CB Radio?

I'm retired now but when I ran OTR I used a Galaxy DX 44 Set, Turner Astatic Mic, 12' coax cable and a 6' Firestik antenna, mirror mounted. It's hard to beat this combination and many OTR's are still running these. I also used but don't recommend to you a 250 watt amp (for emergency purposes only and, I had that marked on the amp) and I had all the funny channels. I currently don't own a CB radio and I don't want one in my coach after having to listening to them 5 day's in a row, 52 weeks, and 44-1/4 years.

We use a CB to keep in touch with our camping buddies while we 'caravan' to/from our camping adventures!

I purchased all my CB stuff from Right Channel Radios. My current setup is a Cobra 29XL 50th anniversary edition radio. I have a Firestik NGP Antenna.

If you click on the links above, you will find information and photos of peoples installations. I submitted my installation on my 2004 Damon Intruder HERE and HERE and HERE for my installed NGP antenna. You can click HERE and HERE to see my radio installation.

The people at Right Channel Radio are very helpful. When we just recently bought our new (to us) Fleetwood Pace Arrow, I left the NGP antenna on the Damon that we traded and bought a new NGP for the new RV. I only needed a 2' antenna but they only offer a 3' antenna kit so I asked them if they had a 2' version. What they did was when I ordered the 3' version, they gave me a 2' Firestik antenna. i now have an extra 3' black antenna that came with the kit.

This particular radio also has weather alerting and has been very useful to keep in touch with our camping buddies while traveling as well as listening to channel 19 for info on traffic jams and road conditions.

I use a cobra 29 with the digital screeen. And a Wilson 5000 antenna. pretty cheap setup, but works very well for the money. The antenna plate for a wilson MUST be grounded, I run a 10 gauge wire to a good ground, or even to the negative on the batteries. Also you must make sure the antenna itself isn't next to anything, as it will greatly interfere with it. I use an inline SWR/ wattage guage, and if you put your hand next to the antenna, the SWR's will skyrocket. That's why on many freightliner and Peterbuilt trucks, the antennas are angled forward, because the mirrors or even the body will be too close and interfere with it. I drove a 2013 freightliner Cascadia, and had to angle mine forward at a 45 degree angle because the mirror interfered with it. Ideally you're supposed to have it straight up and down, but i didn't have a choice, and it still worked fine.

the If you want to boost your range, you can get what the truckers call a "linear". It's a linear amplifier that amplifies the wattage so you can broadcast farther. I've never messed with them tho, as my stock cobra 29 and Wilson 5000 antenna has a range of about 5 miles, and that's plenty for me.

Most of the time I run with it off, as people just talk a lot of garbage on it. If I do have it on its either set to the weather band, or to tell a truck he's got a light out, or a blown tire. I used to drive trucks, and just carried my system over from my truck to my RV

smlranger wrote:
We had a small Cobra CB radio in our previous coach and it was rarely used. DW thinks we should have one in our current rig to get info on traffic issues ahead, etc. So I am thinking maybe but have a few questions:

I will take your questions and statement one at a time.

1. I saw a Cobra in a truck stop that had a standing wave adjustment knob. I seem to remember from my teenage years (when CB was really popular) that being able to adjust SWR was an advantage to ensure a good match with the antenna.

The knob does not adjust SWR, To measure you first key the transmitter (Press the button on the mic) and with a slide switch set to FWD adjust the knob till the meter reads full scale, Then you switch the switch to either SWR or REV and read the SWR, You do this on Chan 1, 20 and 40.. IF 40 is lower SWR then lengthen the antenna, if 1 is lower shorten it you shoot for 1:1 (no reflected power) on chan 20. You can not adjust the SWR from the radio.. But on older (no longer made in this case) you could match an antenna.. I will not bother with the short story length explanation of why adjusting at the antenna is better, and How I do it.

2. If I get one, I will need an antenna that can be mounted thru the side wall of the coach above the driver's window. All that I saw are made to mount on the mirror of an OTR truck. Any recommendations for a good antenna?

You need a good NO GROUND PLANE antenna, Most RVers recommend the Firestick models, the longer the better but NGP is a must.

NOTE: Through the glass... DO NOT WORK WELL on CB

3. Finally, since the coach is fiberglass do you need to ground the antenna base to something metal on the coach?

No see answer to #2

Firestik makes no ground plane antennae and the corresponding cable, plus a nice clean mount for fiberglas.

For your fiberglass coach, there are "no ground plane" antennas available. You won't find them at truck stops, you will have to do a google search to find someplace to order one. IIRC, Wilson Antenna is one of the manufacturers.
However, if you can ground the antenna to the metal frame of the coach, and you can get the SWR lower than 2:1, that may be adequate.
The SWR Adjust knob does not have any effect on the antenna system SWR. It is only to set the meter for SWR tests; you select "FWD" on the selector switch, then key the mic. Use the "Adjust" knob to align the needle with the "Set" mark on the dial. Unkey the mic, then select "REF" or SWR on the selector, then key the mic again. The meter reading on the SWR scale is your system SWR. It MUST be below 3:1. If it is below 2:1 you won't gain much by messing with it to get it lower. If it is 1.5:1 or lower it is wonderful!
IMO, CB is still a useful tool. Even though I have an Amateur Radio license, I still have a CB in my pickup, and I have one to be installed in the motorhome. I would like to see more people use CB, and more RVs using the Channel 13 unofficial RV Channel.
But then, I would like to see more people get their Amateur Radio (Ham) license, too. Morse code is not required now.

You can always take it to the red monkey in fresno ca and have it pumped up

The old Cobra has a built in SWR meter, and that knob is nothing but a meter adjust, it doesn't change the SWR. Man I wish I had my old Cobra 132 back...
14 watts dead carrier, and close to 40 on a good strong whistle. Made a nice driver for the 600w linear.. :)

Cobra is a good brand, but remember the FCC regulates CB's to 5 watts maximum output. All of the radios (from $20 off ebay to $250 ones) are regulated at this wattage. Many truckers enhance their radios to be more.

The antenna should be simple, and close to a good SWR if the coax is already installed and the antenna length already adjusted.

It's the radios where you make the custom mounts and coax lengths that generally get "hairy" with SWR's. While pre-made antennas with coax CAN be adjusted to perfection, they are usually PRETTY close to good.

If you are planning on a custom mount, you absolutely want an SWR meter.

We have a $20 uniden CB and a $150 Cobra. Non-peaked or modified. They both get the same distance just about.