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New to CB Radios. Ive got some questions...

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by chaos316, Oct 19, 2020.

  1. Oct 19, 2020 at 8:34 PM
    #1
    chaos316

    #1
    chaos316 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Im planning on putting a cb radio in my truck after going out wheelin over the weekend with friends. I already ordered and received a
    $67 Uniden Pro520xl Pro Series 40-Channel CB Radio. Compact Design. ANL Switch and PA/CB Switch. 7 Watts of Audio Output and Instant Emergency Channel 9. - Black
    Uniden Pro520xl. Im needing to order an antenna/cable, mount, and supposedly some type of connector. Im looking at the Rago Fabrication mount (pictured below). I'm completely new to these but I absolutely hate the style of wire that's used in the picture below. From what I understand there is a lower profile cable/connector I can use. Im not exactly sure if it will work or not. I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

    image_53630e8e-5605-4590-a3f2-1c6414968932_2850x.jpg
     
    chaos316, Oct 19, 2020
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  2. Oct 19, 2020 at 8:36 PM
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    chaos316

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    chaos316 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    This is kind of what I was thinking. Im not sure if this style of wire will work with my cb radio and/or Rago bed mount.Screen Shot 2020-10-19 at 10.32.38 PM.jpg
     
    chaos316, Oct 19, 2020
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  3. Oct 20, 2020 at 8:38 AM
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    chaos316

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    chaos316 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Anyone?
     
    chaos316, Oct 20, 2020
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  4. Oct 20, 2020 at 8:54 AM
    #4
    VeeSix

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    VeeSix Yotahead, Deadhead.

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    2018 Tacoma - gone 2003 Tacoma - gone 1983 FJ60 - gone 1988 BJ73 - gone 1992 FJ80 - eternal
    https://www.rightchannelradios.com/...uld you be happy...or worried? We'll... More

    If you do this yourself be careful as it's not hard to ruin your radio. CB's are nothing like regular AM FM radios and their antenna and cable requirements are extremely important. I had a radio shop install mine - they had an SWR meter and took longer than I thought it would take to get it done correctly. These decisions are not based on cosmetics but on functionality and not destroying your radio.
     
    VeeSix, Oct 20, 2020
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    jetfishn likes this.
  5. Oct 20, 2020 at 9:03 AM
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    MikeyD.25

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    MikeyD.25 Well-Known Member

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    You might not like the looks of the setup in the 1st pic but you'll fare much better with it over time then with the FIRERING that you show in the 2nd pic. Take it from someone who's been there! And like VeeSix alluded to, a SWR meter is necessary for an efficient
    CB setup.

    Good luck! :thumbsup:
     
    MikeyD.25, Oct 20, 2020
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  6. Oct 20, 2020 at 9:09 AM
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    5nahalf

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    5nahalf I build dumb things

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    5nahalf, Oct 20, 2020
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  7. Oct 20, 2020 at 9:13 AM
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    vicali

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    vicali Touch my camera through the fence

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    There is a CB thread.. but once you're all done you'll still only have 40 channels..
    <-Ham snob
     
    vicali, Oct 20, 2020
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    Kev250R, Junkhead and VeeSix like this.
  8. Oct 20, 2020 at 10:19 AM
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    orion_hunters

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    orion_hunters Active Member

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    @MikeyD.25 curious why fire ring not as good as good ol coax connector? I just put a fire ring on due to clearance issue (mine is on the hood in a ditch light bracket).
     
    orion_hunters, Oct 20, 2020
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  9. Oct 20, 2020 at 10:23 AM
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    5nahalf

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    5nahalf I build dumb things

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    The fire rings have a very weak connection between the ring part and the wire. Ive owned 2 of them, and both have had the sheathing break right by the ring part exposing bare wires. I still use the fire rings because they fit so well, but its something to keep in mind.
     
    5nahalf, Oct 20, 2020
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    MikeyD.25 and orion_hunters[QUOTED] like this.
  10. Oct 20, 2020 at 10:23 AM
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    OverlandExpress

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    OverlandExpress Well-Known Member

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    Don't mean to nit pick but I would have filled the end of that weld.....
     
    OverlandExpress, Oct 20, 2020
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  11. Oct 20, 2020 at 10:24 AM
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    orion_hunters

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    orion_hunters Active Member

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    thanks for the heads up! I’ll keep an eye on mine!
     
    orion_hunters, Oct 20, 2020
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  12. Oct 20, 2020 at 10:26 AM
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    5nahalf

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    5nahalf I build dumb things

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    It happens right at the "reinforced" rubbery area. Next time I have to replace mine (probably after winter) I am going to put a few layers of shrink tube over that area to try to beef it up a little more.

    EDIT: this may or may not just be a cold climate issue
     
    5nahalf, Oct 20, 2020
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    RobP62, MikeyD.25 and orion_hunters[QUOTED] like this.
  13. Oct 26, 2020 at 6:55 PM
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    Tacoma13_NC

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    Tacoma13_NC Well-Known Member

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    Your transmission/receiving quality and power is almost solely dependent on the type of antenna you use and how it's mounted. You need to have a very good ground, and make sure you have an SWR meter to check your number. The lower the number the better. I used to be big into CB radios 20 years ago. I had a Ranger 2950 base station with an Antron 99 antenna. I also had a Cobra 148 in the truck with a K40 magnetic base antenna.
     
    Tacoma13_NC, Oct 26, 2020
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  14. Oct 26, 2020 at 7:32 PM
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    MrTacoTostada

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    MrTacoTostada Member

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    I'm a newbie and would like to put a CB radio in my truck. Installation doesn't seem overly complicated, but since I don't know what I'm doing except for following directions on how to do it from posts in the forum, I have questions, which I've found answered on youtube, but not exactly sure if they are correct or over-generalized or completely wrong or very good.

    I found this youtube video which seems informative.
    https://youtu.be/X5M_cD1vWRo
     
    MrTacoTostada, Oct 26, 2020
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  15. Oct 26, 2020 at 7:41 PM
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    MikeyD.25

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    MikeyD.25 Well-Known Member

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    Two big mistake with this video...you NEVER RUN an SWR test in a confined space, or surrounded by other metal objects. Go outside to a wide open space like a field or parking lot far away from other metal objects/vehicles.
     
    MikeyD.25, Oct 26, 2020
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  16. Oct 26, 2020 at 9:09 PM
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    MrTacoTostada

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    MrTacoTostada Member

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    It looks like one of these cables. Insulated PL259 ends.
    $22 RFAdapter CB Coax Cable, CB Antenna Cable, 20ft RG8x Coaxial Cable UHF Male to Male Low Loss, 50 Ohm for HAM Radio Antenna
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZYD5RZS/
     
    MrTacoTostada, Oct 26, 2020
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  17. Oct 26, 2020 at 9:14 PM
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    pltommyo

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    pltommyo Well-Known Member

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    SSO hybrid bumper, Warn winch, RCI skid trilogy, RRW sliders, everything in the cheap/free mods thread, and of course the frame recall work.
    Make it easier - get GMRS.
     
    pltommyo, Oct 26, 2020
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  18. Oct 27, 2020 at 1:44 PM
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    Jlthomas169

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    Jlthomas169 Member

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    If you go with the Rago Fab mount triple check the gap on your tailgate. Mine was larger than the 1/8" they say and it still rubbed on my tailgate enough to start removing paint. Now it sits in a box. haha
     
    Jlthomas169, Oct 27, 2020
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  19. Oct 27, 2020 at 1:49 PM
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    12taco12

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    12taco12 Well-Known Member

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    i know you went CB but why not go GMRS or HAM? a lot of the clubs/ groups etc are changing the format from CB to GMRS
     
    12taco12, Oct 27, 2020
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    VeeSix likes this.
  20. Oct 27, 2020 at 1:53 PM
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    ian rogers

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    ian rogers Well-Known Member

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    Most folks around here are running Ham radios. They are preferred for relay capacity and longer range than cb.
     
    ian rogers, Oct 27, 2020
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