17 replies to this topic

[checkmaterob]

Im looking at buying a CB radio for my mini. What do you need apart from the aerial and main unit?
Does anyone use these anymore before i get one and find no one uses them!!

Thanks

Rob

[jpd]

hi rob, u just need the unit, and aerial and a microphone..

aerial wise, i would recommend (from experience) you go for a gutter mount, as the mag mounts (the ones with the big magnet and attach to the roof) can make a mess of your paintwork.

there is a company who have started going to the mini shows, who sell cb equipment, otherwise, i would recommend ebay..just make sure u buy an FM one, they are normally 40 or 80 channels, depending on age (mines from 1984 and has 40 channels).

be careful when using one when driving, as i believe they carry the same rules as mobile phones. but they are very handy (and free to use)

[mini mark]

careful with a mag one on monday night mine came of the roof in strong wind not good

[stormintrooper]

do they have built in speakers then?

[monkey]

Usually they have a "handset" which is a speaker with a push to talk button.. when you push the button, the speaker becomes a microphone

[mini mark]

mine is built in the unit

[daemonchild]

do they have built in speakers then?

Most CB's have speakers in them, but they tend to be in the base.
So when you mount it in the dash, you won't hear much..
I would make sure that you get one with a socket for an extension speaker so that you can either pipe this into your normal stereo, or have a little £5 speaker from maplin for the purpose. (You then have to mount it somewhere of course..)

Hope that helps?

[mars red mike]

You will need a SWR meter too.

[Timtom]

Also i don't think they have the same rules as mobiles.. e.g. police radios etc..


Here you go.. Thank you Ebay!

Can you legally use a CB radio whilst driving in the UK?

Yes you can, two way radios such as CB, amateur radio, taxi radio etc are exempt from the mobile phone laws. But be aware that you will be prosecuted if your use of a CB radio results in dangerous driving or an accident. Also, using one will give the police an excuse to pull you over much the same as they pull over vehicles that have blue LED lights which aren't illegal either. Have a look at the Police National Legal Database http://www.askthe.police.uk and do a search for CB or blue LED's but remember - the police just need an excuse to check both you and your vehicle

From here : http://reviews.ebay....000000004949613

Edited by Timtom, 06 May 2009 - 07:44 PM.

[danboy]

It is an offence to use a hand held mobile phone or an "interactive communications device", but there is an exemption for a two way radio which is designed or adapted -

(i) for the purpose of transmitting and receiving spoken messages; and
(ii) operates on any frequency other than 880 MHz to 915 MHz, 925 MHz to 960 MHz, 1710 MHz to 1785 MHz, 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz, 1900 MHz to 1980 MHz or 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz.

Ofcom states that you should be transmitting CB in the 27MHz range, if you are, you come within the exception and are OK. The exception was created because so many government and private organisations (e.g. taxis) use 2 way radios.

However, there is strong scientific evidence that any such activity (including fiddling with your CD player etc.) does raise the level of danger so far as accidents are concerned, so it is recommended that you do whatever you can to minimise use of transmitter buttons, tuning devices and volume controls. If something akin to hands free exists it would be a good idea.


now that makes sense...lol

[checkmaterob]

Thanks Everyone!!!

That helped alot!

Rob

[sambarnes]

Thought i might re-open this topic!

Is there standard dimensions for cb's or are they all different sizes.

Basically i want to get one to go in the radio slot of a center console and wasnt sure whether some are bigger than others.

thanks
sam

[shorty]

Thought i might re-open this topic!

Is there standard dimensions for cb's or are they all different sizes.

Basically i want to get one to go in the radio slot of a center console and wasnt sure whether some are bigger than others.

thanks
sam

some of them are fairly small and wont fit directly into the cd slot
however with some cbs you can buy a slot to fit it in then that slot fits into the headunit slot so its just as good

have a look on thunderpole

[sambarnes]

Ahhh yeah, thats exaclty what i was looking for, cheers

[Dan]

There are only one or two that are actually DIN sized themselves. As said above there are adaptors for most because they are a pretty standard size, it's just a smaller standard than DIN.