CB specifics

What do you mean by battery discharge protection? To prevent the battery from being fully drained?

https://powerwerx.com/low-voltage-disconnect-battery-guard

 

Found it!

Clean VHF/CB radio installs post #83

Not exactly what you found, but thanks!

Edit: Then again it's a timer, not exactly what I asked about.

Edit 2: it's called Charge Guard http://www.havis.com/products/CHRGGRD_UNV_CNTRLMDL-38782-923.html
It's Rather Expensive....

 

VERY SWEEEEEEET!!! Thanks brotha!!!

$44 Hustler HQ27 55" Steel Power Packer CB Radio Antenna (White)

https://www.amazon.com/Hustler-55-Inch-Steel-Packer-Antenna/dp/B01F7MQWPM

 

It's a pretty classic antenna, been around a long time. Personally it's one of the standards along with a 102" whip and Larsen NMO27 that do what they do, no drama, no nonsense.

 

Yep that’s it, 10/10 would recommend. By the way I just noticed Amazon is ripping people off, mine was $20

 

I just ordered a Uniden Bearcat 980SSB, so I'm anxiously awaiting for it to arrive. Still researching on where I want to mount it inside the cab, currently looking at the side of the center console by the shifter. The only downside I've read on those bearcats is the size of the unit.

 

I had a bearcat 880 (same size) and mounted it in that spot, on the passengers side. Fit great and wasn't in their way at all.

 

Thanks! That's what I was thinking as well, there would be plenty of room for the passenger. Appreciate the feedback!

 

You're very welcome!

 

Anyone here use a Firestik Fire Ring co-ax cable?

I've got one on a CBI ditch bracket and with a 4' Firestik I'm getting SWR under 1.3 on Channel 40 and very nearly 1 on Channel 1. However, I'm running into grounding issues with the Fire Ring which knocks my SWR into the stratosphere. I have ground the powder coating off of the bracket so I have a good connection (checked with my DMM) and SWR meter. After a day or two the connection appears to corrode and I'm no good. I have hit the Fire Ring and bare mount with dielectric grease but that appears to have done nothing but insulate the connection from each other.

Any input on how to get that connection to work better? When it works, it's flawless and it's such a nice setup from a mounting standpoint, but I'm trying to figure out the best way to get everything to work as it should.

 

I've never been a huge fan of the firerings because they're so finicky. I'd recommend a traditional style stud and 90° bend if you can fit it. Then you'll be golden.

 

The funny thing is I've had awful luck with the traditional setup. I'd end up spinning the crimp on connector in the wrong direction from where I'd want to be or end up damaging the co-ax. I went through two antenna cables in my old truck trying to get everything to work. The firering is really ideal in my setup, for better or worse.

 

Dang, that's too bad about the other cables. I don't have an answer for you, but good luck!

 

I just did a bit more reading and people have had luck sandwiching a stranded wire between the firering and mount and grounding that. Maybe I'll give that a whirl and basically take the mount out of the equation.

 

Dielectric grease is part of it. Its purpose is to insulate and prevent corrosion. You can smear it on the outside of connections but you don't want it on the conductive surfaces if you can avoid it and particularly with impedance controlled junctions. It's an easily displaced grease, though, so it tends to squeeze out of of mating surfaces. But I'd shoot for cleanliness on RF connections at best as you can.

I'd replace the side of the connection that is supposed to be conductive with a star washer.



In the photo, if you're putting the mounting surface above the Firering then put a star washer under the bolt head. If the ditch bracket is below the ring then replace the split washer with a star washer.



Make sure to scrape away powder coat and paint from the bracket and under the mounting bolts for it. Or bypass the whole bracket with braid wire.

 

The issue is the continuity problem I've got is between the fire-ring and mounting surface (I'm underneath). If I put a star washer on the bolt head, that will ensure the connection between the bolt head and bottom of the fire-ring, but not the top of the fire-ring and mount, or am I not understanding your comment?

I have ground away the powder coating where the top of the fire ring meets the bottom of the bracket and that's where I got my dielectric grease. I mixed up my greases and thought that was conductive when it wasn't. What I'm thinking is that junction is corroding on me almost immediately as the bare steel is rusting. The Firestik standard mount is stainless so that's not the issue that a mild steel bracket is. I wonder if I could solder a braided copper wire to the ring, ground the wire and still have a bare connection at the mount and then coat everything with a good coat of dielectric grease.

What's your feeling on that? It seems like such a perfect system for where I've got it on the truck and when it works, it is pretty great.

 

Can’t say I’ve ever mounted anything this redneck before

 

That's pretty bad....

 

I’m relocating it

 

Where you gonna put it now? Any room right behind the grille?