Shadetree Mechanic
Delaware Base Station 808
SSB is not a problem. It's the dead key on am that generates a lot of heat. I would not try to run one on FM.
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Uniden 980 and RM KL203
- Thread starter CB590
- Start date
Think I'm gonna pick up Uniden 980 tomorrow, I've got a messenger 250 just setting in the closet, thought I'd match them up and see what happens.
G Golly , You got me thinking now ! 
I don't know why I keep farting around w/ my old Cobra 140 GTL ? It works fine but no variable power , no freq counter ( was thinking of buying & external one ) . Maybe I'll break down & get a 980 also & hook it up to my Old King Bee 250 . Besides the radio is small enough , maybe I can find a place to mount it in my Lariat ! Stay Healthy & Safe ! 73 & God Bless , Leo
I don't know why I keep farting around w/ my old Cobra 140 GTL ? It works fine but no variable power , no freq counter ( was thinking of buying & external one ) . Maybe I'll break down & get a 980 also & hook it up to my Old King Bee 250 . Besides the radio is small enough , maybe I can find a place to mount it in my Lariat ! Stay Healthy & Safe ! 73 & God Bless , Leo
I love my 980. Especially the giant digital S meter. No more squinting to give someone a signal report.
After my Road Devil mic fizzled out, I replaced it with the Astatic D104M6B.
Locals say I sound even better. A little silicone-based garage door lubricant took care of the scratchy static inherent with the PTT switch. The contact points didn’t need cleaning, they needed lubricating.
Locals say I sound even better. A little silicone-based garage door lubricant took care of the scratchy static inherent with the PTT switch. The contact points didn’t need cleaning, they needed lubricating.
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After my Road Devil mic fizzled out, I replaced it with the Astatic D104M6B.
Locals say I sound even better. A little silicone-based garage door lubricant took care of the scratchy static inherent with the PTT switch. The contact points didn’t need cleaning, they needed lubricating.
As with wives of a certain vintage.
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Well things didn't go as planned, the CB shop was closed, don't know if its because of Covid 19 or what. I knew I should of called ahead before I made a wasted trip
Well things didn't go as planned, the CB shop was closed, don't know if its because of Covid 19 or what. I knew I should of called ahead before I made a wasted trip
Man on A Mission!
Dude, none of us have ever EVER done such a thing!
Ha!
Next time (in all seriousness) start the day with a cold tire pressure reading. Record
2). Hit the CAT Scale after topping fuel tank to First Auto Shutoff. (Use the phone app). Correct tire pressure to Load & Pressure Table values [inside vehicle door sticker range].
3). Outbound, and then back inbound to that same fuel pump run it on cruise control under 60-mph. No lane changes, etc. Only acceleration is onto highway, and only use of brakes is to exit (ideally).
4). A 100-mile Loop. Re-fill as above.
Getting the driver out of the way to find baseline MPG is a necessary ownership/operator test.
What is possible as to MPG?
This test covers all sorts of random, distant errands with complete deniability of ulterior motive.
(I’m dead serious as to efficacy).
Radio has its place as an emergency tool. So does the family Conestoga.
But find me 1-man out of 1,000 who actually knows the baseline numbers.
Tampon or bandage? You’re our man for the believable misdirection, GGW.
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Slowmover, I mentioned to my wife about going to truck driving school if the oilfield layoffs happen again. She said I don't think you'd like driving a big old truck and I replied what else is there around here? Very few factory jobs here anymore, I guess she thinks I enjoy standing in whatever mother nature has to offer for a 12hr tour, guess what? I don't enjoy it, especially when the temperature is in the negatives. I've noticed while driving halfway across the country to go to work about every big truck advertising CDL drivers needed. Over time I figure you're going to get tired of any job, been doing this oil field work for the last 11 yrs ,I'm tired of it.
Not terribly hard to hit $50k annually after a year or so. $70k is about where it tops out. (Exceptions to this, but it’s still CPM for the most part).
Rural areas pay less. Might be home more. Seasonal (Ag jobs).
Midwest can’t be touched for being best area.
Was having a discussion about this other day. Back of napkin figures where net is 75% after taxes (without figuring insurance, etc) it’s the daily net that matters.
$55k/year x .75 = $41,250 divided by
365 = $113/daily.
One wants to get to $135/day as net for it to be genuinely worthwhile. That’s $62k using our rough understanding.
One has to have a plan that economizes without killing spirit.
Meals are where most money gets wasted. And I don’t just mean at McDonalds. It’s a standing joke to take out a $20 bill and just hand it to the first person you encounter at the truckstop. Because you won’t be leaving with it.
Pay for a shower, buy some munchies and there goes $30.
$113 - $30 = $83 for the day.
That’s 24-CPM at 345-mile daily average.
But they’re paying you 45-CPM
Or, it’s $52k annually. That’s 2,200-miles/week (paid miles; you’ll drive 10% more) at 45-cpm. 345-miles/day at seven-days (you’ll do it in 5.5 to 6).
A month is 4.25-weeks. You’ll get home twice for (2) two-day breaks running OTR. (I stay out longer; 6-weeks this time).
The more-often-home jobs have a great deal more competition. Less pay. Greater rules & headaches.
“Local” means no logbook if under 150-miles radius. Hourly. Will work you 90-hours without cease. (Please don’t; these guys get killed or crippled). This is standard oilfield service jobs. Vacuum truck. Water truck. Avoid. (No hotshot).
You’re “on” the IH-35 & IH40 corridors. There’s plenty of work along them. Can get you home reasonably. Fremont Carriers, JM Bozeman, and other legitimate employers.
If you think you’re up to flatbed the pay is better (harder job). Tanker was where I did best, but can’t wear a PFT anymore (or full haz suit with contained air supply).
Being a door-slammer is what I always looked down on (worst drivers). There are good ones. But not JB Hunt, Schneider, Swift or Werner.
My requirements:
No touch freight
(Not negotiable; absolute)
High percentage of drop & hook
(Time = money & energy; live load & unload is expensive to driver)
New equipment
(They sell at four years or less)
Incidental pay
(Layover, breakdown, etc)
Weekly minimum guarantee
($1,000 week where available for dispatch 5 of 7 is a minimum).
Trucks with APU, inverter, microwave and refrigerator
(This is negotiable except APU & Inverter)
50-mph dispatch
(Can’t do it faster with a 65-mph truck SAFELY).
I can keep going but I think you see HOW to read the ads.
INDEED and MONSTER have most jobs. Craigslist has the sketchy ones.
For a CDL School, pay your own way. DO NOT take “free training”. It isn’t. It’s a slave contract.
If at all possible need to be able to park truck & trailer at home.
You can always PM me.
Now, or next year.
You’ve seen my Radio Rig list.
It’s all big truck.
Get rid of overhead. Sell your car, keep wifeys. Rent a bedroom to a librarian or theology student. Etc.
Plan meals and freeze them. A two week trip needs three weeks of supply. Buy nothing on road. Etc.
That difference from daily net of $113 to $135 is what you bank. If overhead is higher than the lower figure covers, then . . . ?
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Yeah those oil field drivers have it pretty bad from what I can tell, I think if I understood right if I'm on unemployment they pay for new job training program. The guy I drive to work with got a CDL in Fort Smith at the college $2700. He's going back to truck driving if we get laid off, He's been in the oil field off and on for the last 14years, says this is the last go around for him.
Truck driving sucks.
But other jobs suck worse.
Once those feelings go away, it’s fine.
But other jobs suck worse.
Once those feelings go away, it’s fine.
I remember watching BJ and The Bear as a kid and I thought trucking was the greatest thing!! Hanging out with hot chicks and runnin’ from the law!!
Makes me want to drive my CarlBuilt 400 coming in with the RM203 like he does with his X80 driver.
So in this video Cobra 29 doing 35 peak. Yields like 6xx peak. Then he kicks on a Stryker 955 that does like 80w. And he's showing like 850w peak, and then does sideband. So if my math works out. Make my KL-203 do like 25w carrier with whatever radio and drive the CarlBuilt 400 to like 800+. Granted this is like 14.6v. In another video he hits it with a burp of 200w from an x80 and gets like 1200w.
anyway, enjoy the video. Still waiting on my 400HD with Bias. Only been like a week. Hopefully soon.
Thinking my AT6666 may be better suited for this as it's max on max power is like swing to 48w on SSB. The Galaxy 86v peaks at 35w and my little Ranger 296 only gets like 14w peak. I'll have to play mix and match and get reports.
Who knows I may have the Palomar 400 elite up for sale here soon.
i dont mind trucking . Neighbor i work for owns 4 ,we got 2 red t600 kws so only showed the newest t 600.they got it for me but i drive all 4,nice well kept older trucks.but im home nitly too. We only haul what we grow. But before i retired i owned a few trucks
Now im retired i truck about 15 days a month average.