Looking for set up advice.

[Twinkie]

Hello all, I am new to CB use and am looking for some guidance on setting up a Base<->Mobile system.
The greatest distance I am looking to cover would be 18miles over flat ground (+/-25' over entire range) with verry few obstructions in between (mostly corn fields, a few houses, a single tree line that reaches 20' at its highest). Before I start ordering equipment I would like to know if this will be possible on legal power on AM or SSB? If so what should I be looking for as far as equipment goes? I've tried to find the answer to this all over the internet but keep getting sent to the trucker sites where all anybody talks about is sending distorted signals to mars with "dem BIG WATTS!"

Thank you for any help!

Twinkie

 

[midnight special]

look up GMRS or MURS it may work better for ya...

 

[Mudfoot]

You shouldn't have any (much) trouble at all with the distance you've specified. Any 1/4 wave or larger ground plane antenna will do that distance with an install height greater than 25', especially with the terrain in your area. Running 4 watts AM with good clean modulation would be helpful. SSB should be in like Flynn. You just need to decide if you want newer modern equipment or older vintage stuff.

Of course, your best results will be talking to other base stations with a similar install. Talking to mobile units at that distance might have a few challenges. SSB will be your friend with mobile stations.

I can't recommend anything until I know how much money your old lady is gonna give you.

 

[Twinkie]

18miles is the far end of what I would need to transmit and that would only take place once maybe twice a week. Most coms. will be between 12-14miles, so 18 isn't so much a need as much as it would be nice. (I should of said that in my first post.) As far as equipment cost I'm looking for the most bang for my buck so used vintage or new does not matter as long as it functions well. Also my wife understands this will be a costly endeavor and is ok with me acquiring equipment at a rate of $150-200 a month lol. I already have a brand new 102" radio shack whip (planned for the mobile) I picked up when my grandfather gave me an old cobra cam 89 base unit years ago. (I'm unsure if this radio works and so was he when he gave it to me)

 

[M0GVZ]

The greatest distance I am looking to cover would be 18miles over flat ground (+/-25' over entire range) with verry few obstructions in between (mostly corn fields, a few houses, a single tree line that reaches 20' at its highest). Before I start ordering equipment I would like to know if this will be possible on legal power on AM or SSB? If so what should I be looking for as far as equipment goes? I've tried to find the answer to this all over the internet but keep getting sent to the trucker sites where all anybody talks about is sending distorted signals to mars with "dem BIG WATTS!"

Thank you for any help!

Twinkie

Perfectly possible if the antenna is placed properly. I've had no problem talking to my friend mobile to mobile here in the UK over a distance of over 20 miles with just 4 watts on FM. Basically its down to the antennas, you want as much metal in the air as possible and as high and clear as possible. Use a decent size antenna like a Wilson 5000 or a Sirio Performer 5000 and put it in the middle of the roof of the vehicle and you're good to go.

For base to mobile, the higher you can get the base antenna up the better. Again, its metal in the air so go for an antenna at least 16ft long and get it up as high as you can.

4 or 5W should be enough, 20W or more definitely enough.

 

[Twinkie]

To get up in the air could I use an old TV antenna tower? There are plenty of these in the 30'-40' range in my area atached to houses and do to the condition of the antennas on some of them I'm sure not all are being used and could be bought for cheap. If that will work for a tower should I top it off with a 1/2 or 5/8 wave? I've looked at some info and reviews on the Maco V58 and it sounds like a pretty good antenna but being new to this I'd like a 2nd opinion.

 

[222DBFL]

Yes sir you can use the interlocking tv mast pipes that are made in 5 and 10ft sections, I am using fence top posts myself at 20ft with a sirio tornado 5/8 wave antenna, pipes are mounted to the side of the house onto the chimney going up along it ( the chimney that is). Haven't had any issues yet and it's been through a few FL storms. Use good mounting brackets and it should work fine. Some use the tripods for tv antennas with a 10ft mast pipe on the top of the roof. Just have to watch the weight!

 

[222DBFL]

And yes the Maco v5/8 is a good antenna by all I have read about them, almost same antenna as the sirio tornado I run, differnet coil design and the Maco handles more power than the sirio. Good antennas when setup properly.

 

[222DBFL]

I started with a 1/2 wave A99 and the sirio 5/8 wave just blows it away!! Contacts are much easier to make these days

 

[Twinkie]

Good deal! I'll investigate the Sirio some before I pull the trigger but if a 5/8 is that much better than a 1/2 I'll be going with a 5/8.

 

[Twinkie]

I had good luck with my tower search this weekend. I found a 30' rohn tower new in box at a panw shop for $75. I plan on putting it up next weekend if the weather holds out and a maco v58 will be ordered on thursday to top it off. I however am not sure what type of coax to run with it, I've seen a few differnt types that people recomend but am unsure if any of them work better than the others. I'm also looking at ordering a radio from Bells CB for my mobile unit. I've read a lot of good reports on this shop and the prices are on par with most I have seen. My only question is do I spend the extra $25 to get the tune up they offer or is it not worth it? The only info on the web site about the tune up is that it will take the radio to a 4w carrier and 24-26w peak. I dont know what that really means or how it will effect the performance of the radio.

 

[222DBFL]

Me I use lmr400 made by either times microwave or Andrew. It's overkill to some, but will handle power and is made for outdoor use and to take the punishment of weather. JMO. Spend the money once on good coax and it should last at least 10 years or more. Lmr240 works well too and has good shielding and is also made to handle the elements. Do not buy the cheap knock off coax, stick with known good companies, belden, times mirowave, Andrew, Judd wire, 123 wireless are a few I know. These is JMO.

 

[ExitThirteen]

I would highly recommend going with older "vintage" stuff, as it is easier to modify and repair.

Bases to look at: President/Uniden Washington, President/Uniden Madison, Cobra 139XLR, Cobra 142GTL, Realistic Navaho TRC-457/458/490, Cobra 2000GTL. Those are just a few.

Mobiles: Cobra 146GTL, Cobra 148GTL, President/Uniden Grant (XL), Realistic TRC-449/450/451, President P300, Uniden PC-244, Uniden AR144/AX144, Uniden PC-122(XL). Those are a few there.

Stay away from the dual final "export" radios, and or "10 meter" mobiles. Most of them have drift issues on SSB when warming up, and are not worth the trouble of owning.

Stay away from Galaxy stuff. Very drifty on SSB.

~Cheers~

 

[Twinkie]

I'm always a fan of spending more up front to save more later, and top performance is always a top consern of mine, thank you for the recomendations.
I can't wait to get up and running! Even with the primary function of my stations being comunications between my house and being in the fields, after reading the posts on this site I'm excited to see if there are any interesting folks to talk to in my area.

 

[Twinkie]

I've seen a few pictures of this radio and I really like the look of it.