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07-28-2013, 09:09 PM
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#1
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Happy Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 191
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A bit retro...
While watching an ol' flick...we noticed a CB radio in a MH in one of the scenes.......
So question for everyone....How many of you have CB radios in your rigs??
__________________
Me, DW and final score...
2 Girls-2 Boys
The lazy nanie K9
2013 FR GT 351DFS
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07-28-2013, 10:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
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I was considering it being I have already a CB radio that I removed form my truck. The problem is installing the antenna as well as being a non-metalic shell is the big problem.
You need to buy a special antenna and coax that uses the coax as the metal reflector or ground plane. It really will be limited in what you can hear or transmit.
At the moment I pass.
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07-28-2013, 11:34 PM
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#3
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Happy Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 191
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Yup, we're considering it too but just wanted to see what others have or done...
How about a portable antena?
just not sure yet....can go either way.
__________________
Me, DW and final score...
2 Girls-2 Boys
The lazy nanie K9
2013 FR GT 351DFS
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07-29-2013, 08:06 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JKJJS
Yup, we're considering it too but just wanted to see what others have or done...
How about a portable antena?
just not sure yet....can go either way.
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A portable antenna won't work either on a fiberglass motorhome.
No-Ground Equipment (NGP): Fiberglass RVs and motor homes MUST use a no-ground plane antenna! Standard CB equipment requires a metallic chassis in order to properly send and receive a signal, and won't function
properly with a fiberglass chassis. The one exception to this is dual antenna installations. Regular CB antennas that are used in a dual, co-phased installation create their own ground plane and do NOT require a metallic chassis to perform properly, making them suitable for fiberglass applications. They also offer additional range over single antenna installations.
Compatibility & Coax Extensions: Standard CB components and Nonn-Ground Plane components are not inter compatible, which is why NGP components are usually sold in kits.
If you do need to extend the length of your NGP coax, you can use standard CB coax as long as the portion closest to the antenna is the original NGP section.
Here is a link to the Firestik no ground plane anteena and coax specially designed for fiberglass body rigs.
http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/NGP_M2.htm
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07-29-2013, 11:20 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 110
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had CB's on previous two RV's. didn't use them, so didn't put one in the Georgetown.
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07-29-2013, 11:49 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,948
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Quote:
Originally Posted by akcampr
had CB's on previous two RV's. didn't use them, so didn't put one in the Georgetown.
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I do a lot of group RV convoys and it comes in handy when we have large groups. I also do more listening than talking especially finding out about accidents ahead from truckers. Its a little retro but still serves a basic purpose while travelling.
I just remembered my CB radio also is a Noaa radio for the local weather conditions.
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07-29-2013, 04:48 PM
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#7
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Kanadian Kamper
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 8,129
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I use our CB mostly when in traffic congestion and getting whatever info from the truckers. If there are groups travelling, I believe most people use FRS radios these days, they're more popular for staying in touch.
However......buyer beware.....more and more states and provinces are banning hand held electronic devices being used by drivers. Hands-free is different, but FRS are pretty simplistic and usually don't option hands-free. Co-pilots and others can work the FRS.
__________________
Ken and Terry
2018 Sunseeker 2430S-CD, nicely modified and carried by a 2017 Ford E450 Sport
Former Georgetown 330TS owner for 10 years with more mods than I can count, pushed by our 2017 GMC Terrain
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07-30-2013, 11:22 PM
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#8
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Happy Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 191
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That's exactly what I was thinking on using the CB's; more for listening, inforamtive and lastly may be just emergency (just in case)....Iggy brings a good point on the installation so I'm not sure it's worth the hassle installing one. A bit retro but useful tool when you need it.
__________________
Me, DW and final score...
2 Girls-2 Boys
The lazy nanie K9
2013 FR GT 351DFS
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07-31-2013, 01:20 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 229
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I have a peaked Uniden with a Wilson T2000 antenna in/on my Suburban. Usually use it on long trips. I agree, it is a bit retro however still has its uses. As for hands free...there are a few out there (Cobra being one) that have blue tooth radios/headsets.
__________________
2007 Ford F250 4x4 Harley-Davidson Powerstroke
2006 Cedar Creek Silverback - 35 LRLBS
(2012 -11) (2013 - 10 so far)
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07-31-2013, 03:13 AM
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#10
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MI Camperz
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: michigan
Posts: 1,640
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10-4! Gotta keep up with the smokey reports!
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MI Camperz
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07-31-2013, 05:19 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,737
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CBs Can be real entertaining at times listening to the truckers mostly not suitable for the ears of small children............. Smokie reports can be good.............
__________________
2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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07-31-2013, 05:45 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Western Connecticut
Posts: 1,587
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I use mine all the time, mainly for traffic info...what lane to be in during a closure etc. It saved my bacon routing me away from the Washington DC outer loop last summer.
__________________
2010 Cedar Creek 5th Wheel 34SATS "The Beast"
2006 Ford F350 Lariat 6.0L Diesel
2003 Harley Heritage Softail "Hogzilla"
1986 Marriage to "Wifey" (patience of a saint)
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08-02-2013, 08:03 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 229
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Well I'm certainly glad I'm not the only one using one. I've been considering putting one in my Powerstroke, but didn't want to be the odd duck (Rubber Duck good, odd duck not so good). I think I'm starting to show my age.
__________________
2007 Ford F250 4x4 Harley-Davidson Powerstroke
2006 Cedar Creek Silverback - 35 LRLBS
(2012 -11) (2013 - 10 so far)
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08-02-2013, 10:26 PM
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#14
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Anacortesians
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Anacortes, WA
Posts: 1,166
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I have one, left over from a pick-up I used to own. Since I used the truck to commute about 18 miles from home, I never used it. I've given some thought to installing it in the MH, but question the usefulness.
Also, I'm not up to speed on antennas. The one off the truck attached to the fender alongside the hood and has a cylindrical doo-hickey about half way up. Would this work on the side of a fiberglass motor-home?
__________________
Frank and Eileen
No longer RVers or FR owners
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08-03-2013, 10:08 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F and E Damp
I have one, left over from a pick-up I used to own. Since I used the truck to commute about 18 miles from home, I never used it. I've given some thought to installing it in the MH, but question the usefulness.
Also, I'm not up to speed on antennas. The one off the truck attached to the fender alongside the hood and has a cylindrical doo-hickey about half way up. Would this work on the side of a fiberglass motor-home?
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Don't think so as mentioned in earlier posts need a metal ground plane and fiberglass doesn't meet that requirement. The cylinder on antenna is a device to make the antenna the right wave length. If i remember correctly a quarter wave length on cb freq. (27 megahertz) is like 72 inches and yours is probably 24 inches or so.
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08-06-2013, 11:42 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 253
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I was able to install a conventional CB antenna on my Georgetown 373 by utilizing the vertical metal frame where the fiberglass nose cap meets the side body. This large piece of metal is sufficient to act as a groundplane for the antenna, avoiding the need for a no ground plane antenna. The metal frame can be seen by removing the plastic trim on the interior along the windshield.
The tricky part is to keep the coax braid to the metal frame as short as possible. In my installation, the braid is about 3 inches long where it is separated from the coax just before the antenna mount. Since center conductor of the coax goes to the antenna mount, this limits the location of the antenna installation. The antenna performance and VSWR are excellent.
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08-07-2013, 05:17 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
Posts: 242
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We too travel with a group, so we all use them so we can chat as we go. We do not stay on the truckers channel (19), we use another where we are normally the only conversation.
Ours is configured to be totally portable. We have a cigarette lighter plug on the power cord and a magnetic mount antenna. When we are travelling with the group we throw the antenna on the roof, lay the radio in the middle seat, plug it into the cigarette lighter and we are good to go. When we don't need it, we place the entire assembly under the rear seat, out of the way. Takes less than a minute to set-up or take down.
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2011 Ram Truck 2500, Crew Cab, 6.7L CTD, 4X4, 3.73 Rear
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08-07-2013, 05:22 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Mount Juliet, TN
Posts: 242
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I would not swear an oath, but I believe I have seen mirror mount base plates for magnetic mount antennas at truck stops. For those with fiberglass units that wanted the magnetic mount antennas. You could use a base plate and run a ground wire back to a frame ground.
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2011 Ram Truck 2500, Crew Cab, 6.7L CTD, 4X4, 3.73 Rear
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08-07-2013, 02:52 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 253
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Ground Plane vs. Chassis Ground
Quote:
Originally Posted by PapaSmurf
I would not swear an oath, but I believe I have seen mirror mount base plates for magnetic mount antennas at truck stops. For those with fiberglass units that wanted the magnetic mount antennas. You could use a base plate and run a ground wire back to a frame ground.
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The mount you describe would probably work on a metal vehicle with a metal mirror mount, but not on a fiberglass body vehicle such as a motorhome.
There is a big difference between a vehicle chassis ground and an antenna ground plane. The antenna ground needs to act as a counterpoise to the antenna. That was the reason I had to keep the coax braid so short where it separates to connect to the antenna mount. In my installation, the vertical metal frame the coax is attached to probably acts more as half of a vertical dipole (the antenna being the other half) rather than a ground plane.
Almost any vehicle antenna is going to be a compromise of some sort.
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