BajaRunner

Before everyone goes all ape-sh8t, I know its illegal to use a CB amplifier in the US w/o a radio license.

Anyways, I want to get a CB amplifier for use in Mexico.

I'm a little confused about it, since there seems to not be too much information on it. I found a site which offers some models for around $100.

Does anyone have any experience with amplifiers?

Will one work with my Cobra CB and Firestik antenna? Im looking for the lowest watt output (~40 watts).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

4x4Lamm

You may want to look into the CB laws of Mexice firts. Much more restrictive than US, and if a Mexican Barney Fufe sees your radio and likes it, you are not going back to the US unless he has it in his 4x4.

Lamm

BajaRunner

Yeah, I am aware of the laws.

They ask for papers everytime, and I tell them that I have papers and they let me go. Either I give them a porno mag or a shot of tequila or a flashlight.

(No joking).

ROOFGOOF

I believe you will need an antenna to handle the increase power with a CB amp too.

Stock up on the skin mags!
Good luck.

p.s. Back in the day my buddy had a TEXAS STAR linear (Amp) and it was crazy powerful!!! He walked all over everyone!

Jimmeh

SLAM! STOMP!

Yeah, my dad used to do that stuff a lot.

I like my Trampler 150. It is a low powered amp, but it works good enough for my purposes. I was able to reach my dad from Idaho Falls. Then again, he also has a massive CB base here in the house, and he has reached his friends over in Washington before with it.

And I didn't know they were illegal here in the states....I guess I learned something new today.

BajaRunner

Great, but, any information on how to wire one up or if I need a specialized antenna or if it will work with my current CB?!

I heard you just need a tunable tip antenna, but, who knows?

Also, anyone have some good websites?

I want a low wattage one too just for talking in the 5mi range w/o problems.

rocket

iTrader: (1)

95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners

rocket

iTrader: (1)

GPS & Communication

BajaRunner

Dude, ˟˟˟˟. If you dont have anything to say, then don't say it.

I know damn well where I posted.

Why the hell do you care anyways?

ROOFGOOF

Hope this helps alittle... some good reading on the website.
Like I mentioned before, my buddy had a Texas Star 300 and it was crazy powerful. If you are only going to get something less than 40 watts, I would think your firestick antenna would work. Your best bet would be to find an old man CB shop ran from an old garage Cheers!

http://www.truckcitycbgps.com/cb_antennas.htm

BajaRunner

lol thanks RoofGoof !

Jimmeh

As far as how I connected it, I have a ground to my battery, and then a small coax from the Amp to my CB. I will get some pictures.

BajaRunner

Oh that easy eh?

What kinda antenna are you using?

Jimmeh

It is a ten foot stainless steel whip. It works really well.

snap-on

usually an amp goes inline (antenna line) between the radio and the antenna.

it just amplifies the signial output by the radio. (does not let you recive any better)

as long as your antena has a good SWR you should be fine useing a firestick or whip. theres really nothing special about antea stuff till you get to large wattages... (500+)

get your ham liecense. its not that hard and its like what 6 meter or something were CB frequency is... so with the right mobile rig you can have both CB, and 2m

KC0TXH

rocket

iTrader: (1)

wow. maybe if you posted in the right section i wouldn't care, moron.

Tanto

I've heard that you burn out your CB radio faster with an amp. So if you have an expensive model CB, ham would be a better way to go so you can get into crazy mileage.

Jimmeh

Ham would be awesome! It isn't as easy to do in a truck though is it?

Tanto

Shouldn't be any harder than a CB install. Just have the same requirements as a CB but you need specific antennas and the radio costs a bit more. Very useful if you run two groups at a large area (e.g. Death Valley) and want to talk between the groups.

Merlin

The Firestik antenna should be fine for the wattage you are looking at. As others have mentioned, you do want your SWR to be as low as possible, and the Firestiks are easy to tune. 102" whips are kind of a pain to tune.

Another thing you will want to be sure of is the watt output of your Cobra. If you have a variable output, you will want to set deadkey around 2 watts, and then tune for maximum swing on the wattmeter from there. I vaguely recall that a 1:4 input/output is a good target to shoot for. Smaller amps and non-HD models do not like a large amount of drive, you can either burn finals or get excessive overmodulation.

Ground, ground, and ground. Then ground some more to make sure you will have the best possible ground (to frame, if possible) and lowest SWR.

You may want to consider upgrading your battery to an Optima Yellow Top or other high capacity, deep cycle battery. Also, don't run the amp and talk with your truck off for too long or you will quickly kill your battery.

Hope this helps,

Merlin