Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
-
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:59 pm
- Handle: CBrookie
- Real Name: John Baker
- Antenna: Solarcon 99A
- Radio: Cobra 29 WX
- Contact:
Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
So, I have a Cobra 29 WX NW ST Sound Tracker - 40 Channel, that I took from my truck, and I bought a power supply a Pyramid P5-14 KX Low Ripple 14 am power supply 13.8 VDC 12 amp constant 14 amp surge.
(I have no idea what all that means.)
I've read all the postings that I thought were related to my situation - but, I'm over my head here.
What I'd really like to do, is to buy an anntena and some cable(s), mount the anntena on my 50 foot
flag pole outside my house, run the cable down it, into my den, sit back and enjoy some conversation.
I know a lot of truckers from out of state deliver around here and their always looking for directions
and avoiding low underpasses. I'd like to give directions if I can and help these drivers.
So, my question is - what would you suggest for an anntena and cable? Should I put a lighting rod in the
ground? My flag pole is spun alum.
Please excuse the basic approach to this equestion - I'm not up to speed on any of this. But I do enjoy the
CB and possibly, I'd like to get into this a little better, down the road.
In any event, here's what I've got so far:
Power Suppy - Pyramid P5 -14KX
CB - Cobra 29 WX NW ST Sound Tracker 40 Channel
Thank you.
- dirtyjob
- Donor
- Posts: 1273
- Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:50 pm
- Handle: dirtyjob
- Real Name: Mark
- Antenna: Super Penetrator 500
- Radio: Many
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
"LISTEN FOR THE PING"
Kenwood TS-590S - Yaesu FT897D - Kenwood TS-870 - Icom IC-7300
Yaesu FT-101E - Tram D201A - President Lincoln - CP2000
Gizmotchy G-31 Beam
Super Penetrator 500 5/8 Wave
Comet GP9 2 meter/440
"North East Corner Of Massachusetts 613"
CBRT 18204
-
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:59 pm
- Handle: CBrookie
- Real Name: John Baker
- Antenna: Solarcon 99A
- Radio: Cobra 29 WX
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
About the cable - does a cable of a specific typle, quality or rating ... or something like that, need to be addressed? I went to a local Radio Shack and the youngster on the counter couldn't help me. She keep on refering to something to do with a 8 or 58 something or other. I didn't follow the logic.
In any event, it looks like I'll need about - oh, about maybe 100 feet max. in cable length.
I really want to thank you for the advice on the anntena. Now I just have to find a place that sells the thing.
Again, you've been a great help.
Nice web site, all the info is really in-depth stuff.
Thanks again.
- TheCBDoctor
- Sponsor
- Posts: 2823
- Joined: March 13th, 2009, 2:54 pm
- Handle: Rick
- Real Name: Rick
- Antenna: Wilson 2000
- Radio: HR 2510
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by TheCBDoctor »
Hi CBrookie,CBrookie wrote:I'm retired from driving over the road, and I'd like to keep in contact with some great people that pass my way from time to time.
So, I have a Cobra 29 WX NW ST Sound Tracker - 40 Channel, that I took from my truck, and I bought a power supply a Pyramid P5-14 KX Low Ripple 14 am power supply 13.8 VDC 12 amp constant 14 amp surge.
(I have no idea what all that means.)
I've read all the postings that I thought were related to my situation - but, I'm over my head here.
What I'd really like to do, is to buy an anntena and some cable(s), mount the anntena on my 50 foot
flag pole outside my house, run the cable down it, into my den, sit back and enjoy some conversation.
I know a lot of truckers from out of state deliver around here and their always looking for directions
and avoiding low underpasses. I'd like to give directions if I can and help these drivers.
So, my question is - what would you suggest for an anntena and cable? Should I put a lighting rod in the
ground? My flag pole is spun alum.
Power Suppy - Pyramid P5 -14KX
CB - Cobra 29 WX NW ST Sound Tracker 40 Channel
Please excuse the basic approach to this equestion - I'm not up to speed on any of this. But I do enjoy the
CB and possibly, I'd like to get into this a little better, down the road.
In any event, here's what I've got so far:
Thank you.
My suggestion is also the I-Max 2000. The flag pole will act like a grounding rod for lightening. A good coax to use is RG-213. It will last along time so you will not have to replace it every few years. It is also a low loss coax that is a compromise between the cheap stuff and the really expensive coax. It will also reduce any bleed-over to your neighbors electronics.
The rest of your equipment is fine. The power supply is much more than you will need, but is good to have if you ever upgrade. Good luck and have fun. Truckers can use one of their own on the air because you can both relate to each other.
You know how some of these radio Rambos can be that have never driven the road can be.
Respectfully,
Rick
- MDYoungblood
- Site Admin
- Posts: 10774
- Joined: June 12th, 2010, 8:05 pm
- Handle: MDYoungblood
- Real Name: Gregory
- Antenna: HyGain AV-6160
- Radio: Icom IC-746 (non pro)
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by MDYoungblood »
Welcome to the forum, you can get a lot of information from reading the posts. For a 100 ' run of coax you need to use RG 8/U or better for your antenna setup. The radio and power supply is just right. Yes I would install a ground rod and a lightning arrestor system. Antenna wise you can check out the sponsers' sites. The Imax 2000 antenna would be a good choice and would probably look very nice at the top of your flagpole.
Greg
-
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:59 pm
- Handle: CBrookie
- Real Name: John Baker
- Antenna: Solarcon 99A
- Radio: Cobra 29 WX
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
kept on saying.."don't fret.." or something like that.
I wish I could offer advice on this subject to help others - but I'm really lost on this stuff.
Folks that drive over the road - Long Haul and Regional, live out of 6' by 10' box. We depend on one another
for help from time to time- but, for some reason, this is becoming vintage stuff. I usually left my CB off
most of the time. Only if I needed directions or I saw something worth advising another driver about for
safety sake, did I use my CB. Over the years a lot of not-so-nice people started using the CB for some
not-so-nice talk.
In any event, I sincerely wish to thank every one for helping me. You'd make some darn good people behind
the wheel.
- dirtyjob
- Donor
- Posts: 1273
- Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:50 pm
- Handle: dirtyjob
- Real Name: Mark
- Antenna: Super Penetrator 500
- Radio: Many
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
"LISTEN FOR THE PING"
Kenwood TS-590S - Yaesu FT897D - Kenwood TS-870 - Icom IC-7300
Yaesu FT-101E - Tram D201A - President Lincoln - CP2000
Gizmotchy G-31 Beam
Super Penetrator 500 5/8 Wave
Comet GP9 2 meter/440
"North East Corner Of Massachusetts 613"
CBRT 18204
-
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:59 pm
- Handle: CBrookie
- Real Name: John Baker
- Antenna: Solarcon 99A
- Radio: Cobra 29 WX
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
I live in Western Massachusetts, and there's a lot of old rail underpasses, "no commercial" routes and so on. It's easy to get lost and find one's self in a tight spot that's difficult to get out of. I'm pretty much familar with most of
the Northeast - except NYC, so I know the value of getting help at 3am from anybody. I'm retired and up most
of the time. In fact, I'm going to call some of the guys that I use to know and drive with - see if I can set up a
network of something to help other Over The Road, Long Haul and Regional drivers by having retired drivers like
me giving directions and other helpful stuff over our CB's base station. There's a lot of newbee's out there getting into the industry - displaced from work elsewhere. Trucking can be a crule taskmaster when your all alone, 800 miles or so from home. Maybe I can give back to the business and some of the folks that help'd me provide for my family. There's a lot of very good people.
When I do start calling the guys I use to drive with, I'm going to telling them about this web site. Very, very informative and easy to follow. Nice people too. Thanks.
- Night Crawler
- Wordwide & Qualified
- Posts: 3836
- Joined: May 15th, 2007, 9:03 am
- Contact:
- dirtyjob
- Donor
- Posts: 1273
- Joined: March 19th, 2011, 7:50 pm
- Handle: dirtyjob
- Real Name: Mark
- Antenna: Super Penetrator 500
- Radio: Many
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
"LISTEN FOR THE PING"
Kenwood TS-590S - Yaesu FT897D - Kenwood TS-870 - Icom IC-7300
Yaesu FT-101E - Tram D201A - President Lincoln - CP2000
Gizmotchy G-31 Beam
Super Penetrator 500 5/8 Wave
Comet GP9 2 meter/440
"North East Corner Of Massachusetts 613"
CBRT 18204
-
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:59 pm
- Handle: CBrookie
- Real Name: John Baker
- Antenna: Solarcon 99A
- Radio: Cobra 29 WX
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Thank you for the suggestions.
- TheCBDoctor
- Sponsor
- Posts: 2823
- Joined: March 13th, 2009, 2:54 pm
- Handle: Rick
- Real Name: Rick
- Antenna: Wilson 2000
- Radio: HR 2510
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by TheCBDoctor »
CBrookie wrote:When I started driving, about 32 years ago, I took a load to Dallas and got lost big time. A retired driver had himself a CB in his home and helped me big time. I never forgot that. Now that I'm no longer hauling the lower 48, I thought it would be high time I did justice to that man that help'd me. I never did get his name - in fact,
kept on saying.."don't fret.." or something like that.
I wish I could offer advice on this subject to help others - but I'm really lost on this stuff.
Folks that drive over the road - Long Haul and Regional, live out of 6' by 10' box. We depend on one another
for help from time to time- but, for some reason, this is becoming vintage stuff. I usually left my CB off
most of the time. Only if I needed directions or I saw something worth advising another driver about for
safety sake, did I use my CB. Over the years a lot of not-so-nice people started using the CB for some
not-so-nice talk.
In any event, I sincerely wish to thank every one for helping me. You'd make some darn good people behind
the wheel.
Hi CBrookie,
There was at time when a driver would go to a packed eatery with drivers he did not know and he could sit at any table and be welcomed. Today with the fast food chains the days of comradeship between drivers is getting lost. I worked on tracker trailer radios and installs for over 22 years. Especially in the early days and in the past 7 years.
i have met drivers that landed on the beaches on D-Day, fought in every war since then, and others that had some hard luck as well as inspiring stories. I met a guy that got the handle "Snowbound" because he was stuck in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard. He got on the radio and managed to talk to the locals. They came out with their farm trackers and invited him to stay at their home.
They fed him and gave him a place to sleep for 2 days and asked for nothing in return. They called him "Snowbound" and that is what he took as his handle. There are still some good drivers out there. The one thing I learned is that if you want good advice just ask a driver with a half a million miles or so under his belt. You can learn a lot.
After a while you may want to put a little "heat under your seat" You may be retired, but you will never be alone. Thanks for keeping America going.
Rick
Rick
- Don1962
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 41
- Joined: April 15th, 2011, 3:28 pm
- Real Name: Don Newman
- Antenna: Antron99/y-quad beam
- Radio: Cobra 2k/ Galaxy 959
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
- str8stroke
- Donor
- Posts: 953
- Joined: April 30th, 2010, 2:49 pm
- Real Name: Ric Flair
- Antenna: 1/16 Wave Dipole
- Radio: Gold Cobra 29LTD
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by str8stroke »
Good luck my friend and welcome to the site. There are plenty of experienced folks on here to help you any way you choose to go! See ya!
- 443 Arizona
- Mod Duck
- Posts: 896
- Joined: April 29th, 2010, 2:22 pm
- Handle: Double R
- Real Name: Steve
- Radio: madison on 5/8 wave
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by 443 Arizona »
goodluck,
- outlaw1960
- Mud-Duck Jr.
- Posts: 5
- Joined: May 15th, 2011, 5:13 am
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by outlaw1960 »
funny thing i was gonna suggest using a di-pole on the flagpole also ...just a quick question trucker...is there a reason you can't/ don't wish to mount antenna on the house or in a tree??? friend of mine had me put a bigstick up in a 30 foot tree about 30 years ago,,it lasted forever and was nice and hidden from eyes443 Arizona wrote:rig up a close fitting sleeve on your pole,, about a foot long so that its somewhat stable at the top,,(pole is probably tapered,right?) then use the pulley and rope to run your antenna up the pole just like the flag,,, you can easily take it down to work on it.. as for an antenna, you might even try a longwire or fasten a homebrewed dipole to the sleeve.
goodluck,
- Clodhopper
- Duckplucker
- Posts: 114
- Joined: March 24th, 2011, 7:48 pm
- Real Name: Tommy
- Antenna: 3 Foot Firestick
- Radio: Galaxy DX979
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by Clodhopper »
- Zman
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 31
- Joined: November 26th, 2009, 12:05 pm
- Real Name: No name
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Look for one of these. I think Ace hardware can get them. The last one i bought i got from my local Ace for under 100.00. MUCH safer than trying to climb a ladder to install a floppy I maxx 2000!!!
-
- 2 PILL USER
- Posts: 12
- Joined: November 2nd, 2012, 9:00 am
- Real Name: Bryan
- Antenna: 1000, Super Penetrat
- Radio: Cobra 25, Romar 23Ch
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
How long ago did you buy this pushup pole from ACE? I could sure use one of those. It is hard standing with one foot on my tower and one on the roof of my garage fooling with my old Super Penetrator...the verticle is 17-22 feet long and it (I myself) gets wobbly up there!Zman wrote:http://www.channelmaster.com/ ... t_s/84.htm
Look for one of these. I think Ace hardware can get them. The last one i bought i got from my local Ace for under 100.00. MUCH safer than trying to climb a ladder to install a floppy I maxx 2000!!!
-
- 4 PILL USER
- Posts: 26
- Joined: May 18th, 2011, 1:59 pm
- Handle: CBrookie
- Real Name: John Baker
- Antenna: Solarcon 99A
- Radio: Cobra 29 WX
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Too my surprise, my son put up a Solarcon 99a, put up a tower for me, hooked up my ole Cobra 29, connected some coax 99-14400 RG8X, and even had the entire setup running when I came in the door. He set up my den as a "shack", sort of.
For the last two days I've been up since 4am, talking to anyone and everyone.
You're not going to believe this - but, the other night I got Texas, Florida, and somebody in Lumberton, North Carolina. The skip was crazy and it was good to get back into this.
As soon as I'm able I post some pictures.
Good to be back.
- barefoothank
- Donor
- Posts: 218
- Joined: July 23rd, 2014, 10:33 am
- Real Name: Henry
- Antenna: lil will,A99
- Radio: trc-485, 959,979
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by barefoothank »
I don't know if it's the same guy but I hear him a lot ,go's by the name of "Traffic Man "any way that's a nice gesture to help out of towners, have fun.CBrookie wrote:When I started driving, about 32 years ago, I took a load to Dallas and got lost big time. A retired driver had himself a CB in his home and helped me big time. I never forgot that. Now that I'm no longer hauling the lower 48, I thought it would be high time I did justice to that man that help'd me. I never did get his name - in fact,
kept on saying.."don't fret.." or something like that.
I wish I could offer advice on this subject to help others - but I'm really lost on this stuff.
Folks that drive over the road - Long Haul and Regional, live out of 6' by 10' box. We depend on one another
for help from time to time- but, for some reason, this is becoming vintage stuff. I usually left my CB off
most of the time. Only if I needed directions or I saw something worth advising another driver about for
safety sake, did I use my CB. Over the years a lot of not-so-nice people started using the CB for some
not-so-nice talk.
In any event, I sincerely wish to thank every one for helping me. You'd make some darn good people behind
the wheel.
- Buzzweiser
- Skipshooter
- Posts: 407
- Joined: November 2nd, 2012, 5:49 am
- Handle: Peacemaker
- Real Name: Dave 656
- Antenna: Performer 5000
- Radio: Custom Built 2970N4
- Contact:
Re: Retired Trucker with CB as base -questions?
Post by Buzzweiser »
Return to “Mobile 🚗 / 🏠 Base Install Help”
- Welcome and Community
- Skip Shooter's Paradise
- ↳ General Discussions
- ↳ Watergates & Videogates
- ↳ Shooting Skip
- ↳ Hall Of Fame
- ↳ Journal
- Radio Help
- ↳ Intro To Radios 101
- ↳ General Questions
- ↳ Base Setups
- ↳ Mobile 🚗 / 🏠 Base Install Help
- ↳ Competition Rigs
- ↳ Amplifiers / Power Supplies
- ↳ Charging System
- ↳ Mobile Setups
- ↳ Antenna Help
- ↳ Microphone Info
- ↳ Radio Modifications
- ↳ Shortwave Radios / Scanners
- ↳ Sideband (SSB)
- ↳ Tube Radio Equipment
- ↳ Other Technical Questions
- ↳ Miscellaneous Radio
- Buy / Sell / Trade
- ↳ For Sale Area Rules
- ↳ For Sale Area
- ↳ eBay Shopping
- ↳ Amazon Shopping
- ↳ Trade Equipment
- ↳ Wanted Radio Equipment
- ↳ Positive Feedback
- Off Topic
- ↳ Miscellaneous Chat
- ↳ Computer Help
- ↳ Signature Test Area
- The White House
- ↳ Ask Marv
- Federal Communications Commision (FCC)
- ↳ F.C.C. Rules And Regulations
- Home
- All times are UTC-06:00
- Cookie-Settings
- Delete cookies
- About us
- Downloads
- Contact us
Maxthon style by Culprit. Updated for phpBB3.3 by Ian Bradley
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.