CBs & Antennas

Jack Stilts

Jack Stilts

Skid Plates
Location
Michigan
Question:

I have this CB mount -





And I'm having a problem. Basically, the screws got stripped in the sheet metal and now they're essentially just thick nails with no grip. The only way the mount is even holding up is because the hatch holds it.

Suggestions? I'd really like to make this thing as secure as possible.
 
ThePlasticOne

ThePlasticOne

First Fill-Up (of many)
Location
Boston, MA
Option one is to remount in a different position. Your pilot holes should be at least 1/32" smaller than the diameter of the screw you're using (I like to do 1/16").

Option two is to reuse the holes, but get bigger screws (1/32"-1/16" bigger). You may need to redrill the mount itself.

Option three is to redrill for some kind of anchor.
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
I ran into that problem with the factory screws they supplied as well. I ran to Home Depot and picked up some slightly larger stainless sheet metal screws. Tightened right up.
 
D

drbandkgb

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
I bought some nuts and screws.. You can get a small hand in that area if you pop the plastic on the inside
 
CaptainMorgan_SOS

CaptainMorgan_SOS

Need Bigger Tires
Location
Alamogordo, NM
I know TJ posted about it a long time ago, but is anyone else running that 4' Wilson Flex antenna? Or, if TJ comes looking back at this post, how is the antenna holding up? I like the idea of that one being so flexible and not needing a spring on the bottom.
 
Roadwarrior

Roadwarrior

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
Probably in class..
Moved the CB to its final resting place. I like it here. More pictures in my build thread.. I should have put locking washers on the back because my sub has rattled one nuts loose..

0111130859.jpg
 
Kuroi_Tora

Kuroi_Tora

Bought an X
Location
West Texas/Southern New Mexico
Jack Stilts said:



Fixed! Thanks for all the suggestions. Got some longer sheet metal screws that I could wrench in, and filled previous holes.
Click to expand...

And

Roadwarrior said:
Redrrill your holes, did you run pilot holes?
Click to expand...

Newbie here, just found y'all. Been wondering where everyone went. Ok, um, what's a pilot hole? I have an idea but i suspect it has little to do with people who fly planes...
Yeah, yeah... I know ... NOOB.

Anyhow, im enjoying this thread as im trying to figger out mounting for my ham and my cb in my 2001 Xterra, lovingly known as the TARDIS.

For radios, Im currently running a th-f6a kenwood with a short mag mount 2m/70cm antenna on top of the Tardis aft of the sunroof. Now, my cb is a Midland 75-822 4w handheld that splits to allow for it to be a mobile as well. I dont have an antenna for it yet other than the (nearly useless) stock rubber duckie (probably because the Tardis acts as a faraday cage and because stock ducks suck) and am looking to get one. However, i'm stuck trying to decide between a magmount firestik firefly (for the flex) and the Sirio Performer 5000 PL 10m & CB Mobile Antenna (for the range and tx/rx reviews). I was really looking hard at the Solarcon 8 Tunable CB Antenna Whip Magnet Mount/Cable 50 Watt Black Coated Whip - Solarcon A-108PM but I've read alot of reviews that say its a bad move.

So, with that being said, which do y'all think is a better move and why? I like a low profile, am averse to drilling holes (the Boss said NO quite adamantly even though the Tardis is an older model), as well as being able to hide my gear, and prefer a quick n easy take down for garages since i'm in the desert (Tatooine, y'all. I live in the Mos Eisley of Texas aka El Paso) so i don't need to fear trees or ice/snow anymore since i left Montana (insert appropriate Hoth jokes here). I also don't intend to dx at all outside of ham repeaters and any of these should do fine for trails, especially since i'm a noob and can't/won't do anything very exciting until i can find others in my area (El Paso/Las Cruces, anyone? Anyone?) to play with and learn the steps to this 4x4 dance.

And, final question, can i run both the ham and cb systems at the same time, if i post the antennae on opposite sides of the Tardis, or will the interference prove too much?

Ok, standing by for the learning moment. Thanks, Y'all!

Sith_Tiger/Kuroitora
 
Macland

Macland

Titan Swapped / SAS'd
Founding Member
Location
SW OK & formerly Eastern NM
Pilot holes are smaller holes than what's needed for a screw of some sort. Or if you need to drill a large hole you can drill a smaller pilot hole to get things started and take some stress off of the larger drill bit.
 
brooski

brooski

Test Drive
Location
Canton, MS
Where did everyone put their CB radio? Mine is under my seat for now but I would like to be able to read the screen while driving.
 
Prime

Prime

Shut up Baby, I know it!
Admin
Location
Denver Adjacent
Mine is shoehorned in the pit below the radio. Took some serious doing and cutting to get it in there, but I can't think of a better place.
 
Muadeeb

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
I have mine under my knee, and the handset attaches behind the cup holder. L

image-1103378262.jpg

Sent via wild ferrets on crack
 
ahefner

ahefner

Bought an X
Location
Tahlequah, OK
I am using a 3 foot firestik with a hd spring held in place with a xoskel stainless mount on the factory roof rack. Ran the wire through the grommet behind the brake light. Placed the radio in the storage box between the seats. It was a perfect fit and is out of the way. When I need to use it the cord simply runs out of the storage box and the mic is right there. When not in use the coin holder in the box also serves as a mic holder. Using a Uniden PRO520XL radio. The only feature that I wish this radio had was a scan ability.
 
TKDx00

TKDx00

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
S.Subs of Chicago, IL.
I did the rear storage/tool box in wood so I just kept going...lol. my intention was to make a place for the second battery behind the front seats and run all the wires to the switches in the center. Then it just grew.
 
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S

southernXterra

Bought an X
Location
Georgia
I have heard that running the wires for the cb on the side of the vehicle with fuel lines can cause issues with the fuel system. Also more static? Is either of those true? I am a beginner to cb radios so I am going off what others have told me. I'd rather ask dumb questions now than find out the hard way later.
 
S

southernXterra

Bought an X
Location
Georgia
TKDx00 said:
I did the rear storage/tool box in wood so I just kept going...lol. my intention was to make a place for the second battery behind the front seats and run all the wires to the switches in the center. Then it just grew.
Click to expand...

I asked one question above this that maybe you can answer. Also what is the best cb to start with? I just want something basic to pair with a 4' firestick that i can talk on trails with and maybe occasionally other cb hobbies on the highway. So, preferably something cheap but worth the money.
 
TKDx00

TKDx00

Lockers Installed
Founding Member
Location
S.Subs of Chicago, IL.
southernXterra said:
I asked one question above this that maybe you can answer. Also what is the best cb to start with? I just want something basic to pair with a 4' firestick that i can talk on trails with and maybe occasionally other cb hobbies on the highway. So, preferably something cheap but worth the money.
Click to expand...

Just checked here thanks to another thread...sorry for not answering.
For a basic radio you can't beat Radio shack. Compact and inexpensive and made for short to mid range distances. There are great hand held models like the Cobra and Midland models. I'm from the ol'skool and kept what worked for me. The President I have had been tweeked many years ago and I use to run my radios with an amp(shhhhh...lol). Antennas, I've had K40's, Wilson's, Firestix's and a whip. Currently I have a Wilson mag mount on the roof with a small Radio shack. When finished I'll have the President Jackson back w/ a Penetrator II mounted on the tire carrier.
 
Cameron23

Cameron23

Skid Plates
Founding Member
Location
Kansas
Antenna.JPG

alright gang this is what I am gonna ask my GF to order for our anniversary.
is this everything I would need except the CB unit itself to make it work?
 
KChurch86

KChurch86

Banned
Founding Member
Location
Western Massachusetts
KChurch86

KChurch86

Banned
Founding Member
Location
Western Massachusetts
Cameron23 said:
will my FM radio interfere with my CB?
Click to expand...

Not in any way that I could think of. I've never had any interference with mine. I do have some electrical whine in the background while listening to the CB, but it's because I was lazy and didn't run my negative wire back to the battery so I pick up some electrical noise from my ground. It's really not that bad though.
 
robcarync

robcarync

Sliders
Location
Raleigh, NC
Cameron23 said:
How should I get the the battery is there a grommet in the firewall
Click to expand...

I had ran some wires through a grommet on the passenger side firewall. The grommet was fitted very tightly, so I had to razor blade the rubber to put the wires through, and seal it back up. You will need a coat hanger or something to fish the wires down under the glove box and behind some other junk in the foot well.

I actually powered my CB by tapping into the dash cig lighter though. No issues on my end now that I have a tuned and properly grounded antenna.

My coaxial cable is actually pretty ghetto because I just ran it through the passenger side door jamb. I couldn't fit the fat connector through the grommet. (My antenna is on my front bumper, which is why I couldn't just run it straight to the tail light like most people.


davemj98 said:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000K2YR/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Installed and can't hear ANYTHING but static.
Click to expand...

Do you have someone to test it with? I know from my experience with a Cobra CB it just sounds like static like crazy, which you squelch out...but if you have someone nearby actually testing with you, their voice comes in clear. It just took me a year or so to actually test my CB with someone.

Another thing is the antenna. I can't imagine a little rubber ducky antenna being too good. Are you using just the handheld antenna? I know my Dad who is big into radios had a handheld radio like that, but had a vehicle mounted antenna to use while in the car...he always said the hand held antenna was only useful as a back up.

I don't have experience with this particular radio...I just know from my experience, the ANTENNA set up is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than the actual radio when it comes to communication.


And now for my own question

I read earlier on in this thread some people claiming 10 mile range and what not. How in the world do you get such good range? I have a 4 foot firestik antenna, mounted to the front bumper ON TOP of the headlight guard..that is 4 feet of antenna above the hood area there. Properly grounded antenna with a SWR of 1.4 on each end, and after a quick test, it seemed like the max I could get was 1.6 miles.

Now to be fair, the person I was testing with had a 2 foot firestik with a questionable ground that had an SWR of 2.3...so that obviously plays a roll in being able to hear back a confirmation that he received my signals...so that is probably more so a measure of my buddy's range instead of mine...

But what kind of range are other people getting on their CBs?
 
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