help installing CB radio

Everything is bigger in TEXAS ?????

If you want to save time ,I'd buy a power cord that plugs into one of the 3 lighter sockets and spend the spare time finding either a LIL Will for $35 or K-40 for $25-magnet base then READ the installs from here...The TACO owner who took their cab carpet up and ran his coax just like a SHOP would is picture perfect weekend project...
MY "Spare" will never be permanent in the Camry and is set-up to quickly move....Power cord into lighter and Lil Wil up on the trunk....SWR's are matched and Breaker-breaker we go


Snoope

 

yeah idk why my SWR is so messed up. I have a 5' Firestik on my rear bumper, cable run along the frame to the back of the cab, then cable is run under the carpet to my CB (where the ashtray previously was) I think the reason why my CB has such a bad SWR is because of how the CB is getting power.

 

FYI, your reception will only be as good as your antenna. So consider mounting options and types of antennas. I would recommend a top loaded antenna if you plan on mounting it anywhere besides on the top of your cab roof, this way you will have no obstruction from the cab itself. (Optimal height would be to have at least 2/3 of the antenna sticking above the top of the cab if you are mounting inside your bed rail.) Base loaded will do fine if you mount the antenna via a magnet on top of the cab. Try to not pinch, or wad up your cable also as this could effect your signal. If you happen to have excess cable by the time you run it through your cab, then it's recommended that the cable be bound with zip ties in a figure 8 pattern so signal strength is maximized. Good Luck with the install, I just finished mine last weekend and it rocks!

 

ok i got the antenna and im going to wait for my step dad to come home to help me install it.

ill get pics

 

best of luck!

 

pittim,

Your swr should not be affected by your power source.....
Do you have good ground at the antenna mount ??? are connections clean and in good shape on BOTH ends of your coax??
Can you adjust ( cut or raise ) your antenna....???
If you google Firestick's or Wilsons web site...the "How to of swr's " are there...they even give a few trouble shooting hints....

Good luck....always ready to hear the good end of "problem solution"


Snoope

 

i have it mounted on my bumper so I'm guessing my ground is fine (metal bumper). I went out and tested my SWR with the screw ontop of the Firestik all the way up and all the way down, nothing happened. I think my SWR meter just sucks.

 

i got it done! but i dont know how to use it

 

i just finished my install on my setup. I got a cobra DX 3 and a 5ft firestik. Antenna is mounted on the bed rail and than the mount is grounded out with 12guage wire down to the frame. So far it gets great reception and hopefully gonna hook it up to a SWR tomorrow and get it all tuned up.

 

read the instructions

 

well, i could spend 10 min telling him how to use one. but what good would that do

ps where the pics of this install?

well heres the basics. truckers use chanel 19. so if you want to know whats up around the next curve, use this channel. 9 is for emergencies. but most highway patrol nowadays dont monitor it. best advice is to just listen to whats being said on the radio and you will pick up the lingo quickly. if i knew what model you had this would be easier

 

pittim,

Does the meter move when you change channels???
Start with channel 1 then channel 20 then onto 40.....If still no movement on the meter,try grounding the antenna mount to the truck frame directly with a "jumper wire"....hopefully all you need is to find that "one glitch" then talk away....

Snoope

 

yeah it doesnt move at all. i can still hear people though...didn't do a radio check.

i'll ground it tomorrow and see what happens.

 

the battery on my camera is dead. ill post them tomorrow.