Phew, finally got here

[voyager]

Gary,

Looking at US CB dealer web sites the antenna fitted to the side of our RV looks like a side mounted Firestik and according to the adverts the swr on these antennas are adjusted buy shortening or lengthening the length depending on which model Firestik, some have adjustable tops others are adjustable where they connect to the mount.

Fish.

You ask

well do you want to talk local.

That question takes me back to the 70's when we would sit outside in the car 'chatting' until the early hours to someone just a few streets away In those days I bought a CB for several reasons, as a means to get help, to get local directions when traveling and to hear of any road problems in my area, I suppose my reasons to-day are the same, but since buying a monster 39ft RV road directions and problems are even now more important.

Has the range of to-days CB increased, to my best recollection 20 miles 'line of site' was the best back in the 70's?

Mick

[Offplanet]

Firestiks do get out well, so you should be Ok there - if the antenna has been optimised for the US band (which uses the same frequencies as the EU/CEPT/Mid block here, but they use AM not FM), it'll likely need shortening a bit to achieve an acceptable SWR on the UK block too. Often there's a tuning screw under the cap on the top of the antenna to do this - only a SWR meter will be able to determine this (about £12 from Thunderpole and a patch lead at £3 - in CB terms, the best £15 you'll spend!).

Range is difficult to determine, but hasn't really changed over the years - I'm currently listening to some hill-topping stations who are getting up to 100 miles, but range can be as low as 3-5 miles in semi built-up areas (or about half a mile in Central London!). Really long distances can be achieved when the skip is running, but that's another story.

CB use in Campers/Motorhomes and Caravans is quite popular - mainly for convoy situations, but often good conversations are struck-up between mobiles (especially when the M5 becomes a car park around here!). It's also often used to maintain contact with a scout car.

Unfortunately the established calling channel (UK Ch19) is often misused, but a flick around the channels usually finds a decent operator or two (this is where a "Scan" function on some modern radios can be useful). To be honest, I'd take a good Sat-Nav rather than rely on CB - CB use can be quite patchy and there's one or two quite silly operators around.

Well worth the £70 - £100 cost to put one in the RV though - a big RV would look naked without one

Put some pictures on if you can.

Cheers
Gary

[voyager]

Unfortunately the established calling channel (UK Ch19) is often misused, but a flick around the channels usually finds a decent operator or two (this is where a "Scan" function on some modern radios can be useful). To be honest, I'd take a good Sat-Nav rather than rely on CB - CB use can be quite patchy and there's one or two quite silly operators around.
Put some pictures on if you can.

Cheers
Gary

Wow, things have changed from the 70's, Channel 14 was the calling channel and 19 was for the truckers and still is in the States.........pictures, it will be my pleasure.

Click to enlarge

Our 'Outfit' on the US/Canadian Border at Peace Arch Washington USA into British Columbia Canada, we have shipped both the RV & Jeep back to the UK



Inside view Rear to Front.




And Front to Rear.



Pilots Seat, if you click on and enlarge you will see the location of the Cobra CB radio on the left side,between the seat and steering wheel

Mick

[jonny66]

what is the polish chanels talked about on here??

[porky.69]

hi mick theres lots of good radios over hear and over in the states i have a radio from the us called a galaxy 95t2 have you heard of them ?
very good radio and for mobile i use a sirio 4000 antenna ..what a very nice truck you have ' better than my house lol

[FISH]

How big.

[Offplanet]

Lovely RV! - as far as finding directions is concerned, the best bet would be to get a Sat-Nav loaded with the correct maps for HGV's and Coaches.

I just noticed the picture of the side mounted Firestik - range will be reduced by having the mount low down on the side like that (range will be much better if the antenna could be raised up and ideally put on the roof - although if this is isn't possible, then that's the way it goes).

If you search on Youtube for "Maxon SCM10" by "simonthewizard", you'll see a full review of the radio - he has tested a lot more radios, so well worth look at his other videos. Also look at the features listed for each radio in the "CB Radio" section on the Thunderpole site and weigh-up what would be on your wish list or not. Also consider ease of installation, and ease of use while mobile.

Jonny66 - the Polish channels are AM/FM with Ch1 being 26.960 and Ch40 27.400 (the same as the EU block, but 5Kc's down on each channel).

Cheers
Gary

[killer cam]

bet you that rv cost u some boby

[stampman]

best antenna for that mounting where it is would be a dv27 which is top loaded and easy to tune and you will not get as much reflection off the body

[killer cam]

[jonny66]

thanks ofplanet

does that mean they transmit am and fm same frequancy
would you not get interferance on that

[Offplanet]

On my President Harry II, I can select the country as Poland and then can switch between AM and FM - AM is indeed more likely to cause interference than FM.

The Polish band can be useful if there's some skip coming in, and it also gives you an extra set of frequencies to play with.

Please note, it is illegal to transmit on anything, but the "UK" setting when in the UK

Cheers
Gary

[voyager]

We sold our house in order to tour first the USA & Canada, then on our return the UK & Europe, so we are NOT millionaires

By visiting and buying the RV in the States you can buy an RV at half the UK dealer price especially if you buy with a Montana LLC ( 0% sales tax ) and stay out of the EU for 12 months ( No import duty or vat )

The RV as it is is over 12ft high so adding a 3 or 4 ft antenna would cause me problems with low trees, filling station fore courts etc, surely in its current position it is twice the height of one fitted to a car roof?

Sat Nav's for trucks and other large vehicles, yes they exist but need more development and have numerous errors, eg sending you down narrow lanes.

Mick

[The Wizard]

Please note, it is illegal to transmit on anything, but the "UK" setting when in the UK

what is the law regarding mid block/EU or cept ???

[Offplanet]

The height of the antenna is fine, but having the base of it some way down the body and on one side of the vehicle may produce a somewhat erratic pattern of transmit and receive - seeing it's already there, the best bet would be to try it and see how it goes.

The "UK" setting on the multi-standard radios, gives you the 40Ch 4watt FM UK (27/81) block and the 40Ch 4watt FM EU block (also known as the CEPT or Mid block 26.965 to 27.405).

The current talk on air of the UK block being withdrawn in 2010 is based upon a "Consultation" document produced by the RA in March 2003 - the key word is "Consultation" - but in December 2006, in the resultant legislation, Ofcom recognised that UK & EC frequencies are here to stay.

There a good section of the UKCB forum regarding the issue (including links to the RA/Ofcom documents in PDF).

Cheers
Gary