Midland 77-092 Mobile CB Radio

Rating:
Summary: the dissapearing citizen band
Review: Class D citizen band provides an excelent very short distance communication. With the FCC only legally allowing 4 watts on 11 meters your range is very limited; all CB's can potentially be modified however for a illegal higher output. Unless your running a half wave base antenna, a nice beam, or a extremely long hi-gain mobile antenna dont expect much from this rig, or any other CB rig. With the new FRS fad they are pounding in the 2 mile range... however this is not true because one they run in (FM)frequency modulation mode which has excelent sound but its mainly line of sight communication only, two they have extreme power restrictions and no external antennas; those 350 miliwatts of power will barely get you a mile unless your in an excelent terrain. I highly recomend AM mode for distance, however if your going to buy a CB get one with (SSB) single side band which will allow you to use a portion of an AM wave the upper or lower part. In side band mode your 4 watt radio will produce 12 watts of legal power because you are only using the top, or bottom part of a wave without a carrier, this tends to be garbled so constant adjustment with the clarifier nobb may be neaded. As well on CB..11 meters if your lucky in the heat of the summer days the band accasionaly will open up and allow your radio wave to skip clear across the world; this is rare though running such low power but it is possible and ive seen it happen. But for those who seek the distance of radio Amateur (HAM) radio is what its all about. The FCC has made it possible to become a liscensed ham operator without knowing morse code anymore and a 35 question test which you can pass with a 70%. As a ham operator i can tell you its very rewarding, repeaters are free to use and usually have about a 25-40 mile range which you can hit with just miliwatts of power, or for those who seek long communications it is legal to run up to 1.5 kilowatts (1500 watts) of brute power. Although this is not neaded you can easily work the world with low power on certain bands. And with repeater ive hit some of them next to 100 miles away running only 5 watts on 2 meter fm. but thats all i have to say
73's
kcØmvl

Rating:
Summary: the dissapearing citizen band
Review: Class D citizen band provides an excelent very short distance communication. With the FCC only legally allowing 4 watts on 11 meters your range is very limited; all CB's can potentially be modified however for a illegal higher output. Unless your running a half wave base antenna, a nice beam, or a extremely long hi-gain mobile antenna dont expect much from this rig, or any other CB rig. With the new FRS fad they are pounding in the 2 mile range... however this is not true because one they run in (FM)frequency modulation mode which has excelent sound but its mainly line of sight communication only, two they have extreme power restrictions and no external antennas; those 350 miliwatts of power will barely get you a mile unless your in an excelent terrain. I highly recomend AM mode for distance, however if your going to buy a CB get one with (SSB) single side band which will allow you to use a portion of an AM wave the upper or lower part. In side band mode your 4 watt radio will produce 12 watts of legal power because you are only using the top, or bottom part of a wave without a carrier, this tends to be garbled so constant adjustment with the clarifier nobb may be neaded. As well on CB..11 meters if your lucky in the heat of the summer days the band accasionaly will open up and allow your radio wave to skip clear across the world; this is rare though running such low power but it is possible and ive seen it happen. But for those who seek the distance of radio Amateur (HAM) radio is what its all about. The FCC has made it possible to become a liscensed ham operator without knowing morse code anymore and a 35 question test which you can pass with a 70%. As a ham operator i can tell you its very rewarding, repeaters are free to use and usually have about a 25-40 mile range which you can hit with just miliwatts of power, or for those who seek long communications it is legal to run up to 1.5 kilowatts (1500 watts) of brute power. Although this is not neaded you can easily work the world with low power on certain bands. And with repeater ive hit some of them next to 100 miles away running only 5 watts on 2 meter fm. but thats all i have to say
73's
kcØmvl

Rating:
Summary: Great new toy
Review: I'm reasonably happy with my new cb but I have to admit I wasn't prepared for the installation. I'm not a car guy and I was expecting a cigarette lighter power supply. I needed up having to use alligator clips to connect the bare wire sticking out the back to the accessory panel in my 98 Honda's fuse assembly. This is a fine radio but was more of an installation hassle than I thought. If you have the gusto to mess with your cars electrical system then go for it. Otherwise it can be plugged into your cigarette lighter (not an option for me because of my radar detector) regardless it means a trip to pep boys to finish it up. It also requires you to screw holes in your dash, which most people won't do. I keep loose next to my seat.

Rating:
Summary: Very Nice Budget Radio
Review: The Midland 77-092 is definitely not overloaded with features, but it is a good low cost general purpose transceiver. I use it as a mobile unit with the Midland 18-2983 magnet mount antenna and am pleased with both products.

Rating:
Summary: Great CB
Review: This Cb is great I have been using it for a while now and I love it. You do have to go to radio shack and get a cigarette adapter and splice the wires but its common sence stuff. and I didn't mount it. it sits fine in my ranger. You should get a good antenna I got a plastic whip at radio shack for about 20 bucks and it gets out far. The only thing you might consider is a filter because when the car runs it makes a buzz noise not lound just annoying but its nothing that you couldn't fix with your squelch because when you talk it goes away and when you get someone talking to you it will go away but if you are one that needs everything perfect go get it at radio shack. but other than that no problems! Its Great GET IT!