CB specifics

It's not a power thing. It's interference. For the best signal, a direct line to the battery is required. I don't even run mine through my aux fuse block.

 

Yeah, this is very true!!!

If it still happens to be that you get "noise" from you car, then I believe you can put ferrite chokes in place to alleviate the problem? I think that would be very rare though and, yes, I very much agree with you on that! Very good point! !

Btw, did you go to that Anza Borrego trip back in Feb of this year??? I think you were supposed to come down with some buddies or something? Would be nice to meet-up with you if/when it happens again, hopefully, in Oct/Nov and/or Dec?!

 

I intend, for that reason, to have mine straight to the battery with just an inline fuse.

 

It really doesn't make a difference. Only interference I ever pick up is when adjusting my mirrors I hear the motor feeding back over the speaker.

 

For the OP, another option for the antenna would be to get a full NGP mount built for a fiberglass sleeper cab/RV body and mount that to your hard cap when it's installed. Not sure how that'd work compared to grounding into the body of the truck, but it is a legitimate option.

 

I'm not very sharp on the electrical workings of all this. I've got a uniden 505XL that I've always used for PA but never really got the CB working. I've got it powered via cig lighter and have a 3' FireStik. Do I need to ground the antenna? Can I basically just run the coax from the unit to the antenna and then call it good after tuning?

 

Same place I had mine mounted in my last Jeep. Worked well and was not in the way of the passengers. I do not think it looks bad, but I guess it is not the cleanest install. Its probably where I would put one in the truck.

 

Here is my CB PA spkr location. Again, it is in a 1st gen, but in either case, this is the location that I have for mine. I plan on tapping a homemade audio amplifier using a LM386 audio amp to "boost" volume a tad. For the mounting bracket, I just got some angle iron that I had bought from Home Depot a while back and it was just laying around... so I cut it and used it. One of these days, LOL, I will take it out, clean it, paint it, and re-install!!! I've been wanting to do that for sooooo long now... called LAZINESS GUYS, LOL!!! I just drilled 2x holes to match the trucks already tapped holes and installed. As you can see, I had to "offset" so as to make the bracket "straight" as much as possible. Other than that, you can hear it pretty damn good!!! I just want it to be even louder!!! I used it the other day to let someone know, that was pulling out of a gas station, that their gas cap door was open... she/they waved back for a thanks!!! They also gave me a "scared look" because I guess my truck looked like it was law enforcement or something?! My amber ditch lights, KC lights, antennas left and right of the vehicle, a PA spkr, LMAO... I was just WAITING for them to TAKE-OFF like crackheads, LMAO!!!

Trying to show a close-up of the washers behind and in front. I used a split-washer to take care of possible loosening during vibrations due to offroading. Still has yet to come loose!!!


I don't honestly think I needed to GND it, but for some reason I did??? If I remember correctly, that GND wire is for my amber ditch lights???!!!


Just showing the overall top view a bit closer!!!


Here is the speaker label. It is an All-Weather Trumpet/Horn and the specs are:
manuf: Speco Technologies
model# SPC5P
dia: 5"
wattage (max): 15W
spkr: 8ohm load


If you will notice a small black pad underneath the front of the horn, I put THAT there to protect the horn from getting damaged due to violent vibrations when offroading!!!


Showing that the spkr wire (i.e. the white wire w/ red stripe) is going straight through and on into the inside of the cab to the CB through that rubber plug. Pay NO attention to the black wires with the blue crimp connectors as those are for something else!!!

 

I did! First week I got my new rig

 

You SHOULD GND the bracket that the antenna is connected to establish a good GND plane. Typically, you can just run the PL-259 cable from radio to antenna and pretty much call it a done deal.

Does it NOT transmit??? You could have a bad radio that has its "finals" burned up (i.e. finals meaning the RF amplifier stage of the circuit)!!!

 

AWESOME!!! Yeah, I thought I recognized your avatar, LOL!!! Too bad we weren't able to meet-up. TW was scattered ALL OVER that F'N desert landscape like roaches, LOL!!! Maybe next time???!!!

 

I suppose that's where I'm confused. If the bracket is metal on metal, isn't it already grounded?

 

Yes it is. Assuming the bracket is directly connected to the frame/chassis of the vehicle and NOT plastic THEN to the frame/chassis??? Other than that, yes, it is grounded. What is exactly happening when you are trying to TX???

Btw, there is a certain way to "assemble" the CB antenna "lug/bolt"!!!

 

Thank You!

This is really helpful. I didn't have many ideas of where to put mine, thanks again!

 

Excellent, that's very helpful info, thank you!. I'll wire this up later today and let you know how it goes. I have to go digging for a suitable grommet and some silicone.

 

You're welcome! The CB antenna lug/bolt should have that plastic "spacer"/seperator just like how you see it or else you are going to be "grounding out" the antenna itself, if THAT makes any sense? I don't know how else to put it??? I guess the best way to make an example is if you were to directly connect the middle of the antenna STRAIGHT TO the chassis ground!!! Yeah, that would be nice... PLEASE let me know how things work out for you???!!! How are you going to be able to TEST your TX'ing though? You have someone that you can communicate with/to??? Let me know how it all works out for you and good luck to you!!!

@Lifeofbrian THAT is a funnya$$ movie/comedy. I have the DVD!!! If you already haven't, you should check out/watch a movie called Wholly Moses!!!

 

I will check it out. I had no idea this existed. thanks!

 

If you like "old school" type comedy this is some funny shi- right here as well as the others!!! I hope you enjoy the movies!!!

NOTE: there was NEVER a "part 2" made for History of the World!!! Just to let you know!!! The first one, part 1, did well, but Mel Brooks just never ended up "completing" the sequel!!!

btw, I meant NO disrespect, I thought your screen name was mocking the movie title!!! My bad man!!!

 

I love all of those movies! Being that my name is brian i like to use that name when i can to pay homage to the great Monty python and being that my name is brian it is a double win, lol.

 

Mine's just tucked up in the grill, facing down at a 45 and zip tied in place.