I decided to create a whole separate thread from my other one to show some pictures of some cb radios my grandfather and i found today. Here's my old thread to refer to questions:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...cb-radios.html

Back in the mid 1900s he use to really use cb equipment driving trucks and we found 4 just laying around. We also found some magnetic antennas i could use. I know magnetic isn't the best, but i got a cb and a little cb antenna for free so i can't beat that. I'll get a Firestik II antenna later down the road. Here's some pictures, and i tried to find the models of them but I'm not sure if the ones i found are right (Sorry for the Ipod-quality pictures) :

Colt Z28 (Pretty old one I'm assuming. He said he used it in an old international.)



Realistic TRC473 (The one i think i'm going to be using. I cleaned it up alot better from when i took this picture because it was dirty from sitting around. I picked it out because it had all the mounts and everything with it)



Cobra 21 LTD ST Soundtracker (Not sure if this model is right but it's what i found. I didn't like this one because the mic was bulky and felt cheaper than the Realistic one. Also, it didn't have the mic mount to put the mic back.)




Beat up Realistic TRC 427 ( The paint was coming off this one so it might be hard to make out)



CB Antennas we found. They are both magnetic, besides the one in the box. I wasn't sure about that one.



This is the antenna he gave me.(The black one). It's probably only like 1 foot or so, but i'll put it ontop my cab to try to get the best signal. I wanted the larger magnetic antenna because it looked to be around 3-4 feet but it probably would have been knocked off several times due to the height of it and the fact it would be ontop my cab.






What do you guys think about this stuff? Any comments or info on any of it?

And just wandering, but how could I run the cable without drilling?

 

The Cobra would probably your best bet.

The magnetic antenna isn't a great set up in the least, but it's a starting point. Make sure your SWR's are tuned in.

 

Alright but how would that realistic that I picked out compare to it? That cobra has a crappy mic and it don't have the mic mounts. I picked the realistic cause it had everything already attached.

And yeah, that magnetic antenna won't be the best, but I'm gettin a 4 foot firestik II later on.

Any more opinions/comments anyone?

 

The colt in the first pic is a scanner not, a CB

 

Yeah, it didn't look quite like a cb. But what do you think of that cobra and realistic one that I picked out? I would get that cobra if there was mounts on it. What do you think about them antennas?

 

Usually the only downside to the older radios is a lack of channels. Apparently back in the day the CB was not as wide.

When I was first getting into it I used this big old beast of a JCPenney radio I found out in my Grandad''s (RIP) garage. I peaked it myself with my scope and my buddies dummy load, hooked it up to a nice 102" whip and that thing was one of the nicest sounding radios I've ever used. I've never been one to dial in overmod myself (that just seems sloppy and inelegant) and I didn't with this one either. On other peoples radios it just came in so clear and with such nice amazing full sound quality and it was definitely no slouch for range either considering what it was. The thing was litteraly packed full of point to point wire wrapped circuitry whereas newer radios tend to have SMT PCB's and tiny little IC's that perfrm the function of an entire circuit boards worth of stuff back in the '70's.

I happen to think some of the old stuff is is just as capable as lng as you are OK with the limitations.

 

Yeah, the one i am going to use is pretty old. It's a realistic but i'll be using that black antenna for now. Later, i plan on getting the firestik IIs. I found a way to put the antenna in the cab without drilling so the only drilling i will have to do is when i mount the cb under the dash.

 

Up. My setup is that Realistic TRC 473 and the black antenna that I'm goin to put ontop my cab.

What do you guys think and how will this perform? Like I said, I'm getting firestik IIs later. I'm also getting a PA when I get alittle extra money.

 

That b;ack one looks awful short in the picture. Have to wait and see but I predict if you are going for long range you'll be disappointed. Best mobile antenna imo is a 102" stainless steel whip and cost is relatively low.

 

How far do you think the range would be with the black one? And isn't that a little too big to put on a truck? If i'm right, isn't that around 9 foot? But do they come in a kit on ebay?