CB radio

[RyansTBLS]

Finally got the entire CB Radio installed and mounted, cables hidden and the antenna
Pics below of the finished product.

Only took two weeks and some heavy duty mounting of both the antenna and the cb radio, basic idea being that if it took me two weeks to put it on, is someone tries to steal it, it should take two weeks to get it back off. I also discovered that wiring is not my friend.

[Trail X]

Overall looks solid. Tackling your first wiring job is always an adventure.

Gotta ask, why use the cig plug? You could always tap into the wires feeding the cig plug for a cleaner look someday.

Is that exposed copper on the yellow wire? Might want to at least cover it with some electrical tape.

[Me007gold]

Overall looks solid. Tackling your first wiring job is always an adventure.

Gotta ask, why use the cig plug? You could always tap into the wires feeding the cig plug for a cleaner look someday.

Is that exposed copper on the yellow wire? Might want to at least cover it with some electrical tape.

Plus you tend to get more interference when using the cig plug. Also its my understanding that the higher the antenna, the better.

[RyansTBLS]

There is no copper exposed, soldered and heat shrunk, it's mic input in behind and my poor camera skills. Originally I was going to tap into the fuse box, but I kept taking it farther and farther apart without really understanding what the wire goes into. I might just add another fuse box down the line.

I wanted the antenna as low as I could get it so I didn't have height issues without being to low and losing signal. I need to tune the the antenna (firestik 2 tunable), but I get very clear signals despite being in the middle of portland.

How do I go about patching into the cigarette lighter lines? and how much load can I put on them?

[djthumper]

I wanted the antenna as low as I could get it so I didn't have height issues without being to low and losing signal. I need to tune the the antenna (firestik 2 tunable), but I get very clear signals despite being in the middle of portland.

How do I go about patching into the cigarette lighter lines? and how much load can I put on them?

Though, IIRC, the Firestik 2 is a top loaded antenna height is still your friend. Though you can hear other clearly, the question is will anyone hear you? Tuning the antenna will optimize the SWR match to the rest of the system but will not necessarily make others hear you. How far above the the highest point is your antenna above the roof?

[Trail X]

There is no copper exposed, soldered and heat shrunk, it's mic input in behind and my poor camera skills. Originally I was going to tap into the fuse box, but I kept taking it farther and farther apart without really understanding what the wire goes into. I might just add another fuse box down the line.

I wanted the antenna as low as I could get it so I didn't have height issues without being to low and losing signal. I need to tune the the antenna (firestik 2 tunable), but I get very clear signals despite being in the middle of portland.

How do I go about patching into the cigarette lighter lines? and how much load can I put on them?

Ah, that's what I was seeing, the heat shrink on the red wire is yellow?

To tap into the wires behind the dash, you'll need to tear into it a bit.

Alternatively, I used one of these guys for my CB:



It allows you to piggyback a second circuit off of an existing fuse in your fuse box. If I recall, I piggybacked off of the HVAC circuit in the rear.

[RyansTBLS]

The antenna is about 2-3 feet above the roof, there's a better picture in my build thread. I wanted it to be at least a couple feet above a roof rack when I got it, but didn't want to beat it to death going through a parking garage. I hadn't thought about others hearing me hopefully my dad gets a cb then I can try it out.



Where did you get the piggyback fuse?

[Trail X]

2-3 feet should be fine. Mine's probably only 16" or so above the roof, and only 5" above my RTT and I don't have issues.

It's called an add-a-fuse. Most automotive places have them in their wiring section.

[djthumper]

I bet you can't go into quite a few garages as well... Minimum height for me is 6'9"

[DirtyBacon04]

Mine is a removeable magnetic base with a 2ft antenna. So I can take it down when i need to for a more "undercover" look.

My signal is decent... ok that's a lie, if someone is more than a mile away on flat terrain, they aint hearing me. However, goign out with Bill pointed out something. He kept wanting to change channels because of "ethnic broadcasting" as where I heard only him. So in the case of a convoy, short range would probably be more convinient as the conversation stays local.

[fishsticks]

Squelch is there to filter out crosstalk. No need to constantly channel hop.

[DirtyBacon04]

Squelch only limits incoming signal, so if you dont want others hearing you, gotta broadcast shorter ranges.

[RyansTBLS]

In daylight it appear to only be about 16" above the roof so should I move it up to the top bar on the tailguard or leave it?

[navigator]

usually the taller, the better but I would just check and see if it fits your needs like it is.
For offroading most of the time you are almost within shouting distance so you don't need a huge range unless maybe you are by yourself and get stranded and need more distance to call in some help.

The taller it is also the more it gets banged on stuff.
Everything is a compromise.