CBs & Antennas
- Thread starter NismoFire
- Start date
robcarync
Sliders
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Gotta look around...where are you mounting your antenna?
Self tapping sheet metal screws are your friend here
That was my plan. Just tap it to the body metal and I should be fine right?
Also some of the antennas said no ground plane. What does that mean?
ALSO
here is the unit I am looking at it is a Cobra 29LX it has
SWR Calibration - Allows calibration of antenna system for maximum performance.
Adjustable Dynamike Boost - Dynamically boosts microphone for increased voice clarity.
Tactile Controls - Allows you to actually feel where the dial is in it's rotation without taking your eyes off the road.
PA Capability - Use CB radio as a Public Address System with PA speaker. Receive signals can also be monitored through PA.
RF Gain - Adjusts receive gain in weak and strong signal areas.
Switchable Noise Blanker - For increased noise reduction.
Emergency Weather Alert - Alerts you if threatening weather is nearby with an alert tone even when CB is turned off.
4 Watts AM RF Power Output - The maximum allowed by law.
Instant Channel 9 and 19 - Instant access to emergency channel 9 and information channel 19.
Antenna Warning Indicator - Illuminates when antenna needs checking.
Delta Tune - Used to clarify incoming signals.
Talk Back - This control is used to adjust the desired amount of modulation talk back that is present at the speaker during transmit.
Channel Scan - Allows scanning of all 40 channels.
Frequency Display - Displays operating channel frequency of CB and weather band.
Auto Weather Scan - Automatically scans for the weather band for the strongest signal.
10 NOAA Weather Channels - Instant access to 10 National Weather Channels, 24 hours a day, in all 50 states.
Weather Alert Scan - Automatically scans for the nearest weather alert signal.
Radio Check Diagnostic - Allows testing of important radio functions such as RF power, antenna condition and battery voltage
Memory Channels - Stores up to 10 frequently used channels
Memory Channel Scan - Allows scanning of up to 10 channels stored in memory.
Selectable Key Tone - Allows key tone to be turned on or off.
Day / Night Dimmer Control - Adjusts brightness of the front panel for day and night driving.
4-Pin Front Microphone Connector - Allows convenient installation to be in-dash or under-dash.
Selectable 4-Color LCD Display - Choose from four easy-to-read display colors: red, blue, green and amber
Sorry for the copy paste but I just want to know if its a good radio. One thing I am wary of is the digital SWR RF meters. I just trust analog meters more. Do you guys think the SWR meter on the unit would be as accurate as an external?
ALSO
here is the unit I am looking at it is a Cobra 29LX it has
SWR Calibration - Allows calibration of antenna system for maximum performance.
Adjustable Dynamike Boost - Dynamically boosts microphone for increased voice clarity.
Tactile Controls - Allows you to actually feel where the dial is in it's rotation without taking your eyes off the road.
PA Capability - Use CB radio as a Public Address System with PA speaker. Receive signals can also be monitored through PA.
RF Gain - Adjusts receive gain in weak and strong signal areas.
Switchable Noise Blanker - For increased noise reduction.
Emergency Weather Alert - Alerts you if threatening weather is nearby with an alert tone even when CB is turned off.
4 Watts AM RF Power Output - The maximum allowed by law.
Instant Channel 9 and 19 - Instant access to emergency channel 9 and information channel 19.
Antenna Warning Indicator - Illuminates when antenna needs checking.
Delta Tune - Used to clarify incoming signals.
Talk Back - This control is used to adjust the desired amount of modulation talk back that is present at the speaker during transmit.
Channel Scan - Allows scanning of all 40 channels.
Frequency Display - Displays operating channel frequency of CB and weather band.
Auto Weather Scan - Automatically scans for the weather band for the strongest signal.
10 NOAA Weather Channels - Instant access to 10 National Weather Channels, 24 hours a day, in all 50 states.
Weather Alert Scan - Automatically scans for the nearest weather alert signal.
Radio Check Diagnostic - Allows testing of important radio functions such as RF power, antenna condition and battery voltage
Memory Channels - Stores up to 10 frequently used channels
Memory Channel Scan - Allows scanning of up to 10 channels stored in memory.
Selectable Key Tone - Allows key tone to be turned on or off.
Day / Night Dimmer Control - Adjusts brightness of the front panel for day and night driving.
4-Pin Front Microphone Connector - Allows convenient installation to be in-dash or under-dash.
Selectable 4-Color LCD Display - Choose from four easy-to-read display colors: red, blue, green and amber
Sorry for the copy paste but I just want to know if its a good radio. One thing I am wary of is the digital SWR RF meters. I just trust analog meters more. Do you guys think the SWR meter on the unit would be as accurate as an external?
robcarync
Sliders
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
Typical antennas require a "ground plane"...or a horizontal surface to reflect the signal off of...and also an electrical ground on the bottom half of the mount.
On big rigs or motor homes...often times antennas have to be mounted on the side or on fiberglass and can't be completely above the roof line or grounded to metal.
The NO GROUND PLANE antennas are for those situations that use a bit of a different method to transmit and receive signals (from what I remember). I had asked about them at one point...and the consensus is unless you need it for a specific reason (no access to ground, driving a motor home made of fiber glass), there is no benefit and don't need one.
From my experience, the antenna is far more important than the radio. I like the built in SWR meter...I don't see a reason why it couldn't be built into the radio fairly successfully.
I got a cheap 30 buck Cobra CB at walmart...and it works pretty well with my 4' firestik and tuned antenna. All radios are governed to a certain power level, so transmitting and receiving comes down to your antenna set up and location
On big rigs or motor homes...often times antennas have to be mounted on the side or on fiberglass and can't be completely above the roof line or grounded to metal.
The NO GROUND PLANE antennas are for those situations that use a bit of a different method to transmit and receive signals (from what I remember). I had asked about them at one point...and the consensus is unless you need it for a specific reason (no access to ground, driving a motor home made of fiber glass), there is no benefit and don't need one.
From my experience, the antenna is far more important than the radio. I like the built in SWR meter...I don't see a reason why it couldn't be built into the radio fairly successfully.
I got a cheap 30 buck Cobra CB at walmart...and it works pretty well with my 4' firestik and tuned antenna. All radios are governed to a certain power level, so transmitting and receiving comes down to your antenna set up and location
- Location
- SW OK & formerly Eastern NM
Cameron, check out my build and what I did for my cb setup. I bought just a basic unit and I believe the same things your girlfriend is going to buy for you plus the stud and a mount. I wouldn't bother with a ground or swr meter until you set up your whole system. I connected everything and spent stupid money on a ground cable and had zero reception, until we took off the ground cable. Then my swr was near perfect and the only adjustment that was made was removing the ground wire. This may not work for you but hyde's friend who was wheeling with us that weekend had the same experience and he's the one who thought to remove the ground wire. Both Muadeeb and dhyde79 were there so they can back me up.
So obviously I ground the CB because it needs a ground to operate but what you are saying is not to ground the antenna?
sickboy595
Bought an X
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
Cameron...I have that exact same radio in my rig. I get anywhere from 2-10 miles consistently depending on weather and location( I've even picked up TX and CO a few times) . I have my antenna grounded...never thought about trying to not ground (maybe I should try). Anywho, That radio has an SWR built in and will get you close. Also It's a big radio. Not sure where you're planning on putting it but just be aware of the size and you'll need about an inch or two in the rear for wiring and antenna plug.
Would it fit under my single din aftermarket stereo?
sickboy595
Bought an X
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
Really not sure..I have a 2nd gen, so someone else will have to chime in on how much room there is behind there. I had to put mine on the bottom of my center console:
robcarync
Sliders
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm
Hugely awesome resource
For a regular ground plane antenna...the mount MUST BE GROUNDED to work properly. Battery wire going to red wire of radio, black wire of radio go to a grounding source.
Antenna mount must either be grounded by contact (welding a metal tab that is already grounded to steel bumper, metal clamp that is already grounded) or by running a separate ground wire (12 gage or fatter wire) to a ground location. The next thing is to verify your ground by comparing it to the negative battery post...just because something is metal doesn't mean it has continuity all the way to a clean ground.
Verify your mount and coax is correct by checking resistance for continuity...PL-259 is the normal stud mount
The SWR meter built in:
Hugely awesome resource
For a regular ground plane antenna...the mount MUST BE GROUNDED to work properly. Battery wire going to red wire of radio, black wire of radio go to a grounding source.
Antenna mount must either be grounded by contact (welding a metal tab that is already grounded to steel bumper, metal clamp that is already grounded) or by running a separate ground wire (12 gage or fatter wire) to a ground location. The next thing is to verify your ground by comparing it to the negative battery post...just because something is metal doesn't mean it has continuity all the way to a clean ground.
Verify your mount and coax is correct by checking resistance for continuity...PL-259 is the normal stud mount
The SWR meter built in:
- 47. The SWR meters built into CB radios are okay for general readings, but are rarely sensitive and/or accurate enough for fine tuning of antennas. Use them mostly to indicate serious high SWR problems only.
robcarync
Sliders
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
My mount...custom welded this bracket to my head light guard on my front bumper. Heavy duty spring on a stud mount with a 4 foot firefly. Ground wire with ring terminals on each end for an SWR of 1.4 on each end :tunes:
Would I have any trouble if I powered my cb from my map lights or my dome lights power and ground wires? Like just cut off the connector and had a hot wire and ground and either run those into a connector that fits or whatever into the cb radio
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk