CB Radios

[collegeoffroad]

I have an '89 XJ and am thinking of getting a CB for it. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions as to which CB's to look into and also where to mount it. My only requirements are that the CB have weather channels and that it has an internal scanner. Outside of that, I'm open to anything. Let me know what you think!

 

[Kejtar]

Hmmmm mounting a CB... I'd put it to the right of the center console (to right of the stick for auto or stickshift... on the passenger side).

In regards to brand? Radio SHack makes some inexpensive good units, but they don't scan channels..... Maybe CObra? ACtually on that note there is a small cobra which has a main module hwich can be hidden and you end up with a speaker mike controller which is also capable of scanning through the CB channls.... I think that those run abotu $130 or so...

Kejtar

 

[w_howey]

Cobra and Maxon are exactly the same radios. Maxon markets their brand name of the hidden main unit radio. for almost 30 bucks less than the Cobra brand one. Maxon sells alot to motorcycle customizers for use in the big Aspencade type bikes.

I have mine radio mounted right above my right knee, on the drivers side of the middle counsel. I only use Uniden radios, and have a Pro 510XL in there now. I bought it several years ago, and paid about 50 bucks for it.

 

[btl_fed_xj]

I have the cobra CB with all the switches and controls right on the mic it works great. Since the XJ has limited room for a huge CB box this one fits in perfectly. I mounted the CB to the roof with a magnet mount and am running a 2 foot coil antenna. After talking with a local CB shop at a truck stop they said that mounting on the roof was the best spot since it allowed the signal to reflect off the roof. I have been very happy with the radio and I find I use it alot on my trips from PA to FL, it doubles as a radar detector since the truckers say where every cop is on the ride down. It has all the weather channels as well, just need to make sure you tune the antenna to get maximum signal strength.

-Jamie

 

[pec50]

I use a Midland 75-820 which provides both a slide on battery pack or base connector with 12v and antenna connectors. This allows me to use the unit as a walkie-talkie or as a all-in-microphone unit in the vehicle. It also has weather band receive. The best place for an antenna, as mentioned by Jamie is in the middle of the roof as it provides a good ground plane. Since size matters when considering antennas, it is not always convenient to have a large antenna in the middle of the roof, so you might consider some sort of bumper mount. If are intending to use a bumper mount, then consider a top radiating antenna; I use a 4 foot Wilson fiberglas silver series which is bumper mounted. You should also attempt to run your coax cable in a manner to minimize kinking or tightly wound coils which can act as an rf choke. Remember also to waterproof the outside end of the coax so water is not wicked into the coax. Finally, once you have the antenna and cb installed, you will want to check the SWR (standing wave ratio--match between cb and antenna) and adjust the antenna length to the lowest SWR for the channel you expect to use most often. You will need to use an SWR bridge to measure the SWR which should be less than 2:1 when properly adjusted.

 

[BrianJr]

I am also using the Cobra 75WX-ST. It is a great CB and takes up almost no space. I have a picture of the install here.

I have the cobra CB with all the switches and controls right on the mic it works great. Since the XJ has limited room for a huge CB box this one fits in perfectly. I mounted the CB to the roof with a magnet mount and am running a 2 foot coil antenna. After talking with a local CB shop at a truck stop they said that mounting on the roof was the best spot since it allowed the signal to reflect off the roof. I have been very happy with the radio and I find I use it alot on my trips from PA to FL, it doubles as a radar detector since the truckers say where every cop is on the ride down. It has all the weather channels as well, just need to make sure you tune the antenna to get maximum signal strength.

-Jamie

 

[4ward]

I have the all in one handheld cobra also, it's junk for our uses. It can't take the sustained abuse of a offroading environment. The mic and volume constantly cut out due to shorting of the internals. I highly recomend against this radio.

Spend more than $50 on your radio if you want a good one. I'm partial to Cobra for some unknown reason.

 

[BrianJr]

I know of other people who have tried mounting regular CB units on the side of the center console just to have the CB stop working because it got kicked one too many times or had something spilled on it. That was one of the main reasons I went with the 75WX-ST. The base unit is high and deep inside the dash and the handset can be anywhere you want. (I clip mine below the instrument cluster by the ignition) It is out of the way and takes up very room.

It has held up fine in my XJ with a lot of mud and dust in the cab and a fair bit of being banged around.

-Brian

I have the all in one handheld cobra also, it's junk for our uses. It can't take the sustained abuse of a offroading environment. The mic and volume constantly cut out due to shorting of the internals. I highly recomend against this radio.

Spend more than $50 on your radio if you want a good one. I'm partial to Cobra for some unknown reason.

 

[Tucker]

I'm an outlaw ... I use an export radio [Galaxy DX93T] (the hilly terrain blocks most cb signals). I have it under the driver's side dash in a classic slide mount.

 

[Bones]

I run a Cherokee CM-10+ tucked up tight along the right side of the tranny hump. I have it sounding through a very small external speaker under the dash just to the left of the tranny hump.

This unit is a very small radio with big features.
As for your requirements, it will scan but does not do weather chans.

I have a Midland 75-820 as well. It does do weather, but I found that I was unable to pick up a signal several times when a friends Bearcat scanner on its own antenna pulled NOAH in like it was next door. I just do not think a properly tuned CB antenna is the best for picking up NOAH weather. I plan to add a scanner with a dedicated antenna to my rig to pick up the weather and police freq. this winter.

Bones :skull1:
#6

 

[Handlebars]

I have the all in one handheld cobra also, it's junk for our uses. It can't take the sustained abuse of a offroading environment. The mic and volume constantly cut out due to shorting of the internals.

It's nice to know that mine isn't the only one with that problem. Sounds like time to put a new CB in!

 

[Steelerfan]

I have a Cobra and it works well. I have mine mounted under the dash on the drivers side. I tnever gets in the way and is easy to reach.