I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on the new Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB, but I'm unsure of the SSB portion of it, my grandfather says it's pretty neat, still not sold on it yet. If not, I'll go to the Unided BC 880...it's the same radio without the SSB. Also, I have a 5' firestik antenna, would this work with SSB?

 

first what is ssb

 

separate sideband. using the same frequency but it still isolates your signal, effectively giving you more channels. sort of.

I've never used it on a CB it's more common with ham radio. I have a shortwave radio that will receive USB and LSB (upper and lower sidebands).

It's just one of those extra features that CBs come with. Not neccessary but can definitely be a useful thing.

 

seems like one of the selling points to get idiots to buy them when its really not needed

 

well... I guess like power windows and cell phones with internet. I wouldnt foresee using it much with CB unless you know other people who use SSB. but it's certainly not totally useless.

 

Okay, thanks for the input. After I think about it, I think I'll pass on the SSB radio, and just go with the 880.

Supposably, Uniden is coming out with a 6pin wireless mic sometime this year for that CB....nothing on Uniden's webpage, I heard about it on a review of said radio on cbradiomagizine's youtube channel. Dunno yet...

 

A little late butSingle Side Band is a good means of communication if, as stated earlier, someone else has a SSB Radio too.
It effectively give you 12 watts of initial power and you can usually talk further.
But because you are not really on any one frequency you need another SSB Radio to talk to and listen too and you need to tune each contact; not easy in a mobile.
SSB CBs were the only way to go years back when CBs were in every vehicle and a lot of houses, most people wanted to talk further and looked for anyway to do it.

Now is it worth it to get an SSB CB in a mobile, you need to look at what you plan on doing with the CB. If you are thinking just trail work, communications between vehicle it will not be worth the extra money that could be spent on a good power microphone. If you plan on finding a camp site and setting up a better antenna and trying to talk to people as far out as you can then yes it might be worth it. It is alway a good feeling when you hear someone and talk to them and find out they are from ten states over or even Mexico or Canada.
If you really want to do that then become an Amateur Radio Operator and talk to the world.

While you are looking at CBs consider the small compact Uniden 520, small, full 4 watts and will except a power mic. It can fit in a Ranger cab area with little work.
The antennas are another thing but get a good one.

Luck on the new setup.

 

One of the advantages of a radio with SSB is you actually have 120 channels to choose from rather than the standard AM CB's 40 channels (SSB have an upper and lower band for each of the 40 channels). This can come in handy if you want to take a conversation off band (as long as both parties have SSB). Also as stated by Scrambler82 the SSB channels transmit at a higher power than the standard AM channels. Either way you'll want a good power mike to complement your system.

 

What's with cb's being so popular in the states?

 

the reason i got it is because i travel to northern maine alot and up there its real iffy if youll get cell service so everyone around has a cb so lets say i break down or need help, i can turn the cb on and get ahold of someone, then walk around trying to get signal for my phone

 

It was the original social media of the 1970's.

 

Use to be everyone had a CB, clubs were everywhere, and SSB was a good thing to have.

Now CBs are here and there, trail rides, small groups of people, but I haven’t heard about SSB in a while so it is interesting that it is brought up.

In one sense you get 120 channels, but they are still the 40 you had plus a small deviation in the frequency to get what is called another channel but again you need two to make it work.

When you do chose a CB determine where it will go in the truck, what you want to do with it and then buy the best antenna and coax that you can afford and then go for a CB.

In a CB setup it is all in the antenna and the feed line.

luck,

 

I understand the practical factor, I guess I am more curious as to why people seem to use them more than VHF radios?

 

like an FRS radio? There's not much you can do as far as radios are concerned without a license. CB what is really intended for mobile use without a license, and that's why. The perform better than FRS as well when tuned right.

 

No amateur VHF/ HAM/ 2 meter operate at lower frequencies144-147.6 MHz. They are popular up here and get good range. A liscence is needed, but it's nothing complicated and can be taken and issued at a local amateur radio club

 

CB's are easier to setup and use, cheaper, and don't require a license. That's why they are more popular.

 

Communication Range - the distance you can talk and get a response.

The higher you go in frequency the lowest the distance.
Although VHF is a great tool most Amateur Radio Operators use what is called a repeater for distance.
As stated, CBis easier to hook up and tuning the Antenna system to the Vehicle is quick and most CBs with the right conditions can talk for a long distance and if you can pickup on the “Skip”, you can talk to another state.

The FRS Units are low powered, and limited in talk distance and you need clear area between uses to get the best responses.

Also, CB uses AM and HAM VHF uses FM, I do not know what frequency the FRS Radios use and if they use AM or FM.

 

Also true. and FRS is limited to 500 milliwats (what is that, 1/2 watt?), CB is 4 or 5. In addition, CB has 40 channels, FRS is 14 with sidebands.

FRS uses UHF, frequencies are in the 460MHz range. I'm assuming that is going to be FM

 

If you are talking 490 MHz, the communication distance with 1/2 watt of power and almost no antenna, is really short and not good for much other than kids playing.

The big reason for FRS is the HAM Operators want the 11 meter band to operate on, it is a great band for long distance communications with enough power and HAMs aren't limited to 4 watts as with everyday CB Operators.

So that is why a lot of people still use CBs, good communications with low power, cheap equipment ($$$), easy setup.

Again, no need for it unless there are two and you need it.

Now on another note, become a Amateur Radio Operator and talk to the world with 1000 watts and be legal.

Ltr

 

Lots of good insight, thanks man!

 

Hey, did you ever get an SSB CB Radio ?

Just wondering where you went with this ?

 

Nah, I didn't.

I figured that I didn't need to spend the money for it. My Uniden Pro510XL works well enough...I need to get another set of coax tho.

 

The 510 or the 520 are great radios.

Coax, stick to Belden RG8X.

Don't forget to get the antenna tuned...

And you can always get a power mic if you want to get out a little better.