CB Radio Information and Installation

Hey question,
I am going to install a CB this weekend. I would like to run the coax through the grommet under the drivers seat out to the bed. I have seen some threads where people have done this. Is the best way to make a hole in the grommet? If I make a hole do I need to seal it with something? I'm just wondering about water getting in. Thanks.

 

Yes, it needs to be sealed. I've had sucess with clear silicone but other waterproof products will also work.

 

You can unwrap/cut the electrical tape at that grommet and use some needle nose pliers to spread the grommet so you can push/pull the coax cable through. Then you can just wrap it with some new electrical tape rather than worrying about having to seal a new hole.

 

I've never had an issue. I just make the hole a bit smaller than the diameter of the coax. The tight fit of the rubber grommet on the vinyl of the coax kind of self seals itself.

 

subd

 

Need a little help guys. I have my firestick II mounted to the stock bed rail just behind the drivers side rear window. Mount is steel angle iron. I have a 2' found cable from the male end of the antenna screw/mount and other end goes to my chassis. I have high SWR. did a test and held the antenna in my hand off the mount and just slipped the ground between the flexible spring mount and was able to get good low SWR readings. What gives??

 

Is there any "coating" on the screw/mount were you attached the ground onto? Maybe its not making "good" contact?

 

Thank you! This should come in handy!

 

No coating at the ground. Does it matter if the mounting hole is just big enough to fit the stud mount? If the stud mount touches the inside of the hole is that ok? My stud is mounted like the pic above, left diagram. Lock washer, flat washer, nylon washer, mount, ground, stud then coaxial cable. From top to bottom.

 

As far as i know the stud part that attaches to antenna should NOT touch any part of the mount (hence the nylon washers with a small "lip" on them so it stays centered. For the LEFT picture the "outside" of the connector CAN touch the mount, as that is what would give the ground for the coax cable.

 

I resently bought a SWR meter and my readings are high. I checked my antenna for proper ground and even redid the ground wire from the mount to the frame. I don't have continuity between the hot and ground surfaces. I'm running a cobra 75, 18' coax, heavy duty spring and firestick WK4. Any help would to apprecited. Thanks

 

HOT cannot touch GROUND

Correct, the HOT side of the antenna needs to be insulated from the mount which is GROUND. You are essentially shorting out the circuit.

 

More than likely you need to adjust your antenna. Some firestik have an adjuster bolt under the cap on the tip. If yours doesn't you can remove the spring and check again.

How to adjust/tune your antenna:
https://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/installation-guides/18330687-cb-antenna-tuning-instructions

 

Ok. So mine doesn't have an adjustment bolt. Would it be better to buy the antenna with the adjustment bolt?

 

Depends on how squimish you are to cut your antenna. Like I said, take off the spring and see how your numbers change. If they get better or worse then you need to tune your antenna by lengthening(not really possible, so don't cut too much) or shortening your antenna. If your number stay the same it could mean something else is wrong.

 

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Just to add more pics and videos on the following topics:
Connecting CB antenna/Ground

reposting

Tuning a cb

https://youtu.be/GiMVAuOefXo

 

Ok so I made the hole on the mount larger and that fixed the problem. On the meter I was able to 1.0 on ch 1, 1.2 on ch 20 and 2.0 on ch 40. Best I could get. I'm happy with it. Thanks for the help.

 

Sounds good, glad it was an easy fix.