CB Radio

[Joe Pro]

I'm going to install a CB in my truck. I would like to know some tips on how to do it. I am pretty good mechanically but.... I know you mount the radio and run a line to the fuse block. I am not really sure how to wire up the antennas. I am going to mount them right behind the cab on the bed rails. I know you have to use a coax cable with them, I am going to use 2 antennas so how do I wire them both up. Also where is the best place where I should enter the cab with the wire? . I want to use as little wire as possible. I don't want to drill any holes unless it is the last option.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[Lanse]

i had the option to buy a CB at a garage sale for like $5 over the summer, it worked too. Dang, i wish i had

 

[Roy in georgia]

Joe, installing the cb is not hard just go get the cable that has 2 ends for the antennas you may have to get an extension for it to put it behind the cab. Run the end through a rubber grommet in the firewall and then along the frame and secure it so that it don't fall down and ruin the cable.if you have to drill a hole make sure to get a rubber grommet from the parts store so the metal don't rub through the cable

 

[johndeeregene]

first all. the coax if you dont have good coax you might as well not put in a radio. next you will need AT LEAST 18 of coax to get your swr's to set right. next dont get a cheap diesel or firestick antenna, go with a wilson or a fransen. most cb or truck stops will carry them.
mount your radio. make sure you use a fuse link in the power sourse. run your coax an then mount your antenna. make sure you have a good ground on your base.
make sure you set your SWR's with a meter or at least with your radio.
johndeeregene
just wondering what brand of radio did ya get.

 

[Oldmax]

Don't use two ant unless they are at least 8' apart the pattern is wrong one will do just fine . They work good on big rigs but not very hood on small outfits . If you do use two ant you have to ues a cophasing harness you can Buy one or make one from RG-58 / 75 Olm Wire or TV coax . Use a good ant be sure to check standing wave . I use at least the small RG-8 / RG-59 isn't much good . Lenght doesn't matter as long as standing wave is good . I have some 2 mtr ham radios with 3' of cable .

 

[Joe Pro]

I should have clarified, I am not looking for a professional outfit, I just want to be able to talk to my buddies no further than a mile or 2 as we are driving, anyone have any experience with those $40. cobras. Where would be a good place to run the cable through the cab the firewall was mentioned but where? Thanks for the good help

 

[john in la]

I will also say do NOT use 2 antennas. It may look cool but they need to be 8' apart for them to work right.

You can buy coax cable with ends on it allready. They make a single wire with ends or a 2 wire set up spliced into one wire at the radio for duel antennas.

Just buy you a 18' single wire with ends. Hook one end to the radio and the other to the antenna mount with the screw type end.

 

[Leland]

If your only going to talk a mile or 2 just buy a cheap antenna and raido just hook it up and don't worry ,2 miles is nothing for a cb even the poorest connected one .

 

[Joe Pro]

I dont want a crappy setup, but the main idea is to talk to the guys on the way in to school, or when were on a ttrip. The max for a 4 wat cb is 4 mile. I may get 2 anttennas but will only hook one up after the help you guys gave me

 

[Roy in georgia]

the grommets I was talking about already have wires through them also depending on your truck there are rubber plugs in the bottom of the cab you can just run the wire under the carpet or vinyl then out through the plug look under the cab before you start to look for them under the carpet.

 

[[email protected]]

I agree, definitly don't do the 2 antenna setup. If your looking to burn out a radio, dual antennas are the best way to fry it. Most people don't know how to check SWR and even more people think more antennas are better. Putting an antenna on a bed with no ground plane is going to cut your range to about a mile at best. You would be better off doing a magnet on the roof if you want distance. It doesn't look cool though.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Plenty of bum info on this thread.I did a lot of Cb work during the craze and tested a lot of mobile antennas.10 miles is easy for a good mobile.The interstate is 10 miles north of me,I hear a lot of trucks,not with amplifiers, just straight rigs.

 

[Jim in Ma.]

Any Radio-shack or truck stop will have anything you need for that, then talk to a trucker = he may be more help.

 

[JT]

Dual antennas are not bad, used to run them all the time on a F150 pickup in the 70s. The only bad thing was they are kinda directional. I did not have them 8 foot apart, they were mounted on the mirrors. I put a lot of them in big trucks back then also. I could get 10-15 miles with them, but there is a lot more radio interferance now than there was then. The most important thing is to get a set of antennas with an adjustable SWR. You will need to set this after installation or you can cause radio damage and get poor performance. Also, do not cut the coax cable in the package, it has to be that length for a reason. You can run cable btween cab and bed, to frame rails, tie to frame rails, then through a grommet behind dashin firewall to CB. If you want the duals, you will have 2 cables to run, though. If you want it right, go to a CB shop.
Jim

 

[omahagreg]

Don't know if still available, but you could order an adaptor that allows you to use your existing radio antenna. I used one on a Buick with the wire in the windshield, put an adjustable gizmo(sorry for all the technical wording here LOL) so I could set my SWR, and it worked as good as I ever wanted it too. If I remember right, it was quite directional though. Greg

 

[trucker40]

The best thing to do is go to a CB shop if you can find one.They probly have a CB maybe a used one they can sell you for 40 dollars that you will like.They will be able to set it up for you so it works good,and you can learn a lot about a CB as well.A mistake lots of people make is to hold the mic close to their mouth,you only do that with a power mic.You want to pull the carpet up where you think you want to run the coax and see if theres a rubber plug around there you can take out.It usually doesnt cost much to get it set up,better ask first.Just like everything else there are some that charge too much.If you are in the south it seems like to me they are better and cheaper than up north.Thats not always the case though.5 or 6 miles is about all you can get reliably with a cheap CB and having it set up the way its supposed to be.