Rate my CB radio setup

[UWdave]

I'm pretty new to CBs. All my buddies have them in their trail rigs so I figured I'd get one too and put it on my Xmas list.

I literally put nothing more the "basic CB & antenna (walmart, sears, etc)" and the mother-in-law came through like an allstar. She bought the CB at sears and all the antenna stuff at a local trucking store.
Cobra LTD Classic
MAXRAD mat27
49" wire antenna
Laird Bracket & wire

So my plan is to install on the drivers side between the hood and the 1/4 panel. I know its not ideal, but the only use will be on the trail, so it needs to survive. A friends advice was to get it all installed and have a local radio shop tune the antenna.

What do you think?

The only thing I'm doubting is the CB radio itself. It looks like a little more than I was looking for. I was thinking about something a little simpler and less chrome. I can overlook the chrome, but if this thing has a bunch of features I'll never use, I'd like to go with something smaller.

This one gets decent reviews here and elsewhere:
Cobra Electronics 19 DX IV Compact CB Radio

 

[1911]

A friends advice was to get it all installed and have a local radio shop tune the antenna.

Excellent advice; an absolute necessity IMO. different CB antennas are sensitive to ground plane, so one size does not fit all.

The only thing I'm doubting is the CB radio itself. It looks like a little more than I was looking for. I was thinking about something a little simpler and less chrome. I can overlook the chrome, but if this thing has a bunch of features I'll never use, I'd like to go with something smaller.

The basic transmitters are all the same, limited to 4 watts power, so size makes no difference in performance except that some radios are a little better shielded than others against noise from your ignition and alternator. In my experience, modern Toyota trucks don't usually produce much RF interference, but if yours is noisy then Uniden radios are better shielded against noise than Cobra IMO.

 

[UWdave]

Thanks for the info.

For your below average user, will I need all of the extra adjustments available on larger models?

 

[EricG]

This one gets decent reviews here and elsewhere:
Cobra Electronics 19 DX IV Compact CB Radio

That's what I have - the only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't retain the channel you were on if you shut the truck off and start up again. So I'm driving around on channel 1 and everybody is trying to talk to me on 4.

 

[1911]

Thanks for the info.

For your below average user, will I need all of the extra adjustments available on larger models?

I have two CB's, one with all the bells and whistles and one without. I never use any of the extra features on the big one. The smaller ones work just as well, but they are not shielded as well either (the only reason I bought the big Uniden - my 40 generates horrible RF noise).

 

[KliersLC]

If your unit doesn't have a memory wire, just run constant power to it....

If you have a single din stereo, a Cobra 18 wxst II fits like a glove--very clean, and the weather feature is far more useful than the extra controls on the LTD.

 

[JimmieT]

Midland "compact" 1001z

I installed a MIDLAND "compact" 1001K on the right seat rail in my 40. Fits well, but my 40 does generate a bunch of RF noise. I can sometimes filter it out, at the expense of not always hearing the other guys on the trail. I also installed a cheap external speaker, mounted above my left side, high on the roll bar.

I installed a WILSON 4ft-1000 watt fibergalss antenna with a "tuneable" tip. Works great, I got the SWR adjusted to 1.4 on CH1 and 1.5 on CH40. It is installed on top of the rear tire carrier, with a heavy duty spring and a quick release, so I can easily take the antenna off if needed.The quick release is a Firestik product, and it seems it little loose and sloppy to me, but works easily,

After setting SWR, I checked output power which was only 3 watts. I took the radio to a local CB shop. He "tweaked" it abit, modulated the output, and I'm now getting out about 9-10 watts. I know the FCC regulates output at 4 watts, but I only broadcast out in the boonies anyway.

* Radio (Radio Shack): $28
* External Speaker (Radio Shack): $25
* SWR Meter (Radio Shack): $44 (I took it back after I set the SWR)
* Antenna, 50 ohm cable, mount, spring, quick release (CB shop): $75 (Always buy a GOOD antenna system ... more imporatnt than the radio itself!)
* Adjust output(CB shop): $25

SO ... for what I wanted to be a CHEAP install, totalled out at about $150 ... still not too bad though. Couda saved $50 by eliminating the external speaker and shop tweaking.

 

[Alz Toy]

Get your Own Meter

You can buy your own SWR meter for what a shop will charge you to set to your system. That way if later you want to change somethig, help a buddy set his up, or fine tune yours better, you'll have it. Just a suggustion. Al

 

[UWdave]

So everything with the install went really well. I mounted the CB on the back of the center armrest.

After reading more and talking with a neighbor who drives truck, my CB has SWR built in.

1 - 1.3-1
40 - 1.2-1

We tested my CB and it was able to talk to his truck ~50 yards away.

I've been driving around a fair bit with the CB on channel 19 (trucker channel) and I haven't heard any talking. I heard on 5 second blerb, but that was it.

I have been driving on I5 between Seattle and Tacoma.

Something seems wrong. Do truckers still talk often?

 

[1911]

... my CB has SWR built in.

Those built-in SWR meters in radios are worthless, and the cheap ones you buy at radio shack are not much better. Have a shop or a ham operator buddy test it with a real SWR meter. I bet either your antenna is not grounded well or not tuned, one of the two.

 

[UWdave]

Those built-in SWR meters in radios are worthless, and the cheap ones you buy at radio shack are not much better. Have a shop or a ham operator buddy test it with a real SWR meter. I bet either your antenna is not grounded well or not tuned, one of the two.

You touched on something I didn't think about.

Does the antenna mounting bracket need to be grounded?

I assumed the cable shield was grounded through the CB radio but did think that the antenna would need local ground.

 

[1911]

Does the antenna mounting bracket need to be grounded?

Yes.

(message lengthened to more than four characters).

 

[UWdave]

Like I linked above, I'm using this bracket to mount on the drivers side 1/4 panel.

Here is what I'm thinking:
1) sand down to bare metal on the 1/4 panel
2) re-mount
3) "fillet seal" the edges with dielectric grease to keep the water out

Would that be good enough or should I run a separate ground cable?

 

[1911]

Like I linked above, I'm using this bracket to mount on the drivers side 1/4 panel.

Here is what I'm thinking:
1) sand down to bare metal on the 1/4 panel
2) re-mount
3) "fillet seal" the edges with dielectric grease to keep the water out

Would that be good enough or should I run a separate ground cable?

Yes that would be good enough as long as you have bare metal contact.

 

[Tackleberry]

So everything with the install went really well. I mounted the CB on the back of the center armrest.

After reading more and talking with a neighbor who drives truck, my CB has SWR built in.

1 - 1.3-1
40 - 1.2-1

We tested my CB and it was able to talk to his truck ~50 yards away.

I've been driving around a fair bit with the CB on channel 19 (trucker channel) and I haven't heard any talking. I heard on 5 second blerb, but that was it.

I have been driving on I5 between Seattle and Tacoma.

Something seems wrong. Do truckers still talk often?

try using ch-17 not 19. most all truckers on the west coast will use ch-17. best of luck.

p.s. no radio-checks allowed, $$$$ cash only $$$$

 

[Tackleberry]

is your talkie box workin on 17? have you had time to test it again?

keep us posted.
Adam.

 

[UWdave]

is your talkie box workin on 17? have you had time to test it again?

keep us posted.
Adam.

I went through the system on Wednesday.

Antenna to sheetmetal -
- had 0.7 ohm continuity before through the screws, but added 2" ground wire anyways
- not much change in ohm reading, but meter not very reliable in this low range

CB ground
- Previously had ground going all the way up to fuse where I got power
- Moved to directly by CB, ~18" length

Antenna Cable
- Removed ~4' or unneeded length

I live about a mile from I-5 freeway and I was able to pick up chatter right away.