- Thread starter
- #21
I'm pretty sure I grounded the mount via the supplied set screw, but I'll check and get back to you in a bit.
1997 FZJ80 CB and Antenna Install Advice
- Thread starter Chaldaean
- Start date
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I'm pretty sure I grounded the mount via the supplied set screw, but I'll check and get back to you in a bit.
- Thread starter
- #23
Now that I revisit it, I remember trying to ground the mount via the set screw (remove some paint on the lift gate, slide the supplied aluminum spacer down and contact one set screw with the exposed metal on the lift gate). I also made a small ground jumper that ran from the lift gate to the body of the truck.
However, grounding the mount and grounding the lift gate made no appreciable difference (that I could detect), so I ungrounded everything and repainted with a paint pen.
This is my first CB, so I'm no expert, but I don't have any trouble receiving or transmitting with this ungrounded mount setup.
For what it's worth, here are some images as it sits now. I did switch the components of the mount around to make it look a bit cleaner.
- Thread starter
- #24
Some more images...
Last edited:
Nice - doing my 'new' install' of a CB antenna this weekend. Same K400 3/8 mount. Debated on the spring. Easy to add later. Went with a 3' Firestik Firefly antenna. Tunable tip and have a SWR meter.
Glad to hear you noticed no appreciable change between just the aluminum plate/set screw grounding and using a strap. BTW - I run the same set up as Alvaro on the ham side w/o a ground strap. I don't think it's necessary. I run both an SBB1 18" and SBB7 4' ham antenna off the K400C mount and the range is fantastic. No ground strap.
Glad to hear you noticed no appreciable change between just the aluminum plate/set screw grounding and using a strap. BTW - I run the same set up as Alvaro on the ham side w/o a ground strap. I don't think it's necessary. I run both an SBB1 18" and SBB7 4' ham antenna off the K400C mount and the range is fantastic. No ground strap.
Well,
I think I had a bad PL259 connector when I went to tune the new antenna. It's one my FIL had put in on the old mag mount. Small piece of cable from the radio to the SWR seems ok as I can calibrate the SWR and get a 1.0 reading on the dummy load antenna. 50 ohms on the dummy load antenna when tested also so I know all that's ok. Couldn't get even close to 3.0 (SUCKS) trying the new antenna with what I'm hoping is just a bad connection.
I've got the K400 grounded like you with just the set screws into the aluminum strip. Haven't removed any paint. Shouldn't have to do anything but screw the new antenna into the 3/8-24 mount on the K400.
Oh well - no time this week - next weekend.
Any thoughts or suggestions as to other things to test/look into?
I think I had a bad PL259 connector when I went to tune the new antenna. It's one my FIL had put in on the old mag mount. Small piece of cable from the radio to the SWR seems ok as I can calibrate the SWR and get a 1.0 reading on the dummy load antenna. 50 ohms on the dummy load antenna when tested also so I know all that's ok. Couldn't get even close to 3.0 (SUCKS) trying the new antenna with what I'm hoping is just a bad connection.
I've got the K400 grounded like you with just the set screws into the aluminum strip. Haven't removed any paint. Shouldn't have to do anything but screw the new antenna into the 3/8-24 mount on the K400.
Oh well - no time this week - next weekend.
Any thoughts or suggestions as to other things to test/look into?
How did these installs play out.....do you guys like the "lip" mount and it looks like you are running 3ft tall antennas? Seems like a spring would b good to have for offroad. I just installed a 4ft firestick on my front bumper, but right now I'm getting a lot of alt "whine"..
Worked out great. Mine is installed just like the pics above. Firestik heavy spring, but I dont' have the quick disconnect on mine. 3' Firestik Firefly antenna. Whacked it pretty good a couple of times this past weekend on overhanging tree branches w/o issues. Diamond mount held up just fine - probably because of the spring! I was able to get the antenna tuned to 1.8 on channels 1 and 40. Middle channels are almost dead on 1.
- Thread starter
- #29
I've had no troubles with mine and am impressed with the quality of the mount. Also, if you ever think you'll need to park in a parking garage, the quick disconnect is pretty nice to have.
Hi,
Without getting in to a long detailed explanation, I would suggest a 10 Meter Ham Radio tuned for the "11 Meter" Band to be used as a CB Radio.
The best 10 Meter Radios I have found ... without getting in to a real HAM Radio setup ... are the Magnum Brand Radios. They are superb with great audio and offer some real power ranging from 45 watts to 175 watts.
Magnum also uses the very old, tried, and true method of applying the power to modulate audio rather than carrier. Modulated Audio is what gets you heard. Carrier has no intelligence and it will only get you so far. This is how the military designed their field radios dating back to WWII. You can be heard much further with the same amount of power.
Also, the Magnum Radios have one of the best receive capabilities of any Radio I have tried. It makes sense if you think about it. You really do need a good receive section if you are going to be heard that far...
One of the best antennas you can possibly get is a Van Ordt Powerstick or Victory Powerstick 2 which are no longer made. The next best thing is the Powerstick knock-off antenna made by Procomm. It comes in a variety of lengths and it rocks when it comes to receive / transmit capability. I put a new 4.5 foot Procomm on Landtanks truck (because I broke his) and I could immediatley hear a huge difference in the recieved signal quality. The voices jump out of the background noise and can be clearly heard. It gets out better as well.
Of course, you can always get a "pair of shoes" if you really want to be heard...
There are other alternatives if this does not work for you we can discuss but this is teh hot setup in my opinion.
However, If you get a HAM license, you may want to just get a real Ham Radio like a Kenwood Mobile that will also work on the 11 Meter Band.
Here are some pics of my setup in progress.
Without getting in to a long detailed explanation, I would suggest a 10 Meter Ham Radio tuned for the "11 Meter" Band to be used as a CB Radio.
The best 10 Meter Radios I have found ... without getting in to a real HAM Radio setup ... are the Magnum Brand Radios. They are superb with great audio and offer some real power ranging from 45 watts to 175 watts.
Magnum also uses the very old, tried, and true method of applying the power to modulate audio rather than carrier. Modulated Audio is what gets you heard. Carrier has no intelligence and it will only get you so far. This is how the military designed their field radios dating back to WWII. You can be heard much further with the same amount of power.
Also, the Magnum Radios have one of the best receive capabilities of any Radio I have tried. It makes sense if you think about it. You really do need a good receive section if you are going to be heard that far...
One of the best antennas you can possibly get is a Van Ordt Powerstick or Victory Powerstick 2 which are no longer made. The next best thing is the Powerstick knock-off antenna made by Procomm. It comes in a variety of lengths and it rocks when it comes to receive / transmit capability. I put a new 4.5 foot Procomm on Landtanks truck (because I broke his) and I could immediatley hear a huge difference in the recieved signal quality. The voices jump out of the background noise and can be clearly heard. It gets out better as well.
Of course, you can always get a "pair of shoes" if you really want to be heard...
There are other alternatives if this does not work for you we can discuss but this is teh hot setup in my opinion.
However, If you get a HAM license, you may want to just get a real Ham Radio like a Kenwood Mobile that will also work on the 11 Meter Band.
Here are some pics of my setup in progress.
Hey Rich, I could use the advice. I know nothing about CB or HAM but I want to have both. I am going for my HAM test on Sat. School me on what I need to know.
Rich,
Is it technically legal to use a HAM radio on the 11 meter citizen's band? I was trying to educate myself on this subject and I found this:
"Ham equipment being used on the CB bands is illegal. It is not type accepted (or whatever the FCC calls it these days)for use on that band. A CB can be used on amateur bands, but it would have to be modified to do so, and then could not be used on the CB bands again. Bottom line, legally the two are not interchangeable. Does it happen? Absolutely. Is it legal? No. Will they get caught and punished? Not likely. The FCC is not spending a great deal of resources on enforcement in either the CB or Amaetur Radio services these days. They rely on self-policing. "
I have a HAM book w/ practice questions and I would like to brush up on it and go get licensed one of these days. I have read that a lot of people use 2M radios in their rigs because they get pretty good range with repeaters etc. But I would also like to have a CB radio for events etc.
Would it be possible to buy a 2M radio (Yaesu or similar) and modify it to be used on the 11 meter band so I wouldn't have to have a CB and a 2M unit? I know the antennas for each band (2M and 11M) would have to be different so I'm not sure how this type of set up would work.
Is it technically legal to use a HAM radio on the 11 meter citizen's band? I was trying to educate myself on this subject and I found this:
"Ham equipment being used on the CB bands is illegal. It is not type accepted (or whatever the FCC calls it these days)for use on that band. A CB can be used on amateur bands, but it would have to be modified to do so, and then could not be used on the CB bands again. Bottom line, legally the two are not interchangeable. Does it happen? Absolutely. Is it legal? No. Will they get caught and punished? Not likely. The FCC is not spending a great deal of resources on enforcement in either the CB or Amaetur Radio services these days. They rely on self-policing. "
I have a HAM book w/ practice questions and I would like to brush up on it and go get licensed one of these days. I have read that a lot of people use 2M radios in their rigs because they get pretty good range with repeaters etc. But I would also like to have a CB radio for events etc.
Would it be possible to buy a 2M radio (Yaesu or similar) and modify it to be used on the 11 meter band so I wouldn't have to have a CB and a 2M unit? I know the antennas for each band (2M and 11M) would have to be different so I'm not sure how this type of set up would work.
Kofoed
SILVER Star
Forget about getting a single radio that works on CB and 2meter. The FCC specifically prohibits CB radios (11 meter) from being modfied to work out of band, and the also the 10 and 12 meter amateur radios and amplifiers are also pronibited from being modified to work on CB. IIRC
The 10 meter "export" radios that are sold to be modified to work on CB are not legal for use in the US as they CAN be modified to work on 10 rather easily. That is why they are for export out of the US. The amateur radios also put out way more power than is legal for CB.
Answer, get a 2 meter radio and a cheap CB for your events.
10-4 good buddy!
I am not sure it is actually illegal .... unless you are outputting more than 4 watts. The law states that is the maximum output for AM Citzens Band.
However, that said, I doubt anyone would care if you were using a Ham Radio or blowing smoke (using power) on the 11 meter band. Even those obnoxious guys in the Bronx talking crap and stepping all over everyone with their huge power amps because they have nothing better to do have been on the for for years without any hassles.
Ham Radios can be modified to work on the 11 Meter Band but I do not believe you cna do this with a 2 Meter Radio. I think you would need need something with broader frequency coverage to do that.
However, that said, I doubt anyone would care if you were using a Ham Radio or blowing smoke (using power) on the 11 meter band. Even those obnoxious guys in the Bronx talking crap and stepping all over everyone with their huge power amps because they have nothing better to do have been on the for for years without any hassles.
Ham Radios can be modified to work on the 11 Meter Band but I do not believe you cna do this with a 2 Meter Radio. I think you would need need something with broader frequency coverage to do that.
Thanks for the replies. It sounds like a small CB for the trails and a 2M for long trips is the way to go.
Sorry to bring this back from the dead but...
What is the 3 foot jumper for? Sorry for the stupid question, but I am curious and don't know....
How does the setup work now?
As for the HAM/CB, add me as x3, because I don't want to have to have a HAM and a CB separate in the cab....
What is the 3 foot jumper for? Sorry for the stupid question, but I am curious and don't know....
How does the setup work now?
As for the HAM/CB, add me as x3, because I don't want to have to have a HAM and a CB separate in the cab....
- Thread starter
- #39
To use the SWR meter, you have to put it inline between the CB and the antenna. To do this, you need an extra section of coax (to go between the CB and the meter); this is the "jumper".
For the past two years in October, I have participated in a run called the "Trans NH Expedition" with a local group. It's a 3 day wheeling trip with some highway travel, some backroad meandering and a bunch of Class VI wheeling. There are usually 4 or 5 rigs and this is the time when I get to use the CB the most as we pretty much communicate from sun up to sun down.
I don't know how my setup compares to the norm, but my CB setup has been the strongest (receiving and transmitting) on the trip for two years in a row. I have been the "middle man" to relay messages between trucks each year.
So, take that review for what it's worth, but I've been happy with the performance.
