has anyone had a radio built by lesters customs?

[wheelman918]

when 4 wheeling out in the woods we use gmrs radios between vehicles, i would like to have a P.A. speaker cause this buddy of mines jeep is way higher geared so in low range a P.A. speaker would be nice to yell "slow down" lol

 

[wheelman918]

Was strange watching that video, firstly both the stations on 385 and 375 at start are both from my home city Glasgow, I know that accent anywhere.

The guy that made the video doesn't understand AM watts too well, often referred to the carrier as x amount of watts avg rms. you don't get watts rms, you get Avg watts, which comes from the rms of voltage and rms of current multiplied.

20 amp draw is about right for a 140-160w radio depending on bias/amplifier class and wires sufficient to reduce voltage drop to next to nothing. No way is 20 amp going to do 500w, even with 100% efficiency it would struggle around 260w.

108" whip would be ideal and was the length they were always made too allow tuning all over cb band with a bit of trimming. Usually about 104-106" is about right depending on where you centre it.

Normal vswr should be just under 1.4:1 at resonance, about 36 ohms, but there's a few factors in that and may well read higher or lower depending on situation and surrounding materials. A vswr of 1.39:1 is insignificant and adding a lossy shunt coil to tune it out seems self defeating. Will still blow the arse off every 50 ohm mobile made, despite any manufacturers claims of audio gain or shite like that.

a resonant dipole has a slightly higher vswr at 72 ohms in freespace,approx 1.44:1, again no biggie, again dependent on mounting location and surrounding objects. I don't see many rushing out to shunt coil their dipole despite the vswr being worse.

I don't see what claims Robb made you have issue with.

I fail to see the point in custom cb's. if you need it customised you bought the wrong radio, All a good radio should need is a good alignment if its not already aligned well. A half decent export with a rm kl203p will do the job worldwide. And biggest advantage of all is if radio or amp blows you still have the other to use whilst the faulty part is replaced, put both in one case you lose the lot. Plus add extra heat, the biggest enemy of most of these radios for stability.

All that money too murder any advantage you would gain by using a wilson or k40 seems pointless when a sirio or 1/4 wave whip are both cheaper and more efficient than either.

i wouldnt agree with that at all ive had the 102 steel whips depending on the vehicle id rather have middle of the car placement, on a van a k40 in the middle of the roof will beat a 102 steel convincingly dont need no opinions been there done that. if it has to be on the rear of the car yes by all means the 102 steel, i guess what im saying is it depends on the vehicle i dont know much yet about this wilson 1000 i have i know it sure works good stays tuned thru all the channels i use anyway and the more i use it the more i like it

 

[wheelman918]

i found a couple more radios i have another galaxy dx 88hl and an old sbe ssb radio that has split trans and recieve i believe, and a radio shack uniden 1000 ch dual trunking scanner its works perfect! the model is a pro-2052

 

[jazzsinger]

i wouldnt agree with that at all ive had the 102 steel whips depending on the vehicle id rather have middle of the car placement, on a van a k40 in the middle of the roof will beat a 102 steel convincingly dont need no opinions been there done that. if it has to be on the rear of the car yes by all means the 102 steel, i guess what im saying is it depends on the vehicle i dont know much yet about this wilson 1000 i have i know it sure works good stays tuned thru all the channels i use anyway and the more i use it the more i like it

I don't do whips anywhere but centre of roof, including 1/4 wave ones or the 6'7" sirio, both will easily beat a wilson or k40 both on bandwidth and performance. 102" is too short for a cb whip.

it wasn't an opinion. its fact, no antenna will beat a centrally mounted 1/4 wave whip, and everyone who's ever compared a wilson to a sirio has converted to sirios us europeans have been using over 15 years. Only thing a wilson has going for it like the k40 its better made, but won't touch a sirio hp4000,megawatt 4000 or performer 5000. outwith a 1/4 wave whip, the sirios are about as good as it gets.

k40 ain't even in the same league

 

[wheelman918]

I don't do whips anywhere but centre of roof, including 1/4 wave ones or the 6'7" sirio, both will easily beat a wilson or k40 both on bandwidth and performance. 102" is too short for a cb whip.

it wasn't an opinion. its fact, no antenna will beat a centrally mounted 1/4 wave whip, and everyone who's ever compared a wilson to a sirio has converted to sirios us europeans have been using over 15 years. Only thing a wilson has going for it like the k40 its better made, but won't touch a sirio hp4000,megawatt 4000 or performer 5000. outwith a 1/4 wave whip, the sirios are about as good as it gets.

k40 ain't even in the same league

true if you can put the whip in the middle of the roof id have to agree, but thats the downfall of the whip is placement the whip 1/4 wave uses the cars body as part of the antenna id take this new wilson 1000 over a bumper mounted whip any day of the week. mounting a whip on the rear of a car makes it directional too, now using big power the whip definately owns, and they are long put placement is a big speed bump for a whip for me anyways

 

[wheelman918]

true if you can put the whip in the middle of the roof id have to agree, but thats the downfall of the whip is placement the whip 1/4 wave uses the cars body as part of the antenna id take this new wilson 1000 over a bumper mounted whip any day of the week. mounting a whip on the rear of a car makes it directional too, now using big power the whip definately owns, and they are long put placement is a big speed bump for a whip for me anyways

i wanted one on my offroad vehicle and still may reinforce the mounting area with a little diamond plate a huge hd spring hmmmmm what would be the perfect length for a whip for cb channels up to around 505? anything above that requires rosetta stone anyways. a 102 steel with 21 feet of coax if i remember right

 

[fourstringburn]

Still sore; eh?
I don't hold grudges, you might want to try that on for a fit.

Yes; 37 ohms is equivalet to roughly an SWR of 1.5. Of course, it must not matter to you that it is a resonant length given as an approximation. In fact, there is nothing wrong with an SWR of 1.5. A resonant dipole also has the same SWR of 1.5 but it is 75 ohms. The 1/4 wave antenna also has a wide bandwith with a flat 1.5 SWR. While not exibiting any positive gain in dB, it also has the best gain of any mobile antenna.

So what?

Not sore at all, just your not man enough to admit your wrong. Try posting your audio tips on QRZ or Eham where you won't be in a superior position or so you think you are, if your man enough!

 

[wheelman918]

I don't do whips anywhere but centre of roof, including 1/4 wave ones or the 6'7" sirio, both will easily beat a wilson or k40 both on bandwidth and performance. 102" is too short for a cb whip.

it wasn't an opinion. its fact, no antenna will beat a centrally mounted 1/4 wave whip, and everyone who's ever compared a wilson to a sirio has converted to sirios us europeans have been using over 15 years. Only thing a wilson has going for it like the k40 its better made, but won't touch a sirio hp4000,megawatt 4000 or performer 5000. outwith a 1/4 wave whip, the sirios are about as good as it gets.

k40 ain't even in the same league

if you drill a hole in the middle of the roof of your car for a whip antenna granted it would be a mobile base lol for sure! but man you would look like a hillbilly lol

 

[wheelman918]

Yes, 9 days short of 6 months after payment I received my Cobra 148 GTLf from him. I have not hooked it up yet.

here's what I bought:

LesComm Cobra148F-LTD - Blue displays, LC6404-all features, RFX150, RX/TX/NB improve, Black face, Lo-Range, TRB-X3 Echo

(pasted from email after purchase)

how does he get away with calling them texas ranger radios 148f ltd? there was no such thing

 

[wheelman918]

Yes, 9 days short of 6 months after payment I received my Cobra 148 GTLf from him. I have not hooked it up yet.

here's what I bought:

LesComm Cobra148F-LTD - Blue displays, LC6404-all features, RFX150, RX/TX/NB improve, Black face, Lo-Range, TRB-X3 Echo

(pasted from email after purchase)

if i were you id hook that thing up and test it, from what i seen his radios are junk

 

[Robb]

Not sore at all, just your not man enough to admit your wrong. Try posting your audio tips on QRZ or Eham where you won't be in a superior position or so you think you are, if your man enough!

superior position?!?
ahaaahahahaha
Oh, so you think that through your infantile and petulant attack on me you can also attack this forum?
I knew you were a troll.
No. you weren't right about ribbon mics; that is my opinion.
What is it about an opinion that you do no understand?

 

[wheelman918]

if i were you id hook that thing up and test it, from what i seen his radios are junk

if lester is just gona make shit up and put cobra on a texas ranger? 148f ltd? was never such a thing he should just call it the president obama lol

 

[jazzsinger]

if you drill a hole in the middle of the roof of your car for a whip antenna granted it would be a mobile base lol for sure! but man you would look like a hillbilly lol

I prefer a magmounted sirio hp/megawatt 4000 for that reason. But when static using a sirio so239-3/8 adaptor you can screw a 1/4 wave whip on. Not that you need too.

I ain't see a sirio mag145pl come off yet. Park up high enough you'll rip the arse out all the local base stations. At times I can work skip or extreme distance line of sight when those in the valley below hear nothing barefoot or with power.

Drilling holes works better but sirio mag 145pl is no slouch. Putting antennas anywhere but centre of roof seems crazy.

Faith in your equipment and confidence in your voice is the most important aspect of dx. People are lazy by nature. Talk to someone intetesting,clear audio and confident or someone hesitant,nervous or mediocre to poor audio. Human nature dictates the former will have success.

Lost count how many tines people told me their setup was shit for dx only for me to pick up microphone and rattle off contacts. Wasn't their equipment costing them. In most cases it was their nerves especially as it was illlegal here

where my attitude was fuck them I'll dx where I want with as much power as I want and let them worry about catching me, even when I did get busted in 83 all it done was drive me to learn how to avoid it in future by running a cleaner station and not trying to squeeze every watt out an amp like I did when I knew nothing at 16 in 83.

I see it as an occupational hazaard. Why worry about it , if shits going to happen it will. All you can do is minimise risk. That lack of worry shows as confidence and brings success even on cheap high quality 2nd hand gear.

My whole mobile setup cost £158. Only radio is a second hand uniden philippines president richard, amp kl203p antenna (hp4000) mag base (mag145pl) were all new.

Not a lot to lose and will compete on ssb audio and signal with 90% of 100w hf sets. But most important in right conditions will do whole planet easily.

You don't need custom gear to sound good,cover frequencies and scud out. Just a bit of knowledge and shrewed buying.

 

[Onelasttime]

Back in 1995 I put a 383 Chevy Small Block with Camel Heads and a custom ground Crane Cam in a Toyota 4Runner. Kept all the Toyota acc.'s and transfercase but built a 700R4 using one TCI's first custom 700R4 kits.

In fact I still had my RCI2950 with two pill chasis amp and a 102 inch whip on it. I ran 34 inch tires on it with a very mild suspension lift. I think it was 3-4 inch in the front and 2 inch multi-leaf rear. I did mostly forest trails and farm country mudding and river crossing so I did not need crazy axle articular and insane lift and tires.

My family has owned Toyota's since the 1970's and having living in Europe, in Georgia USA and now in the the North I had lots of 4x4 time. I have never seen or built a T-100 though! You seldom see them up north but when ever I go down south I see them all over. I really like Toyota trucks.

I sold that 4Runner and got a V8 Dodge after that and I still miss that that 4Runner. I had a Torsion rear diff but an open front diff so I could only roast 3 tires on the 4Runner at a time. That RCi2950 and two pill amp used to bend needles all the time.

Have no clue is Lester builds any trucks if he does I would imagine he is more the diesel type and would be rolling with extra boost and propane injection!!! LOL

 

[wheelman918]

I prefer a magmounted sirio hp/megawatt 4000 for that reason. But when static using a sirio so239-3/8 adaptor you can screw a 1/4 wave whip on. Not that you need too.

I ain't see a sirio mag145pl come off yet. Park up high enough you'll rip the arse out all the local base stations. At times I can work skip or extreme distance line of sight when those in the valley below hear nothing barefoot or with power.

Drilling holes works better but sirio mag 145pl is no slouch. Putting antennas anywhere but centre of roof seems crazy.

Faith in your equipment and confidence in your voice is the most important aspect of dx. People are lazy by nature. Talk to someone intetesting,clear audio and confident or someone hesitant,nervous or mediocre to poor audio. Human nature dictates the former will have success.

Lost count how many tines people told me their setup was shit for dx only for me to pick up microphone and rattle off contacts. Wasn't their equipment costing them. In most cases it was their nerves especially as it was illlegal here

where my attitude was fuck them I'll dx where I want with as much power as I want and let them worry about catching me, even when I did get busted in 83 all it done was drive me to learn how to avoid it in future by running a cleaner station and not trying to squeeze every watt out an amp like I did when I knew nothing at 16 in 83.

I see it as an occupational hazaard. Why worry about it , if shits going to happen it will. All you can do is minimise risk. That lack of worry shows as confidence and brings success even on cheap high quality 2nd hand gear.

My whole mobile setup cost £158. Only radio is a second hand uniden philippines president richard, amp kl203p antenna (hp4000) mag base (mag145pl) were all new.

Not a lot to lose and will compete on ssb audio and signal with 90% of 100w hf sets. But most important in right conditions will do whole planet easily.

You don't need custom gear to sound good,cover frequencies and scud out. Just a bit of knowledge and shrewed buying.

thats the way my 148f gtl cobra is with a black widow 250 on a wilson 1000 stuck in the middle of course, while traveling over the thanksgiving holiday i was talking all over the world going down the hwy conditions were good that day, from the center of the US i was talking to brisbane aus canada many states Jamaica. I was in Kansas where its strait and flat. years ago the same amp and radio on a stupid looking antenna looked like it had a big spring in it but it worked good line of sight at night to a good base i could talk 170 miles i ccant remember what that antenna was called, but in todays times i wouldnt be caught dead with that thing on my truck lol