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Question by secretbirdyj: What do you need to operate a CB radio in your house?
I want to buy a CB radio for inside my house. What equipment do I need? Do I need an antenna, or is there a CB i can buy that has an antenna built into the base?
Best answer:
Answer by Freedom of Speech
You can get either kind, but an external antenna will determine your broadcast range. If the antenna is going to be over a certain height you have to notify the FAA. I should know this but I don’t, so I’m guessing you don’t need an FCC license for CB, but ham radio operators DO need to be licensed. The current fine for unauthorized use of the bandwidths regulated by the FCC is $ 7,500.
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I,ll try to answer this for you.First of all you don,t need an FCC license for a cb as it works on the 11 meter band. You will need a license however if you use a ham radio, 10 meter band for instance. I,m a trucker and have mobile cb in my trucks and a base station at home. First off you must have an antenna. If you key up your mic without an antenna hooked up you will probably blow the finals in your radio! For your home antenna you can use a mobile antenna attached to your gutter if you want easy and cheap. Or you can buy a copy stick antenna for the rooftop. Remember that your antenna and coax cable must be matched with your radio. You dou this usually by lengthening or shortening the whip on the antenna. An ideal match would be 1 to1. For ever higher number on your match 1to2 for example your radio will lose its ability to transmit and receive as well as its capable of. I think radio shack still sells copystick antennas. They aren,t expensive like a moonraker antenna. Moonrakers have a motor that lets you turn them in any direction from inside your house via remote control. a copy stick works in all directions at once. I use an antenna called a “monkey made” on my trucks. Top of the line, but cost 100$ each. you can buy a copy stick for less than that.
You can either use a base station indoors or your mobile if you get a power converter that changes 110ac to 12 volts dc. I have an old Sonar tube type base station I use at home. It kicks out about 100 watts on high power. I use a radio shack copy stick. Cheap and best of all its reliable.
You can use a linear if you want even more power. I have a 500 watt linear in one of my trucks and a 300 watt in my van. But remember these aren,t legal to use, and you must lower the power output on your radio to about 1 watt to drive any linear that puts out less than about 900 watts. Your radio from the factory usually put out 5 watts, the legal maximum allowed by the FCC. You can get your radio peaked and tuned at most repair shops to enhance it,s power and sound quality. Also get a noise canceling mic. Anyway i hope this helps, even if just a little. Oh yeah, truckstops like pilot, flying J, etc are a good place to buy radios and supplies. Most places don,t carry cb equipment like they did in the 70,s. You can email me at yahoo if you need more help.
Nice answerthere Woodworking. You got my vote.
Ok, first off, you will have to determine if your buying a “base station” or “mobile” with a power pack on it…
Base stations get more power output than a mobile can, (unless its accompanied by a linear–>which are illegal to use).
Then, you need an “outside” antenna, either omni-directional or a directional antenna… (Stardusters are the best omni-directional ones I have found).
Get some “thick” coaxial cable as it takes more signal and has less chance of “greening” out or getting water in it and shortening out…(any type of power, be it A/C or D/C runs on the “outside” of copper, and if there is any “green” from oxidation–>water infiltration causes this, then the flow of energy stops!).
Get yourself a 100 foot of coax cable and take off the “pressed on ends” and put your own ends on it–>(get it from radio shack, the ends) I used to use satellite cable..(extra thick cable) on a moon raker 6 for when I wanted to talk “skip”–>(around the world).
You only have to notify the FAA if you are going over a 100 foot in the air, and most “CB” towers are 50 feet or less, or even on a pole… Make “sure” you ground your antenna good! With out the ground, it doesnt work!
Have a great time with the hobby…
I wish you well…
Jesse
There are different sizes you can purchase. The larger the unit, the higher the antenna, etc. depends upon what the range limit you seek is. Just having a regular size one that you can have in your car or in your house (portable) or you can can invest moola to get a top of the line kind. Radio shack has some catalogs you can access. You may eventually get interested in ham radios and converse with people from around the globe. It is fun. There are units that let you monitor conversations as well. Go on-line and you’ll be able to get more detailed information regarding this. A word of caution: Of course as with anything, take care to guard your privacy and private info. Have fun and take care.