CB installation and Tuning (1 Viewer)

[TeddyBoy]

Got a request from a member regarding CB advise so figured we might as well make it a thread topic.

Tell what ya got and how you made it work.

Now I'm no expert but I can read and sometimes follow instructions.

For starters the cost of the CB has little to do with how well it works for our applications. From what I've learned is that the installation is more important that the actual hardware used. This includes good grounding, good groundplane and proper tuning using an SWR meter

Here's my setup and it works really well.

CB is a Uniden Pro510XL ($40)
5' fiberglass whip antennae ($15)
Antennae spring ($8)
18' coax cable ($10)
installed inline SWR meter ($15)

total setup was less that $90

Antennae is mounted on front bumper right in front of the hood on passnger side trying to get the best groundplane possible. Cb is mounted where the ash tray used, SWR meter installed inline and mounted in the cab so I can see it, then tuned with the SWR meter for best results.

I've had this setup for about 3 years and have been happy with it.

 

[pillguy]

So who is carrying the radio jamming equipment on trail rides.? So does that explain why i cannot hear you?

 

[CID 96]

My CB pretty much sucks. If I can see you on the trail, then I can probably hear/talk to you, but if the other person is out of sight then it is a crap shoot. But then again my CB is riding around in a open top 40 exposed to the elements for over three years now.

 

[Sam Stewart]

I haven't had any experience with mine. I just bought a hand held so I would have something. I'm looking at getting a setup like Dan has. All in one with just the external antenna. I will very likely need some help getting it dialed in. It's also kinda down on the list right now. Gotta get that beast trail ready first.

Sent from another Galaxy

 

[TeddyBoy]

So who is carrying the radio jamming equipment on trail rides.? So does that explain why i cannot hear you?

they call it an id10t error.

I haven't had any experience with mine. I just bought a hand held so I would have something. I'm looking at getting a setup like Dan has. All in one with just the external antenna. I will very likely need some help getting it dialed in. It's also kinda down on the list right now. Gotta get that beast trail ready first.

Sent from another Galaxy

you're probably gonna want an external antennae anyways Sam so you can hook it up while in the truck. The handhelds are convenient but have horrible range and you may not be able to hear 4 trucks in front of you.

 

[robustbambi]

After all the trouble i had getting mine to work, i did a ton of research on radio type forums. Mine still only works to about 30-50ft because i put the antenna in a spot where i could make it through a drive thru without tearing the place down instead of putting it in a good spot. All of y'all probably know this stuff but just in case.

Ground plane- best spot is on the roof or hood (antenna mounted with a magnetic, easily removable base)

Grounding- ground it to the FRAME!

Coax cable- try to keep it straight leading from the antenna to the radio itself. Wrapping it up into circles because it is waaaaay too long distorts the signal a little.

Power- the cig lighter adapters are good and very easy. if you want to use the radio while the truck is off, wire the radio straight to the battery, But make usre you install a fuse down the line so you dont burn to a crisp if it shorts. (Also dont forget to turn the radio off or you'll probably run the battery down overnight haha)

Antenna-I went with a 4ft firestik, but those temporary magnetic antennas are very good since you just take them off when you aren't using them.

radio- i got a pretty nice Cobra unit off ebay for cheap. it had a SWR meter inside it, so i didnt need to buy one of them. But my dad has a one of the cheap little black box ones (like $30-40) and it works just fine.


Overall, you could have a really robust setup like mine, but if you don't think things out before the install, its gonna be terrible. My dads entire setup cost less than half of what i spent and works infinitley better.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

What does your dad have?

 

[robustbambi]

What does your dad have?

Radio- cobra 18 WX ST II
Antenna- Radio shack brand (removable magnetic/rubber base), just sticks the antenna above his head when he knows he's gonna need to talk to someone.
Power- cigerette lighter adapterfrom radio shack
Coax- i cant remember if it comes permanently connected to the antenna or not. if not, its just some stuff he picked up at radio shack as well.

total:like $80-90

The entire setup is removable, the radio has heavy duty velcro holding it to the side of the center console so no drilling of any kind was necessary for it or the antenna the install. So if we ever need to get rid of it, its like it was never there.

 

[TeddyBoy]

i put the antenna in a spot where i could make it through a drive thru without tearing the place down instead of putting it in a good spot. All of y'all probably know this stuff but just in case.

Ground plane- best spot is on the roof or hood (antenna mounted with a magnetic, easily removable base)

Antenna-I went with a 4ft firestik, but those temporary magnetic antennas are very good since you just take them off when you aren't using them.

All good stuff but... drive Through car wash--Really? And the magnetic antennaes blow, don't waste your time or money. In fact, I still have mine, I'll give it to you.

 

[robustbambi]

All good stuff but... drive Through car wash--Really? And the magnetic antennaes blow, don't waste your time or money. In fact, I still have mine, I'll give it to you.

Lol, not a car wash!! Like a zaxbys or burger king, I would always slam the antenna on the "clearance: 8ft" sign haha. And I've learned to avoid drive through car washes after one tried to steal my side mirror haha. And thanks for the offer, it would probably work better than mine, but I put so much dam effort into drilling holes in the perfectly good body, I'm far too stubborn to take it all down. Besides it looks sweet, that's the main reason people have CBs, right? That or reenactments of Smokey and the Bandit.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Years ago I had a Brat. I had a small Uniden and a magnetic antenna. I added a firestick and it never worked as well. I fixed the holes in the car and put the mag mount back on. The mag mount transmitted and received much farther and than the firestick. It was not even on a very good ground plane.

Posted from a brick.

 

[Rally Taco]

The secret is to make sure the antenna is very well grounded. Mine is mounted to the truck bed rail and i have a ground wire going to the frame.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

How does that explain the mag mount antennas often working better than grounded ones? The mag mounts are never grounded.

Posted from a brick.

 

[pillguy]

i agree on the mag mount performamce

How does that explain the mag mount antennas often working better than grounded o
nes? The mag mounts are never grounded.

Posted from a brick.

 

[pillguy]

With all the cb radio complaints. How about you all migrate tto ham radio?
I can transmit and receive 30 miles away with crystal clarity.
Its like we are stuck in the 1970s with cb technology.

 

[TeddyBoy]

With all the cb radio complaints. How about you all migrate to ham radio?

I knew this would come up and would've bet my kidneys it would be you Andrew.

will never happen. not today, not tomorrow, not 20 years from now. HAM has obvious advantages but the expense and license requirements are simply way overkill for our application not to mention getting everyone motivated to take classes. Besides, how would we communicate with other clubs using CBs when it's so common? Yes, it's nice to be able to talk miles apart but I have a cell phone for that and it works almost everywhere including the depths of the cove.

 

[armytaco]

I can hear everyone fine on my Yaseu 7800 well atleast Robert as of last time I was in the whee....

Honestly though look into a com shop. Local shop that does all the LEO cars quoted me like $40 for roof mount deal ready to hook antenna up and cb. Roofs make grat ground planes.

 

[AuburnFJsexy]

Ive always just hooked the CB to power, attached the antenna to the front bumper, run coax cable and turned it on

My current setup is:

-Cobra CB with SWR built in
-3 ft. firestik attached to the body at the front of the truck
- coax cable


I've never really had any problems transmitting over the area that we need while on the trail

 

[radioridge]

I knew this would come up and would've bet my kidneys it would be you Andrew.

will never happen. not today, not tomorrow, not 20 years from now. HAM has obvious advantages but the expense and license requirements are simply way overkill for our application not to mention getting everyone motivated to take classes. Besides, how would we communicate with other clubs using CBs when it's so common? Yes, it's nice to be able to talk miles apart but I have a cell phone for that and it works almost everywhere including the depths of the cove.

Almost everything you just said is wrong. But seriously give me a call next time your in the middle of the cove

 

[TeddyBoy]

Almost everything you just said is wrong. But seriously give me a call next time your in the middle of the cove

me no think so, just not practical for most groups. Oh, I'll call you once I get north of the church