How to Convert a Mobile CB Radio to a Base Station
Mobile Citizen Band (CB) radios are easily converted into a base station and are useful to communicate with semi-trailer trucks, other cars while traveling or neighbors. These radios were one of the early social networks developed many years before the days of Facebook and Twitter and are still used for social networking by some today. Nowadays, mobile CB radios can be bought inexpensively.
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Instructions
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Strip back about 1/2 inch of the wires on the back of the CB radio to expose the copper. Using a screwdriver, connect the red wire to the positive terminal (+) and the black wire to the negative (-) terminal of the power supply.
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Attach the magnet of the antenna to a refrigerator, metal cabinet, cookie sheet or other metal fixture.
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Attach the antenna wire to the back of the CB radio. Turn the power on to the CB radio and power supply and begin to transmit and receive.
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Tips & Warnings
Antennas should be tuned to minimize SWR (Standing Wave Ratio). This measurement requires an SWR meter, which can be purchased for about $80 from an electronics supplier. This meter measures the amount of power that is reflected back toward the receiver instead of out the antenna. The antenna whip can be shortened or lengthened to bring the SWR to 1 or 1.5. The smaller the number, the more power that is going out of the antenna. If you don't want to purchase an SWR meter, contact your local ham radio club and they will probably find a meter for you to use.
Keep the antenna as high as possible to minimize exposure to radio frequency waves.
