WRZM228

Presidents and cobra's were always great radio. I'm actually very impress what the new president radios offer today. They went break thru. I notice the new ones vastly improved in the modulation percentage even with just a use of a passive stock mic.

I like all the Alinco radios I have or have messed with. They already made commercial radios, so this is a logical step for them. Nice to have another not CCR in the game.

I'm located about 50 miles north of Raleigh, NC. Elevation is about 400 feet above sea level.
I do like the Anytone radio, I use it for a base station when it's not in my vehicle. It would be nice if it put out 50 Watts but wattage isn't everything. I usually use my CB in the car since there is close to zero traffic on GMRS around this area, and no repeater within range, and my CB has a greater range in the car, and more people use CB around here than they do GMRS. The AT-778UV radio has a very clean transmit and receive audio. I also have an Anytone AT-6666 as a base station and it gets very good reports on how clean the audio is. Both my Anytone radios are a good value for what they are. No problems with either in the few years I've had them.
 
 

Readings? I was actually asking what meter.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

If you don't break it off getting there, a flexible whip is better for off-road use. Those were just made to put on rigs for drivers with linears pushing out some megawatts while driving down the highways, where they're unlikely to snap off from trees.

Are you alright man? You must be doing something else besides drinking...

To make it simple read your manual correctly. There must be a reason why you're using 20-30 amps than 2. Not unless if you wanna power up a 23-25 watt radio with a 2 amp wall-wart or less. I just wanna remind you that receive and transmit are 2 different power draw. But if you're happy with 2 amps, go for it. I'm not in the position tell you what to do. Yowhiee!

Ehhhh wrong again! you read wrong. Its very clear what I said  "The other thing I found out is when I was reading the radio manual, I'm required to connect it to a minimum of 12 amp so I can achieve the maximum steady output. It was drawing 23 watts on my 13.8 power supply at home." So it means, i wont be able to use a cigarette lighter socket. I have to wire it all the way to the battery."
Its very clear that in order for me to run maximum wattage I have to do a full power. Are all right man?
I wont barge into a conversation that you don't even understand to begin with. I wasn't here to change someones life. I'm just quietly making a conversation to somebody. If you feel confident in using a 2 amp power supply on a 23-25 watt. go ahead, Manufacturers wouldn't recommend you to use 12 amp power supply for no reason. They tested that product on different and maximum conditions which varies in power consumption. I'm not stopping you for what you want or think and In fact I wont even say anything. I think that makes a lot of sense rather than pulling out the famous word "It doesn't." LoL.... Keep it up man. I'm a quick learner.

Consider an Alpha Delta coaxial antenna switch.  Pricier than the Chinese knockoffs, but you do not want to scrimp on antenna parts where inferior ruins the experience:
 

I have both a Comet 712 EFC and a Commscope DB404 and my repeater is a Motorola GR500 (I also have a few GR1225's) I don't understand why, but the Comet is performing better but either of those would be a good choice. Both so far have held up to some good winds. Some gusts over 50mph
 

I finally got  the Laird B4505CN mobile antenna. I tuned it this morning and tested it. Amazing my mobile can transmit over 35 miles using a walkie-talkie over. I try to get the minimal  and in between SWR I can in the 462.550 (1:15) to 467.725 (1:6 SWR) . Cant be too ambitious and in reality I'm just gonna be around the 462 frequency. I'm just a bit bummed that the rod is not shoved all the way down to the base. I took off 1/8. Anyways using the walkie-talkie for a test run, I was able to find the clearest, less static mounting location where I can mount the the Anytone radio without detaching and and relocating the face. I cant wait to install this as soon as I finish programming some of the channels and the repeater. I can easily hit the repeater in 18 miles.  The only thing is one of the good repeater is is using DCS. I'm nit sure if my radio will connect to it. Although I have a setting to the tone number he has. The other thing I found out is when I was reading the radio manual, I'm required to connect it to a minimum of 12 amp so I can achieve the maximum steady output. It was drawing 23 watts on my 13.8 power supply at home. So it means, i wont be able to use a cigarette lighter socket. I have to wire it all the way to the battery.

If I can get the financing worked out I'm going to see if I can get one as well. Hopefully sooner than later. I'm not sure that things will be the same in the next couple of months, let alone years.

Hi,
  yes I hear you. There are some things that I didnt want to buy but I was forced to because I can see whats going on with the economy. I'm not really sure where its heading in the next 5 year but I just don't to wait in the end that I couldn't even afford it. Its a good thing I have 2 jobs but even thous its still hard. On top of these communication gear that I got 75%, there are things that I needed to do at the house including emergency power backup, I got the generator that will fire up my house and I got it down somewhere. Anyways O can run all the lights on my house, the big refrigerators, 1 upright freezer, backup computer, 2 box fan, 1 heater furnace. No the AC nor microwave although I have a 3 large stock LPG, 20 gallon gas for car and generator in the shed, 2 burner in case our natural gas cut off. I can power up 1700 watts all the consumption breakdown I did in 4-1/2 to 5 days. My generator runs on dual gas or propane and I also have an orifice unit if I want to run it on natural gas......  Anyways I'll be back a bit later. I have to go down to FedEx to send something before it hits too late. Take it easy..
 
I didn

BTW: I ordered the Laird B4505CN. Its coming in on Thursday. I'll deal with the return of the other one the next day. I'm so busy at work and all the stuff right now. If you have any plans of buying something, I just wanna remind you that X'mas is just around the corner. I did what I had to do the whole year to get what I need before the traffic jam. I am predicting in the next 2-3 days, it might be a difficulty getting any orders for X'mas due to the holiday rush..

CBs are different than Ham radios, apparently. Though from my understanding, past models of CB radios also had issues with power output, which is where the term "peak and tuning" the radios came from. A little bit of work and it's corrected.
I've never had a Midland that didn't burn up on me. Why I'm very hesitant to get one of their GMRS radios.
The Cobra 19 I have, (version IV,) isn't any better than the Midland, though at least it didn't fry, that I'm aware of. I've had just about every model of Cobra mobile they've ever produced and the 25's, 29's, and the 148's are their best models. Still, the Unidens, IMHO, sound better to me, though, aside from the 125, they're the same radios and have the same internals. (They don't, or at least didn',t make an equivalent to the 148.)

I got to do a range test today and I am very impressed. In an area I typically get about 5 miles of simplex range with a 50w VHF or UHF radio (Ham and GMRS) I was able to have a conversation at 14 miles apart, while moving. 
 
One of my friends who also has a good AM/FM CB and a good antenna setup were able to run a test while driving in Norther Virginia. I have to say, 14 miles for both AM and FM is fantastic around hear.
 
The furthest I have ever talked on a CB on the local level was 26 miles, using a 104" (1/4 wave) steel whip antenna and 12.5w peak. 
 
This 14 mile contact was using 3.5w and a 86" Diamond HF10CL antenna, which isn't as good of a performer as a 1/4 wave would be... but it's pretty darn good. Much better than if I tried a 3 foot or 4 foot Firestik, I'm sure.
 
This radio seems like a win for a compact FM CB. 

Well, after 3 years without a CB radio, I bought a new unit. It's a Cobra 75 All Road.
 
I haven't been following CB, but i do know the FCC rule changes about a year ago now allow FM use. I have been curious about it, especially knowing how well FM works on 29 MHz. I had a customer tell me they were interested in this radio, asked if I had an opinion about it and asked if I would install it for them. So, I bought one to check it out.
 
I have to say, it's a little weird running a "stock" CB... but so far, I like it. It's just AM/FM with weather channels, but the transceiver is remote and the controls are in the mic (a familiar setup). BUT, the mic and all the controls are done wirelessly. The mic plugs into any USB port you have, or comes with a power outlet adapter. The mic works over Bluetooth so well, that I had the transceiver in my Jeep, but tested the mic range in my son's Jeep. It works about 30 feet away, which was awesome. 
 
I haven't chatted with anyone yet, but I was listening to AM Skip from all over the country. The receiver sensitivity seems real good so far.  I am going to ask a friend of mine with an FM CB to help me do some range testing. I'll follow up soon and share the results. 
 

 

I would go with the Wouxun KG-XS20G if you want a compact and durable mobile that is actually IP rated with an IP67 rating.
Here is a good simple explanation of IP ratings: https://www.setra.com/blog/what-does-an-ip67-rating-mean
Here is a photo of my XS20G mounted in my Honda Pioneer 500 UTV 

I'm very happy for the radio community has all this availability of nice radios with full of features, and people that will give you advises. I wish we had this back in the early 80's. I went to several "okay beginner" radio from radio shack and paid alot  of money. My 2nd radio getting serious was a cobra 148. I paid $160.00 in 1985, brought it to the technician to set it so it can modulate correctly. That's $150.00, Roger beep is $75.00, D104 mike is $55.00, setting it to run with power coming form the radio(no battery needed), and adding an audio interface unit, putting it inside the radio, that's $45.00 for the unit plus labor. That's over $500 just to match the radio of today given only a 40 channel AM, SSB and added extra. When I saw the new radios today like what randy was showing on video, I just grabbed it and all done. $200-$250 youre running a sophisticated above novice mobile radio that is light years ahead of a cobra 19X or midland.  

Yes, you can use voice almost everywhere.  Most of the spectrum is for voice use.  In 9 of the bands available, you can use voice, data and Morse Code / CW through the entire band.
 
HF radio is amazing for long range communications.  With general class privileges, you will be able to talk around the globe, day or night.
 
The main reason I got into it was for emergency communications.  I figure if there is a problem here, and help is needed, calling a station outside the impacted area is the best bet.

I have had/used every brand of GMRS radio in my Jeep(s) and almost every model of every brand, and for Part 95 "GMRS" radios, I prefer the Wouxun KG1000G.  It is a better quality radio than BTech and most (maybe all) the other brands, it outputs a full 50W, and has a remote-mount removable faceplate.  Several of my off-road friends use this radio and they are all happy with it.
And FYI - even though its spelled Wooks-On, it's pronounced "Ocean" .

Looking at getting a mobile radio to install in my truck, leaning on Btech from talking to a few others but haven't decided on what model. Any recommendations are appreciated

The RFMAX Magnamount that I use in the Laird is 86 ft. lbs. on specs. That's what Arcadian recommended me to use.
Heavy Duty Magnetic NMO Mount for CB, VHF, UHF, GMRS Radios with PL-259. RNMOM-195-SUM-B-12I-ST
When it cones to the radio, We'll just say, reputable US standards should meet or exceed specifications. Some Off shores can be a hit and miss. 

Its under the strength of the K40 or Wilson 1000 (which is extra strong for its size). I cant compare it to the Little Wil for I haven't had one before. But it feels like it will handle it, I just want to double check since I been out of the loop.
I calibrated the anytone. the SWR was on 1.02 and its drawing 22-1/2 watts.

Thank you for the followup and information. I'll be getting the B4505CN chrome whip. It should be easier to tune and match that antenna too and hopefully they'll recommend me to keep this magnamount. I really like it and quite strong and 1/3 of a size of a K40 Magnamount. Its got a rubber feet, 12 ft LMR-195 cable and high grade connector. Th lenght is more than enough for my needs while I was getting a 1.02 SWR in the 450 frequency range. I hope this can handle the 32 inch Laird whip antenna too..
Heavy Duty Magnetic NMO Mount for CB, VHF, UHF, GMRS Radios with PL-259. RNMOM-195-SUM-B-12I-ST