CB specifics

It's been a while since I've installed or had a cb and during this last install I've ran into an issue where it'll mostly never work (I've tested right next to someone) or it'll work but then just quit working and not work again for a while. By not working I meant I can't transmit or receive, but it powers on and I can receive weatherband.

Install details.
Cb is a cobra handheld unit with weatherband.
Antenna is 4' firestick (I've also tried a different brand that looks just like a firestick)

The antenna is mounted through a hole I drilled in the bed (composite bed) up as close as I could get to the cab. I've tried grounding the antenna as if it was mounted to a steel location with no change.

The cb is mounted inside and tapped into the center console 12v power. Grounding is done by a random metal screw I found under the console.

Occasionally I'll get electrical feedback when pressing the brake, signals, etc but not all the time. So I know my ground might not be the best. It's good enough to power up and sometimes transmit though. The times it does transmit it seems pretty clear.

Any ideas?

 

I know might be a dumb question but, did you tune the antenna?

 

UPDATE DEC 1ST 2106: DON'T DO THIS MOUNTING SOLUTION. IT DOES NOT WORK.


Installed the antenna mount and grounded it to the frame.




Snaked the wire through the light assembly area.


This quarter panel attachment point actually has contact with the frame....per my ohm meter. I just need to get a cable cover for the exposed 10 gauge ground wire.

 

Not dumb, but I'll give you a dumb answer. Keep in mind I'm not a cb expert.

No I didn't tune it. I'm only going to use it for trail use (the weekend I did a rush install hence no tune) so on that trip people would be fairly close. When I tested it with someone it sounded fine so I figured it was close enough. Then after about ten minutes of driving it quit receiving and transmitting and didn't work again until a couple days later.

 

I like that location. I have the same radio arriving in a few days and will probably place it there. How did you power it, straight to the battery, fuse box, or somewhere else? Did you route the coax up the passenger side grommet, like some folks have suggested?

 

Okay, here are some pictures of the install this morning. I stopped once I had the cable in the cab because my new radio hasn't come in yet and I don't want to route the cable under all the carpet until I know where exactly I will be placing it.
Please excuse how dirty the bottom of my truck is.
Step one - Remove tail light (Holy Smokes dust gets everywhere!!!)


Step Two - Route cable along frame.



Step 3 - Route cable over frame, cut hole in grommet, route cable through to behind driver's side seat.




Step 4 - Route cable under door sill covers

 

Thanks again Randy! 3rd times the charm!

 

Make sure you silicone rhat hole!

 

This was documented great!! Thanks!!

 

Ham radio for the win!

 

You shut up in here with that noise! lol

 

i am sorry for buying a clear and longer range radio.

 

Mine works great! sometimes better as far as clarity
And yes your bad!

 

lol

 

Drilled a hole in the Taco roof and mounted a Larsen NMO antenna mount for my Yaesu radio.

 

ssexy!

 

Well, I installed everything today except for the antenna, which hasn't arrived yet. Thanks to the folks that went before me and helped by documenting their work. A few observations:

1. If you're going to mount the radio inside the center console, it's a pretty good idea to measure the center console and the size of your prospective radio before purchasing. I got a

$176 Uniden Bearcat 980 40- Channel SSB CB Radio with Sideband NOAA WeatherBand,7- Color Digital Display PA/CB Switch and Noise Cancelling Mic, Wireless Mic Compatible

Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB and, confident that it would fit, found out, ehhhhhh....not so much.

That kinda slowed things down. I ended up mounting on the back of the center console and wiring through to the aux socket inside it for power and running the coax up through the driver side grommet, under the floormat, to the radio. It works in a pinch. I'll probably move it if the aux power gives too much audio interference. Plus, the radio gets in the way of folding the back seat down. I can fold it down if i dismount the radio from the bracket, though.

2. I'm guessing this shit is a lot easier with a lift.

3. I was also running winch connect wire with quick connect plugs back to the hitch receiver. On a scale of usefulness to humans, i now put zip ties immediately above grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and just below duct tape and penicillin.

I'll see how long I can stand having the radio in this configuration after i get the antenna installed and tuned. It's a bit uncomfortable but doable to reach back, but i would't want to be fucking around with it while driving too much.

I wanted the bearcat because it has SSB, Weather, and builtin SWR. I may end up going with something smaller though.

 

I ran into the same problem. I purchased the same radio I was hoping for center console did you try to remove the console and see how much room was below to maybe cut part of the bottom of it out. Has anyone one here removed the center console between the seats and if so how much room is below the bottom of the cubby below the armrest. The other though was to mount it to the right of the console on passenger seat side up front. It fits but not ideal. My third idea is to just cut out below and into the cup holders for the back seats and fiberglass it in there for a custom fit and look. I got the wireless MIC with the radio and a PA speaker. I had a system back in the day a cobra 75 all tuned up with a 400w linear. It was great I had an old guy that did it for years help me set it up. 4ft firestick with an old ground plane he had laying around. I could reach out pretty dang far even up in the mountains 30mi+ without line of site. I know I know its not very legal but it was pretty nice up in the hills.

 

Mmmmmmm grilled cheese

 

2017 no.
There was plenty of room in between where I had to cut out some of the bottom and the metal bottom of the truck.
I would say a good 1.5 in to maybe 2in. I was worried that the coax connection was going to get kinked or smashed but there was plenty of room.