I just went down to teh local radioshack and picked this up.
http://tinyurl.com/2avfes

and this power supply.
http://tinyurl.com/233xpy

I was just wondering, If I plug the CB in without an antenna, will it cause any problems? A friend of mine told me that I shouldn't turn it on without an antenna hooked up to it.

Also, what kind of antenna would I need if I were to use this as a base station. I can't seem to find any antennas with the right kind of hookup on it. They wont fit on the radio. I need an antenna that I can hook up to the Co-axial cable that does fit on the radio.

Any advice?

u can turn it on just dont transmit
connector on the back should be a pl259
use rg59u coax


RS will have antennas. coax goes in bottom of ant mount then ant screws onto top of mount, (strait thru) then the barcket fits on the outside and wack that on the roof use roof as ground plane ore you can make a propper GP

just got my first one too. Anyone know any good channels in ohio to cruise on?

USA:

CH19 : Mostly Truckers Ch.

CH9: Emergency Ch. Only

Others: Other channels. 1-40Ch.

Other Info: SSB, LSB

17 is used by alot of West-East truckers, and 18 is used by North-South Drivers (at least thats how it is here in Washington State). 19 is good for reaching just about anyone, and some still regard 9 as the emergency channel, and most State Police monitor 9 either at their headquarters, or in car.

Overall, Jsmooth744 was right on!

I have a handheld cd unit is it normal to get interference from the eletronics in my car? I dont have a outside atenna mounted yet

I have a handheld cd unit is it normal to get interference from the eletronics in my car? I dont have a outside atenna mounted yet

It is normal. It shouldn't be getting interference off the AM/FM, but from the alternator, and maybe some other trouble spots like the turn signals (you can hear them popping), seat belt warnings (you can hear them buzz), and the windshield wiper motors.

If I mount an antenna which spot would be better the roof or the trunk?

Mount on the roof. (you're higher), I dont know of any cons of having it on the trunk though.

It shouldn't make much difference, roof or trunk. Whichever ones easier to mount is my suggestion.

You can turn it on, however if you transmit without an antenna you could fry the CB, which could ruin your day.

I wish my radios only needed 3A to Tx ;)

Is this antenna any good? http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2430281&cp=&sr=1&origkw=cobra+antenna&kw=cobra+antenna&parentPage=search

i remember my first cb
i was about 8 literally

i had it hooked to a bicycle
my dad gave it too me i talked to truckers from my bike hahaha

Lord Vroom that antenna is fine, a little pricey but fine.

My first radio was a CB, i got it when I was 11. I remember I used to take the battery from moms car, put it in my backpack, and ducktape an antenna to the backpack and talk to some odd people in my town, pretending I was a soldier or something.

That was fun :cool:

yeah i had my battery mounted underneath the seat of my bike

So how is the radio? I saw the same model, and read reviews saying it was decent.

Question, since I'm pretty much a n00b, should you get one with SSB, or without? I'm still vague on what it is and why it matters..

Eventually I want a decent mobile ham for hobby/emergency comms.

Nobody uses CB anymore except truckers. In many states channel 9 isnt even monitored anymore.

The only time I ever found anyone on CB was in New York State on the highway, and typically its just french truckers anyway. I sing on the emergency channel all the time and nobody ever tells me to shut up.