Any citizens band (CB) radio operators here?

The CB fad had come and gone in the late seventies, but the radio enthusiasts have always been there.

I had been into base stations at one point in my life but let other things take precedence. Now that I'm getting older and finally slowing things down, I'm re-kindling my radio operating/collecting hobby. I really like the vintage CB base stations and keep an eye peeled for them when I'm at yard sales and flea markets. They are getting few and far between but there are still some out there.

If anyone here reading this thread has any old base stations laying around, I'd love to see them or get a chance at making a deal for trade or purchase of them. I know selling stuff isn't what this site is for so if anyone wants to deal, just click my website link and drop me an email.
 
tuscarora dave said:
check this out VT. I've been stuck reading this stuff for hours now. Good stuff.

Editorial Page
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^^^
From the above:RF Interference and the CB operator

Probably the last known (to me) case of RFI from my old station occurred in the 90's. The neighbor behind me on the opposite street, could hear me coming over his stereo. This situation lasted until I finally moved out of my old neighborhood in1999. Interestingly, for all the years that this was going on, I never had a face-face, or direct telephone conversation with this guy.

The first time he complained, it was to my wife when I was out. She sweetly told him, that there was nothing she could do and that he should come back and talk to me. Then some time later, I got a call from a "ham friend" of this guy who wanted to work as a sort of "subject matter expert" to try to resolve the situation. He adopted an attitude which assumed that I was doing something wrong and the interference was due to my equipment being faulty. However, I was no dope when it came to radio, and most of my counter-suggestions involved attaching filters to the offended stereo, and running shielded speaker wire etc.

The "ham friend" could not get me to change anything on my end (which by now I had a spectrum analyzer to prove that my transmitters were clean), so he gave up. Then for the longest while, I heard nothing, and if it weren't for hearing the neighbor bad-mouthing me to his friends over his cordless phone, I would've assumed the problem was solved.

But since he had such nice glowing things to say about me, I decided it was time to screw with him. I started messing with his phone when he was talking (See this article for details on how). He also had one of those motion detector lights on his back porch, which are very susceptible to RF interference. I found out that if I cranked the power up to about 100 watts on 6 meters, I could make that light turn on. So I used to blip it on randomly just to see him look out the back door to see what invisible critters might be trespassing in his yard (he he). The joyous day for my neighbor, and any others still plagued with RFI came in November of 1999, when I pulled up stakes and moved out.

ROFL :laughing:

As a side note, I tried unsuccessfully for years to change traffic lights from red to green, and to open/close security gates of shippers/receivers by switching on the Texas Star and keying up on different bands/channels.
 
BillE said:
I honestly did NOT know CB was still 'big.'

Thanx for the info...:xyxthumbs:

Bill
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I enjoy watching the needle swing, as two competing radios battle each other...flicking switches and turning dials.

I also like to 'break' on a conversation, ask the '20', then give meter readings to both parties. Sad to say, but many mobile operators are proud to receive the info, but have no clue how to reciprocate. :confused:
 
My business paid for the CB base station and antenna I have up at the shop. I filed the receipts in the "Marketing" folder.

Each morning when I get into the shop I flip on the switches to warm up the old tubes then proceed to get set up for the day's work. After about 10 minutes of "Tube Warming" time I call out to the locals and "DX Land".

It goes something like this....

"Good morning channel 26!!! "725" Tuscarora Dave back in the shop, creating a shiny world one car at a time!!!...Hello DX Land...725...Tuscarora Dave...in the Keystone...With the Thursday morning Wave..break...break!!"

I do this every morning and I often take a few seconds to do it again several times throughout the day. It's been a few months now since I've set this base station up at the shop, and when the solar conditions are right...(because my antenna is set up properly) my wily little chant can be heard all over the country and sometimes even reaching Jamaica and Hawaii...

Day after day...month after month...all these other big radio voices hear my call and having been doing it for some time now, these "Hands" are beginning to recognize my daily call and often reply with their own experienced radio personalities... They do know who I am, and a lot of them know what I do in this little shop of mine.

They often times reply with calls such as this...

"Hey 725...Hey 725...I got ears on you Tuscarora Dave...What you shinin up in the shop today Tuscarora Dave?..."

Then we banter back and forth a little about the day's detail or mechanical repairs that I have going on at the current time in my shop...until the solar conditions fade away and we lose contact again.

Most importantly...I have a big radio voice at a local level and can many times hear the locals asking if Tuscarora Dave has been on the band at all this day..All the locals know who I am and they know what I do in my shop from day to day.

Yesterday I heard a local "big radio voice" calling my name..He said...

"Hey Tuscarora Dave... you got it on?...Hey Tuscarora Dave...Can't you hear that "Old Joe Green" is calling you?..."

Almost every morning when I call out my presence on channel 26..."Old Joe Green" keys his mic and welcomes me to the new day that the "Good Lord above" has blessed us with.

Yesterday was a little different though..."Old Joe Green" was having a problem with his Dodge minivan squirting power steering fluid out when he turned the steering wheel back and forth, and asked if I could make time to take a look at it for him.

"Old Joe Green" has been a loud voice on the CB radio since "1955" and I always enjoy talking to him when he keys up his mic. We've been chatting back and forth on a daily basis for the past few months, and it was a real pleasure having him out to my shop yesterday..

It turns out that Joe's van needs a new power rack and pinion unit installed in it...and guess who got the job to install it for him?...Oh yeah...let the real marketing word of mouth begin...See, I knew it would just be a matter of time...and keeping my radio etiquette in check before my CB radio marketing campaign would begin to bear fruit. Same as anything else worthwhile in life...it would take time, care and thoughtful creativity to make it happen.

I primarily market my detailing and commercial wheelchair lift repair services to nursing homes and churches. Just so happens that "Old Joe Green" is big into the church, teaching Sunday School, and also volunteers his personal time to "carry the word" into various nursing homes and pray with the residents at such facilities. "Old Joe Green" left my shop with a new vision of who Tuscarora Dave really is and also took a stack of my new fliers with him to kindly drop off at the nursing homes and churches that he visits on a regular basis...

You just can't make this stuff up...My old best friend, (now deceased) Dr. Rodney K. Hough used to say to me, "Dave....Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.."

Thanks for reading...TD
 
I have a CB in my Jeep Wrangler and use it. Most Jeep offroaders use CBs to communicate on the trails.
 
explorerlyon said:
I have a CB in my Jeep Wrangler and use it. Most Jeep offroaders use CBs to communicate on the trails.
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They definitely can be an important survival tool as well as for a leisurely hobby device. I'm holding out for a Cobra 148 gtl mobile unit to come along on craigslist before I set up a mobile rig. They say that they're the best talking radios for a mobile setup.

Thanks for posting. TD
 
Man am I glad that I saw this before I logged out.
There are so many ways to share a kinship over the modulator. One of the bright spots when driving OTR was keeping in contact with the locals in particular areas of my travels.

I never pass the Mt. Jackson area of Virginia on I-81 without shouting out to "Uncle Jack", who no longer graces the air waves. I do this just to keep his memory going. Every now and again, an old timer will key up and tell the story of Jack's demise.

But back to your post. I think you found a great way to incorporate your hobby into your business. As far as etiquette, I maintain a certain level of respect on the mike. I kick it with those from all spectrums of the air waves: from the base giving directions and local info, the stay at home mom broadcasting the latest news, to the long haul driver passing through. The lot lizzard plying her trade, to those trippin' off the "high speed chicken feed". I'm a former Chicken Hauler - Big Yella motors and tight deadlines - and I ride for the brand. All of my radios are set up with echo boxes , pingers, and roger beeps...just got to know when it's appropriate to use.

I have nothing but mad respect for those that can sit back and read the mail...then, reach out and touch somebody. I will be picking up my daughter in a couple of weeks for our Redskin weekend. On the way down. I'll take the 301/95/64/81. Hopefully, I'll pick up my modulator then. The back haul will be 81/66/495, and I would enjoy to hear my little girl shout out to Uncle Jack like she did some 9-10 years ago.

OAN: I got several more oral sugeries in the next 6-8 weeks, and a ton of work in Ft. Washington that will limit time spent on the forums. As everthing plays out, I'd like to take a road trip through your neck of the woods on my way to Ohio.

Keep on sparkin' fire on the wire..:props:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHnHncbUDoA&feature=g-wl&list=WL3EB75AC6A0A27AD7]The Dangers of Ham Radio - YouTube[/video]
 
tuscarora dave said:
They definitely can be an important survival tool as well as for a leisurely hobby device. I'm holding out for a Cobra 148 gtl mobile unit to come along on craigslist before I set up a mobile rig. They say that they're the best talking radios for a mobile setup.

Thanks for posting. TD
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Cobra 148
Galaxy 959
Connex CX-566sb


I respect the GTL the most.
I can't live without the 959.
Waiting the opportunity to dog walk a Connex 556 sb.

Either of the three modded out will suit me fine.
 
Vegas Transplant said:
Cobra 148
Galaxy 959
Connex CX-566sb


I respect the GTL the most.
I can't live without the 959.
Waiting the opportunity to dog walk a Connex 556 sb.

Either of the three modded out will suit me fine.
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Man VT...I got the hook up tonight!!! A CB buddy called me and said he had a cheap lot of equipment for me if I wanted it. I couldn't pass it up.

Uniden Washington base (just like the one in my shop)

Old Kraco SSB 23 channel base

Paradynamics PDC 600 meter set

Old JC Penny SWR Modulation meter

Old Royce mobile CB with mic (not sure if it's 23 or 40 channel)

Cobra 29 LTD mobile CB with mic

Astatic D-104 Silver Eagle series desk mic

I paid $100 and a case of Coors Light for all of it.
 
tuscarora dave said:
Man VT...I got the hook up tonight!!! A CB buddy called me and said he had a cheap lot of equipment for me if I wanted it. I couldn't pass it up.

Uniden Washington base (just like the one in my shop)

Old Kraco SSB 23 channel base

Paradynamics PDC 600 meter set

Old JC Penny SWR Modulation meter

Old Royce mobile CB with mic (not sure if it's 23 or 40 channel)

Cobra 29 LTD mobile CB with mic

Astatic D-104 Silver Eagle series desk mic

I paid $100 and a case of Coors Light for all of it.
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Wow, that's cool.
Find a good mobile shop and see if they can upgrade the LTD with a Connex board to meet the 148's spec's. Nothing like a favorable quote that saves $$$.
Gonna google the Paradynamics PDC 600 meter set after submitting.
 
Vegas Transplant said:
Wow, that's cool.
Find a good mobile shop and see if they can upgrade the LTD with a Connex board to meet the 148's spec's. Nothing like a favorable quote that saves $$$.
Gonna google the Paradynamics PDC 600 meter set after submitting.
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That's a good idea. I'll be playing around with these units in the morning to see which ones work and if the Kraco has any extra channels. I heard the Washington/silver eagle from the shop before I went over there to pick this stuff up. It's loud and crystal clear. Not sure about the others though. I'll find out in the morning.
 
Gotta love this thread. Always wanted to get more involved with CB's when I was a kid. Used to listen to it and talk on it traveling to Toledo Bend and back. Of course that was back when I could tell you which brand of cab-over or conventional was comin' at ya' from over a mile away. Gramps used to get the biggest kick out of that. Used to swear I had eagle eyes and could read the emblems from outerspace. Back then I just knew what they were...from the the time I was 5 until about 17.

When I was growing up a good friend of mine had a real nice CB base station set-up. Don't recall what model at the time because I was so small then, but I do remember him calling, " CQ...CQ...CQ." He had all kinds of post cards on his walls from fellow CB'rs from all over. That was my first real interest in radios. I'm sure the unit he had was a good one. His dad was the sheriff and he was in to all of the lingo then...I'm still tryin' to figure it all out. LOL!

Those years between then and age 20 I always wanted to learn more about base stations, set myself up a mobile unit in my 4-wheeler, and dreamed of owning my own high pitch hiss and bellering black smoke, but never really gave it a thought of dogding lines for a living.

Time has since passed me by and while some dreams of yesteryear never came true I did manage to get a couple of licenses...one to dodge lines on the local and another to play with pigs.

Of course the oink hobby lasted for about 10 years until a close friend passed. It's been a long time for me and I'm not even sure I'm current.

N8XXU on the mobile...used to run Kenwood dual band 220 and 2 meters. My rig's still like brand new and in the box for safe keeping just in case I get the urge. Would still like to get an 11 meter base though.
 
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Man...Always wanted those same units...the Uniden and the LTD. Nice find Dave.

My uncle had an LTD and had it hammered. He never would sell it to me.

I hate it when life throws a curve...or I'd have me a couple of ol' units like that and be set. Still have some older friends who still talk some. One has been trying to by my Kenwood...and I've been desperately trying not to sell it because I had plans for a man room.
 
Funny that you mentioned Uniden. If I recall correctly, Uniden/Cobra was manufactured from the same Taiwanese factory in the late 90's.
They still have a sister model to the 148.
 
Hoytman said:
Man...Always wanted those same units...the Uniden and the LTD. Nice find Dave.

My uncle had an LTD and had it hammered. He never would sell it to me.

I hate it when life throws a curve...or I'd have me a couple of ol' units like that and be set. Still have some older friends who still talk some. One has been trying to by my Kenwood...and I've been desperately trying not to sell it because I had plans for a man room.
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Yeah that was a nice find considering a like new Silver Eagle mic cost just about as much as I paid for the whole lot of stuff. It was a tough deal getting the antenna set up and somewhat costly too just to find that with the industrial park right across the highway I should have gone with an aluminum antenna instead of the fiberglass IMAX that I went with. The lights all go on after dark and I get 9 pounds of white noise after dark. I can't even hear the little guys at all after dark. Most of the local base operators have big radios but there are the little guys that I can talk to in the daylight hours that get drowned out by the static at night.
Vegas Transplant said:
Funny that you mentioned Uniden. If I recall correctly, Uniden/Cobra was manufactured from the same Taiwanese factory in the late 90's.
They still have a sister model to the 148.
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I understand that a lot of different brand radios sometimes use the exact same boards. I want to learn how to do channel mods and other forms of radio trickery.
 
The 148 GTL mobile and the 2000GTL base station use the same board. The little 29 LTD Classic works well. The Royce is smoked and the Kraco 23 channel works nicely. I'll probably give that Kraco to someone who might want it because channel 26 is home to me.
 
10-04. I got a 10 am nerf bar changeout, full detail on 90's model p/u, including full resto alum. wheels starting with black emery compound, tripoli, blizzard white and jeweling with rouge on a cotton flannel.

I'll give you a call tomorrow am. Driver is on 295 (Richmond) and will be here in about 3 hours.
Will try your channel after the call - another Cobra hand.

 
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