Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Fantastic. That looks like a great option. Thanks for the help!

 

so far it’s been ok. Haven’t had any real tail use on it as we switched to our HAM band and they gave me a handheld to listen my 1st run out (of course!). It’ll be getting some use soon but I’m also doing a Rago Fab taillight mount with a 2M Firestik for the HAM. Gotta get one of my local HAM junkies to tune in my SWR for me. It’s been a steep learning curve...

And yea the headliner is a pain in the rear! You have to drop all the visors, lights, hooks, grab handles and the two center pillar plastics minimum. I wound up with a tiny crease because I got over zealous popping the velcro off the ceiling.

 

Made up an antenna mount out of some scrap 2" square tubing last weekend:

Also made up a mount bracket for the cb with some 3/16 flat bar. The mount is bolted to the seat, so the cb moves forward and backward when the seat is adjusted. Idea stolen from @Sand Shark for the mount location and design

 

How do you like the 29LX?

 

I've been happy with it. This is my first one, so I don't have much to compare against.

 

I'm installing mine today and you just saved me some time and aggravation seeing this. I didn't really want to go through the grommet under the rear seat, and my antenna came with 18' of coax so i'll run it right up to the front of the truck since I'm installing under my dash anyways. Never even thought to do that

 

A little off topic, but... did anyone else notice some good skip today? I’m in northern Wi, and I got to listen to some southern boys jibber jabbering all afternoon. That was very entertaining!

 

Okay, I'll chime in here. This is what I've settled on so far. I dropped the headliner, dug out some of the sound proofing foam, glued in some starboard with 3M's UV4000 sealant. Then made and glued down a piece of stainless steel on the outside for reinforcement. Again, 3M's 4000 does a good job of bonding. The pic is during install where I wanted a little weight on the front while the 4000 was setting. Then after shopping for a good spot, I settle for the overhead console. I tried down behind the shifter with a smaller radio, but I was never really satisfied with the install. The RCI6900 fit without cutting the headliner, it looks like I'll just have to sacrifice not having a dome light, bummer. I may try to dissect the old housing and frankenstein something in somewhere.

 

And here's the final install. In keeping with the topic, I think it's a pretty clean install.

 

What's your best SWR after installation of the 1000?

 

1.1 SWRs throughout the band.

 

Installed the CB last night. All that's left to do is tune it today and install the Hondo Garage vent holder and attach the mic.

 

Thanks! Got mine in the mail today, hopefully going to get it installed this weekend.

 

Nice install!! How do you like your RCI6900?? i believe they have been discontinued correct? what kind of range/coverage do you get?

 

Thanks, yea, I like the RCI6900, it'll do a lot of distance sitting on top of Brasstown Bald in GA or Sugar Mountain in NC. I shot skip to Jamaica with it some ten years ago off Brasstown Bald. The receive is really good. There's no adj on the echo timing, but it doesn't need it, they set the timing at the factory to what I would have set it to, something that helps propagate but not sound like you're inside a stadium somewhere. And yea, I think they've discontinued them, not sure why, this one's been turned off for the last 5 or 6 years, maybe longer. The only issue is you gotta get into the cab of the truck carefully or you'll hit it with your head. And these dammed things have those kind of turn knob switches where the spindle is plastic and breaks off. I think I'd go back with another one close to the one I have if I had to pick out a new model. And I'd do like I did this one, have it adjusted per say and tuned, but keep it turned down inside so there's no way to turn it up too much and that way it also doesn't generate the killer heat. The other issue is when I removed the panel with the lights and sunglass holder, the anti-slip switch for the transmission and the control switch for the over head lights are all part of that. So I don't have any dome lights now and you don't realize how much you rely on them until they're not there. So, it looks like one more modification where I'll have to pull down the headliner, dissect the console I pulled out and mount the bit and pieces from the console back into the headliner. I may be able to just install the whole console in front of where I installed the radio. Ah, another project.
Keith B.

 

You can try one of these https://president-electronics.com/CB-Radio_Ham-Radio/Ham-Radio/RONALD With an easy mod you can use the CB freqs. but NO SSB (upper/lower sideband).

 

They seem pretty good radios, and in a small size to fit almost anywhere in our already tight spaces Tacomas.. thanks..!!

 

i would like to know more on this set up

 

what would you like to know specifically? About the greenlee punch to make the holes or the antennas?

 

I would like to know more about both