Yet another CB install

[ree]

A lot of people have already done this install already over the years. So there's nothing really new. But I remembered to take a few pictures during parts of the install showing things that other modders didn't. I thought I'd share.

Some the the threads I worked off of are:
CB installation - no holes - no drills
CB antenna - single or dual stick
CB installed... for real


Parts:
Midland 75-822 all-in-one handheld with the car adapter atached,
Firestik SS-J4 Jeep fender mount
3-foot Firestik Firefly antenna
9-foot Firestick MU8R9 coax
Valor 203EZ foldover mount

[ree]

This is the handset hanging on that hook.

It's an aluminum hook so it could be bent if you really pushed/pulled on it, but it's pretty small and out of the way. And I filed the edges a bit so that it's not rough on you if you drag your hand across.

Best thing is I can simply remove it if I come up with a better solution.

[ree]

I wanted a secure stud without having to remove the belt clip. I didn't like the adhesive ones since they never stay on. So I took a small angle bracket and hammered it flat.

[Racer-X]

Looks nice. I put my CB in the same place but I don't like it. It's in the way of putting key into the ignition and I can't see the display when driving. I plan to move it soon. I'm going to fab a bracket off where you have your ipod.

[ree]

The I cut it where the fold was, drilled a hole right near the bottom and attached a small pull I found in a junk box with a small bolt and nut.

[ree]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by RIC-H2:
What did the CB radio and antenna cost you? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

CB = ~85 at amazon.com
Antenna,coax,mount,foldover + swr meter and patch coax = ~90 at walcottcb.com

Not the cheapest I could probably do, but easy.

BTW, with this radio the antenna was a little bit electrically short, so I had to turn out the tuning knob about a turn and a half. My final SWRs with the antenna up were:
<table border="1">
<tr><th>Channel</th><th>1</th><th>19</th><th>40</th></tr>
<tr><th>SWR</th><th>1.1</th><th>1 - 1.1</th><th>1.2-1.3</th></tr>
</table>

[DDWH]

Looks good ree... thanks for the information and pictures!

[Racer-X]

Good point ree! I can't hear my antenna over the howl of the gobi rack and lighting but placement is very important. I've only had it a few weeks and i've already reached through the sunroof a half a dozen times to lower it for low clearance - fast food, hotels etc.

[ree]

This is where I mounted it right over the driver window on the roofrack rail

[ree]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Dewi2005:
...May be a bit different as I cant mount the antenna where you did as I cant slide my roof racks back because they are holding my Manik roof rack.... Ill post some pics when done for alternate installs. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thanks.

One thing I noticed immediately is that the antenna howls badly when it's up. My guess is that depends on how far back it is from the front of the roof (i.e. how the air blows over it). It may have been better to mount it near the back of the truck, but then I'd have to get out to raise and lower it. Something to think about.

[ree]

Pull the gasket out.

Next I punctured this and ran the coax through and sealed up with black gasket sealant in the end (but forgot to take a picture).

Underneath this hole is a second larger hole in the roof that you can feed the coax through. As is mentioned in other threads, if you remove the door trim (which just sticks on) and pull down on the headliner you can see in there well enough to pull the end of the coax through with a needlenose.

[ree]

Open up the marker light by removing the screw at the rear and pulling rear edge up and sliding from out of slot. See the tunnel toward the right edge of the plastic; the coax will go through here.

[Dave Compson]

Great job, thanks for the photos.

Dave

[ree]

If you keep routing it down, it comes out of a hole in the upper left part if the driver fuse box.

From that point, I routed it behind the dash, ziptied it along the rail that runs right behind the lower edge of the dash trim over toward the center console.

[ree]

From an angle where you can see the order of the hardware.

[ree]

And it mounts to the dash under one of the dash bolt heads like this:

[ree]

For the curious, this is what the handle looks like once it's removed.

[Jeff B]

I have the 3' Firefly and a 2' Firestik II and the 3' firelfy makes a lot more wind noise... like a fake tornado sound from a B-movie. The firefly is a thinner antenna and therefore makes a higher pitch sound than the firestik II.

I had to switch to a NGP (no fround plane) version because my SWR readings were at 3 on chanels 1 and 40 after tuning. The antenna uses the same mount as Ree but is located further back, between the roof racks (above where the front and back doors meet). I have an air horn where Ree put his antenna.

I have a new roof from my rollover so that may be playing a part with grounding issues??

[H2005]

Has anyone ran any antenna coax down the passengers side yet?

[ree]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Racer-X:
I put my CB in the same place but I don't like it. It's in the way of putting key into the ignition and I can't see the display when driving. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mine hangs low enough not to be in the way of the hands when putting the key in, but visibility is poor. My hook is loose enough to allow me to reach down and swing it upward a little and see the LCD through the wheel spokes though, so it hasn't been too bad.