For some very odd reason,I have something telling me that I want a CB Radio.It's been bugging me ever since I first drove dad's truck.It was a drive to Memphis for a doctor's appointment and I couldn't turn the darn thing off.It's alot of fun talking on those little dudes.Anyone know what I mean?Well,anywho..I have some extra cash and I want to put one in my '92 Ranger.Since I put in a set of white-faced glow gauges and a SunPro Tach,I am in the mood to modify .

I don't know what the brand or model of dad's CB is.I want something a little better than his though.His is one of those cheaper ones that aren't the best quality whatsoever.I've heard alot of good things about Cobra CB's and I think that's what I'm going to go with after I reviewed some of the models that they had.But,this is still a tough choice.I don't want something expensive.I don't really want to spend over $150,if I can get a good one for that price.Any suggestions on what CB I should get or what you reccomend?

Now,for the biggest dilemma..The installation.About how many wires do you have to hook up on a CB?I figure there's one for a power source,lighting source,antenna source,and a ground.Am I correct?Since I installed my tach,I do know that there is a red/white hot wire that goes to the fuse box,in which I hooked my tach into.There is also a red/yellow wire for the light source.I know where a good ground is also.So,I basically have most of that worked out,if that's the wires that come on a CB.

Now,for the antenna.Where should I mount it?Is there anyway that I can use the AM/FM antenna for the CB,or will this be useless?I have heard of guys doing this and I don't think that they had the best of luck with it.So,if I bought an aftermarket CB antenna,where could I mount it?I was thinking about the front of the truck bed,right in the center.Then,run the cable under the cab and bring it up through the engine compartment,and push it through one of those rubber grommets to run it inside the cab.Will this work?

Sorry that I took so long to explain all of this.I really want a CB,but I don't know alot about how to install them.About all that I know is how to work them.Know what I mean?If anyone could let me know anything,please do.Any help is greatly appreciated!

Nightrain

 

all the ones i have ever had just plug in the cigarette lighter. if you want you can hard wire with a hot and a ground wire. antennae is one wire. pretty simple install.

 

Well,I just purchased a CB off of eBay.It's a Factory-Reconditioned Cobra.I figured that it wasn't a bad deal for $50,especially since it has a Money-Back Guarantee .

Here's the link if ya'll want to check it out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=40055&rd=1

I should be getting it next week somtime.I also ordered a 4 1/2' whip antenna from Cobra to hook up to it,hopefully to receive a good reception signal.I thought about getting a CB with the PA feature,but I didn't figure that I'd get much use out of that.Plus,I would have to find a place to mount the loudspeaker.So,I went with this one.I think that I'm going to temporarily install the CB and mount the antenna somewhere on the bed.Then,when I get my toolbox,I'll relocate the antenna to it somewhere.I think that will work.Anyway,installation is suppose to be simple.There's 3 wires to hook up.There's 2 hot wires and 1 ground.I'll just splice the 2 hot ones together and connect them to the same source,which would be that red/white wire going to the fuse box.

I'll let you guys know how installation went and how good it works when I finish it.

Nightrain

 

I have a 94 Ranger and I put a Uniden 510XL in. I mounted it under the dash directly below the ashtray then ran the coax under the carpet through one of the factory drilled holes near the door...from there the coax runs underneith the cab and comes up through the pin pocket on the side of the bed (not through the top hole, but the side). I drilled and mounted my antenna bracket to the pin pocket (inside the bed) with a nice WILSON 1000 4' whip.

You have to remember, no matter what CB you buy (from a store, eBay or Wal-Mart, etc.) the max output is only 4 watts (regaurdless of brand or model). I love my Cobra 29 but it is just to big for this little truck. The difference is that my Cobra 29 can be "modified" to peak at around 90 Watts where as, my Uniden can be modified to peak only at about 30 Watts.

They do make special brackets now ( I seen them at the Wilson antenna site...cannot remember the address) that mount directly into the pinpocket with "no drill technology", a good bracket that I have found is just a mirror bracket for the "big rigs", and mount that directly to the bed. I suggest the 4 bolt type, versus the 2 because the fiberglass whips have to much drag and actually bend the metal they are mounted to.

Hope this helps...also you can always get some good advice at your nearest truck stop or radio shack!

****Hint, if you buy a fiberglass antenna it is a very good idea to buy a spring, this keeps your antenna in one peice if you happen to drive under some low hanging tree branches!!!

 

Thanks man.Yeah,I'm going to invest in a spring.I hope that I don't regret getting the 4 1/2 antenna.But,if I'm going to have a CB,I might as well have one that will get some signals and work right.Know what I mean?I just ordered a SWR meter to get my antenna set right when I get it all installed.I'm going to mount my Cobra under my ashtray also.There's a nice piece of metal under there that will be perfect for the CB bracket .

I think that I'll end up mounting the antenna on the bed somewhere.I don't really want it on the cab.I want it out of the way.I thought about the rear bumper,but I use my bed alot and my tailgate is usually down for something.I'll probably mount it like you did.I don't have any problems with drilling holes in my bed.It's already got one of those older plastic bedliners that have half a million screws holding them in.I don't like it.I'm taking it out and putting in a Rhino or Herculiner.Then,put me on some chrome bedrail caps,a diamond plate Delta toolbox,and some chrome rails .I hope that's what I do anyway.But oh well,I just wish that I already had my CB installed.I love those things!!

Nightrain

 

Oh yeah..Do you know how or where I can find info to modify my Cobra?I guess the benefits of this is better range and clarity,correct?4 Watts seems to be pretty weak,even if it is the law.I don't really see how you'd get caught anyway.But..Who knows.I did a search at Google and I got a few hits,but it didn't make any sense to me.Just a bunch of circuits to interchange or modify.Something like that.Anyway,let me know if you know anything about it..I might be interested .

Nightrain

 

my only suggestion would be to find a local CB shop that would be willing to "tweak and peak" the radio. Just make sure that you have the antenna and coax (that you will be using on a permanant basis). There is a simple "tuning" process to most antennas, if you have the radio modified, without tuning the antenna you will compromise your overall perfomance.

If you need someone to modify the radio (remember it is illegal to run a CB with >4 watts w/o a license) a good place to look is at truck stops (or near them). There is one just south of Knoxville on I-75/I-40 and another just North Sweetwater (on I-75). If you are in that part of the state that is a good place to start the search!

The mods are just the replacing (or rerouting) the circuits inside the radio...being a Cobra 18 there are certainly mods available...you wont get the wattage that the 28,29,148 can, but it will be a very decent gain in signal. Good Luck!

http://www.wilsonantenna.com/index.htm

Still looking for a mods site...If I can find one I will post it for you!

 

Is there anyway that someone can tell that you've had the illegal mods without splitting the CB open?I don't figure there is unless they put out some kind of signal or whatever.Of course,if you're talking to someone 50 miles away,I'm sure they'd know that you've had something done .

Nightrain

 

I have heard rumors of the FCC driving around with power meters that can tell how many watts your putting out when you key up...but I seriously doubt that is the case. If you have base station I would be more careful...but you have a mobile...there isn't going to be anyone "looking" for you just 'cause you peak at >4 watts.

What you might consider is having a switch installed so that you can turn down your wattage for the sake of others (or maybe you don't want to have your conversation spread over 100 miles!)

My advice...have it turned up, then don't worry about it! No one will ever know if you don't tell them!

 

I don't see what the big deal is with how much signal you're putting out.Of course,I guess there's some reason behind it.I'm going to keep checking the web for places that will do the mod.It sounds pretty interesting to me .Thanks man!

Nightrain

 

Oh Yeah..One more question.With the watt mod done,I know that you'll be able to send messages further,but will you be able to receive them from farther away also?

Nightrain

 

yeah...I believe it is a fairness thing. If everyone was putting out say 50 watts, and factory was only 4 watts. If you were the one buying that $100 radio @ only 4 watts...you couldn't even use it unless you had it turned up. You would be suprised how far 4 watts can get you. I was driving Over-The-Road through PA, there were times I could hit a repeater tower (most likely they are in the Smokey's too) and get about 50+ miles...when I was in West Texas I could get about 10 miles. See for me, 4 watts is fine...but I would love to have more Just a money and time thing (seems I really don't have much of either one!). Good luck on your search, there are plenty of places that can do it for you...save yourself **a lot** of heartache and DO NOT try to mod it yourself!

 

Whew..I don't plan on doing it myself.About all that I can do is splice a few wires together if I know what's running through them and what the effect will be.I don't know anything about a CB except for how to use it.I might just leave it a 4 for awhile and see how I like it.I might have it upped later.How much should I expect to pay for this?

Nightrain

 

I have never had it done...it is an illegal service so I image that it is something that varies from person to person. I have been told that you can figure $1 per watt, parts (which are actually fairly cheap), and some type of hourly rate. I have had friends get it done and I believe they paid about $100. But again. I am not completely sure.

 

Well,if that's the case..I'll stick with my 4 watts lol.I figured that it would be cheaper than that.Thanks for your help man.Oh yeah,I just ordered me one of them 4 bolt antenna mounts like you suggested.Now I wish that I had all of this stuff here so I can get it in my Ranger!!

Nightrain