Started pondering the idea of setting up a truck/car cb radio in my room, your video is really helpful! I saw some at an analog store months ago and now I kinda know what to look for.
Thank you for this informational video. I’ve watched countless videos on CB’s and you’re the one of few who can explain it well enough for me as a newcomer to understand. I’ll definitely get around to setting up a little base station.
Got mine set up today. a99 and a 980SSB. Im blown away by all the chatter. Its nonstop on every channel! I have turn down the RF gain a ton or its like 5-6 signal on most channels. Nuts!
Hi Eric, greetings from The Netherlands. Planning to go into CB radio here as well; your video’s teach me a lot. I’m scribbling down notes all the time! CB radio used to be immensely popular in my country, and there were a lot of pirates as well. The nickname for a CB radio here, was 27MC, but moreover a “bakkie”, which in translation is a “little bin”. Thank you!
My dad got me into cbs in th 70's. I've used them ever since! I have a cobra 29bt in my truck, and a 1983 2000gtl, that had 15 minutes use, and back in the box. I got it with 2 external speakers, and I've changed it over to blue leds and readouts. I also put a film cover of blue flames on the face of the unit and speakers, because they are litteraly flawless, and I wanted to keep them that way. All of my nephews and son have mobiles in their vehicles, and we use them all the time. Keep up the great vids, and "I'll see you on the radio"!
I still have all of my radio equipment from college I used to talk. Skip to Russia, China, and Japan. Side band and of course some upper frequencies loll mostly upper. I was just talking to my wife. I still have all that equipment, and I was thinking of hooking it up again putting an antenna on my roof I still have my original a 99 and it’s still an excellent condition. I have a general Grant DX. Galaxy Pluto and an opened cobra 142 silver eagle, a gold eagle and a night eagle d104! After watching this video I’m pretty fired up about getting it all back up on the roof and back 10-8 lol Thanks for the video it brings back old memories
Great video ! at a very young age in the 1970’s me and most of my good friends her in Michigan had CB’s and talked through the night - I had my base station set up; going to be resurrecting the hobby now … I have my original LAFAYETTE TELSAT-1140 40 Channel … but want to get a good new comparable one… any thoughts? Also how much range distance can you expect these days? More distance on sideband?
I belonged to a cb club in the 1970s in Chelsea, NY. I loved it. We spoke to truckers and kept them company as they drove through our area at night. I now live in an apartment in Florida. I've had my Radio Shack cb in a bin, it looks new and works fine. I'm set up again, but can't put an antenna out the window or on the roof so it's very frustrating to get any type of good signal. There are people out there! I'm still experimenting with indoor antennas. Your video got me all hyped up again! Thanks!
@@FarpointFarms Thanks! I have a Firestik 5ft antenna that I'm trying to make a ground plane for. Then I have to figure out cabling and grounding within the apartment to try to get signal out a 4ftx5ft window. The challenge is on!
My home town was destroyed by a tornado last Thursday and it took down the cell tower and ISP hub. We're looking at months without proper access so this video is super helpful for me as I'm trying to figure out cb for the next time this happens I'm sitting here at a McDonalds watching this....
Were those the ones in Ohio? I saw some pictures and it was heartbreaking at the devastation. I hope you can get it all figured out- Kudos to wifi at McDonalds
I'm going back to cb and sideband myself.. just miss messing with all the stuff and hunting contacts.. maybe I'll hear you on skip sometime. Thanks man, for the videos!
RadioShack had some good stuff back in the day I had a microphone that I changed to wires on and Men it was voice changing limiting it was really nice and loud I still have my Radio Shack 10 amp power supply you are bringing back a lot of good memories my friend Keep On Keepin On
Brought back memories of my Cobra 29 LTD feeding an Antron 99 on top of a 16’ mast atop of my two story house. Thank you. May have to piece together a new setup
This is the simplest, best presented and most informative how-to video I have seen on youtube. Thank you. I normally avoid how to videos and prefer to buy a book to avoid sorting through the ego maniacs and narcissists. I'm going to make mahself a base station! Subscribed.
Nice summary! Have been out of it for 20 years and looking to get another set up going. Had forgotten most everything I knew then. Things starting to look familiar after seeing your vid. Thankyousir.
Eric. Been watching your vids and subscribed for many months now. Seems all my other online research leads back to your channel. Speaks volumes to the work you have been doing on your channel all these years. Congrats on that, I hope I can get my channel there as well someday. I remember my dad in the 80s using his cb in his car.(a Porche 911 and the fastest car in Texas at that time, as it was never governed to U.S. standards when it came off the boat) I was maybe 9 or ten years old back then. He didn't have money, but his best friend happened to be a self made international independent car dealer, and my dad would drive many exotics across the country for his friend's buyers of these cars. Now i'm entering my 50s and I want a radio lol! All I know is what I've learned these last few months...Which ain't much. I'm liking the idea of setting up a base station on the cheap with a UNIDEN BEARCAT 980 40 Ch. SSB radio. You mention in another video about modding a 102 steel whip with a NGP kit like the Workman Wil-kit-W6 Element. I am considering this set up as my house sits on nothing but lime stone. (outskirts of San Antonio Tx.) Driving a grounding rod 8ft into the ground here is not possible for standard home base antenna. Am I on the right track here in my thinking with regards to modding with the 102 whip? Anything else I still need to consider? Is it as simple as ordering the Antenna, NGP kit, putting them together, mount and run the cable? A lot to unpack I know. I appreciate any time, and North Star light you can shine regarding my pending project. Anthony
This brought back memories. I used to own a Cobra 148 GTL back in 1983. Was peaked & tuned, had extra channels & a Texas Star around 250W. Kept it low. Used a 6' 3/4 wave on the rear bumper of my 1971 Chevy Nova (which had white truck rims). What a time it was.
Shortly after watching this I ordered the Antron A99 to replace my old Shakespeare that I found locally for sale, went to put it together and the top and middle pieces would not screw together. There was some sort of solder blob on the threads, and wasn't cut right from the factory. I had to make several trips to various places before I finally found an auto parts store that had the correct tap so I could clean it up. I am not discouraged however, it's all going up this weekend on a 50 foot mast. I love your videos, and have learned more from watching you than anything else on the net put together
Glad to hear my videos are of some use to folks out there. I've had my Antron A99 for at least 14 years now, and also replaced a Shakespeare with it. (Well, it was a Radio Shack "Big Stick" but is was really a Shakespeare) I found it to be a lot better than the "Big Stick" and had a much lower SWR out of the box. 50 feet is WAY up there so I'm sure you'll get out well.
My uncle tried to teach this. He pumped up my cobra, and installed a 200 amp black widow. OH! Side bands! I discovered that experience tinkering is how you learn
My dad picked me up a lafayette comstat 25 back in 1967, it was a 23 channel tube radio, back then we had to have a license to tx, still works today, my son has it in his ham shack and talks with it every now and then when not on the other radios, he's had some interesting QSO when folks finds out was he is talking on an old tube CB. Good video :)
THX MY MAN FOR THIS AWESOME CLASS, I AM NEWBIE , ABOUT TO GET MY FIRST CB, AND AIMING FOR A REAL NICE STATION RIG SETUP. YOU ARE GREAT SIR. HOPE ONE DAY WE MEET ON THE AIR. OVER AND OUT!
Thanks Erik. So far i have power supply and radio. Next phase is cable and antenna. I kinda went into this hobby blind but I like the idea of cb radio and taking with family and friends over the airwaves. I plan to get every household of my loved ones a radio.
This was by far the EASIEST,BEST, MOST INFORMATIVE explanation on what and how to set up I've ever heard and I've been trying to get information well over a year! I had been wanting to do this for that long and haven't because nobody could or would explain it without wanting to give up trying in the first 10 minutes of inquiring. And I've joined various FB groups that are actively using CB to try and just get a basic knowledge! I've come to the conclusion they are either stingy with the info or just want to sound super intelligent or really don't know what the heck their talking about either! So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! What they couldn't do in over a year you accomplished in 15 minutes! I finally know what to purchase & I can definitely do this now with confidence! You are awesome did I say TY? 😆🤓
Great stuff, Friend! Man, brings back some great memories. Was into CB radio back in the early 70s. First rig was the Gonset G-12, then moved up (WAY up!) to the Lafayette HE-20-T. Pretty much the best basic base station antenna back then was the ground-plane from the local Radio Shack. Yup, THOSE were the days! Thanks for your efforts, here...
Thanks for all the info in your videos! Just got my first mobile CB and my GMRS license. Plan on setting up an SSB base station here at home. Previous owner had one so I still have a mast in place. Have learned a lot from you and a few others here. Please keep them coming.
thanks man I am a beginner and just learning and collecting equiptment from garage sales and such.Your videos are very easy to understand, so again thank you and I am certainly going to get an ssb base station going.unfortunately I wasted some money on a couple really nice old cobra cbs but whatever ,now I know.
Ha! You said closet stored new radio, and sure enough, I have a Cobra 29 still in the box that was in a closet and given to me freely because it had sat unused. Looking to set it up in my garage or office as a base unit. Thx for the video!
He just gave people about 40 years worth of knowledge there you're doing a good job young man and if you can come up with a boat motor noise thing for me I'd really appreciate it
Wow, leaned a bunch from this video. Really useful info to getting started on the cheap. I too am in NC but 25 mins outside the Raleigh area. You got a pretty slick setup going on over there and you have a VCR, that old school. I love it. Thanks for all the info ! ! !
I've got an old Browning that belonged to my grandparents. My grandmother would talk to my grandfather when he was trucking back in the 60s and 70s from central Kentucky to close to Edinburgh Indiana. It only has 32 channels.
Hey bud great videos. Period. I run a bear tracker 885 in my pick up. A cheap 12 volt for my base, but my kids can talk to me about 50 miles away. Keep it up bud. I learned a lot.
I use a antron99 with the ground plane kit. My radio is as cobra 2000 and yes, I grounded everything. Enjoyed the information because I am always learning.
The a-99 comes with ground plain, always get that add on if you have the space. Provides a enhanced ground reference. Remember 40 feet above ground 50 ohms match.
@@FarpointFarms sir, can u give me a list of basic equipment for a base radio station? kindly include a simplified diagram for its connection. Appreciate ur help. Thanks.
Hey my Friend, great vids. I have watched several now and have enjoyed them immensely. I was out of the hobby for over 20 yrs. but have been working on getting set up in my new garage. Waiting on a new Dipole (wire) antenna that should do me fine for awhile. My old handle and numbers were...Big T...SDO-155 from the Buckeye State. Don't know where that will go just yet. I have an old refurbished Uniden 510 40 ch. mob.
Howdy Eric......great video. .... I have been thinking about getting into the hobby for about a year and then I stumbled upon your video. You've inspired me and I have been researching intensely for a week and am about to purchase all that I need to get set up. I'm not mechanically or electrically inclined but willing to give it a go. Hope to one day hit you on the air from Hopkinsville, Kentucky. God bless. .....Frank
I'm glad to hear it. Let me know if you run into a snag during setup and I'll see if I can guide you through it. Welcome to a neat cheap hobby and I'll be out there.
Hey Erik, thanks so much for the video. I am really wanting to get into CB radio. I'm wanting to pick up a base station to put in my shop. I got a buddy who lives 13 miles away as the crow flies. He just installed a Cobra 142 gtl and im looking to get something too. I appreciate your videos, they are a big help.
Hey buddy I've had CB radio since about 1979 and the radio is I had were old ones that were given to me Manimal things are they work so good anyway I appreciate your channel cuz I love CB radios I got a cobra cam 89 and old one base station and several others 500 watch that's pretty good where I'm at I talked to a lot of places far away yeah I love CB radio thanks for the info
I have the cobra 142. I hook a vehicle antenna on the outside of my back door. Ive gotten people in Tennessee and iowa from the east coast. Way cool thanks for the vid. Gonna make my own antenna
@FarpointFarms it's a magnet one and the door is metal. I watched another of your vids about antennas. I'm wondering if the metal door helps and I have a metal roof shed about 20ft away
Just got my GMRS license. Gearing up Comms for prepping out here in the woods. Will get a micro mobile for a GMRS base station, but going to go with an SSB CB first. Thanks for all the info you put out. I've learned a lot. We'll see if you can talk to us up here near Lake Superior...
Thanks for the info, when I was a kid dad had a base station here in Iowa. I know one guy that does haam still and a couple son's who's father passed and was a good friend that was big into it. I'm only 49 but kinda remember the old ways. In this new world I think it wise to setup non-digital comm's.
I’m 52, 49 is close enough to say we’re the same age. You’re plenty old enough to remember the good ole days..the 70s and 80s were awesome. Have a good night buddy ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻🅰️
Great video Erik. A simple rule of thumb when it comes to coax cable runs, every coupler add 1/2 db of loss, also having multiple couplers will definitely alter the velocity factor of the coax, and NEVER couple/splice two different types of coax...e.i. RG-8 coupled to RG-213 or LMR-400 to RG-8 etc...also just like a garden hose, the longer the coax run, the higher the resistance, so make your final run from radio/linear to antenna short and sweet and to the point. Thanks for sharing!
Enjoyed the video. Well presented... Looking to get back in to the CB arena, after many years. Looking forward to more of your videos. Very informative.
I've got a Galaxy DX2547, and a three element Maco beam about 40 ft off the ground. Pretty quiet in the winter but during spring and summer, it's a skip talker. I think Galaxy are the only ones making actual base radios anymore. What I like about the Galaxy I have it has an automatic SWR tuning circuit and a warning light if SWR gets too high.
I actually just set up a cobra 23 plus I was given for free from a friend, I bought rg213 and bought the A99 you mentioned then plugged that little beast up to a 15 amp power supply and talked all over, radio is barefoot bone stock and talking around just fine, I get good reports back on it, I had just barely set this up just last Friday
Watch all your videos,just recently got my cb base back up and running(been out of it since the early 80s).Lots of good info ,am going to my first HamFest tomorrow, will hopefully find some good stuff.
Ran a Base station in Omaha Nebraska, years and years ago just couldn’t afford a computer so CB did it for me , I just asked around on a few channels any questions I had someone had a anserw. Ran a CLR2 about the equivalent of a super penatraror . The CB Was a Realistic TRC148 barefoot during skip I could talk to anywhere South of Nebraska, some reason Nothing West ever, ever ever, had a POwer mike desk top mike to, but I need to get set up here again soon, thanks for the info.
One more comment my friend my main base station is a cobra 2000gtl it's been touched a few times if you know what I mean I love CB radios anyway keep up the good work thanks for the info
Thank you Erik for this information. I can't wait to get mine set-up soon. It's been a long time since I was active in the radio league and truly miss it a lot. There's a wide range of choices right now. I am hoping I can get this uniden bearcat980/ssb with sideband.
Hi Eric, I always enjoy your videos, I am still working on my base Station. Got several radios off eBay , some good, some not so much. It's a lot of fun ,a lot of skip on 6 am. Maybe I'll hear you one day. Thank you 101 Sagebrush Base ,Out 🎙️
I have a few cobra 29s i've bought at pawnshops, and I think the brand new one I recently bought online (uniden) has SSB functionality. After watching this vid I'm seriously thinking of setting up a base in the spare doublewide trailer/man-cave in my back yard. Gotta go search around for some RG213 cabling online now. Thanks Erik.
Farpoint farms I hope you don't mind I went through and answered some questions in your comments section. I'm a licensed amateur radio operator but trust me not an old geezer cb hater one. I love cb and use my uniden grant xl daily in my truck with a Wilson 5000 antenna that I upgraded using a taller whip connector and high quality cable. I'm a computer engineer and have been using radios for over 30 years. Thanks for giving people some ideas on how to set up a proper base station. I can't tell by the video but if you want the best ssb radio money can buy get yourself a grant xl or older side mic 148 gtl or 2000gtl or the late model uniden Madison. Best reciever in the industry if only they still make the grant xl.
Your information is very helpful to me I'm trying to set up a base station and I can't quite figure out why my transmit isn't strong but my recive is amazing
I got one inhereted from my great grandfather after he passed. Its an old realistic CB-40 TRC 426 "Nine Scan" Model. Decided to set it up as a base station. For anyone who might have an old computer they dont use, (and if you have a volt meter/can read the stickers on the side) you can use those power supplies to power these CB radios instead of buying a power supply online and waiting! They run at most 12.5 volts DC, and they can provide 30 amps, which is perfect for a SMALL mobile CB station. I am not entirely sure about the ones with the extra features that the big rigs use. You can cut the wiring and make a custom box, or plug the wires directly into the 24 pin power connector (I suggest having a proper ground for your radio and antenna as the gentleman mentioned in the video). Im currently here for this video to get some antenna ideas. In trying to get one as fast as possible, I wasnt sure if I should just buy coax and make an antenna or just buy a CB antenna, get super long coax and put the antenna really high. I guess maybe this wasnt the proper video for it, but it did help with deciding on what to get so thank you for all of this.
So far I'm get out about 3 to 5 miles away on average night the longest contact was about 10 miles away and that was on a good night thinking about getting the power Mic. from the local truck stop do you have any recommendations????
Here in the UK antenna restrictions are always a problem when it comes to putting up half decent antennas. I built my own antenna which is a 1/2 wave inverted V antenna in the attic which works reasonably well and I've worked the states when the skip comes in on just 12 watts. I also use an RF choke which is about 10 turns of coax. I do use RG58 coax. I did cheap out on some RG213 coax a while back but it wasn't good so I went back to the RG58. The RG213 coax I bought probably wasn't what its supposed to be hence the reason why it was so cheap but I plan on upgrading the RG58 coax to some better stuff.
I had a used yugo it was a Fiat ..anyway it had a few electrical problems but it had a carburetor and electronic ignition it ran pretty good I wish I still had it all Fiats of those years were problematic in one way or another but they ran good
I just set up my first base station. A Cobra 148GTL connected to a Sirio 5/8 wave antenna with a corona ball and ground plane radials. Haven't been able to make any contacts yet, because I haven't been able to check my SWR, as the meter in my radio is dead, and none of the external ones I have seem to work either. But I've been able to hear people in Florida, and I live in Arkansas, so I know the receive is at least working well.
Awsome video ,that coax isn't cheap .I'm building my own antenna . Maybe get a cheaper coax for now . Try to chat once I'm up and running . Take care,thanks Eric
Man, I've always dreamed of having a dedicated "Shack", but the little corner of my garage you see in my videos does a pretty good job. Its a Man cave at its finest. Good luck with your shack, and post a video of it in all its greatness when its done!
will do. i also am thinking about turning my 30' school bus into a base station and then when im home i can just hook it up to a radio tower but idk yet
Ok you lit an interest that has been around since my trucking days, I still have my cobra 29 and 2 " bull sticks" that I used ... now I'm really dating myself ..not sure the brand but the base unit dad had in the 60s was tubes 😳 and had a petty good size case to it ... you can use a ohm meter to check your ground to the CB When he 1st set it and the ham radio up ..he had to install a filter ..he was bleeding into everybody's tv for a 3 block radius 😳☹️
Great video buddie... I'm glad I stumbled across ur videos!! I've been into CB Radios for a while now and they can be really for sure. My handle is CrAcKeR 1710 and I'm outta Colorado Springs, CO. I use to live in SoCal but never to beautiful Colorado! Keep it 10-8 when ya modulate.
Thank you, a lot of good information. A few questions. What gauge ground wire do you use for the Solarcon A99? Where do you connect the ground at the antenna? And how deep should my ground post be?
Oh Hell, I had a Canadian RS radio (TRC-24A) that caused tvi all the way up my street on tv channel 2, and (and I think) 6 that had the DOC come in and shut me down twice over the years. The DOC said that I was putting out almost 1 watt on the tv channels. Ended up with a Citizen 40 and a Sears 40 with large tvi traps and still had problems off n on. But I did love the 70s and CB radio - good times.
I’m on the track of getting mine setup as today. 6 years later and this video still encourages people.
So happy to hear it!
6 more months and its helping me now!
Best thing about CB radio is you can reminisce with people you don't know. Thanks for the great info. Gonna get me one.
It's all part of the fun.
You are the ''Professor'' of CB! I really learn a lot from your videos. Thank you for posting!
Thanks man! "Professor"... I could get used to that. Ha!
I have a General Electric CB 80 Ssb model 3-5825B I haven't used for several years. Is it okay us ?
Started pondering the idea of setting up a truck/car cb radio in my room, your video is really helpful! I saw some at an analog store months ago and now I kinda know what to look for.
Glad it was helpful. It is a fun hobby.
Thank you for this informational video. I’ve watched countless videos on CB’s and you’re the one of few who can explain it well enough for me as a newcomer to understand. I’ll definitely get around to setting up a little base station.
Glad to help!
Got mine set up today. a99 and a 980SSB. Im blown away by all the chatter. Its nonstop on every channel! I have turn down the RF gain a ton or its like 5-6 signal on most channels. Nuts!
You never know what you might hear out there.
Hi Eric, greetings from The Netherlands. Planning to go into CB radio here as well; your video’s teach me a lot. I’m scribbling down notes all the time! CB radio used to be immensely popular in my country, and there were a lot of pirates as well. The nickname for a CB radio here, was 27MC, but moreover a “bakkie”, which in translation is a “little bin”. Thank you!
Glad my videos could help!
Got me a Bearcat with ssb looking to buy power source, antenna and cable. Thanks Eric, this is my new hobby.
My dad got me into cbs in th 70's. I've used them ever since! I have a cobra 29bt in my truck, and a 1983 2000gtl, that had 15 minutes use, and back in the box. I got it with 2 external speakers, and I've changed it over to blue leds and readouts. I also put a film cover of blue flames on the face of the unit and speakers, because they are litteraly flawless, and I wanted to keep them that way. All of my nephews and son have mobiles in their vehicles, and we use them all the time. Keep up the great vids, and "I'll see you on the radio"!
I still have all of my radio equipment from college I used to talk. Skip to Russia, China, and Japan. Side band and of course some upper frequencies loll mostly upper. I was just talking to my wife. I still have all that equipment, and I was thinking of hooking it up again putting an antenna
on my roof I still have my original a 99 and it’s still an excellent condition. I have a general Grant DX. Galaxy
Pluto and an opened cobra 142 silver eagle, a gold eagle and a night eagle d104! After watching this video I’m pretty fired up about getting it all back up on the roof and back 10-8 lol
Thanks for the video it brings back old memories
Get it done! Welcome back to the hobby.
Great video ! at a very young age in the 1970’s me and most of my good friends her in Michigan had CB’s and talked through the night - I had my base station set up; going to be resurrecting the hobby now … I have my original LAFAYETTE TELSAT-1140 40 Channel … but want to get a good new comparable one… any thoughts? Also how much range distance can you expect these days? More distance on sideband?
I belonged to a cb club in the 1970s in Chelsea, NY. I loved it. We spoke to truckers and kept them company as they drove through our area at night. I now live in an apartment in Florida. I've had my Radio Shack cb in a bin, it looks new and works fine. I'm set up again, but can't put an antenna out the window or on the roof so it's very frustrating to get any type of good signal. There are people out there! I'm still experimenting with indoor antennas. Your video got me all hyped up again! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing! I hope you are able to figure out an antenna solution so you can get back on the air!
@@FarpointFarms Thanks! I have a Firestik 5ft antenna that I'm trying to make a ground plane for. Then I have to figure out cabling and grounding within the apartment to try to get signal out a 4ftx5ft window. The challenge is on!
My home town was destroyed by a tornado last Thursday and it took down the cell tower and ISP hub. We're looking at months without proper access so this video is super helpful for me as I'm trying to figure out cb for the next time this happens
I'm sitting here at a McDonalds watching this....
Were those the ones in Ohio? I saw some pictures and it was heartbreaking at the devastation. I hope you can get it all figured out- Kudos to wifi at McDonalds
I'm going back to cb and sideband myself.. just miss messing with all the stuff and hunting contacts.. maybe I'll hear you on skip sometime. Thanks man, for the videos!
RadioShack had some good stuff back in the day I had a microphone that I changed to wires on and Men it was voice changing limiting it was really nice and loud I still have my Radio Shack 10 amp power supply you are bringing back a lot of good memories my friend Keep On Keepin On
01:13 I love my Washington. Added a Digi-scan 400 to it right after purchase. Bought it back in the 70's and she's still going strong.
I want to get one for emergencies. I use to talk on CB years ago.
If you want brand I’ve seen police use a brand called Motorola two way radios
Brought back memories of my Cobra 29 LTD feeding an Antron 99 on top of a 16’ mast atop of my two story house. Thank you. May have to piece together a new setup
This is the simplest, best presented and most informative how-to video I have seen on youtube. Thank you. I normally avoid how to videos and prefer to buy a book to avoid sorting through the ego maniacs and narcissists. I'm going to make mahself a base station! Subscribed.
Nice summary! Have been out of it for 20 years and looking to get another set up going. Had forgotten most everything I knew then. Things starting to look familiar after seeing your vid. Thankyousir.
Eric. Been watching your vids and subscribed for many months now. Seems all my other online research leads back to your channel. Speaks volumes to the work you have been doing on your channel all these years. Congrats on that, I hope I can get my channel there as well someday. I remember my dad in the 80s using his cb in his car.(a Porche 911 and the fastest car in Texas at that time, as it was never governed to U.S. standards when it came off the boat) I was maybe 9 or ten years old back then. He didn't have money, but his best friend happened to be a self made international independent car dealer, and my dad would drive many exotics across the country for his friend's buyers of these cars. Now i'm entering my 50s and I want a radio lol! All I know is what I've learned these last few months...Which ain't much. I'm liking the idea of setting up a base station on the cheap with a
UNIDEN BEARCAT 980 40 Ch. SSB radio. You mention in another video about modding a 102 steel whip with a NGP kit like the Workman Wil-kit-W6 Element. I am considering this set up as my house sits on nothing but lime stone. (outskirts of San Antonio Tx.) Driving a grounding rod 8ft into the ground here is not possible for standard home base antenna. Am I on the right track here in my thinking with regards to modding with the 102 whip? Anything else I still need to consider? Is it as simple as ordering the Antenna, NGP kit, putting them together, mount and run the cable? A lot to unpack I know. I appreciate any time, and North Star light you can shine regarding my pending project. Anthony
I'm from New York and am currently running a mobile set up in my house. This video has inspired me to look into a base station setup, great video!
This brought back memories. I used to own a Cobra 148 GTL back in 1983. Was peaked & tuned, had extra channels & a Texas Star around 250W.
Kept it low. Used a 6' 3/4 wave on the rear bumper of my 1971 Chevy Nova (which had white truck rims). What a time it was.
Your radio and the uniden grants both have the same board and are the best mobile radios you can own bar none
Shortly after watching this I ordered the Antron A99 to replace my old Shakespeare that I found locally for sale, went to put it together and the top and middle pieces would not screw together. There was some sort of solder blob on the threads, and wasn't cut right from the factory. I had to make several trips to various places before I finally found an auto parts store that had the correct tap so I could clean it up. I am not discouraged however, it's all going up this weekend on a 50 foot mast. I love your videos, and have learned more from watching you than anything else on the net put together
Glad to hear my videos are of some use to folks out there. I've had my Antron A99 for at least 14 years now, and also replaced a Shakespeare with it. (Well, it was a Radio Shack "Big Stick" but is was really a Shakespeare)
I found it to be a lot better than the "Big Stick" and had a much lower SWR out of the box.
50 feet is WAY up there so I'm sure you'll get out well.
My uncle tried to teach this. He pumped up my cobra, and installed a 200 amp black widow.
OH! Side bands! I discovered that experience tinkering is how you learn
Wow, that is a ton of power. Tinkering is the best teacher, you can understand more when you play with it
My dad picked me up a lafayette comstat 25 back in 1967, it was a 23 channel tube radio, back then we had to have a license to tx, still works today, my son has it in his ham shack and talks with it every now and then when not on the other radios, he's had some interesting QSO when folks finds out was he is talking on an old tube CB.
Good video :)
My journey starts today. Local guy is giving me an astroplane antenna. Gonna mount it on a pole. Wish me luck. Great videos!!!
THX MY MAN FOR THIS AWESOME CLASS, I AM NEWBIE , ABOUT TO GET MY FIRST CB, AND AIMING FOR A REAL NICE STATION RIG SETUP. YOU ARE GREAT SIR. HOPE ONE DAY WE MEET ON THE AIR. OVER AND OUT!
Glad I could help!
Thanks Erik. So far i have power supply and radio. Next phase is cable and antenna. I kinda went into this hobby blind but I like the idea of cb radio and taking with family and friends over the airwaves. I plan to get every household of my loved ones a radio.
That sounds like a great plan. I look forward to hearing about your progress!
This was by far the EASIEST,BEST, MOST INFORMATIVE explanation on what and how to set up I've ever heard and I've been trying to get information well over a year! I had been wanting to do this for that long and haven't because nobody could or would explain it without wanting to give up trying in the first 10 minutes of inquiring. And I've joined various FB groups that are actively using CB to try and just get a basic knowledge! I've come to the conclusion they are either stingy with the info or just want to sound super intelligent or really don't know what the heck their talking about either! So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! What they couldn't do in over a year you accomplished in 15 minutes! I finally know what to purchase & I can definitely do this now with confidence! You are awesome did I say TY? 😆🤓
Great stuff, Friend!
Man, brings back some great memories.
Was into CB radio back in the early 70s.
First rig was the Gonset G-12, then moved up (WAY up!) to the Lafayette HE-20-T.
Pretty much the best basic base station antenna back then was the ground-plane from the local Radio Shack.
Yup, THOSE were the days!
Thanks for your efforts, here...
Thank you!!! I have learned alot from your videos. You have inspired me to look forward to building my home base CB Station. A+
Great to hear!
@@FarpointFarms Thank you Sir! A+
Thanks for all the info in your videos! Just got my first mobile CB and my GMRS license. Plan on setting up an SSB base station here at home. Previous owner had one so I still have a mast in place. Have learned a lot from you and a few others here. Please keep them coming.
Side band is such good fun. Respect. Ad be polite you will enjoy
thanks man I am a beginner and just learning and collecting equiptment from garage sales and such.Your videos are very easy to understand, so again thank you and I am certainly going to get an ssb base station going.unfortunately I wasted some money on a couple really nice old cobra cbs but whatever ,now I know.
Im planning to setup mine this year and thanks to this video really help!
Glad I could help!
Ha! You said closet stored new radio, and sure enough, I have a Cobra 29 still in the box that was in a closet and given to me freely because it had sat unused. Looking to set it up in my garage or office as a base unit. Thx for the video!
Go for it! I have a radio in my garage and always hear interesting stuff on it.
He just gave people about 40 years worth of knowledge there you're doing a good job young man and if you can come up with a boat motor noise thing for me I'd really appreciate it
Thx for this video. Getting educated about a station in my house here in Mississippi 💯
Wow, leaned a bunch from this video. Really useful info to getting started on the cheap.
I too am in NC but 25 mins outside the Raleigh area. You got a pretty slick setup going on over there and you have a VCR, that old school. I love it. Thanks for all the info ! ! !
That's my "man cave"! I love my little setup and spend many hours out here tinkering. I lived outside of Raleigh for many years near Jordan lake.
I've got an old Browning that belonged to my grandparents. My grandmother would talk to my grandfather when he was trucking back in the 60s and 70s from central Kentucky to close to Edinburgh Indiana. It only has 32 channels.
Still a great old school radio!
Excellent instruction for beginners. I'm going to set s cb radio in my garage ,thanks Eric you rock.
Hey bud great videos. Period. I run a bear tracker 885 in my pick up. A cheap 12 volt for my base, but my kids can talk to me about 50 miles away. Keep it up bud. I learned a lot.
Glad to hear it!
Inspiring! I use CB mainly in my Jeep and work tractor but agree it's so underused it's ripe to become fun again!
It's the year 2020 and I start with the CB Radio Hobby :) Thanks for your great videos,
I use a antron99 with the ground plane kit. My radio is as cobra 2000 and yes, I grounded everything. Enjoyed the information because I am always learning.
I'm just putting a antron up ae they any good
Thanks for sharing 👍. Thinking about putting my Cobra 29LTD Classic in the house For a Base station. Your vid was good. THANKS
Glad I could help
The a-99 comes with ground plain, always get that add on if you have the space. Provides a enhanced ground reference. Remember 40 feet above ground 50 ohms match.
Yow bro.
Learned a lot.
Thanks.
From Philippines here.
Glad I could help!
@@FarpointFarms sir, can u give me a list of basic equipment for a base radio station?
kindly include a simplified diagram for its connection.
Appreciate ur help.
Thanks.
Hey my Friend, great vids. I have watched several now and have enjoyed them immensely. I was out of the hobby for over 20 yrs. but have been working on getting set up in my new garage. Waiting on a new Dipole (wire) antenna that should do me fine for awhile. My old handle and numbers were...Big T...SDO-155 from the Buckeye State. Don't know where that will go just yet. I have an old refurbished Uniden 510 40 ch. mob.
Welcome back to the hobby!
Howdy Eric......great video. .... I have been thinking about getting into the hobby for about a year and then I stumbled upon your video. You've inspired me and I have been researching intensely for a week and am about to purchase all that I need to get set up. I'm not mechanically or electrically inclined but willing to give it a go. Hope to one day hit you on the air from Hopkinsville, Kentucky. God bless. .....Frank
I'm glad to hear it. Let me know if you run into a snag during setup and I'll see if I can guide you through it.
Welcome to a neat cheap hobby and I'll be out there.
Thanks Northstar I will let you know what happens I am buying two antennas one for my suv and one for home .
Hey Erik, thanks so much for the video. I am really wanting to get into CB radio. I'm wanting to pick up a base station to put in my shop. I got a buddy who lives 13 miles away as the crow flies. He just installed a Cobra 142 gtl and im looking to get something too. I appreciate your videos, they are a big help.
Hey buddy I've had CB radio since about 1979 and the radio is I had were old ones that were given to me Manimal things are they work so good anyway I appreciate your channel cuz I love CB radios I got a cobra cam 89 and old one base station and several others 500 watch that's pretty good where I'm at I talked to a lot of places far away yeah I love CB radio thanks for the info
I used a mini base antenna in the 90s, worked really well
They are certainly better than no antenna at all.
I have the cobra 142. I hook a vehicle antenna on the outside of my back door. Ive gotten people in Tennessee and iowa from the east coast. Way cool thanks for the vid. Gonna make my own antenna
That is being resourceful for sure. Good luck on making it
@FarpointFarms it's a magnet one and the door is metal. I watched another of your vids about antennas. I'm wondering if the metal door helps and I have a metal roof shed about 20ft away
I want to get a base station too. Should come in handy next hurricane season. Subscribing!
Glad to hear it. Welcome to the channel!
Just got my GMRS license. Gearing up Comms for prepping out here in the woods. Will get a micro mobile for a GMRS base station, but going to go with an SSB CB first. Thanks for all the info you put out. I've learned a lot. We'll see if you can talk to us up here near Lake Superior...
I'm Northstar, and I'll be listening!
great video thanks for you time. I am working on my base CB now. You got a lot of good info.
The best base station antenna is/was the Super Penetrator. It's a 5/8th's omni directional. It's tall but it works well.
I had the Penetrator 500. Great Antenna. Talked all over the country and several other countries as well.
You are correct sir that has proven to be the best ever and a company has started making it again
You have so much info on this. I am going to follow you now. I want to get into this hobby.
Welcome aboard!
Thanks for the info, when I was a kid dad had a base station here in Iowa. I know one guy that does haam still and a couple son's who's father passed and was a good friend that was big into it. I'm only 49 but kinda remember the old ways. In this new world I think it wise to setup non-digital comm's.
I’m 52, 49 is close enough to say we’re the same age. You’re plenty old enough to remember the good ole days..the 70s and 80s were awesome. Have a good night buddy ✝️🇺🇸🤙🏻🅰️
Great video Erik. A simple rule of thumb when it comes to coax cable runs, every coupler add 1/2 db of loss, also having multiple couplers will definitely alter the velocity factor of the coax, and NEVER couple/splice two different types of coax...e.i. RG-8 coupled to RG-213 or LMR-400 to RG-8 etc...also just like a garden hose, the longer the coax run, the higher the resistance, so make your final run from radio/linear to antenna short and sweet and to the point.
Thanks for sharing!
Working on a Base Station and new mobile set up. Thanks for the info..
Enjoyed the video. Well presented... Looking to get back in to the CB arena, after many years. Looking forward to more of your videos. Very informative.
I've got a Galaxy DX2547, and a three element Maco beam about 40 ft off the ground. Pretty quiet in the winter but during spring and summer, it's a skip talker. I think Galaxy are the only ones making actual base radios anymore. What I like about the Galaxy I have it has an automatic SWR tuning circuit and a warning light if SWR gets too high.
I actually just set up a cobra 23 plus I was given for free from a friend, I bought rg213 and bought the A99 you mentioned then plugged that little beast up to a 15 amp power supply and talked all over, radio is barefoot bone stock and talking around just fine, I get good reports back on it, I had just barely set this up just last Friday
Glad to hear it!
Good information. I have an old Tram titan Buddy found in a shed.Gonna have it given a once over by a cb shop. hopefully it transmits and receives.
I have really enjoyed all of your videos that I has seen!
I'm running the Cobra 2000 base. Great radio.
Thank you for your input, sir. I’m in Ohio and planning on doing such as funds will allow.
Glad I could help you
We are still listening out there! keep it coming brother.
Will do!
Great video my friend, 320 the snowman waving
Watch all your videos,just recently got my cb base back up and running(been out of it since the early 80s).Lots of good info ,am going to my first HamFest tomorrow, will hopefully find some good stuff.
Ran a Base station in Omaha Nebraska, years and years ago just couldn’t afford a computer so CB did it for me , I just asked around on a few channels any questions I had someone had a anserw. Ran a CLR2 about the equivalent of a super penatraror . The CB Was a Realistic TRC148 barefoot during skip I could talk to anywhere South of Nebraska, some reason Nothing West ever, ever ever, had a POwer mike desk top mike to, but I need to get set up here again soon, thanks for the info.
One more comment my friend my main base station is a cobra 2000gtl it's been touched a few times if you know what I mean I love CB radios anyway keep up the good work thanks for the info
Thank you Erik for this information. I can't wait to get mine set-up soon. It's been a long time since I was active in the radio league and truly miss it a lot.
There's a wide range of choices right now. I am hoping I can get this uniden bearcat980/ssb with sideband.
Hi Eric, I always enjoy your videos, I am still working on my base Station. Got several radios off eBay , some good, some not so much. It's a lot of fun ,a lot of skip on 6 am. Maybe I'll hear you one day. Thank you 101 Sagebrush Base ,Out 🎙️
Excellent videos dude. Keep up the good work. Thank you.
No problem!
I have a few cobra 29s i've bought at pawnshops, and I think the brand new one I recently bought online (uniden) has SSB functionality. After watching this vid I'm seriously thinking of setting up a base in the spare doublewide trailer/man-cave in my back yard. Gotta go search around for some RG213 cabling online now. Thanks Erik.
Dang, you have a whole double wide as a man cave!?! When can I come over??
Im just starting with this cb stuff and this helped me alot! Thanks!!
Glad I could help!
Thanks for the info getting back into cb radio again like all your vidoes
Welcome back to the hobby!
Great video. I've been thinking about making a base station
Go for it!
Picked up a realistic navaho trc-433 base station in working order at goodwill for 5$. Hopefully get it set up soon!
$5.00 for a base station!!! Great deal! I hope to hear you on the air some day.
Farpoint farms I hope you don't mind I went through and answered some questions in your comments section. I'm a licensed amateur radio operator but trust me not an old geezer cb hater one. I love cb and use my uniden grant xl daily in my truck with a Wilson 5000 antenna that I upgraded using a taller whip connector and high quality cable. I'm a computer engineer and have been using radios for over 30 years. Thanks for giving people some ideas on how to set up a proper base station. I can't tell by the video but if you want the best ssb radio money can buy get yourself a grant xl or older side mic 148 gtl or 2000gtl or the late model uniden Madison. Best reciever in the industry if only they still make the grant xl.
Thanks for helping out! That's what I love about people. Always willing to step up and help.
Your information is very helpful to me I'm trying to set up a base station and I can't quite figure out why my transmit isn't strong but my recive is amazing
I got one inhereted from my great grandfather after he passed. Its an old realistic CB-40 TRC 426 "Nine Scan" Model. Decided to set it up as a base station.
For anyone who might have an old computer they dont use, (and if you have a volt meter/can read the stickers on the side) you can use those power supplies to power these CB radios instead of buying a power supply online and waiting! They run at most 12.5 volts DC, and they can provide 30 amps, which is perfect for a SMALL mobile CB station. I am not entirely sure about the ones with the extra features that the big rigs use. You can cut the wiring and make a custom box, or plug the wires directly into the 24 pin power connector (I suggest having a proper ground for your radio and antenna as the gentleman mentioned in the video).
Im currently here for this video to get some antenna ideas. In trying to get one as fast as possible, I wasnt sure if I should just buy coax and make an antenna or just buy a CB antenna, get super long coax and put the antenna really high. I guess maybe this wasnt the proper video for it, but it did help with deciding on what to get so thank you for all of this.
just did mine simple Realistic Navhao to a Sirio tornado love it so far
Cool, thanks for sharing
The best simple information. Thanks
You're welcome
I'm getting started on my Base radio ...soon it's cheap butt it's a start....good video....
Welcome to the hobby!
So far I have a cobra Ultra 3 ...whith cheep coax ..my antanna is so so k40..about 12' in the air . That's my setup for now...
So far I'm get out about 3 to 5 miles away on average night the longest contact was about 10 miles away and that was on a good night thinking about getting the power Mic. from the local truck stop do you have any recommendations????
Here in the UK antenna restrictions are always a problem when it comes to putting up half decent antennas. I built my own antenna which is a 1/2 wave inverted V antenna in the attic which works reasonably well and I've worked the states when the skip comes in on just 12 watts. I also use an RF choke which is about 10 turns of coax. I do use RG58 coax. I did cheap out on some RG213 coax a while back but it wasn't good so I went back to the RG58. The RG213 coax I bought probably wasn't what its supposed to be hence the reason why it was so cheap but I plan on upgrading the RG58 coax to some better stuff.
I think the “Yugo” shirt is cool. Not a great car but has that 80’s nostalgia thing going for it.
I had a used yugo it was a Fiat ..anyway it had a few electrical problems but it had a carburetor and electronic ignition it ran pretty good I wish I still had it all Fiats of those years were problematic in one way or another but they ran good
I had a Yugo. Best car I ever owned that started with a "Y", so what are you talking about?
I just set up my first base station. A Cobra 148GTL connected to a Sirio 5/8 wave antenna with a corona ball and ground plane radials. Haven't been able to make any contacts yet, because I haven't been able to check my SWR, as the meter in my radio is dead, and none of the external ones I have seem to work either. But I've been able to hear people in Florida, and I live in Arkansas, so I know the receive is at least working well.
Awsome video ,that coax isn't cheap .I'm building my own antenna . Maybe get a cheaper coax for now .
Try to chat once I'm up and running .
Take care,thanks Eric
Sounds good. I hope to hear you on the air someday!
Excellent video. Thanks for the info and for posting.
Simple & Fun. The I like it. Thanks for posting.
You're welcome!
I am buying a shed and turning it into a CB/HAM/SCANNER radio station so i will keep any eye out on ur ch. thanks for the great info
Man, I've always dreamed of having a dedicated "Shack", but the little corner of my garage you see in my videos does a pretty good job. Its a Man cave at its finest. Good luck with your shack, and post a video of it in all its greatness when its done!
will do. i also am thinking about turning my 30' school bus into a base station and then when im home i can just hook it up to a radio tower but idk yet
Dude a 30 foot school bus would make a hell of a ground plane I say go for it I love the idea
Ok you lit an interest that has been around since my trucking days, I still have my cobra 29 and 2 " bull sticks" that I used ... now I'm really dating myself ..not sure the brand but the base unit dad had in the 60s was tubes 😳 and had a petty good size case to it ... you can use a ohm meter to check your ground to the CB
When he 1st set it and the ham radio up ..he had to install a filter ..he was bleeding into everybody's tv for a 3 block radius 😳☹️
Awesome video even taught me something new.
Great video buddie... I'm glad I stumbled across ur videos!! I've been into CB Radios for a while now and they can be really for sure. My handle is CrAcKeR 1710 and I'm outta Colorado Springs, CO. I use to live in SoCal but never to beautiful Colorado!
Keep it 10-8 when ya modulate.
Welcome aboard!
Yes. I cut a dipole for 11 meters out of wire. Battery power/ solar panel. Using a maxon 40 channel mobile rig. Works well. Tks for info.
Awesome presentation thanks
Thank you, a lot of good information. A few questions. What gauge ground wire do you use for the Solarcon A99? Where do you connect the ground at the antenna? And how deep should my ground post be?
14 gauge as I recall and the ground rod is a 4 foot unit.
Oh Hell, I had a Canadian RS radio (TRC-24A) that caused tvi all the way up my street on tv channel 2, and (and I think) 6 that had the DOC come in and shut me down twice over the years. The DOC said that I was putting out almost 1 watt on the tv channels. Ended up with a Citizen 40 and a Sears 40 with large tvi traps and still had problems off n on. But I did love the 70s and CB radio - good times.