CB Radio help
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 58
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From: Ca
CB Radio help
My uncle just gave me a Crobra CB radio. It doesnt have the attenna, but I have all the original mounting hardware including the box. Anyways, I have no clue what kind of attena to buy. Im assuming Radio Shack may be a good place to buy one, one a marine store. I am wondering what are good attenas at reasonble prices. I dont want to spend more than $40 on the attena. I was also wondering if I should mount it under the dash in the middle, so I wouldnt have to route more wires through my truck.
Thank you, any help other tips would be appreciated too,
Rob
Thank you, any help other tips would be appreciated too,
Rob
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 199
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I really dislike hard antennas. When they become cold they snap. Your antenna all depends on weather you want a permanent or magnetic mount. I prefer magnetic because your not committed to any one location. The lil wil wip magnetic antena is cheap and works good. Its not like im new to CB's either. My stepdad turned me on to this one. He drove a truck for 25 years and swears by these.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Southeast Idaho
Truck stops are a great place to get an antenna. I have a small one on my off road rig with a spring at the bottom. Haven't broke it in 4 years. It gets pretty cold here too. Keep in mind your cb is only as good as your antenna. Be sure and have someone set your SWRs. I had a radio shack antenna on and it lasted about 2 wheelin trips. The location of your antenna has a lot to do with how your cb will work. Google SWR CB and you will find more than you probably want to know.
Postmaster
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From: raymond alberta
x2, truckstops or truck dealers (dealers are usually more expensive though) are the best place to go for that stuff anything to do with cbs...im mounting mine up under the dash and ill probably throw a 6' whip on it (the really thin stainless ones with the large coil at the bottom) those big black ones tend to freeze up and if they get hit or bent when they are really cold or frozen the coil inside then snaps then they suck
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
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i run a marine now but i was just gunna let you know a good way to run the antena coax was though the plugs behind the seat.... i would recomend dual antenas because they are supose to work better on the road....i dont know that for sure but thats what i have always heard feel free to correct me.
Jared
Jared
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Basically the antennas create patterns based on where they are mounted. Some ants have gain others do not. A 3 or 5db gain ant is better than a 0 gain, but if it is not mounted in a good location, you can actually lose the gain you thought you had. Example, a base loaded magnetic antenna mounted dead center on the roof will give you a pretty good circular coverage under most circumstances, but a set of dual gain antennas one mounted on each mirror for example will throw the pattern farther to the front and rear of the truck but not so much sideways. A big whip mounted on the rear bumper or fender will give you a big oblong pattern favoring the side the antenna is on. The SWR is VERY important. A 3db gain antenna with bad SWR will actually give you terrible performance, cancelling the gain and going the other way even to the point of doing damage to the output finals in your radio. Enjoy, hope this helps.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Kaukauna, WI
I really dislike hard antennas. When they become cold they snap. Your antenna all depends on weather you want a permanent or magnetic mount. I prefer magnetic because your not committed to any one location. The lil wil wip magnetic antena is cheap and works good. Its not like im new to CB's either. My stepdad turned me on to this one. He drove a truck for 25 years and swears by these.
Before you hook everything up, find a CB shop and pay a couple bucks to get it cleaned, peaked and tuned. Don't know what that all means? They'll know. It's just a tune up for your radio. AND invest in a good mic. I've had the same ROAD KING 56 for a dozen years. The only thing I've had done to it was spend 5 bucks to have the switch replaced.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Renton, WA
I have just realized that I know nothing about CB's. I too need to get an antenna or 2 for a hand me down radio. I read up on SWR on the firestick site, any tips specific to setup on our trucks. I am thinking two whips but how long and where to mount, I think I would prefer to mount on the front corners of the roof but would the bumper mirrors be better.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Macedon, NY
While the top of your vehicle in the center of the roof is the best place for the antenna from the point of view of performance, here is a link that describes a cowl install on a Ford F-Series truck.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...a_Install.html
Good Luck,
-JR
https://www.ford-trucks.com/article/...a_Install.html
Good Luck,
-JR
Thanks for all the help. I will post pics when I get it installed. One more question, how long did it take for you to do install the CB radio as a whole?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,512
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From: Cook Forest and Irwin PA
you dont say what model, but the 25 or higher (or the uniden PC series - identical) can be destroyed by too much SWR - Id have any antenna installed with an SWR meter (which IIRC the 29/76) models have built in.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 223
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From: Kaukauna, WI
Running dual antennas
I too need to get an antenna or 2 for a hand me down radio. I read up on SWR on the firestick site, any tips specific to setup on our trucks. I am thinking two whips but how long and where to mount, I think I would prefer to mount on the front corners of the roof but would the bumper mirrors be better.
ME, I'm a flatbedder. I only run one ear and it performs just as well because my antenna is high enough and I don't have a huge box behind me.
Each setup should be tuned for each individual vehicle. Grounding of the mount is important. Running a wire from the bottom of the mount, through the truck and grounding it to the frame is best.