The CB thread
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
Wallet On Fire
Ya know, they shouldn't let you freely roam the aisles at Ham Radio Outlet. I managed to lighten my wallet by $300 with a Yaesu FT-60R and a few accessories.
I was going to get a FT-8800 but I saw that 4 band FT-8900. The one thing I'm trying to get some info on before I purchase one is the mounting of the antenna. The two that are made for that radio say do not mount on the roof. They prefer trunk mount instead.
I have a toolbox (read; junkbox) behind the cab, so maybe someone has done that instead? I'll post that question on qrz.com later today.
Now to wait for the battery to charge . . . didn't get the fast charger. Oh well, there's always next weekend.
Ray
I was going to get a FT-8800 but I saw that 4 band FT-8900. The one thing I'm trying to get some info on before I purchase one is the mounting of the antenna. The two that are made for that radio say do not mount on the roof. They prefer trunk mount instead.
I have a toolbox (read; junkbox) behind the cab, so maybe someone has done that instead? I'll post that question on qrz.com later today.
Now to wait for the battery to charge . . . didn't get the fast charger. Oh well, there's always next weekend.
Ray
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
Glad to see I ain't the only one here with a CB in my pickup! I got a Cobra 29 LTD Classic that has been peaked and tuned with a Ranger mic topped off with a 63" Browning B63 hood mount antenna, and it works pretty good for me. 
A few pics of my setup:
Inside the cab
My antennas (the big silver one is for my CB)
A few pics of my setup:
Inside the cab
My antennas (the big silver one is for my CB)
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
More work
Okay, replaced one of the NMO mounts on the roof today, added a new Comet SBB-1NMO antenna and an FME to SMA adapter for my little Yaesu FT-60R. What a difference having a ground plane makes for a 5W hand-held! Lots of fun snaking the cable in. Used the old, rusted/corroded mount's cable as a pull string to get the new cable (FME connection) down and in. Good thing I had the wife to help me out.
@ cman1120, care to do a pic of where you brought your coax out of the firewall?
The reason I ask is, I may not mount a FireStik (freebee, older one) on the roof. Even with a HP spring like a Larsen, I'm not sure I want to be hitting the trees by my brother's house all the time. Height will be around 10' or a pinch more. have a little Cobra 19 III (another freebee, peaked and tuned) that will stand in until I can get either a Cobra 148 or a Galaxy 959.
Also, anyone interested in the Yaesu FT-8900 Quad bander mobile HAM transceiver, the antennae (Comet and Diamond) that are designed for it are recommended to be mounted on the trunk lid. I suppose off the toolbox (junkbox) will just as good.
Enough rambling for now.
73's to all of ya.
Ray
@ cman1120, care to do a pic of where you brought your coax out of the firewall?
The reason I ask is, I may not mount a FireStik (freebee, older one) on the roof. Even with a HP spring like a Larsen, I'm not sure I want to be hitting the trees by my brother's house all the time. Height will be around 10' or a pinch more. have a little Cobra 19 III (another freebee, peaked and tuned) that will stand in until I can get either a Cobra 148 or a Galaxy 959.
Also, anyone interested in the Yaesu FT-8900 Quad bander mobile HAM transceiver, the antennae (Comet and Diamond) that are designed for it are recommended to be mounted on the trunk lid. I suppose off the toolbox (junkbox) will just as good.
Enough rambling for now.
73's to all of ya.Ray
Last edited by raystankewitz; May 20, 2013 at 01:06 AM. Reason: I input perfect typographical errors. Really!
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
Takes a bow.
Thank You!
I have to admit, I'm a former F4-D Phantom II Radar Tech (AN/APQ-109 & AN/APA-165) so much of what was taught seemed very familiar.
Ray
I have to admit, I'm a former F4-D Phantom II Radar Tech (AN/APQ-109 & AN/APA-165) so much of what was taught seemed very familiar.
Ray
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere West of Laramie
Glad to see I ain't the only one here with a CB in my pickup! I got a Cobra 29 LTD Classic that has been peaked and tuned with a Ranger mic topped off with a 63" Browning B63 hood mount antenna, and it works pretty good for me.
A few pics of my setup:
Inside the cab
My antennas (the big silver one is for my CB)
A few pics of my setup:
Inside the cab
My antennas (the big silver one is for my CB)
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere West of Laramie
I'm an old squid,Brown Water Navy in country,Diesel Engineman.Loved working on the big 16-278A's.16 cylinders @ 278cu.in. each,essentially a 4.6 in each hole,2 engines per engine room with an 8-268 for the generator.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
Info.
My jets were noisy and we sometimes had to check the IFF antennas on the belly, back by the tail hook with the Phantom chained to the ramp and both J79-15's in full burner.
I could not imagine how noisy those 16-278's were at full chat with the genset running! I have stood next to a Waukeshau that was about two stories tall while it was running wide open, something like 500 rpm. It literally shook the concrete floor. That engine was the backup pump power (prime mover for the pump) for the Milpitas, CA sewage pumping plant.
AS a note to us CB/HAM guys- I fished that new NMO cable in with a fitting installed, but it was an FME connector, not much bigger than the low-loss cable it was connected to. I do not think a PL-259/SO-239 connector would fit down between the two roof skins at the back of the cab.
Ray
Last edited by raystankewitz; May 20, 2013 at 09:02 PM. Reason: Fixin' Typos . . .
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere West of Laramie
There's a coax that's supposed to be okay to use for short runs for VHF/UHF thru tight spaces, I believe it's something or another prefix 74,really thin stuff,about 1/8" OD from what I recall.
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 398
Likes: 3
From: Vancouver Island BC
Glad to see I ain't the only one here with a CB in my pickup! I got a Cobra 29 LTD Classic that has been peaked and tuned with a Ranger mic topped off with a 63" Browning B63 hood mount antenna, and it works pretty good for me.
A few pics of my setup:
Inside the cab
My antennas (the big silver one is for my CB)
A few pics of my setup:
Inside the cab
My antennas (the big silver one is for my CB)
But once I saw the fancy stereo I realized, nope... Because mine it still rockin the factory cassette player... and my interior is tan...
I have a 3' Firestick mounted on the drivers side fender
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 431
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
If you tried an Astatic D104M6B amplified mic I think you'd toss that Ranger mike in your trading stock pile.The only drawback is they pick up everything so you might have to turn down the mic gain a hair and chew on the mic to keep out background noise,they pick up and kick out close to as good as the old D104 TUG 8's TUG 9's and Silver Eagle base mic's.
I've heard good things about it, but never tried one. If I see one in store, I'll be sure to check it out, thanks for the pointer!
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
I used to run a 96'' steel whip mounted on the bed corner, next to the stake pocket. Main back of the bed, near the tailgate.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 17
From: Central Indiana
Info.
I just don't want to bend the snot out of my roof from hitting a low branch in the neighborhood. there are a few right now that my rack brushes on the way to work.
Might just mount a FireStik right off the side of my Drake Welding lumber rack, just above the bed on an upright.
Ray
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Cman, any trick to keep the weight of the radio from opening up the
Ashtray? I have my Cobra mounted in the same spot, and I'm always
Reaching to close the tray back up. Not a huge deal...
Mines just mounted as kind of a mock up, I don't have anything wired right now,
Mainly because I'm not sure how/where to run the antennae..
I'm thinking about putting a firestik in place of my AM/FM antennae. I don't
Use it, and the cable is broken somewhere between the radio and antennae.
Would this be doable?
Cman, what are the small ones on the back window for? Curious..
Ashtray? I have my Cobra mounted in the same spot, and I'm always
Reaching to close the tray back up. Not a huge deal...
Mines just mounted as kind of a mock up, I don't have anything wired right now,
Mainly because I'm not sure how/where to run the antennae..
I'm thinking about putting a firestik in place of my AM/FM antennae. I don't
Use it, and the cable is broken somewhere between the radio and antennae.
Would this be doable?
Cman, what are the small ones on the back window for? Curious..
Last edited by nix4x4; May 20, 2013 at 09:03 PM. Reason: Question
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 8,843
Likes: 27
From: Eastern Ky
But on the same token, I wanna keep the radio in case of an emergency and a warning is broadcast, etc.
I have a spare mast mount, etc that I could put on the D/S...