Looking at adding a cb to the 2000 TJ. Standard Cobra unit or the unit where everything is in the mic.? Any difference in range or performance? Thanks
CB radio recommendation
- Thread starter CRGR
- Start date
Skip the Cobra, seriously.
The Uniden PRO 520XL is highly regarded as one of the best CB radios on the market.
Check it out, the reviews don't lie:
Uniden PRO 520XL CB Radio
I own one, and I believe a number of other people use one including @Jerry Bransford.
It's a very solid radio for a very good price. I did a ton of research on CB radios before I purchased mine, and all signs seemed to point to this one. I use it with a 3' FireStik antenna, and it works very, very well!
The Uniden PRO 520XL is highly regarded as one of the best CB radios on the market.
Check it out, the reviews don't lie:
Uniden PRO 520XL CB Radio
I own one, and I believe a number of other people use one including @Jerry Bransford.
It's a very solid radio for a very good price. I did a ton of research on CB radios before I purchased mine, and all signs seemed to point to this one. I use it with a 3' FireStik antenna, and it works very, very well!
I saved my Love's points and snagged this baby for free! I'll put it in my Jeep once I get a Tuffy center console to lock it down.
https://www.uniden.com/automotive/c...nel_SSB_CB_Radio_with_7-Color_Digital_Display
https://www.uniden.com/automotive/c...nel_SSB_CB_Radio_with_7-Color_Digital_Display
Don't forget the importance of the antenna.
http://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/selection-guides/18150035-cb-antenna-range-approximations
http://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/selection-guides/18150035-cb-antenna-range-approximations
Some Firestik antennas are not easily tunable, make sure you get the kind with the "tunable tip". That would be the FS series... like the FS-2, FS-3, or FS-4 as in 2', 3', or 4' heights. If you have any garage door clearance problems, even a 2' will work fine... especially on your flat terrain.
For garage clearance problems, I went from a 4' to 3' and finally to the 2' Firestik FS-2 installed for probably 12-14 years now and I don't miss the 3' or 4' heights at all as the 2' gets out very well. Even to the far side of some very large Jeeping groups I get into once in a while where it gets nothing but solid reports when I do radio checks to the back of my groups.
This is the type of antenna mount I'd look for like at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T4RSQ92/?tag=wranglerorg-20 and make darned sure it goes together exactly as shown or the antenna won't work... especially make sure the white nylon shoulder insulator that comes with it is installed properly.
Nice you got that slick Uniden CB for free! Just don't expect to be conversing in SSB on it, no one really uses SSB any more and both sides of the conversation have to be in SSB for it to be usable. I suspect you will keep yours in the AM mode and never move it off.
For garage clearance problems, I went from a 4' to 3' and finally to the 2' Firestik FS-2 installed for probably 12-14 years now and I don't miss the 3' or 4' heights at all as the 2' gets out very well. Even to the far side of some very large Jeeping groups I get into once in a while where it gets nothing but solid reports when I do radio checks to the back of my groups.
This is the type of antenna mount I'd look for like at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T4RSQ92/?tag=wranglerorg-20 and make darned sure it goes together exactly as shown or the antenna won't work... especially make sure the white nylon shoulder insulator that comes with it is installed properly.
Nice you got that slick Uniden CB for free! Just don't expect to be conversing in SSB on it, no one really uses SSB any more and both sides of the conversation have to be in SSB for it to be usable. I suspect you will keep yours in the AM mode and never move it off.
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X2 to that. I forgot to mention, don't buy it unless it has the 'tunable tip'.
I also had to go from 4' to 3' due to garage clearance, just like Jerry said. Of course it depends on how high up on the body you mount it.
I also had to go from 4' to 3' due to garage clearance, just like Jerry said. Of course it depends on how high up on the body you mount it.
Good point, and avoid bumper mount antennas. Mounts that are close to tail light level are what to shoot for.
Agreed. I mounted mine right on the edge of where the hard top meets the tub.
So what dont you like about the Cobra 75? @Chris @Jerry Bransford. Everything else I've read recomends it side by side with the Uniden 510 and 520
A couple things. First, if its mic goes bad you have to buy the entire radio again... you can't buy mics for it separately like you can most other CBs.
I also like a standard CB's controls on the face of the radio like the volume, squelch, and channel control being more easily manipulated while driving, controls integrated into the its mic are harder to manipulate one-handed.
The main problem I have is its speaker inside its mic is TINY, it is too small to put out enough clear undistorted volume to be easily understood in a noisy Jeep. Like they are with a soft top flapping, top off entirely, etc. You can hear its speaker ok in a quiet Jeep like a Grand Cherokee but they just aren't able to get loud enough for most Wranglers. It's pretty much a given that an aux speaker has to be installed so it can be heard more easily in a typically noisy Wrangler.
Not to mention Cobra's quality reputation is no longer what it was back in the 70's-80's.
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So with the addition of an aux speaker (which i have) and being a fan of having all my controls in one hand, it will function just as well as the Uniden units with proper install?
Just want to rule out the transmitter/radio being my issue. I'm having trouble getting clear incoming transmissions. Most of the time I can't understand whatever chatter I do pick up while scanning channels. Now I realize I don't know the range these are coming from, so it may be simply a weak signal. I have gotten a couple clearish radio checks from truckers right beside me, usually followed by quite a bit of static and indiscernible jibber jabber.
Antenna is a 3' Firestick FS mounted with a Teraflex tail light mount, powdercoat removed underneath antenna stud and where mount contacts the tub. Paint also removed from tub where the mount makes contact. Assembled just as the photos @Jerry Bransford hs posted numerous times. SWR readings at 1 on channel 20 and 1.4 on both 1 and 40. Meter gives just a single number not 1:1 or 2:1 as I've seen it written?
Power is obtained directly from the battery (well the lug on the PDC for positive) and the neg terminal of the battery for negative. I'm also experiencing some interference only while accellerating with rpms between 2800 and 3500 where I can hear the engine revving through my speaker. Should I move my ground connection closer to the power unit of the cb? Will this affect my radio noise?
Another thought I had is that possibly the aluminum hard deck I have over the rear of the jeep (see pic) is keeping the antenna from "seeing" the ground plane. I'm not even entirely sure if this has any bearing on a cb's function but just a thought.
Any ideas? Sorry for the novel lol
Just want to rule out the transmitter/radio being my issue. I'm having trouble getting clear incoming transmissions. Most of the time I can't understand whatever chatter I do pick up while scanning channels. Now I realize I don't know the range these are coming from, so it may be simply a weak signal. I have gotten a couple clearish radio checks from truckers right beside me, usually followed by quite a bit of static and indiscernible jibber jabber.
Antenna is a 3' Firestick FS mounted with a Teraflex tail light mount, powdercoat removed underneath antenna stud and where mount contacts the tub. Paint also removed from tub where the mount makes contact. Assembled just as the photos @Jerry Bransford hs posted numerous times. SWR readings at 1 on channel 20 and 1.4 on both 1 and 40. Meter gives just a single number not 1:1 or 2:1 as I've seen it written?
Power is obtained directly from the battery (well the lug on the PDC for positive) and the neg terminal of the battery for negative. I'm also experiencing some interference only while accellerating with rpms between 2800 and 3500 where I can hear the engine revving through my speaker. Should I move my ground connection closer to the power unit of the cb? Will this affect my radio noise?
Another thought I had is that possibly the aluminum hard deck I have over the rear of the jeep (see pic) is keeping the antenna from "seeing" the ground plane. I'm not even entirely sure if this has any bearing on a cb's function but just a thought.
Any ideas? Sorry for the novel lol
Your installation sounds fine. Are you by any chance running non-resistor (non-standard) spark plugs or if your TJ is older with a distributor, a "low resistance" or "high performance" ignition wiring set? Using low or no-resistance ignition wiring or spark plugs will generate static & whine that can be heard in AM and CB radios.
I don't know why your received audio is not clear, unless you're hearing CB'rs that are just too far away. See what it's like when receiving signals from close by, like within a mile or less.
I don't know why your received audio is not clear, unless you're hearing CB'rs that are just too far away. See what it's like when receiving signals from close by, like within a mile or less.
It's an 05 running the autolite double platinum plugs. Dont know the number off the top of my head APP 9 something (per your recommendation on another thread at jf). Helping my buddy get his cb up and running so we can test it at a known distance
Well we got my buddies cb up and running, found his ground to be bad, paint hadn't been removed where it was grounded to the firewall.
We were able to communicate out to about a mile and a half, in town with powerlines all over the place. Seems to be very little range to me (although will work fine on the trail). Does that seem like a decent range? Am I wrong to expect a 3-5 maybe even 6 mile range with a 3 foot antenna?
We were able to communicate out to about a mile and a half, in town with powerlines all over the place. Seems to be very little range to me (although will work fine on the trail). Does that seem like a decent range? Am I wrong to expect a 3-5 maybe even 6 mile range with a 3 foot antenna?
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