C B Radio

[Decidion]

Originally Posted by soggymountain

...I like full size radios because of the added clarity a larger speaker offers.

Ah, ok I get it.

In the FJ, the stereo system has an AUX in, so I can run a phone jack from the hand unit and broadcast the CB over the stereo system. I've tried it and it works really good, but usually it is plenty loud enough without doing this.

[T.Low]

Originally Posted by Decidion

I haven't had a whole lot of experience with CBs, so when I bough mine for offroad runs, I went with what a lot of the folks I knew recommended, which was a Midland 75-822. Coupled with a good antenna install and it has worked very well for us.



The cool thing about this unit is that the bottom part slides off and an adapter slides on to connect it to external power and external antenna for regular use in your rig. Or if you need to get out of the rig and still have communications, you unsnap the bottom part off, slide on a battery pack with 6 AA batteries, screw on the mobile antenna and boom, you are ready to go.

I have the same Midland and have had the same good luck with it. We needed soemthing for the Owyhee trip last spring. We decided to get a mobile unit with magnetic antenna, as we have three vehicles, and we trip in all of them. Then, when we get a permanent mounted CB for the van, we have the Midland micro mobile 75-822 for the other cars, or to lend out to some one travelling along that doesn't have a CB yet.

[Jerry]

Does anyone have any experience using a Cobra 75 CB radio? That's the model with all the controls and the speaker built into a rather large mic. I have been thinking about installing one in my wife's Ford Escape, but I don't want to jump into it without checking with other users. My main concern is whether the speaker is loud enough to be heard on noisy gravel roads.

[hutchman]

I had one that was bad from the factory. I took it back and bought a Uniden Pro 510 based on input from others. After buying the Cobra 75 I read some not so good reviews and after the first one failed, I didn't want to try another.

I was very happy with the Uniden - a very small unit with great performance. That's what I bought my son for Christmas last year.

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by hutchman

I had one that was bad from the factory. I took it back and bought a Uniden Pro 510 based on input from others. After buying the Cobra 75 I read some not so good reviews and after the first one failed, I didn't want to try another.

I was very happy with the Uniden - a very small unit with great performance. That's what I bought my son for Christmas last year.

I have a brand new Uniden 520 (same size as the 510) and also an old Cobra 19 (same size) that still works well, but I was hoping the 75 would pan out. Thanks for your input, Hutch. Anyone else have experince with the Cobra 75?

[Binford]

No, but I know an M715 friend who does. I'll check with him and post back.

[Toy Man]

I have had several Cobra 75's.

The first finally gave up after a number of years. The second died just after we crossed the border into Mexico. I returned it to Cobra for a free fix.

The speaker had died. Seems to be a fairly common problem.

I now use it with a Radio Shack 2"x2"X2" speaker mounted on the door pillar near my head. The speaker solves any potential problem with the handset speaker AND sounds much better.

I like the 75 because of it's size and portability between vehicles.

Dick - Toy Man

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by Toy Man

I have had several Cobra 75's.

The first finally gave up after a number of years. The second died just after we crossed the border into Mexico. I returned it to Cobra for a free fix.

The speaker had died. Seems to be a fairly common problem.

I now use it with a Radio Shack 2"x2"X2" speaker mounted on the door pillar near my head. The speaker solves any potential problem with the handset speaker AND sounds much better.

I like the 75 because of it's size and portability between vehicles.

Dick - Toy Man

Thanks for your input, Dick. Two more questions...(1) Do you ever inadvertently change the channel, volume or squelch controls when you grab for the mic? I had a mic controlled radio once and it was a PITA. I know the 75 has a lock-out switch, but just wondering. And (2) can you control the functions one-handed or do you need both hands to switch channels, i.e. hold the mic with one hand and set the controls with the other? Thanks!

[Photog]

Jerry,
There are a large number of folks on the Toyota120 forum, that use the Cobra 75 series of CB. Space in the new 4Runners is tight. All those that use the 75 seem to like it. At least 1/2 of them are using an external speaker of some type. Many of them also have HAM systems, eating up even more cockpit space.

[Toy Man]

Originally Posted by Jerry

Thanks for your input, Dick. Two more questions...(1) Do you ever inadvertently change the channel, volume or squelch controls when you grab for the mic? I had a mic controlled radio once and it was a PITA. I know the 75 has a lock-out switch, but just wondering. And (2) can you control the functions one-handed or do you need both hands to switch channels, i.e. hold the mic with one hand and set the controls with the other? Thanks!

The volume and squelch on side mounted and hard to change inadvertently.

It takes a deliberate effort/push to change the channels if they are not locked out and their position at the top of the unit makes it unlikely IMHO.

You can pretty much control everything with a single hand. If it is something other than volume/squelch/channel change then I have to look to remember what button does what and may take two hands.

Designed for right handers.

Dick