Who Uses CB Radios?

B7510HSD · Jan 18, 2019

Sumner0329 said:
Good evening and hello from Georgia.
I will be turning 30 this year and I say that I represent the fact that I have been into CB radios and have enjoyed the hobby for about 10 years now. I've had everything from old 23 channel CB radios, uniden Grant XL, old Cobra 29 LTD, and have now I have two Cobra 29 LX's one of which is Bluetooth and has been peaked and tuned. I'm no professional Cb'er and I'm still understanding how things work in this hobby, however it's a really interesting and very neat way to communicate. Especially when you consider modern society and its fast pace and the ever-growing technology. Cuz when the fit hits the Shan a CB will work. And BTW if any of you guys are around the north Georgia area; Holler out for Whiskey Sierra and I might just give you a shout back!

CB will work but you will be very limited as to distance!! Ever thought about a Ham license it would really open up your options???

B7510HSD · Jan 18, 2019

k0ua said:
Moss, here are the "twins" I referenced in the PM I just sent you. I did finally get the guy in Belarus in the log.

Still listening to the guy in Kuwait. YOu can see the frequencies on the display.
View attachment 587591

Nice setup James it appears you have a Homebrew Mic switch?? What antenna's are you running on the twins?

k0ua · Jan 18, 2019

B7510HSD said:
Nice setup James it appears you have a Homebrew Mic switch?? What antenna's are you running on the twins?

Yes, a homebrew microphone switch box to easily change the microphone between the rigs. I use a computer headset as they have an electret element in them just like what the Icom's need. It also has an input for the footswitch on the floor and a PTT button on the front, so multiple ways to key the selected rig.

Antennas include a Cush Craft (before MFJ bought them out) MA5B for 20 thru 10 meters, an OCFD (Off Center Fed Dipole) for 80 thru 6 meters, a 6 meter vertical, and a 6 meter moxon 2 element beam above the MA5B. I also have an Inverted L out in the woods for 160 meters which also works well on 60 meters . And also on the same feedline is a 30 meter vertical with elevated radials. There is about 100 foot distance between the antenna groups so I can operate many combinations of bands at the same time.

Industrial Toys · Jan 18, 2019

Why two rigs?

Many years ago, starting in the alarm business, Provincial Police were still on low band 42.0 MHZ and we would have false alarms at a Ford Dealership out in the country. Something became obvious when we found the Police were always already on site. Crappy, early PIR motion sensors.

I was looking at our local radio club (GBARC) web site for field day information. I have to say, I never was a clubsy person and never will be. But it seems, that the president was my boss at savin photocopier back in 1980 or so, a hundred miles away in Mississauga. That would be a coincidence.

k0ua · Jan 18, 2019

Why two rigs?

A couple of reasons. One is simply to have a backup rig. As in "two is 1 and 1 is none" which is a military readiness axiom.

And the more pressing reason is I often operate two rigs at once to be able to be on two different bands at the same time. I will often set one on 30 meters on the FT8 frequency, and then tune around with the other one on 20 meters thru 10 meters during the day working either FT8 or CW chasing DX while checking the spotting on the DX spotting network.

During the night, the one rig that was on 30 meters gets set up on 160 meters and stays there and the other rig goes between 80 meters or 40 meters again usually on FT8 or CW, and occasionally will go to SSB if something "juicy" is spotted on that mode.

When the 6 meter Es season comes in late May, the one rig will be on the 6 meter FT8 frequency looking for double and triple hop Sporadic E propagation into Europe and Asia. The other again will be up on 20 thru 10 meters. With two rigs on different bands at the same time, more DX can be worked in a given time and less openings will be missed.

If you get the impression that I am competitive, you would be correct. If you have someone else to compete against it makes it more interesting and you are more motivated. This is true in nearly any "sport".

ultrarunner · Jan 18, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
Why two rigs?

Many years ago, starting in the alarm business, Provincial Police were still on low band 42.0 MHZ and we would have false alarms at a Ford Dealership out in the country. Something became obvious when we found the Police were always already on site. Crappy, early PIR motion sensors.

I was looking at our local radio club (GBARC) web site for field day information. I have to say, I never was a clubsy person and never will be. But it seems, that the president was my boss at savin photocopier back in 1980 or so, a hundred miles away in Mississauga. That would be a coincidence.

When we opened the new Wing noticed the automatic doors would open with no one there... it didn't take long to correlate the doors opened when Police or Ambulance Radios were in use just in front...