CB antenna

JeepKeeper said:
How is everyone's reception with their antenna mounted on the spare tire carrier? My dad was nice enough to use his Pilot fuel points to get me a Cobra 19. He gave me one of his old Francis fiberglass antennas (basically a 3' Firestik) and an 18' coax. The spare tire mount is definitely where I want my antenna. It's the only location that looks good to me. I'll only be using the radio on the trail and close range on the highway.
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I have good radio performance.

Have a solid ground, get the antenna high enough, then tune it with an SWR meter.
 
Voodoo Actual said:
I have good radio performance.

Have a solid ground, get the antenna high enough, then tune it with an SWR meter.
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I am having trouble finding a local truck stop that can tune my cb radio. Does it make sense to buy a swr meter and do it myself? Are they cheap? Easy to do?

Thx

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JKFlyer said:
I am having trouble finding a local truck stop that can tune my cb radio. Does it make sense to buy a swr meter and do it myself? Are they cheap? Easy to do?

Thx

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using WAYALIFE mobile app
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i would just try and find someone that has one that will let you borrow it or see if the truck shops will let you borrow one of theirs. prob the easiest and cheapest route to go.
 
JKFlyer said:
I am having trouble finding a local truck stop that can tune my cb radio. Does it make sense to buy a swr meter and do it myself? Are they cheap? Easy to do?

Thx

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using WAYALIFE mobile app
Click to expand...

There's bound to be a few ham radio operators in your area. I'd look to see if there is a local amateur radio club in your area that could help you out. Be careful though, next thing you know you will have your tech license and be looking for a place to put your second (or third) radio. :)
 
cozdude said:
i would just try and find someone that has one that will let you borrow it or see if the truck shops will let you borrow one of theirs. prob the easiest and cheapest route to go.
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Do you have one Steve? Maybe bring to suds n grub?

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JKFlyer said:
I am having trouble finding a local truck stop that can tune my cb radio. Does it make sense to buy a swr meter and do it myself? Are they cheap? Easy to do?

Thx

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using WAYALIFE mobile app
Click to expand...

If you have a radio shack near they might have one. I did purchase a SWR meter and ended up not needing it. I think I paid a grand total of $13 for mine.

R/
Will
 
I'm about 95% done with my CB install, just need to pick up the SWR meter this weekend to do the final adjustments. It looks good on the 29LX I just want to be sure since everything I have seen so far say the built in meters get you close at best. What I have found on tuning so far is get it as close to 0 on 20 then 1 and 40 in an open area and all doors closed. Sounds simple enough but what happens if I decide to run doorless in bikini mode or full naked. Should I expect to have to re-tune the antenna based on running configuration?
 
Beyrgut said:
I'm about 95% done with my CB install, just need to pick up the SWR meter this weekend to do the final adjustments. It looks good on the 29LX I just want to be sure since everything I have seen so far say the built in meters get you close at best. What I have found on tuning so far is get it as close to 0 on 20 then 1 and 40 in an open area and all doors closed. Sounds simple enough but what happens if I decide to run doorless in bikini mode or full naked. Should I expect to have to re-tune the antenna based on running configuration?
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Take readings with all your doors open as well as closed when you tune your radio. See what you get.
 
Beyrgut said:
I'm about 95% done with my CB install, just need to pick up the SWR meter this weekend to do the final adjustments. It looks good on the 29LX I just want to be sure since everything I have seen so far say the built in meters get you close at best. What I have found on tuning so far is get it as close to 0 on 20 then 1 and 40 in an open area and all doors closed. Sounds simple enough but what happens if I decide to run doorless in bikini mode or full naked. Should I expect to have to re-tune the antenna based on running configuration?
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Remember the purpose of tuning the antenna is to have good range and also NOT BURN UP THE RADIO... As long as your not in a constant need of talking to people 5 miles away, a good tune will not be thrown off that much by removing doors and top. I would set it for how you run the Jeep 99% of the time and then forget it. Maybe recheck the swr every 6 months or so.

I have posted this a few times but nobody ever checks back and says it helps them or not but click this link http://www.firestik.com/ and read the tech help and FAQ. It will answer most every question you can think of
 
If it makes you feel better army_vet I saw it another post and used it and it was very helpful. There is a lot of good info on the site. only beef is they need more pictures. yea im that guy haha
 
kornchip said:
If it makes you feel better army_vet I saw it another post and used it and it was very helpful. There is a lot of good info on the site. only beef is they need more pictures. yea im that guy haha
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Thanks man..... ya I'm a pix guy too. No shame in it

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Canvas JK said:
Your antenna length needs to be long enough to clear the top of your jeep by about 8-12 inches. This will give you the optimal distance forward to communicate. CB radios are good for line of site communication. Second a rule of thumb taught to me was CB coax should be in multiples of 6. It is what my pops taught me and I follow it today.

I have a 3ft fire stick I purchased in 2000 for a road trip that was just tuned and works great. If you have the opportunity go to a cb shop and talk to the techs. They will give you more knowledge than you ever wanted to know.

R/
Will

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The wavelength of a 27MHz wave is 36 feet (36' 5"). 18' is a half wavelength and why it is a good length. You really want even splits with 1 wavelength best, then halves then quarters. If you have to go down from there 6' is probably as good as 4-1/2, but I would stick to the half and quarter lengths
 
Anyone have their antenna mounted directly to their tire carrier? By this, I mean drilling a hole in the carrier and mounting the antenna directly to it. I have the smittybilt/bestop carrier and I don't think the machined bolt on mounts will work. Plan on drilling a hole in the mount right behind the tire to mount the antenna. Just wasn't sure about grounding issues. Not to fond of drilling into the body to ground the antenna.
 
JeepKeeper said:
Anyone have their antenna mounted directly to their tire carrier? By this, I mean drilling a hole in the carrier and mounting the antenna directly to it. I have the smittybilt/bestop carrier and I don't think the machined bolt on mounts will work. Plan on drilling a hole in the mount right behind the tire to mount the antenna. Just wasn't sure about grounding issues. Not to fond of drilling into the body to ground the antenna.
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I have a mount on my tire carrier and it is grounded the ought the carrier which is mounted to the bumper that is
Mounted to the frame. One way to check is to do a continuity check from the bumper body. This will tell if your bumper is in fact a good ground. ImageUploadedByWAYALIFE1393791491.411061.jpg

R/
Will
 
Canvas JK said:
I have a mount on my tire carrier and it is grounded the ought the carrier which is mounted to the bumper that is
Mounted to the frame. One way to check is to do a continuity check from the bumper body. This will tell if your bumper is in fact a good ground. View attachment 71626

R/
Will
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Thanks for the reply! What I am referring to is if you got rid of the stainless/aluminum mount you have your antenna mounted to and drilled a hole directly into the part that meets your tire to mount the antenna, would this give a sufficient ground? My tire mount is bolted directly to the tailgate and not the bumper. I figured any metal on metal surface that completes a circuit through the battery is a good ground, could be wrong.
 
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