CB/HAM install?
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Senior User
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From: Colorado
CB/HAM install?
I'd like to see some pic's of owners CB/HAM radio installations. I manufacture an antenna mounting system for Land Rover Disco's and am interested in desiging one for these vehicles too.
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From: New York
Hey there, I had just recently installed a Cobra 29wxnwst CB radio in my '03 F250. I mounted the radio just under the storage space in the dash to the right of the stearing column. i used the regular bracket and neatly drilled to level holes into the bottom of the dash. set up looks great and is out of the way. i used a Wilson 500 magnetic antenna b/c i did not want to drill any holes. i will get you pics as soon as i can. if you can design a better antenna system with better reception let me know.
-BigDawg
'03 FX4 F250SD SC Long bed 5.4L
-BigDawg
'03 FX4 F250SD SC Long bed 5.4L
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From: Colorado
Originally posted by BigDawg54
b/c i did not want to drill any holes. i will get you pics as soon as i can. if you can design a better antenna system with better reception let me know.
-BigDawg
b/c i did not want to drill any holes. i will get you pics as soon as i can. if you can design a better antenna system with better reception let me know.
-BigDawg
On the subject of reception: FWIW, your radio & antenna function as a system. The best, most expensive radio set in the world is going to be a POS if your antenna and coax aren't correctly matched to the radio and your 10 foot long-wire antenna is mounted on your bumper somewhere. That may look sexy but isn't going to give you very good radio performance. I'd recommend you take a look at www.firestik.com and read the tech section about antenna's and installation. He has gone to a lot of trouble to create solid performance information for consumers - there's almost too much stuff. Then go to my web site www.out-backeam.com and see how I created a special mounting system for Land Rover Discovery's to properly position antenna's for the best performance.
Once my 350 arrives I'll have a study model and perhaps I can design something for Ford that will solve the CB/HAM antenna mounting problem.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 81
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From: Canandaigua, NY
what mounting problem???? i have the cobra under the storage spot.. fits like a glove.. and my roof mounted ant. is hard mounted to the roof.. just rear of the front dome light.. no problems at all.. and it works great... can hardly see the cap when i take off the ant... the ant is a wilson 1000
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From: New York
hey Jeepgod, how do you like the wilson 1000? i dont think im gettin good range with the 500 but the only reason i chose that antenna was so that my clearance problems would be at a min mounting it on the roof(magnetic). hope you get this.
-Bigdawg
'03 FX4 F250SD SC Long Bed
-Bigdawg
'03 FX4 F250SD SC Long Bed
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From: Colorado
..it's not a problem jeepgod. I was only asking where - sort of pushing out the options. Your hard mount is probably the best solution as it places the antenna on top of the center mass of your vehicle and offers 360 degree (omni-directional) wave propagation - which is good.
The problem is, when guy's park their antenna on the back corner of the truck bumper they can't get good signal because the truck is blocking 50% of the radiating energy of the antenna. When they can't talk to the guy's ahead they blaim atmospheric conditions, dead spots or buy a more expensive radio. I've been using a $5.00 flea market CB for five years now and regularly have commo with the truckers on the highway when I want it. Your application sounds great and that may be where I go too, but I like to sort out my options and see if I can get the job another way.
The problem is, when guy's park their antenna on the back corner of the truck bumper they can't get good signal because the truck is blocking 50% of the radiating energy of the antenna. When they can't talk to the guy's ahead they blaim atmospheric conditions, dead spots or buy a more expensive radio. I've been using a $5.00 flea market CB for five years now and regularly have commo with the truckers on the highway when I want it. Your application sounds great and that may be where I go too, but I like to sort out my options and see if I can get the job another way.
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From: Colorado
I'm not familliar with the antenna your talking about - I use Firestik. But as for antenna length here is a bit of trivia you might find interesting off my web site. I got it from and Offroad equipment vendor.
How does antenna length effect my CB radio?
If you put 4 watts into a four-foot antenna, you will get the same power out of that antenna as if you were putting 2 watts into a 102-inch whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 3-foot antenna you will get the same power out as if you were putting about 1.5 watts into a 102-inch whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 7.5 inch antenna on a hand held CB, it would put out as much power as a third of a watt into a 102-whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna, it is the same output as if you put 11 watts into a 3-foot whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna,, it is the same as if you put 14 watts into a 28-inch antenna.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna, it is the same as if you put 54 watts into a 7.5 antenna.
How does antenna length effect my CB radio?
If you put 4 watts into a four-foot antenna, you will get the same power out of that antenna as if you were putting 2 watts into a 102-inch whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 3-foot antenna you will get the same power out as if you were putting about 1.5 watts into a 102-inch whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 7.5 inch antenna on a hand held CB, it would put out as much power as a third of a watt into a 102-whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna, it is the same output as if you put 11 watts into a 3-foot whip.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna,, it is the same as if you put 14 watts into a 28-inch antenna.
If you put 4 watts into a 102-inch whip antenna, it is the same as if you put 54 watts into a 7.5 antenna.
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canandaigua, NY
my system works great.. and i enjoy the fact that i can remove the ant by just unscrewing it by the base.. and then installing the cap... as for recieving.. it does great.. coarse i have it tuned.. and had to adjust the coax length..
the wilson 1000 is about 5' 8"... its not too high.. i scrape some drive thru's.. and some tree branches here and there.. but nothing too major..
the wilson 1000 is about 5' 8"... its not too high.. i scrape some drive thru's.. and some tree branches here and there.. but nothing too major..
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CB/HAM install
I mounted a Cobra on an overhead viser console in the center the only thing I had to alter was the rear view mirror bracket had to be dropped about 3 inches to remount the rear view mirror.
Then I just ran a magnet mount Wilson 1000 antenna in through the grommet in the top of the door frame on my crew cab between the front and rear doors and ran the coax through the overhead to the cb.
Then I just ran a magnet mount Wilson 1000 antenna in through the grommet in the top of the door frame on my crew cab between the front and rear doors and ran the coax through the overhead to the cb.
Last edited by wvlwolf; Oct 10, 2003 at 02:44 PM.
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From: Colorado
Originally posted by jeepgod
my system works great.. and i enjoy the fact that i can remove the ant by just unscrewing it by the base.. and then installing the cap...
my system works great.. and i enjoy the fact that i can remove the ant by just unscrewing it by the base.. and then installing the cap...
as for recieving.. it does great.. coarse i have it tuned.. and had to adjust the coax length..
if you cut it short what kind of SWR readings do you get at both ends of the 40 channel spectrum. An antenna coax is sold in 18 foot length's for a very good reason. If you could rec/tran effectivly on 6' why would a company sell you an 18 foot section? You have me curious what kind of commo you have?
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Anyone have a suggestion for a good solid mounting location for an older Cobra 29 in a 2000 F250 ext cab? I can't seem to find a good place for it that it won't be in the way.
Radio's too big for under the dash... not that there's much room under dashes these days. I'm thinking roof mount, but don't know what would be involved with setting that up.
Any thoughts?
Radio's too big for under the dash... not that there's much room under dashes these days. I'm thinking roof mount, but don't know what would be involved with setting that up.
Any thoughts?
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: New York
hey Methos, i recently installed a cobra 29nwwxst in my '03 F250 under the dash, im still waiting to get pics for renasainceman so when i do you should take a look, mounting is neat and clean. i replied to his post a while back.
-bigdawg
'03 FX4 F250SD SC Long Bed 5.4L
-bigdawg
'03 FX4 F250SD SC Long Bed 5.4L
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