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Seasoned...
Joined: Sat Oct 21st, 2017
Location: Near The Pointy End , USA
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Undrstm8ed wrote:[highlight= rgb(39, 39, 39);]perhaps even get to swap out the rear for a Norweld rear UTE tray,
As for the CB, works great so far. Out in the open I get out farther than some of the people in my groups than I can hear back. Still haven't determined whether or not that is an issue on my end (receiving) or on their end of transmitting.
A good friend of mine from Sweden, here on a school visa whom has taken an almost comical take to wheeling and off-roading. He is using a old school Cobra 29 classic with a Fire stick off the side of the rear of his 1G Nissan Xterra, and sometimes when he is behind me a distance, he doesn't get out as well but I come in like gang-busters. His vehicle seems to be more biased to the rear than equal. It is better now that we took an SWR meter to it and calibrated it better.
I do use the CB with a couple groups I frequent with, the GMRS 2-way with some closer niche friends, and eventually I'll get my icom 5100 H.A.M. unit in there.. CB doesnt seem to be the "thing" anymore like it was back in the 80-90's even. My father was really into it back then himself, base and mobile wise.
That iCOM 5100 Unit has a detachable face feature if you will that allows for remote installations,
OK on the HAM Rig, can't beat a good FM VHF or an HF with the right antennas. I use an older Kenwood 741 Tri-Band VHF/UHF, High Power, Unit... it has the added feature of what I call a "Frequency Box" which adds another three Bands to the unit. so I am in the 2Meter, 220 Mhz, 440 Mhz, 6 meters and 10 meters, all FM ! This unit covers everything I do in everyday communications, Emergency Communications, Communications with the Red Cross, Police, and Fire. It is getting old but I have a local Shop that works on nothing but Kenwood and has a specialist that does the 741s.
CBs are getting old and not many companies make them anymore but there are a few; so for a while it is an alternative and there are the Import CBs.The reason you hear better to the rear with your CB, i.e. "your buddy saying you come in ing busters", is because of your antenna mounting location. You mounted it on the front fender which give the major mass of grounding towards the rear and in turn better transmitting and receiving towards the rear. If you were to mount the antenna to center mass of the truck you would get a better all around transmit and receive, the power goes to the grounding mass and the higher the better with antennas.
I wonder sometimes about the mounting locations people chose but usually don't say much, just thinking out loud. How did the SWR setting go ? Sometime Hood Mounting of the antenna throws the SWR for a Loop... !Is the Antenna Mount grounded ?
I like your truck, the Norweld Setup looks interesting, can only think BIG $$$ !
Luck with the project and keep the picture coming.
The HAM is sorta new to me, still need to take the testing for it too. What antenna did you use with that setup; and was it mobile or base rig?
And For sometime what you describe as the CB condition I was under the impression was working in the "opposite" fashion but same as you described. (o.O) ?
After I got done tweaking it I got a 1:1.2 I think was on ch40 and a 1:1.4 on ch1 and that was achieved after I dialed in the two "tuning rings" near the base of the antenna there.
I picked up a great ring style cable from Right Channel Radios. The way the cable attaches is perfect for not having to deal with ends going bad or catching on things going through the trails.. and especially worked well for the way I needed to route things. I didn't want 9 ft of extra cable coiled in the cab or even outside of it.
I would have loved to put it right on top. However, the problem with that is I cant with the Flip-Pac on top as of now and I wanted a semi-permanent fixture for the most part. Didn't want to have to chance having to SWR calibrate it every time I picked up the magnet mount and didn't put it EXACTLY back where it was and even then I think once you break that initial bond, it can throw things off a bit. At least that's what it seems it does on an older buddy of mines GMC Sierra setup.
When the Flip-Pac is used it folds open over the rest of the cab and the hood area for a Queen sized bed up top and well not too many antennas would survive the less than 4" gap left from it and the roof itself. Plus I have a thing about drilling holes in roofs to an extent. If I am going to drill any holes in that roof it will be under the final decision to modify the roof for a universal rack which isnt going to happen on this setup until after I swap the UTE tray for the Flip-Pac setup onto another truck as I mentioned before.
Anyone really deep into Radio or communication of CBs, 2-way, HAM, and accessories that wanted to start a business doing so would DO WELL here in Vegas. There is NO ONE but 1 guy who does any CB work whether repair, some slight new sales, and installation here. A radio city or something needs to be put here. With all the trucking and freight liners that roll through the Vegas hub, you'd mop up I think.. well for a few more years anyhow. lol
As for the UTE tray.. yea its not much more than what my Flip-Pac was new.. but the possibilities and features are nearly endless, the weight is far-far less, the capabilities, and the uniqueness alone make it worth it to me. I would use the out of it !
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Roman courtier during the reign of Nero.
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~ Undrstm8ed Truckumentry Write Up Pg.
~ Undrstm8ed Trailermentry Write Up Pg.
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