RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
Always make sure that the metal portion of the antenna mount does not contact the bracket. That's what the nylon spacers are for and that's why they have a shoulder molded in that fits in the hole.
CB school and setup
- Thread starter PacificEd
- Start date
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
- Location
- Gassaway TN
That looks good!!!
- Location
- Middle Tennessee
Mark, when are we going to Pilotto look at CB stuff?
- Location
- Nashville, TN
Is there an advantage to having the anteanna mounted on the front fender? Mine is on the pax rear right now, and I've wanted it up on the fender.
- Location
- on the beach in Ocean View, VA
I know almost nothing about CB radios and such, but I think this is your answer
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
I think like was mentioned, the best place for a CB antenna is on the roof. The ground plane on a cherokee is the largest and it affords the best amplification of your radio power to reach as far as possible.
But, from a practical standpoint, having an antenna on the roof while wheeling sucks. The next option would be placing the antenna somewhere on the body where the top of the antenna can still use the roof as a ground plane. That's why you see a lot of antenna's mounted on the rear quarter or on the tail light.
But it's been my experience that this also sucks. I hit the damn thing everytime I'm turning through something tight. I can hear it smack trees and limbs and I never know if it's still there or not because I can't see it.
I think that putting the antenna where you can see it is the best option. Some folks like to put it on the bumper, which is good because the top of the antenna is over the hood and bounces the signal well. I found the fender bracket while I was searching for options and I like that it's mounted where I can see it, it's relatively protected by the fender flare and the front tire and it still has a nice flat place to be efficient.
It's all personal preference really. I'm really tired of hearing the antenna smack stuff while I'm wheeling and wondering if it's going to screw up my quarter panel some more. For $25, you get the bracket and the nice cable from firestik and it moves it up out of the way.
Fender is the best spot.
I never had any issues even with a giant K40 whip mounted on the fender.
THen I mounted a firestik behind the cab and I've lost two.
You need to be able to keep an eye on it, when it's behind you you don't think about it and they get broken, when it's right in front of you at least you take notice if you're about to abuse it.
I just ordered a Wilson 3 ft flexible antenna and an o ring sealed NMO mount for it. So we're going to do a little head to head comparison with Josh's firestik, just because I'm curious.
I never had any issues even with a giant K40 whip mounted on the fender.
THen I mounted a firestik behind the cab and I've lost two.
You need to be able to keep an eye on it, when it's behind you you don't think about it and they get broken, when it's right in front of you at least you take notice if you're about to abuse it.
I just ordered a Wilson 3 ft flexible antenna and an o ring sealed NMO mount for it. So we're going to do a little head to head comparison with Josh's firestik, just because I'm curious.
- Location
- Roanoke VA
I have mine mounted dead center of the grill and raised so that the spring is level with the "Jeep" emblem. That way when I go through brush or low hanging limbs the antenna lays flat against the hood. No damage done. And no it does not really bother me while driving or wheeling.
Cnickgo
Do you need assistance?
- Location
- Monterey, CA
Set up mine today. 4' Firestik II with a spring on the roof rack. Dang it's tall I know I'm taking a chance up there but I'm hoping the spring does its job. I remember last year there was only one or two branches that caught last year, and I won't be running that trail anyways.
The really cool part... I bought an SWR meter... I can get much better tuned. Channel 1 is at 1:5 without the doors on. Channels 19 and 40 are at 1:1. Stoked. Already have 3 more radios to tune now!
The really cool part... I bought an SWR meter... I can get much better tuned. Channel 1 is at 1:5 without the doors on. Channels 19 and 40 are at 1:1. Stoked. Already have 3 more radios to tune now!
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
I've always found it easier to pick a range and tune to it rather than try and tune to all 40 channels.
Most folks that I wheel with are always on the 1-20 channels, so I tune to channel 10 and that gets me the best performance in that range.
Cnickgo
Do you need assistance?
- Location
- Monterey, CA
I think the only thing holding me back from a 1:1 on channel 1 is the fact I tuned with my doors off (less ground plane). This is how I will probably be wheeling though. I think you are right in most cases your best tune should be the channels you use the most. My set up tunes so well because of the antenna being above the vehicle.
Oh ad I had a typo on my previous post channel one is at 1:1.5 not 1:5, that would be atrocious.
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
Just routed the new cable and soldered the end on. Tuned it to 1.3 on 1, 1.4 on 9 and 1.8 on 19.
Everything over 20 is over 2, but 40 is under 3, so I don't really care. We always seem to pick a low number for the group anyways.
I can just barely hear the chatter on I-40 about 12 miles from here
Everything over 20 is over 2, but 40 is under 3, so I don't really care. We always seem to pick a low number for the group anyways.
I can just barely hear the chatter on I-40 about 12 miles from here
LYKOS
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bent Mountain Va
Out of pure necessity I've had to run CB's for 20 years and I have to say of all the conversations I've heard, read, this one makes the most sense. It's a good read.
Few things I've learned along the way.
There are a lot of RIGHT ways of mounting antennas, some are better than others but not by enough you'd ever notice a difference in performance. Choose what best suits your application and tune your junk accordingly. Unless you're trying to talk skip to Mexico or Taiwan you're not going to gain or lose much choosing a mounting location.
I am a trucker, we run on 19 everywhere but Cali. So my junk is/was tuned to channel 19. If you and your buddies run 10 all the time tune it to 10. You won't notice much difference on 40 but there will be a little.
Unless you're a ham operator or a Union freight hauler or a bear hunter don't waste money on an import. For everyday use, talking to your buddies, you can get by just fine with a little Cobra.
Find a reputable CB shop and DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE TUNE YOUR JUNK!!!! I know ya'll are talking about getting together and tuning your stuff. I'm just saying too many spoons in the pot ruin the soup. CB techs have certain ways they do things. Shop hopping, or constAntly letting someone mess with your stuff to make it better will do nothing but mess your junk up.
I've ran uber high powered illegal as hell imports and I've run 40 channel Kracos. Happiness is in the middle. Best CB I ever had was a Cobra 29 with a nice tune and a cheap steel whip. I had it for about 12 years and got many a compliments on how clear I sounded.
Spend the money on a noise cancelling mike. A good one will make the difference between your buddies saying "10-4" or "what?!?!?!?! Repeat!!!!"
Now I run a Cobra 19 with front mount speaker, RK 56 noise cancelling mike and weather channels. It puts out the same power as the 29, sounds good enough, and fits beside my console nicely.
Ya'll know what the best feature is on a CB?
The little knob you turn counter clockwise until the noise goes away...
Few things I've learned along the way.
There are a lot of RIGHT ways of mounting antennas, some are better than others but not by enough you'd ever notice a difference in performance. Choose what best suits your application and tune your junk accordingly. Unless you're trying to talk skip to Mexico or Taiwan you're not going to gain or lose much choosing a mounting location.
I am a trucker, we run on 19 everywhere but Cali. So my junk is/was tuned to channel 19. If you and your buddies run 10 all the time tune it to 10. You won't notice much difference on 40 but there will be a little.
Unless you're a ham operator or a Union freight hauler or a bear hunter don't waste money on an import. For everyday use, talking to your buddies, you can get by just fine with a little Cobra.
Find a reputable CB shop and DON'T LET ANYONE ELSE TUNE YOUR JUNK!!!! I know ya'll are talking about getting together and tuning your stuff. I'm just saying too many spoons in the pot ruin the soup. CB techs have certain ways they do things. Shop hopping, or constAntly letting someone mess with your stuff to make it better will do nothing but mess your junk up.
I've ran uber high powered illegal as hell imports and I've run 40 channel Kracos. Happiness is in the middle. Best CB I ever had was a Cobra 29 with a nice tune and a cheap steel whip. I had it for about 12 years and got many a compliments on how clear I sounded.
Spend the money on a noise cancelling mike. A good one will make the difference between your buddies saying "10-4" or "what?!?!?!?! Repeat!!!!"
Now I run a Cobra 19 with front mount speaker, RK 56 noise cancelling mike and weather channels. It puts out the same power as the 29, sounds good enough, and fits beside my console nicely.
Ya'll know what the best feature is on a CB?
The little knob you turn counter clockwise until the noise goes away...
- Location
- Nashville, TN
Where did you run the cable through the firewall, Josh, when you mounted on the front fender?
RedHeep
NAXJA #1499
- Location
- Landenberg, PA
There's a grommet right above the firewall electrical connector where the hood cable runs through. Plenty of space there to push it through. It comes out right above the fuse box.
If you need to take the connector off the wire, just heat the wire and break the solder and twist the connector off. Once you get it through the firewall, twist it back on and hit the soldered end with an iron.
The firestik cable kits come without the end on so you can route it through tight spaces.
If you need to take the connector off the wire, just heat the wire and break the solder and twist the connector off. Once you get it through the firewall, twist it back on and hit the soldered end with an iron.
The firestik cable kits come without the end on so you can route it through tight spaces.
Last edited:
Cnickgo
Do you need assistance?
- Location
- Monterey, CA
I read everything else, but this sticks out to me. A buddy and his dad have a Cobra with this filter and that knob blah blah blah. Before, and now, with an outdated who knows how old Realistic with 3 knobs (Volume, Squelch, Channel), I outperform the best they think they can do.
Their tune is coming shortly though.
