80s accessories that are still cool

[Jacob84]

CBs are cool, but I recommend getting one with NOAA features as they're pretty worthless otherwise. Can't speak for other states, but I've been all over Florida in my daily and rarely ever hear another person.

I have one in my work truck (18 wheeler) and I hardly turn it on. I use it mostly when I get to load sites to hear when I am lined up with the load cone for cement.

Only a few have radios, others have loud speakers, horns or TV screens you can see for line up.

Because of where and what I drive for work, local radio stations work the best 90% of the time.

In the last few years o long trips I have not installed one in the DD as you would not hear anything till too late.

Dave ----

I have forgone the CB and keep either a UHF/VHF in each vehicle or a GMRS mobile unit that is capable of listening to NOAA, especially since we are in the hurricane zone. Its FM vs AM at that point and you have much smaller antennas this route. Both require a license at this point in time, granted many places violate that with bubble pack radios, but I still personally like UHF/GMRS better than CB and VHF better than UHF for really reaching out.

I've been thinking real hard about getting a mobile ham unit. If you have one in your bullnose you should start a thread detailing it. Or put it here. Either way, I would be interested to see it!

I have forgone the CB and keep either a UHF/VHF in each vehicle or a GMRS mobile unit that is capable of listening to NOAA, especially since we are in the hurricane zone. Its FM vs AM at that point and you have much smaller antennas this route. Both require a license at this point in time, granted many places violate that with bubble pack radios, but I still personally like UHF/GMRS better than CB and VHF better than UHF for really reaching out.

 

[Danny G]

I've been thinking real hard about getting a mobile ham unit. If you have one in your bullnose you should start a thread detailing it. Or put it here. Either way, I would be interested to see it!

I have forgone the CB and keep either a UHF/VHF in each vehicle or a GMRS mobile unit that is capable of listening to NOAA, especially since we are in the hurricane zone. Its FM vs AM at that point and you have much smaller antennas this route. Both require a license at this point in time, granted many places violate that with bubble pack radios, but I still personally like UHF/GMRS better than CB and VHF better than UHF for really reaching out.

Right now my intent is to run an antenna top dead center on the cab as it offers the best ground plane. Unit to be mounted in the center of the high-liner headliner. Ill run cabling down one of the pillars and tie into a fuse block under the hood. Due to COVID-19 my HAM test was canceled and they have not been doing them for a couple months now. I do have my GMRS and my commercial in the mean time but that wont suffice.

I do have some concerns about the metal thickness there and if it would cause any issues but I doubt it will be an issue. My dad had a federal street hawk light bar/siren and antenna on his '86 with no issues.

[grumpin]

I've been thinking real hard about getting a mobile ham unit. If you have one in your bullnose you should start a thread detailing it. Or put it here. Either way, I would be interested to see it!

I have forgone the CB and keep either a UHF/VHF in each vehicle or a GMRS mobile unit that is capable of listening to NOAA, especially since we are in the hurricane zone. Its FM vs AM at that point and you have much smaller antennas this route. Both require a license at this point in time, granted many places violate that with bubble pack radios, but I still personally like UHF/GMRS better than CB and VHF better than UHF for really reaching out.

Right now my intent is to run an antenna top dead center on the cab as it offers the best ground plane. Unit to be mounted in the center of the high-liner headliner. Ill run cabling down one of the pillars and tie into a fuse block under the hood. Due to COVID-19 my HAM test was canceled and they have not been doing them for a couple months now. I do have my GMRS and my commercial in the mean time but that wont suffice.

I do have some concerns about the metal thickness there and if it would cause any issues but I doubt it will be an issue. My dad had a federal street hawk light bar/siren and antenna on his '86 with no issues.

I put a 2 meter in my Bronco and a 2 meter/70 cm in a car I used to have. Wanted to try it on a road trip since CB can be really quiet.

Well drove about 1800 miles I made two contacts. It’s as quiet as the citizens band. I was disappointed. Pulled the radios, sold one and put CB’s back in.

Don’t want to be discouraging but that’s my experience. If you install them I hope it works good for you.

 

[Jacob84]

I've been thinking real hard about getting a mobile ham unit. If you have one in your bullnose you should start a thread detailing it. Or put it here. Either way, I would be interested to see it!

I have forgone the CB and keep either a UHF/VHF in each vehicle or a GMRS mobile unit that is capable of listening to NOAA, especially since we are in the hurricane zone. Its FM vs AM at that point and you have much smaller antennas this route. Both require a license at this point in time, granted many places violate that with bubble pack radios, but I still personally like UHF/GMRS better than CB and VHF better than UHF for really reaching out.

Right now my intent is to run an antenna top dead center on the cab as it offers the best ground plane. Unit to be mounted in the center of the high-liner headliner. Ill run cabling down one of the pillars and tie into a fuse block under the hood. Due to COVID-19 my HAM test was canceled and they have not been doing them for a couple months now. I do have my GMRS and my commercial in the mean time but that wont suffice.

I do have some concerns about the metal thickness there and if it would cause any issues but I doubt it will be an issue. My dad had a federal street hawk light bar/siren and antenna on his '86 with no issues.

Yes, the metal is pretty thin. I've thought about hiding/relocating the oem radio antenna and putting the ham antenna there. I don't know if that will work well though, I'm new to the ham world

I do have some concerns about the metal thickness there and if it would cause any issues but I doubt it will be an issue. My dad had a federal street hawk light bar/siren and antenna on his '86 with no issues.

 

[Jacob84]

I put a 2 meter in my Bronco and a 2 meter/70 cm in a car I used to have. Wanted to try it on a road trip since CB can be really quiet.

Well drove about 1800 miles I made two contacts. It’s as quiet as the citizens band. I was disappointed. Pulled the radios, sold one and put CB’s back in.

Don’t want to be discouraging but that’s my experience. If you install them I hope it works good for you.

You're completely right, I don't think I'll hear much traffic. Main thing for me is emergency communications where there is no phone service, natural disasters, and keeping up with the weather. If something happens at home I can drive on top of the ridge behind my house and hit one of the two repeaters I live in between. Or if I'm deep in the Ouachita National Forest broke down or hurt I can call for help.

[Danny G]

I put a 2 meter in my Bronco and a 2 meter/70 cm in a car I used to have. Wanted to try it on a road trip since CB can be really quiet.

Well drove about 1800 miles I made two contacts. It’s as quiet as the citizens band. I was disappointed. Pulled the radios, sold one and put CB’s back in.

Don’t want to be discouraging but that’s my experience. If you install them I hope it works good for you.

You're completely right, I don't think I'll hear much traffic. Main thing for me is emergency communications where there is no phone service, natural disasters, and keeping up with the weather. If something happens at home I can drive on top of the ridge behind my house and hit one of the two repeaters I live in between. Or if I'm deep in the Ouachita National Forest broke down or hurt I can call for help.

There is that, and for us personally, our future in-laws live outside of cellphone tower range. While we are up there packing around the only way to contact each other is via radio.

Fender mounts are popular just like bed rail mounts. The problem you get is ground plane. If you don't have a good even ground plane you affect the lobe of the antenna, basically turning an omni directional antenna into a directional one. Sometimes you just don't have a choice but with 2m (VHF, HAM freq's and NOAA found here) / 70cm (UHF - FRS and GMRS found in this range), the higher the antenna and the better the ground plane the better the performance. You can add significant range simply from going from the trunk, to the roof of a car.

[grumpin]

I put a 2 meter in my Bronco and a 2 meter/70 cm in a car I used to have. Wanted to try it on a road trip since CB can be really quiet.

Well drove about 1800 miles I made two contacts. It’s as quiet as the citizens band. I was disappointed. Pulled the radios, sold one and put CB’s back in.

Don’t want to be discouraging but that’s my experience. If you install them I hope it works good for you.

You're completely right, I don't think I'll hear much traffic. Main thing for me is emergency communications where there is no phone service, natural disasters, and keeping up with the weather. If something happens at home I can drive on top of the ridge behind my house and hit one of the two repeaters I live in between. Or if I'm deep in the Ouachita National Forest broke down or hurt I can call for help.

There is that, and for us personally, our future in-laws live outside of cellphone tower range. While we are up there packing around the only way to contact each other is via radio.

Fender mounts are popular just like bed rail mounts. The problem you get is ground plane. If you don't have a good even ground plane you affect the lobe of the antenna, basically turning an omni directional antenna into a directional one. Sometimes you just don't have a choice but with 2m (VHF, HAM freq's and NOAA found here) / 70cm (UHF - FRS and GMRS found in this range), the higher the antenna and the better the ground plane the better the performance. You can add significant range simply from going from the trunk, to the roof of a car.

Uhf and vhf antennas are so much better. I took the 2m/70cm and put it in my garage (kind of a shack), and put the mag mount antenna I used on the freezer out there and it does great.

I’ve been around uhf and vhf in my former career (aircraft mechanic). Different in cars and compared to CB’s. Although the little President Bill CB I put in the Xterra has impressed me. I’ve got a President Andy coming to put in the truck.

I have a Cobra 148 GTL in the truck now. I wanted something I didn’t have to fidget with so I can concentrate on driving. The Andy is pretty basic.

I could sure see wanting those for the comm you guys are talking about. I have my General license so I could use more freqs on the 10 meter, when we get the sunspots again. I don’t think I’ll test any higher.

[grumpin]

I put a 2 meter in my Bronco and a 2 meter/70 cm in a car I used to have. Wanted to try it on a road trip since CB can be really quiet.

Well drove about 1800 miles I made two contacts. It’s as quiet as the citizens band. I was disappointed. Pulled the radios, sold one and put CB’s back in.

Don’t want to be discouraging but that’s my experience. If you install them I hope it works good for you.

You're completely right, I don't think I'll hear much traffic. Main thing for me is emergency communications where there is no phone service, natural disasters, and keeping up with the weather. If something happens at home I can drive on top of the ridge behind my house and hit one of the two repeaters I live in between. Or if I'm deep in the Ouachita National Forest broke down or hurt I can call for help.

Had to look up Ohyoucheetah National Forest! AFAIK I’ve only been to Arkansas once and that was an overnighter at Little Rock Air Force Base. I’ve never seen so many C130’s at one place!

 

[Rusty_S85]

I put a 2 meter in my Bronco and a 2 meter/70 cm in a car I used to have. Wanted to try it on a road trip since CB can be really quiet.

Well drove about 1800 miles I made two contacts. It’s as quiet as the citizens band. I was disappointed. Pulled the radios, sold one and put CB’s back in.

Don’t want to be discouraging but that’s my experience. If you install them I hope it works good for you.

You're completely right, I don't think I'll hear much traffic. Main thing for me is emergency communications where there is no phone service, natural disasters, and keeping up with the weather. If something happens at home I can drive on top of the ridge behind my house and hit one of the two repeaters I live in between. Or if I'm deep in the Ouachita National Forest broke down or hurt I can call for help.

There is that, and for us personally, our future in-laws live outside of cellphone tower range. While we are up there packing around the only way to contact each other is via radio.

Fender mounts are popular just like bed rail mounts. The problem you get is ground plane. If you don't have a good even ground plane you affect the lobe of the antenna, basically turning an omni directional antenna into a directional one. Sometimes you just don't have a choice but with 2m (VHF, HAM freq's and NOAA found here) / 70cm (UHF - FRS and GMRS found in this range), the higher the antenna and the better the ground plane the better the performance. You can add significant range simply from going from the trunk, to the roof of a car.

which is why I have a magnetic mount antenna at the rear part of my cab. Once I get my truck painted how ever I wont be putting a magnet back on the roof so I am thinking of trying a roll bar mount and then running a ground strap from the roll bar to my frame since I have a flare side and the roll bar will be mounting into wood.

I figured if the antenna is mounted on a roll bar clamp on the front side it should put the antenna over the rear of my cab. Not as far forward as my magnetic mount but it should still have a good transmission as it does still have the metallic roof below.

Now I have seen it stated it can cause a forward transmission while reducing rear transmission but at the same time the reading I did stated that the more antenna you have above your cab the better the transmission. Well with a roll bar mount all of the antenna will be above the cab so it kind of contradicts one another when you start reading more into it.

[Gsmblue]

which is why I have a magnetic mount antenna at the rear part of my cab. Once I get my truck painted how ever I wont be putting a magnet back on the roof so I am thinking of trying a roll bar mount and then running a ground strap from the roll bar to my frame since I have a flare side and the roll bar will be mounting into wood.

I figured if the antenna is mounted on a roll bar clamp on the front side it should put the antenna over the rear of my cab. Not as far forward as my magnetic mount but it should still have a good transmission as it does still have the metallic roof below.

Now I have seen it stated it can cause a forward transmission while reducing rear transmission but at the same time the reading I did stated that the more antenna you have above your cab the better the transmission. Well with a roll bar mount all of the antenna will be above the cab so it kind of contradicts one another when you start reading more into it.

These might help with those turbine wheels. On a travel trailer forum I use people rave about these balancers.

https://www.centramatic.com/