Clean VHF/CB radio installs

And it was painted so I did scrap around where the antenna is, maybe i did not scrap away enough?

 

Try running a wire 14 gauge wire from the bolt on the mount to an unpainted bolt in the engine bay, try and find one with lots of metal.

 

Okay, I'll give that a shot. Thank you!

 

Here's how I ran mine

 

Awesome! I'll buy wire tomorrow and let you know

 

Okay so i just grounded with an extra wire anc it did the same thing. Do you think i need to scrap more paint off of the mount? By screw that attach to the hood and where the antenna goes?

 

Yeah scratch some more paint off of the bottom on the coax connection side, as for the wire I meant where the bolt that holds the ditch light mount in. Scratch some paint off of it too

 

Okay, ill start scratching. And the wire is connected to one of the ditch mount bracket screws. From the picture you can see 2 screws that connect it to the hood...is that correct?

 

Just to check, you didn't happen to coil up the coax? If so, try un-coiling it, and just kind of zig zag it or something like that. If coiled, it can sometimes act like an inductor, and cause high swr's.

 

My bad, I saw it incorrectly. Yeah that's right, at least that's how you do it with a normal cb antenna mount. If taking some paint off still doesn't work try connecting the wire on the mount between the

$43 pl259 USA made PL-259 improved double shielded rg-58u for firestik antenna K-8A 18-foot single cb/ham coax cable

pl259 connection and the actual mount

 

Also are you sure you know how to read the meter correctly?

 

Thanks man, i have a feeling there is to much paint left. But yes, im 90 percent sure lol

 

Just in case, also you need it bare metal
https://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/installation-guides/18330687-cb-antenna-tuning-instructions

 

Thanks for your help man! Finally got it! I scraped some more paint and in combination with your grounding suggestion, I got the meter reading down to 1.2 on most channels

 

That's awesome man

 

Started on the install of my VHF in my new truck. Built a small plate out of an old aluminum sign I had laying around to fit where the small pocket is left of the steering wheel. Was able to bolt the face plate bracket onto that nice and solid. Probably mount the head unit under the drivers seat and the external speaker under the dash. Probably just do another fender mount for the antenna again.

 

Bonus points for re-purposing a sign.

 

All the wires are ran up behind the am/fm truck radio and through the firewall. Antennas are mounted with edge mounts to the hood. Very clean install compared to how I first had it set up.

 

do you have the good bolt size for the 2 screw holes in the rail?

 

My 2-Meter mobile is also hidden away in the center console cubby (thanks for the idea, guys)- since my radio also requires heavy gauge wires tied directly to the battery for use with high power, I couldn't plug it directly into the cigarette lighter in there but a standard CB could do it with a cigarette lighter plug. So, I ran all wires and coaxial through the small hole in the bottom of the cubby under the padding and ran them forward towards the firewall under the drivers side edge of the plastic center piece. Then I went through the existing grommet under the master cylinder (put a bit of wire pulling lube, soapy water or other water based lube on the wires because it's a very tight fit around the wire harness). So now, I just open the cubby and use my Mike as it controls all radio functions- also use a Bluetooth adapter for the audio. Talk about a clean install, if it were not for the full wave mag mount on top of the cab, you'd never know there is a amateur mobile radio in the truck (pics pending daylight tomorrow).