straps on, but it's fun to be back on the air.

Shoutout to Denny (OldTech03) for the fine work and Eldorado828 for hooking me up with the President Randy handheld that gets used when I have to jump out of the truck while maintaining contact with drivers.

Peace !

 

[Slowmover]

Don’t settle for less than three miles as minimum in rural areas with reports of LOUD.

That’s a fair standard, IMO.

While everyone is moving.

I tend to ask for Mile Marker answering a radio check having given mine in so doing. “Loud” and “three miles” is basic to a road vehicle.

Pilot Car is almost always there with my radio rig. I usually catch the big truck much much closer in.



For the win: HEAR, as far or farther than you transmit.

I was pulling other trucks out of the ether at 15-miles coming down the Kansas Turnpike today. Just barely. . . but legibly.

See that thread.

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[Cabover Bob]

Slo - I was definitely hearing beyond my transmit, in fact this exact radio is in one of the Radio Garage videos exclaiming about the receive.

I've also got a M/A-COM (Kenwood) speaker on deck, I'll get to it soon. I know........west mountain.......someday....

 

[Slowmover]

Some day (then) you’ll be pulling in info you were glad to have heard early.

FWIW, without a test drive it seems experienced big truck radio users are skeptical of value. (You’re not alone).

What was the worst cb rig? The best?
Now increase the performance difference between them.

Hope the miles aren’t difficult. Sitting waiting to unload in FTW and it’s a truck driver cuss session on both nearby IH-820 and IH35W. Meaning, one hears stuff he doesn’t care about ALSO.

Earlier today was southbound into Texas on IH35 and two stops for northbound side many miles apart (wreck plus work crew). You’d have heard me, easily, though 5+ miles away from me. And I was more than 5-miles south of the northbound problems.

A heads-up more than ten miles from the first and twenty from the second of the full stops on the highway (plus 2-mile backups each had with down to single lane problems).

DSP is that good.

I’ve caught the news from even farther out (20+).

Sounds like your radio rig is a nice one. Helluva antenna we also put on my sons SUV (mag).
Post pics when you can. I’ve also got a 2500 Ram.



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[Slowmover]

Had another driver tell me (in so many words) that my repeated warning TX was wasted on the drivers with no radios.

“Yeah, so . . . ?”

Those lost have made their choice.

Let them that have ears, HEAR!

Some day it might be a great deal more serious than a traffic delay.

.

 

[NightThumper]

Had another driver tell me (in so many words) that my repeated warning TX was wasted on the drivers with no radios.

“Yeah, so . . . ?”

The lost have made their choice.

.

So true SLO In so many ways

 

[Cabover Bob]

Haha.......I pulled out this morning for a little 575 mile ride to Blythe, Ca. Got about an hour out and they canceled, pretty sure they didn't like my rates. I figured $.20/mile deadheading was fair.......

I did pick up that big strapper Bullet Bob from about 80 miles away. Couldn't get back to him so I text him and got my name called anyway..........

 

[Slowmover]

I’m hoping you meant two dollah, not twenny cent.

 

[Cabover Bob]

Twenty cents/mile. All the pilot car guys that I know run at $1.75/mile and deadhead for free. I charge $1.85 & $.20 if they want to pay by the mile. I typically work by the hour, and that mileage rate gets me close my hourly rate. My way of discouraging clients to pay by the mile. Hourly rate is from the time I leave my driveway until I return.