Date:         Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:59:57 -0400
Reply-To:     Bobby Brown <bobbybrown1@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bobby Brown <bobbybrown1@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: CB
In-Reply-To:  <4c4f3d77.4b6adf0a.2d1a.5be1@mx.google.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

David/Loren,

I installed my Cobra in my Automatic exactly where David says it won't fit.
'Cept I mounted just left of the shifter on the vent cover. Worked nicely
for me. Mounted my antenna (one that doesn't require metal base mounting) to
the left side of my front fiber glass bumper.

bobby

On Tue, Jul 27, 2010 at 4:10 PM, David Beierl <dbeierl@attglobal.net> wrote:

> At 11:10 AM 7/27/2010 Tuesday, Loren Busch wrote:
>
>> Right after I bought my '90 Westy I installed a Cobra 75 (Google on that,
>> lot of info out there), runs about $100 or less if you shop around.
>> Everything in the handset/microphone.  Only have to install a small
>> junction
>> box where the power, microphone and antenna come together.  Later I
>>
>
> I've actually owned one of those, and gave it back because the
> handset was so heavy (and the coiled cord, which has to carry RF
> along with the rest, was very stiff).  I'd been used to a full-size
> Cobra unit (with electroluminescent panel backlight, no less...)
> which was mounted on the vent cover forward of the gearshift on my
> '84.  After I lost the '84 I was looking for something for a Honda
> that I owned for a $$$little$$$ while, and there's no room in a
> modern sedan for much of anything.  I ended up with small/plain
> conventional Midland unit, cost about $50.
>
> Now I have a Radio Shack unit which is obviously a Cobra in disguise,
> and there's no room for it on the vent panel because of the automatic
> transmission.  I'm going nuts (very slowly) trying to figure a place
> for it.  I'd like to put it on the overhead, but I don't really want
> little bolts sticking out of the roof!  Might get there, though.  In
> the meantime, it lies mostly on the floor between the front seats
> along with sundry other 12v stuff that will eventually have a formal
> home, I hope.  I've got a small speaker taped (silicone tape to the
> rescue) into the hole in the driver's headrest.  Just now trying it
> behind the driver's seat -- conceivable (because I only ever operate
> on 19 plus one other channel, plus WX stuff) but not likely.
>
> On the '84 I had a RS folding gutter-mount antenna that I could fold
> from the driving position. Very happy with it since my use is
> strictly short-range, but they don't make it any more.  Now I have a
> larger magnetic mount on the roof, feeding in through the driver's
> door as the other did.  It works great and if I go under something
> too low it falls over instead of smashing.  If it comes off the roof
> the tip (vinyl cap) could drag on the ground, but that's normally a
> low-speed event in parking garage etc.  Not like my friend in '70 who
> mounted a 108' whip with full spring mount on the roof of his
> full-size sedan, and had to remember to dodge the traffic lights.  He
> didn't always remember, and the Pensacola police were not entirely
> happy with him.
>
> Things I insist on -- channel 19 switch, and working channel retained
> when switched off (preferably when power disconnected, but I don't
> insist).  WX reception.
>
> Very nice indeed -- present rig will constantly listen for WX alerts
> and sound an alarm that persists until I turn on the WX reception and
> listen.  It also automagically seeks a working WX channel, though you
> can manually tune them as well.  It has a little red light on the
> panel that lights to show that it's receiving a WX channel and
> listening for alerts.
>
> Nice -- EL panel backlighting.  Just don't spill Coke on it or it
> will die around the edges.  Built-in SWR meter.
>
> Completely useless in my experience:  Cobra "Sound Tracker"
> misfeature.  It's a voice companding scheme that's fortunately
> switchable -- my present rig doesn't have it.  It drops background
> noise but then makes incoming traffic unbearable screechy and painful
> to listen to.  No idea what it sounds like outgoing, but incoming is
> dreadful.
>
> Possibly useful hint -- the pleasant way to listen to CB is through
> one side of a headset.  You can hear easily at reasonable volume, and
> it doesn't bother the PAX.  I don't know whether I invented this but
> I was doing it 2-3 years before I heard a trucker saying "we used to
> laugh but now we all do it..."  The '84 Westy was so noisy that I had
> headsets rigged for intercom between the front seats.  The new one's
> quieter, but a long trip with frequent conversation is still a strain
> on the voice box.
>
> Side note -- I keep a basic Midland mini-rig with mag-mount antenna
> and lighter plug to lend to another vehicle I'm traveling
> with.  Aside from small size and drop-dead simplicity, a feature of
> the little Midlands is that they have plenty of audio power for the
> built-in speaker.  If I could satisfy myself with one of those my
> mounting problems would be much less.
>
> Yours,
> David
>



--
Bobby Brown