What would you say the is regular range is on your CB? Jeep to Jeep not professional truck CBs.

When I’m out with my buddies I’ll be getting random trucker talk on most channels, while the people I want to talk to don’t hear squat either way unless they are within 500 feet away direct line of sight.

 

Depends on conditions, terrain, and setup really....a couple miles would be about average but once again there are a lot of variables..

 

1 to 2 miles depending on terrain and conditions.

 

Now that's funny....

If they can't hear anything over 500 ft away, they've got BIG problems with their setup.

 

Its not like us truck drivers to run illegal power or anything !!

 

x2. Much shorter if off-roading in very hilly/mountainous terrain.

 

Without getting into the power-output issues, one thing to consider with a lot of setups is the antenna array used. Many people use two antennas (one on each mirror for example). This antenna array will normally net a much longer range... but it changes the nature of the radiation pattern such that the range is extended front and rear at the expense of side-to-side.

One antenna will give (depending on terrain, placement - centre of the vehicle *should* be ideal) the same range in all directions. Once you modify the radiation pattern with arrays you can focus the 'beam' for more range but it's a more focused pattern. Trade-offs, eh?

Jamie

 

I get about 3-4 miles on the freeway (flat, not many hills) and anywhere from 3/4 -1.5 miles off road depending on terrain.

 

I figured we all had something wrong with our set ups (or at least the other guys do). I guess the next step is an SWR meter and some trouble shooting. Adjustable antennas help a ton too?

 

As a rule of thumb the bigger the antenna the better your reception will be, while for transmitting the best option is always an antenna tuned for the frequency (referred to sometimes as 'channel') you will be using. Selecting one of, say, 40 antennas would be silly so compromises must be made... normally an antenna tuned to the middle frequency in the range with 'acceptable' tune at the edges.

Short answer - yes, adjustable would be great but might be overkill depending on your actual use.

JAmie