First of many questions.

Hi Guys,

As you may of guessed i am a new boy to this forum but not new to CB Radio.
I was on air many years ago.
I am seriously looking to take up the hobby again and to make new friends.
So i was wondering is there many members that are in the Southampton area.?

I am trying to get a feel to see if there are many CB enthusiasts in my area.

I do have more questions but i think one at a time so that i don't get confused.

MM. 26-CT-4242.

Hi Martin and welcome to the forum.
You are like many of us on here that have returned to radio after many years away from the hobby.
Unfortunately you will find it a lot quieter than it was years ago but it is getting better as the old mob return.
Hope you enjoy your radio and the forum is full of help if you need any.
All the best.

Hi Alan,
Thank you for the welcome.
I think i will be needing a lot of help LOL!!
It will be like doing another apprenticeship, and at my age now i am a lot slower at learning.

MM. 26-CT-4242.

Martin
There are many around that age on here (57 was a good year).
I know exactly what you are saying about learning and memory or in my case the lack of it lol.
Took the licence exam last year and what a struggle to get stuff to sink in while studying for it plus i am dyslexic so that didn't help.
Anyway don't be to worried as there are a lot of very helpful and our own "Victor" on here to help you along.
Victor where are you ?????.

Hi Martin,

Welcome to the forum mate, don't be afraid to ask any questions there are a lot of helpful members here more than willing to help each other out.

There's a lot that have returned to the hobby of CB radio and after many years away, (even decades for some! ), we were maybe all taken aback with the changes. Unless you live in a CB busy area it's all sideband & big antennas nowadays as stations are much further apart from each other than they were in the past.


For some as Alan above mentioned including myself we took the route of Amateur Radio licencing to get our radio fix where we could with the Ham bands being much busier. The lines or boundaries that existed in the past are slowly fading away and many nowadays enjoy all aspects of radio whether CB, Ham, PMR etc. If radio is in your blood you find no boundaries.  

Enjoy the forum, the friendly people here and your radio exploration.


All the best,
Victor



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@ Alan Pilot

Had no internet for a few days Alan mate, had to reroute it for Teresa's new job. Just finished wiring up the radio room now so back online.
(Tried desperately to connect on the tablet but that's a PITA to work on and get Wi-Fi signal!)

Hi Victor,
Thank you for the welcome.

RE:- it's all sideband & big antennas 


This is the first problem to overcome i cannot have a permeant big antenna bolted to the house or in the small garden. 
So i will have to have something simple that i can put up and down.
I am surrounded by houses and trees so getting back to CB's could be a little tricky.
I thought maybe starting of with a hand held to see what results that would bring in then maybe taking the next step of a home base with some sort of quick setup antenna.
The biggest problem is Finance i will have to be very careful with the pension LOL!!


MM.   26-CT-4242

This could be what you need.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304122422263?hash=item46cf1be3f7:g:5MUAAOSwHORb3cdq
And something along the lines of this.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154201292849?hash=item23e71d0031:g:VvoAAOSwT0VgAw3O

Hello and welcome to the group, i see you say about starting with a hand held, i would not say that is the best way to use your radio cash, FM/AM is nothing like it was in the old days, best to save and get a rig with ssb on it, cost more but it will set you up better and will give you better return on your radio investment, i live in Finland so can not say for sure your area will have a low amount of stations on FM, but from listening to members on here and YOU TUBE, its more active on SSB/LSB these days.

Hi Alan.
That looks like the sort of equipment that will do the job.
I will bookmark them for further investigation.

Thank you.

Hi Glen,
Thank you.
And thank you for the valuable information.
I will have to Bookmark them.
It definitely sounds like things have changed quite a bit.

I am really glad i joined this sites as the members here have already helped me.
Thank you guys.
I will need to do a lot more research before i commit my cash.
I have considered Ham Radio but my brain seems to refuse to keep the knowledge required even for the foundation exam.

MM.  26-CT-4242

Martin
That pole was just the first one i found there are better ones to be had.
I have one that is a lit thicker at the top than a lot of them and stood up to the winter wind coming of the Irish sea.
When i remember where i put it i will tell you the make.

Thank you Alan,
All information is gratefully received.

MM.  26-CT-4242.

Found it not the cheapest but look at the end section compared to others.
You can find this make on the bay as well.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07573SV41/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just looked on the bay don't bother lol.

Thank you again Alan.
At least it has given me an idea of what sort of thing to look out for.

MM.   26-CT-4242.

Just found my one about 18" behind me here in the shack lol.
It is with another aerial in a box to be fair lol..