I wanna get a CB (thinking Cobra 19, any reviews or suggestions otherwise?) I don't trail ride but I've heard they are good just to have. If/when I get one, what channels and such are mostly used? Also, how hard is to install the CB, antenna and to tune the antenna? Thanks a lot!

 

Google is your friend.

 

Newer CB's dont really need much tuning. All that computer programming stuff auto does everything. But not that hard.
Ive been using the same CB for 11 years, so i have to tune mine once in a while. Plus its got lots of switches and ***** and we all kow how much jeepers like switches... thing costed like $800 back then and still go for a few hundred to get all the same stuff, now, out of the newer stuff.
Ive only replaced 1 crystal and 2 fuses in 11 years. so im keeping it around instead of buying newer stuff that i cant tune to get what i want out of it. i figured if it aint broke why replace it...

Everything else is, most of the time, plug n play. Hardest thing about a cb is finding a decent place to mount it and keep wires out of the way. usually just a bracket and 2-4 screws hold it in place.

2 ways to get power, 12v car adapter or wire to the fuse block/battery.
antenna's have bolt on(to frame, lights, hood) or magnetic bases.

9 is state/local police monitor'd citizen band and 19 is "trucker" use.
everything else is fair game and used by whom ever and w/e they want.

depending on who you ride with you may use 19 or switch to a designated channel for that trail, that is monitor'd by park rangers just in case, so you can help each other over obstacles.

i use 19 when im stuck in traffic to listen and ask wth is going on with not moving. usually get satisfying answers, even though you still dont move any faster. but at least you know why and how far you got to make it.

 

the cobra 19 is the walmart one right? if so thats the one i just bought a few days ago, it works pretty good actually and you dont have to tune it or anything just plug it in and go, its nice cause its small and its got a very loud speaker which is a plus for me cause i always either have the window down or the doors off and i can never hear my cb

 

Ahaha, yes! Us jeepers do know switches. I was just getting confused cause I was reading on firestik's website about tuning and making sure the wire run's this way and that way. But, if it's the a 'new' one for $35, would you advise against it? I don't really trail ride (still in a OEM lift ) but i live in south Florida and traffic can be pretty heavy...

 

Ya! thats the one. Also heard it has a PA output . Would you reccomend it? for the most part, still kinda a "novice". I don't really do trail rides but I live in a heavily populated area so thats the main reason. Thanks

 

Wire it to your battery... if you wire it to a switched power you will have to change the channel to your desired channel every time you turn it on. The Cobras need constant power to keep their memory. This is the problem I have with mine. I don't want to remember to turn mine on and off when I get in/exit the vehicle. With my other radios having switched power supply was fine, however it is not so great with the Cobras. Mine all revert to channel 1 or 9, sometimes 8...

 

I just spliced into the cables for the power outlet in the dash. Works great, but I need a better antennae, this window one sucks... this- http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2413195

 

yes, you DO have to tune them. Some of you may be thinking HAM/VHF, which do not need to be tuned.
If a CB is not properly tuned you will end up frying it. Its easy to do yourself, you just have to buy a meter and read the instructions. Or, if you have a truckstop around you can pry get someone to do it for like 10 bucks.

 

i dont recommend against anything that works for the money.
cobra's are known to be good quality.

if your only going to be using it in traffic and only need a couple miles, then anything you pick up, stock setup and stock antenna, will be fine. spending a few more dollars to tune something is always a good idea, that can only help and persevere the life.
thats like saying, you can just replace the spark plugs w/o checking the gap and sure it will work in the jeep but if you take the time to get the gaps right then it will work better...

its when you want to broadcast to the next state or something like that, that you wanna take the time to invest in quality products that can be modd'ed and upgraded to do what is needed without having to worry about keying up a mic and blowing it or the guy next to you...

oh and make sure you get a wilson antenna, i got the wilson 1000 which for the money is bout as good as they come...
ive got my squelch at about 60% and my rf to about 50% (and i dont activate any of my extra switches that help broadcast and recieve ) and from where i stay on a clear day i can reach the outskirts of NC, 60+ miles away -- in crappy weather i can still get a good 30 miles out of it,which should be enough for anyone really..

tell ya the truth, just tune the cb a lil and grab a wilson 1000/5000(magnetic base) or T5000 and problem solved
antenna's are plug n play and are interchangeable with just about 99% of cb radios out of there, so no worry about "grabbing the wrong one"

 

In my earlier reference to Google, I wasn't just being a dick. I've been educating myself on CB's on and off for a while now. I think this is one of the sites I found very useful, but there were some others too. Right Channel Radios

 

i got the I9 and its sweet really good price and its got a pa output which is fun to have haha

 

So would you guys say get the Cobra 19 over

 

The DX19 works real well, ran it for a while, now it's in the ZJ and one in the Libby. Wilson and Firestick antennas. Both work well, tuned antennas on the meter. Get easy 5 mile range on the road and good clarity running 4 ft antenna lengths.
Picked up radios, antennas, accessories for good prices at Fifth Wheel Truckstops. I use a spring at the ariel base to give me flex for tree branch snags.
I switched the XJ to an older Cobra 29 model just to be retro with the older jeep.