Say you've got a long cross-country drive coming up. Say you've got a lead foot, and a wife with an even heavier lead foot. If you were only to buy one, would you buy a CB radio or radar detector?

Here's what I'm thinking:

CB radio pros:

• Weather & road hazard alerts (including speed traps)
• Ability to call for help if necessary
• Entertainment/conversation/distraction value of having others to talk & listen to
• Combined cost of radio, antenna, & tuning is less than a good radar detector

CB radio cons:

• Ugly antenna to deal with
• Easily spotted by police
• Gotta rely on others to notify you of speed traps
• Magnetic mount antenna problems with small, curvy MINI roof [see below]

Radar detector pros:

• One trick pony may be better than CB at finding speed traps (?)
• Less obtrusive, inside and outside - stealthy

Radar detector cons:

• Good ones expensive, cheap ones not worth the money
• One trick pony - no weather reports, hazard alerts, ability to summon help, etc.

About magnetic antenna mounts: My MCS has a sunroof. Anyone have any experience attaching a magnetic mount antenna to either the space in front of or behind a MINI's sunroof? I'd imagine it could be difficult!

I'd love to hear others' thoughts on these questions. Thanks!

 

First off, I have not used a CB for a long, long time but based on what I hear about them these days you should forget it and go with a radar detector. The CB is often difficult to understand or be heard while the radar detector will be useful whether on a long road trip or around town.
Bon voyage

 

Years ago, I had a radar detector capable of displaying alerts, however, I never saw it in action. I think it was in the early stages of being implemented. There might be something even better these days.

If these were my choices, I'd go for the radar.

 

I have both in one of my other cars and for long trips on the freeways, I'd be more inclined to rely on the CB. Truckers and others are great to talk to and get information from.

My brother-in-law is a Sheriff and his take on radar detectors is, that they do not work very well with the new instant on radar guns, the guy hidding in the bushes has you in his sights before you know what hit you. If your caught with a detector in your car and it's not legal in the state you're tarveling through, they will confiscate it.

I know my wife doesn't think much of the CB but they're still great if a bunch of club memebers are all heading on trip somewhere.

10-4 good buddy

 

Hi everybody!

I would say both!!! Neither is a shield. They are both tools one gets information from. The driver is the real signal processor here.

It's tough to break up the clean lines of our MINIs. But I've been thinking about several antenna mount locations. Like you mentioned, LombardStreet, there's always a magnetic mount, but.. oh... the finish!!! No scratches for me! Though a piece of chamois or fabric might do in a pinch as a cushion for the magnetic base. I have done this on other cars.

Search for "antenna mount" and you will only get a few hits. The amateur radio folks know of vendors who supply some really nice mounts for really nice money!

There is one caveat I saw in my search. You don't want to mount an antenna too close to the MINI radio antenna. I guess the broadcasting can overwhelm the car's radio and related electronics.

The mounting points under consideration:

1) Glass mount (available at Radio Shack) behind the driver's side. Not the best in transmission and receiving, but easy to set up. The antenna can be removed when clean lines are needed.

2) Some sort of bonnet mount on the passenger side. I was envisioning a tab poking through the break line for the bonnet. I will have to see what bolts are available to use. Of course, it's going to be fun poking RG-58 through a grommet in the firewall.

3) The same as 2 for the passenger door. I figure a hinge bolt might be useful for mounting.

4) Somewhere off the rear bumper. Same as 2 for a bolt location.

There is always drilling. Ouch!! Though the police MINIs will probably have to do that for their 2-ways.

And there is the CB transceiver. Where to put it without messing up the interior lines too badly. Some have placed it under the switch bank. But I want to keep it open for aux gauges! Plus, I don't want a permanent location for the transceiver. So I chose a handheld unit with a BNC jack connector for an antenna.

So, I guess I'd vote for CB, but a detector is useful as well.

For a caravan, those FRS (family radios) work very well. At my first MINI meet, they were effective. Better add them to your kit as well.

Hope this helps.

hey,"There is only chaos."

 

I would agree on both. If you get the RD, I would recommend the Passport 8500, excellent product and all over eBay, got mine for $200. I would also highly recommend something called a "sticky pad" (google it). This thing really works. Lookes like a mouse pad and lays on the dash hump over the speedo. Just lay the RD on it and it stays there. But if you DO get pulled over you can stash it quick. The only thing I've seen break mine loose is a very hard bump. Costs about $5. CB will also help with boredom.

 

How about something a little different?



http://www.scannerpro.com/Merchant2/...duct_Code=BCT8

I have a different version of the above. Works wonderful. If you want to listen to CB you can but it's better if you can listen to the Police themselves. This unit also has a built in signal strength meter alarm on it that lets you know how close the Police are. This has saved my butt on numerous occassions.

I'm using the older BCT-10:

 

No one uses CB anymore. We have all gone to GMRS radio. Radar detectors only beep AFTER the cop has painted you.

Instead of those, how about a nice police scanner? They get the weather and traffic, and warn you of the County Mounties nearby. In California, I like to keep my pocket scanner on the CHP low-power channel, so I can monitor only the guys and ladies who are closeby.

Besides, it's fun to hear all the 211's, 10851's and 11-79's. Ask me if you don't know...

"One Adam Twelve... One Adam Twelve..."

 

I actually installed a Cobra CB in my car, with an on-glass antenna on the side glass in the rear. I remove the mast when I am not using the CB. This particular unit also has a NOAA weather band radio included, which is a plus.

I find CB to be good mainly in heavily trafficked areas, and they can be a plus when you are wondering what the cause is and the length of a backup that you are sitting in and if there are alternate routes. CB has the advantage of being universally adopted by truckers as their information source between them. You can hear about a discovered speed trap ahead well before you encounter it. The downsides of CB are mostly the extraneous crap that people muck up the airwaves with, such as preaching, inane conversations, outright jamming of the band, etc. On the hardware side of things, CB is far bulkier than a radar detector, needing a large antenna for maximum effectiveness. You can buy a handheld CB walkie-talkie that has all the features and power of an 'installed' unit, with only an 8-inch rubber antenna attached; but you will find your range limited greatly by the short antenna.

Before I added the permanent on-glass antenna to my car, I used a magnetic mount whip set on the back of the roof behind the sunroof glass; it never blew off.

Minuses of radar detectors are the ineffectiveness of them in various 'instant-on' scenarios (if you are the only car in range that gets the trigger pulled, you are generally sunk), the 'hairy eyeball' that a cop will often cast upon seeing your detector when he has stopped you, whereupon what might have been just a warning has now become a full-on citation, and the issues you will have with them in use in areas where they are banned. Typical scenario there is that you get hit with a heavy fine for using (or just having) the unit, the unit gets confiscated, and in quite a few cases, it gets placed ahead of your front wheel and you are told to drive off, leaving it to you to destroy the unit. Also, with the advent of in-band motion sensors used in stores and buildings, you are often confronted with a barrage of false signals in areas with lots of buildings.

CBs can be used to communicate in groups while driving together, but this task is much better handled these days with the new generation of FRS/GMRS radios, which are tiny, less susceptible to interference and not needing of cords or antennas to be useful. They can also be carried with you to keep in contact on foot, in crowds, etc.

 

I agree with jtpryan. I also have the passport 8500 and its an excellent product as well as great for long road trips. I haven't had a speeding ticket ever after buying the radar. I highly recommend it and it has been tested by former law enforcement. Good luck

 

LombardStreet, Do you have a cell phone? If so, dont worry about emergency, weather, or road conditions... Most states have phone numbers to call about weather and road conditions. I know the California one off hand, but other states would need some internet reseach. (CA # 800-427-ROAD)

I say radar... for me, every time it beeps, I slow down a little. Its the best out there for the money and easy install/remove. Police scanner would be cool, but then you gotta know those dispatch codes... I know most of them since I am a former dispatcher, but I would not bother with that... stick with the radar. When you get Tilly and you want to hardwire the radar, let me know and I can help you... did my passport in my MINI.

Here are some sites for road conditions... you may want to browse them and double check that this will be efficient enough for your trip back to CA.

National Weather/Road Conditions

Some RV Website
I dont suspect that you will need anymore than this, but I would make a cheat sheet with the phone numbers. Also if you belong to AAA you can go to the office and pick up a TripTik. They will plan out the route for you and let you know of resturants, hotels and view points along the way... kinda neat as a reference, but for me... I like to explore!

 

As the CB stands for "crass babble", unless you really want to hear hour after hour of irrelevant chatter, I'd skip it and go with the radar detector.

 

Fair enough! CB indeed has a very low signal to noise ratio.

The scanner idea is very slick, though. It could raise eyebrows at a checkpoint or roadside stop. Anyone have experience with this?

The only thing with cell phones is coverage. In urban areas and major highways, it's not much of a problem. In the countryside on back roads, spotty at best. Might need an external cell antenna as well! Who's looking like an antenna farm?

hey,"I wish I could hear the soundtrack to my life. That way I'd know when to duck."

 

The CB radio has its merits, but in order to learn where the "smokeys" are located, you've got to put up with some of the filthiest language imaginable, and also tons of racist rants, etc. Believe me, I do my share of cursing, but it's the worst on the CB. In fact, I removed mine because of the racist crap and cursing, it's really intolerable.

A radar detector is the best choice if you're trying to avoid radar, forget the CB and purchase the best radar detector for your needs.

 

Here's a thought.
How about neither?
Take the money you save and upgrade your accomodations/meals. You can get weather reports from the radio and I've never heard any really credible proof that radar detectors will save YA. If you're itching to buy a toy for your road trip that's another thing, but I have cruised west coast to midwest more times than I can count and I think you can safely fly along with a bit of wise driving.

 

Good point about cell coverage... that would make me inquire with my cell company as well before I left.... I guess you could get one of the handheld CB's for a "travel emergency."

 

i consider myself a pretty "wary" driver on the highway so as to keep myself from incurring additional motoring costs (the mcs already cost me 23k! and premium gas!). The law is quite sneaky sometimes, however, and i must have assistance, IMO.

my trusty Escort 8500 X55 (blue!) has saved me from:

1. hidden laser
2. several point and shoot
3. patrolling police cruisers with K radar on (many that i didnt see).

etc etc etc

it also detects pop mode if they use that where you'll be going.

Cb radio sounds cool, mostly because of the ranting that would be going on.

 

I agree with the GMRS radio recommendation. These are handy gadgets in general, with lots of uses. And you can get a quite nice one for $50 to $100. CB is a couple decades out of fashion.

As for radar detectors. I bought one about 15 years ago (a Passport) when I got a new car and was doing a lot of driving for work. In one year I got 3 speeding tickets. Problem is, you tend to depend on them. As others have pointed out, they are far from fool-proof with all the various bands in use and the instant-on radars.

The good news is that I've found a foolproof way to avoid tickets. I set the cruise control at 5 mph over the speed limit. I get where I'm going reasonably quickly and have zero stress about watching for the Mounties. Haven't had a ticket since .

 

Police scanner in Car is illegal in some states.

Heres your best bet: Become a Law enforcement officer. They give you a secret decoder ring and a get out of ticket free badge.


Paul