CB questions

[Lore5]

I got a Realistic for free and I just put it on the dash. Also got the PA, it's great.

 

[nhrocker]

I have a smaller one that I was going to just put on the dash like that, but now that I have the Grant XL plans have changed! :laugh3:

It's a bit big for the dash, so I'm going to mount it between the visors so it's still easily accessible. Now I'm thinking about getting the PA speakers for under the hood......What is needed to do that? Just the speaker and a cable?

There's always something more.

 

[XJ_ranger]

meh - i just put it where i will never be sitting - passenger foot area - on the right of the center console...

​

 

[w_howey]

Since noone bothered to mention it. Transmitting outside the CB(26.965 - 27.405 Mhz) is illegal. No gray area, no freeband. All of the spectrum in that area is assigned to other liscensed services. The Amateur 10m and 12m bands, and one of the miltary bands surround the US CB band.

The SSB is still considered the same channel, because the frequency used is still the same. How SSB works: When you transmit on a frequency you actually use some radio spectrum on either side of the frequency you are using. The SSB radio can remove either of the 'sidebands', and put the extra power into the remaining one.

SSB radios are not particularly rare, just their use in off-roaders is somewhat rarer due to the larger size of them.

The Uniden Grant became the Uniden Grant XL, when Cobra was broken up. A company called Maxon bought the Cobra name for their radios, but Uniden bought the designs of many of the excellent radios Cobra used to manufacture. The workings of the Grant XL are almost identical to a Cobra 148GTL(before Maxon added a bunch of stuff that really doesn't do anything)

The 4-pin plug, isn't uncommon at all, Uniden used it for many years on most of their radios.

All in all, though the Grant XL is an excellent radio, very rugged, nice performing radio. I would love to see you attempt to properly operate the clarifier in the middle of an obstacle

 

[hillbilly_jeeper]

Yeah, SSB is a nice feature, that ive never used. I get plenty enough range without using it.
The PA speaker is easy. i Got mine from radio shack, some speaker wire, and a mono.mini plug to plug into the back of the CB.
My next order of business is to wire a swich, so can run the CB or my cd player through the PA spealer....

 

[ghettocruiser]

I only used SSB once or twice. I remember one time it was when the CB was still in my buddy's blazer. He had an amplifier...shhhhh....and we could get out really far on that thing. Havent touched SSB since its been in my XJ tho. Here are a few pics of my mounting situation. Sorry for the crappy quality. Kind of hard to see the bracket...its actually a 3 piece bracket nut and bolted together. Then I ground all the heads and ends down so it all tucks up nice.

Here is the level it is at. Pretty close to the roof and as level as I can make it. It sits just a hair above the rearview mirror, and from the outside the blue strip on the windshield makes it really hard to see. Only the mic cord gives it away. Doesnt bounce barely at all on the road. When I go off road, I have a foam wedge that I stick in there that puts enough pressure on it to keep it safe from the big slams.

Justin

 

[nhrocker]

Ok, first of all, thank you for all the great info and pics.

hillbilly_jeeper- Thanks for the info on the PA, that should be easy to set up (and fun to use!)

Now, I'm a bit confused. I keep hearing that it has a four pin mic? Mine has five. Is it just called a four pin, or should it actually have four?

And if I have SSB (it doesn't have that written on it?) how do I use it? Is that what the added knob would be for? I'm still not sure what's up with the 3rd knob (RF gain, SWR CAL), the 4th (S/RF, CAL, SWR), the 5th (LSB, AM, USB), and the clarifier. I've never had a CB that had these selections before.

 

[ghettocruiser]

Hey no prob...thats what we are all here for nhrocker. Heres the deal with the knobs. From left to right. Please forgive me if I confuse you...

First knob is mic gain...makes you louder to everyone else. Helps your "modulation".

Second knob..obvious.

Third knob...The outer one increases or decreases your recieving power. If you are sitting right next to someone, or behind them like on a trail, you can turn it down so its not pegging out your set. The inner one calibrates your SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) is used to help tailor your radio to the antenna you are using. Ill explain alittle later...

Fourth knob...Basically controls what part of the meter you are using. S/RF means that the needle will display your transmition power, and the signal strength of those talking to you. The CAL position is used to display your SWR calibration. To put it in basic terms, put the set on CH.20, turn knob four to CAL, then using the inner part of Knob three to get the needle to the "CAL" line while holding down the mic button. You probably dont need to worry too much about it. Finally the SWR position will display your SWR value on the meter when you key up the mic. You will want to keep knob four on S/RF most of the time.

Fifth knob...This is your SSB function. First postion is LSB or lower side-band. So if you are on CH19, this puts you on the lower side of 19...to put it very simply. The AM position is where you will spend most/all of your time. Last is USB or upper side-band. You will be hard pressed to find anyone in side-band areas.

Sixth knob...This knob is useless unless you are on USB or LSB. It fine tunes the frequency you are using.

Phew that was a lot... Haha I read over my post and I hope it doesnt mess you up. As for the pins in the mic...I cant remember what it looked like. I thought mine had 4...but who knows. hillbilly_jeeper is right, the PA is really easy to hook up. My biggest problem was finding a place to mount it. Im curious if a power mic will make it even louder...?? I have one that is wired for a realistic radio, Im sure it can be re-wired.

Justin

 

[hillbilly_jeeper]

Ok, first of all, thank you for all the great info and pics.

hillbilly_jeeper- Thanks for the info on the PA, that should be easy to set up (and fun to use!)

Now, I'm a bit confused. I keep hearing that it has a four pin mic? Mine has five. Is it just called a four pin, or should it actually have four?

And if I have SSB (it doesn't have that written on it?) how do I use it? Is that what the added knob would be for? I'm still not sure what's up with the 3rd knob (RF gain, SWR CAL), the 4th (S/RF, CAL, SWR), the 5th (LSB, AM, USB), and the clarifier. I've never had a CB that had these selections before.

Rf gain is your radio frequency gain, i believe. SWR is what you use when you cheaking you antenia. The 4th knob controls what the meter displays. s/rf for regular recieving and transmit power, Cal it calibrate the swr meter, and swr, the swr meter. The 5th is your SSB control, lower side band, LSB, regular CB, AM, and upper side band, USB.
After you have it set up and the antenia installed, you need to tune the ant. do do this, set the 4th knod(s/rf, cal, swr) to cal. put the radio on channel one, hold the mic key, and turn the srw cal knob till the needle is pointing at the little arrow. (make sure the LSB USB AM knob is on AM). then, while holding the mic key, turnt the SRF CAL SWR knob to swr. a reading under 2 on channel 1 and 40 is acceptable, with the lower the better. im at about 1.5. depending on you ant, therse diffent ways to tune it. mine you take an allen wrench, losen a set screw, and move the little top piece up and down. some you have to cut them shorter. you may not have to do anything.
also, i have an orginal owners manual, if you like, PM me with you adress, and i'll make some copies of the iimportant stuff and mail it to you. or, try a local CB shop, and see if they have any lying around. I got mine For $5, well worth it, with all those knobs!!

 

[hillbilly_jeeper]

guess it took me to long to post that, someone beat me to it! about the power mic and PA, i think it really causes more issues. even with my PA under the hood, i get alot of feedback, unless i turn the power mic way down. i think my PA really needs to be further from thew mic, but therse not much of a place to put it.

 

[w_howey]

guess it took me to long to post that, someone beat me to it! about the power mic and PA, i think it really causes more issues. even with my PA under the hood, i get alot of feedback, unless i turn the power mic way down. i think my PA really needs to be further from thew mic, but therse not much of a place to put it.

If your Mic gain is up, and the power mic is up. There is your problem. You are going to get tons of feedback on you PA, with your voice modulation being so far overdriven. Imagine what your signal sounds like to a person trying to listen to you. They don't get the feedback because of their distance, but your received audio sounds terrible.

 

[hillbilly_jeeper]

If your Mic gain is up, and the power mic is up. There is your problem. You are going to get tons of feedback on you PA, with your voice modulation being so far overdriven. Imagine what your signal sounds like to a person trying to listen to you. They don't get the feedback because of their distance, but your received audio sounds terrible.

I acctually run them both about the middle. usually set the mic gain in the middle, and adjust further with the power mic. never heard any complaints from anyone recieveing, be it my buddy or the truckers on the highway. the problem with the pa is that the volume of it pa is controled by the mic gain. so its hard to find a balance between volume and feedback.

 

[ghettocruiser]

Haha...yeah about halfway through my post I thought...someone is probably typing the same thing. I get feedback too sometimes. If I try to use it with the door open or even the window down sometimes it will squeal at me. It depends on the surroundings too...what there is around for the sound to bounce off of. I forgot to mention adjusting the mast on the antenna. I actually only did that adjustment once. Guess I always just get lucky with my SWR.

Justin

 

[w_howey]

Haha...yeah about halfway through my post I thought...someone is probably typing the same thing. I get feedback too sometimes. If I try to use it with the door open or even the window down sometimes it will squeal at me. It depends on the surroundings too...what there is around for the sound to bounce off of. I forgot to mention adjusting the mast on the antenna. I actually only did that adjustment once. Guess I always just get lucky with my SWR.

Justin

You shouldn't have to set your SWR more than once, unless something changes. New Radio, Bent antenna, changed mounting something akin to this.

 

[BlackXJ4x4]

Hey not to steal the thread but has anyone heard anyhting about the Uniden PC78 Elite CB Radio? I have found it for around $80?? Any comments?

Caleb

 

[BlackXJ4x4]

Nevermind just finished with a search. Thanks.