CB school and setup

PacificEd

NAXJA Member
NAXJA Member
Location
Middle Tennessee
With the Crawl coming up would there be any way to have a get-together to do a CB discussion, install and tuning day sometime this spring?

Is there anyone in the SEC that has significant CB knowledge and could put this on?

My CB SUCKS! I had issues last year and I'm tired of screwing around with substandard stuff. I think this would be extremely beneficial and would definately increase the safety of our events.
 
We (expo group) do this about twice a year. All it takes is a SWR meter and a little knowledge. Its a good thing to have a well tuned CB on the trail... If anyone wants to go camping this weekend with us in N. Georgia, I am sure we could get you fixed up. :D
 
I would be interested in this too. I have a good CB but my antenna and mount need some help!

I had thought about going with a good magnet mount but I'm not sure...
 
We had stumpfest.. now we need Ed-Fest -- CB Tuneup day!
 
I've been looking at the Wilson 500 magnet mount and I would put it on the front bumper behind the hoop for protection. Thoughts???
 
I've got an swr meter.
 
Sounds like a good thing to do... I know mine has issues; although I might have it narrowed down to a grounding issue.
 
That is a good idea Ed. I need to relocate mine. I wonder if we could do something with the CB shop in Nashville...have their techs help with mounts and tuning.
 
i had a no ground plain mount on my last jeep and it was awesome. depending on the cb cable you have would mean if it had to be grounded or not.

magnetic bases on the roof are the best... but they would never stay with trees.

or a non ground plain mount on the roof or roof rack would be nice as well. i plan on mounting mine to the exo.

i also had a box to run my car radio through the cb antenna. or the other way around
 
Okay, I need to get my CB up and running.

What do I need to get so i will have an operable CB in Harlan.

I'd like to do a magnetic mount for simplicity. Do I need a certain type of cable, etc?
 
Okay, I need to get my CB up and running.

What do I need to get so i will have an operable CB in Harlan.

I'd like to do a magnetic mount for simplicity. Do I need a certain type of cable, etc?

You talking about the cable to the antenna? Yeah, that's pretty specific. Try Wally Mart Ed. Best bang for that buck!

Good Luck
 
Yeah, the antenna. My last one was from Wal-Mart and it worked good at first but quit. I might have bigger issues, I don't know.
 
Depends on the antenna. If you get a Wilson magnetic mount, the cable will come attached.

I have a Wilson mag mount on my F250 because I don't need it there all the time and I only throw it on the roof when I'm towing somewhere. It's a nice unit with a tuneable portion in the middle. For what we do, a cheap antenna will work, but may not last, as you've seen with your other one.

Check the yellow pages for a CB shop near you. They still exist. They would have higher quality antenna options than walmart or the parts store.

I just bought this:

http://www.walcottcb.com/firestik-mk174-hoodfender-cb-antenna-mount-p-311.html

I like the fender mounts I've seen on other rigs and I've already got a fiberglass antenna, so I'm mounting my antenna on the driver's fender out of the way. Keeps it low enough that you won't kill it with trees and keeps it inboard enough that you won't rip it off, like I keep doing with the one on the rear quarter.

If you get it installed, we can tune it at the campground. Most are close enough that you won't damage anything if you run it after you install it, but we can tune it and you can talk to people 5 miles away.

We can even install it at the campground, but Nate will be there on wednesday and I'm not getting there until thursday.

Edit: I just re-read this after posting and edited it. Amazing!
 
I work less that 2 miles from a Pilot and TA Travel Center so I can go see what they have.

I'm like you with the use of a magnetic base. I don't need a CB antenna mounted all the time so a magnetic base would be nice. I do like the braket in the link you sent. I might go that route after seeing what my options are at the truck stops.
 
I work less that 2 miles from a Pilot and TA Travel Center so I can go see what they have.

I'm like you with the use of a magnetic base. I don't need a CB antenna mounted all the time so a magnetic base would be nice. I do like the braket in the link you sent. I might go that route after seeing what my options are at the truck stops.

Most of my stuff comes on the way to somewhere at a truck stop. You might even find that fender bracket there.
 
Excellent! Mark and I will run there during lunch one day.
 
Okay, I need to get my CB up and running.

What do I need to get so i will have an operable CB in Harlan.

I'd like to do a magnetic mount for simplicity. Do I need a certain type of cable, etc?

Ed, I use Amphenol cable and solder style connectors. Most CB shops that are any good will have these. Make sure your mic is good and makes a good connection. Make sure your power lead is noise suppressed.

Then finally find a good "ground plane" for your antenna. I use my hood to bounce off of, besides the roof, it is the largest piece of metal on the XJ. Thus my antenna is mounted on the front bumper(most Aussie's do this for a good low SWR) My radio is a little "suped up" as well. Most CB shops will tune your radio for maximum performance.

My Uniden PC78 is getting a super low .7 SWR on a front mount Wilson tune-able antenna.
 
Can anyone tell me exactly how the plastic grommets/washers are supposed to be installed on the mount? I had an awesome tune with a really old Wilson fiberglass and Realistic radio on my spare tire carrier. Ever since I broke that and replaced it I have never gotten it right. I have a new Firestik II to install and moving back from the roof down to the tire carrier or lower. Harlan was hell on a fiberglass on the roof. I think my mic might be shot though, I could recieve transmissions but couldn't broadcast clearly.
 
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