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CB Help

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by pittim, Sep 17, 2008.

  1. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:07 PM
    #1
    pittim

    pittim [OP] mittip backwards

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    I need some help deciding what kind of CB setup I want to do. I recently bought a Pro520XL but it's just been sitting in my room waiting.

    What I need help with is what kind of antenna/mount I want to do. It's between a shorter antenna mounted on the roof or a longer antenna mounted on my rear bumper (like Toy4Life has.) I must say that I like the rear bumper setup better than the roof setup.

    Also, how long of an antenna should I get? I was looking at the 102" from radioshack which has great reviews from users, but I think 102" might look odd on a pickup. Another option could be something like a 5 or 6 foot antenna mounted on the bumper which would not look nearly as odd as a 102" antenna

    What do you guys think I should do?
     
  2. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:13 PM
    #2
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    Not so much looks, but performance. The 102" whip is a fantastic talker-I had a dual set chainmounted to the rear bumper way back in my CB days! I had gutter clips that would hold the whips down when I wasnt transmitting. Are you going to have somebody set it up-or do you know how? When the time comes, I can help ya here:)
     
  3. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:16 PM
    #3
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Thanks, Frank! I was just about to steer him to ya! Ridgrunner is the Radio DUDE!
     
  4. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:17 PM
    #4
    Khaos

    Khaos Big Member

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    Bryant
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    3” spacer lift, 285/75/17 KO2, Spidertrax 1.25” spacers
    Get a bed bar and slap a 4ft firestick on there.

    [​IMG]

    If you do a lot of off roading in the woods, I'd hate to have a 102" antenna flopping around. Lots of the mallcrawlin chevys around here have the 102" steel antennas on their toolboxs.
     
  5. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:18 PM
    #5
    pittim

    pittim [OP] mittip backwards

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    How difficult is it to set up? Besides drilling into the bumper for the mount, the running the cable from the antenna to the CB (I'll probably have some trouble figuring out how to get the cable from the under the truck to the CB in the ashtray area) what else is there? I don't know how to properly ground it or tune it (don't have a SWR.)

    How'd you attach the gutter clips to your truck? Did the whip have enough flex that it wouldn't bend permanently?
     
  6. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:19 PM
    #6
    ajviper7

    ajviper7 Well-Known Member

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    I have a 4' Firestick hooked up to a cobra 25 ltd. It is mounted on a bracket to my truckbox, it looks good and functions great. IMO, the whip antenna looks too big on the Tacoma, so I would probably go with a 5' firestick antenna mounted on the bumper.
     
  7. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:19 PM
    #7
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    LOOKIN GOOD young man:)-how's the SWR on that stik?
     
  8. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:21 PM
    #8
    pittim

    pittim [OP] mittip backwards

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    I'm not worried too much about transmitting long distances either, maybe like a 4 mile radius. So it seems like a 102" whip might be a little bit overkill for what I want...
     
  9. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:23 PM
    #9
    Khaos

    Khaos Big Member

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    Thats not my truck, but its pretty much the exact same set up I will be running.

    Cobra 75WX ST + Demello Bed Bar + 4FT Firestick

    Thats basically my entire Christmas right there, maybe part of my birthday too :D
     
  10. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:24 PM
    #10
    Toy4Life

    Toy4Life 668: The Neighbor of the Beast

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    If you look between the bed and the cab near the base of the truck, you'll see a rubber plug about an inch in size. There is one on each side. The plug fills a hole that leads into the rear storage compartments. That's where I entered the cab, then under carpet, under passenger door trim, behind kick panel, under glove box to center stack. That's the route I took.
     
  11. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:26 PM
    #11
    Toy4Life

    Toy4Life 668: The Neighbor of the Beast

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    I have a 4' Firestick mated to a cheap-ass $30 Midland radio. Works great.
     
  12. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:26 PM
    #12
    jolayiv

    jolayiv Carolina Alliance

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    I have always used the "big ass" whip antenna (blame the Redneck in me). My Dad has always used the Wilson 1000, and I would say that it works out better than anything I have ever had.

    http://www.wilsonantenna.com/w1000.htm
     
  13. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:28 PM
    #13
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    Yeah-nowadays you may be lookin like an Andy Griffith wannabe too:DLOL do the firestik like suggested by 05-but you GOTTA match the SWR to the groundplane of the truck or you run the risk of frying the final coils in the transmit circuit of the radio. It requires an SWR meter-and I think the firestik has a tuning whip in the top part? Its been years-05 can tell you-but I'll be happy to walk ya thru it:)
     
  14. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:35 PM
    #14
    pittim

    pittim [OP] mittip backwards

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    Yeah, the Firestiks have a tuneable tip. Looks like I should get a 5' Firestik with a stud mount.

    Ridgerunner, I don't know of any CB shops around me. Do you know any other type place that would be able to tune it for me?
     
  15. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:51 PM
    #15
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    Hard to say-how close are you to New Castle, DE>? That is the closest Ham Radio Outlet and if you went there, they would probably come out and tune ya/you could seek out a house with a CB base antenna, or a big ol ham antenna-they typically possess the proper meter and would be cool about setting it-otherwise, and this is the best thing to do as you may need it again, BUY an SWR meter online or Radio Shack may still sell them in the catalog:) and I can walk you thru it here:)
     
  16. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:53 PM
    #16
    Toy4Life

    Toy4Life 668: The Neighbor of the Beast

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    Hey pitt, how often do you travel between Erie and da Burgh?
     
  17. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:54 PM
    #17
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    AW TOY!!!!:) You can hook him up!! Good man!
     
  18. Sep 17, 2008 at 7:57 PM
    #18
    Toy4Life

    Toy4Life 668: The Neighbor of the Beast

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    Wish I could, I just know of a couple truck stops near me that might be able to do that. I never had mine tuned.....:eek:.....I know....could've f'd everything up, but I lucked out and all works well.
     
  19. Sep 17, 2008 at 8:04 PM
    #19
    pittim

    pittim [OP] mittip backwards

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    Not very often. I do know I'll be going down sometime in October though. There's some SWRs on ebay for under $25 shipped, I might just buy one.


    Ok, now cables. Is there a certain cable length that I want to get the best performance?
     
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  20. Sep 17, 2008 at 8:09 PM
    #20
    Ridgerunner

    Ridgerunner Well-Known Member

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    OK you want the SHORTEST lenght possible from radio to antenna-this optimizes your final SWR and minimizes loss. Try to get the better stuff-RG6, RG8x, (RG8U is the best but is not flexible and very hard to install in a vehicle) I would go with RG-8x----stay away from RG-58U-garbage!
    I should add to measure enough to make corners an run up between the bed and cab to the antenna, and allow for errors. Other words-order up extra cable, then shorten as needed.
     
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