1st Gen CB Radio Install

pics back, sweet write up btw!

 

HELL yeah and thanks!

 

They must be everywhere, gf lived in Columbia MO Copper beech...

Shitty/Cheap housing if you ask me

 

they are, they're a property company.
we moved in june of 09 and they were about 2 years old then. so they're fairly new and nice. we only have one neighbor so our unit is one of the bigger ones

 

How is the CB working for you? I don't think the antenna mount was done correctly. The nylon washer/spacer needs to be on top, to insulate from ground.

Should look like this :

 

i think i followed the instructions of install but i can't remember. will check the diagram to make sure

 

Yours is still grounded...think about it. You thread the antenna onto the bolt side that the coax plugs into which has a lock washer above it touching the mount and the mount is bolted to the metal bed which in turn is bolted to the frame which is...well you get my point lol but yes the antenna should be grounded, i just ran another ground wire from mine to under the frame!

 

I like how you did everything, looks real good !!!... I just picked up a Uniden 520, and the thing about the antenna that's giving me trouble is I have a bed cap I like to put on sometimes. I'm not sure what to do because I don't want to go roof mount or mag mount

 

Use a mount that goes between the hood/body line or mount it on the front bumper

 

I suppose I'll have to settle for that.... Question about mounting on the front bumper though... What's the difference from the rear bumper ?

 

nothing, the rear would actualy be better since its grounded to the frame rather than having to find a part of the front bumper thats not plastic or has metal under it but in my case i would use the front bumper since its all metal, the only thing about antennas is you want them to be above the roof of the vehicle its mounted to so the higher up place you can go the better, I like the looks of the hood mount personally

 

i installed mine in place of my ashtray and love it. did discover that if its within 10 inches of glass your swr reading go to crap if you move it back on your bed rail you'll get significantly better range!

 

I plan on installing mine in the same location. I don't smoke, therefore don't need the ashtray anyhow.

I'm just trying to figure out an antenna option.

How about this ? Two different mounts. One on the bedside back toward the tailgate, then when I put the cap on, I have a mount bolted to the cap in the same general location, and I just move the coax cable up to that mount and attach a ground to it and screw the antenna on ?

That might be too much hassle though. I may just go with a long ass whip and mount it near the back bumper.

 

well with my baja rack i built gave me the best place possible to mount my antenna. got 1.1 : 1 swr across all channels with it. ill throw a pick up later.

go on google and type in uniden 520xl and there is a package deal where for about $135 you get a 520xl that fits perfectly where your ash tray is, 20 feet of coax cable, an antenna of your choice, you choice of a mount type, and an swr meter to tune it by your self. its a great deal and work great for me!!!!!

 

Dang, that's not a bad deal. I already picked up my radio from Amazon. I saved about $15 on it, but now I have to piece everything else together.

 

return and get it all at once! i bet youll spend more trying to peice everything together with shippthan just grabbing this kit. do look it up if nothing else because this wedsite offers a nice flexible composite antenna thats very well suites for offroad use without breaking.

 

man, I seriously would, but like a fool I took it all out of the box and threw everything away when I got it about a week ago. It was $47 with shipping, I know I'm most likely going to spend $100 or more getting an antenna and coax and getting it all tuned.

 

eventually i'll replace both my bumpers with plate ones and get a bed rack so i'll have 3 very hard decisions to make as to where to mount the antenna. where it is now works but i'm sure there is a better place for it

 

Theres no way it should cost you more than $75, I got my radio for 30 at a cb store at the fleamarket brand new, the coax was $10 for 18ft and the antenna was probably around 20 lets say on the high end but i traded a old whip for it and i have a spare 3ft fire stick to back the 4ft one..i dont think it should cost you that much but the only advantage i really see is that it comes with the swr meter

Yea when i get the bed rack i may move mine there but i will also use the light tab on my front bumper and may possibly add a tab to the new rear bumper. But i must say that i really like mine on the toolbox too and it may just stay there, i just need a different antenna

 

i'm getting a box next week or even this saturday, fingers crossed, so i'll just attach it to that until the day finally comes where i get a new bumper