Suggestions on installing a CB radio?

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hk940

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North Carolina, United States
I would like to go wheeling with the local jeep club.
One of their requirements is a CB radio.
I would like to have it mounted somewhere on the dash, for ease of viewing.
Any suggestions, also antenna mounting options?
Thanks
 
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I am using an Arizona Rocky Road overhead mount and highly recommend it.

2m Ham & CB on Arizona Rocky Road Mount.jpg
 
X3 on ARR. But if your handy you could make it for much cheaper.

The 520xl will do everything you need a cb to do. And a terraflex tail light mount with 2' firestik
 
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Be aware that if you go with the recommended Teraflex CB antenna mount that you WILL have to grind the powder coating off in two locations so the antenna mount can get an adequate RF ground connection as is required by the antenna.

I can guide you on how to do that if you go that way. It's a good mount otherwise. You can PM me on that or just post up here.
 
I had a 5 foot plus firestik...garage door issue

Found a 4 ' today ...close but no cigar

A 2' sounds sweet!
 
Here is a shot of my Teraflex antenna mount with Breedlove quick disconnect and 2' Firestik II antenna. [The sleeve on the antenna is for a zip-on American flag. One would think that the sleeve would adversely affect SWR and TX/RX but surprisingly it doesn't.]

Jerry Cans.jpg



As mentioned above, the antenna mount needs to be well grounded to the body. I used a Dremel to remove the powdercoat around the bolt holes on the back of the Teraflex mount and a corresponding area around the holes in the body both on the outside and inside of the tub. It can easily be done with a piece of sandpaper if you don't have a Dremel tool, it just takes a minute or two longer. The idea is to get good metal to metal contact between the antenna mount and body - its not rocket science.


See:

Teraflex Antenna Mount: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006D9W2I0/?tag=wranglerorg-20
5989e78326ee83007681c2bf.jpg


Breedlove Stud Mount with Quick Disconnect (new design, available for ring terminals and SO239 connectors): https://www.breedlovemounts.com/quick-disconnect-mounts.html
3abd9192da50437c4ab43fec60d1f720?AccessKeyId=12D6F663FB304EDE46B0&disposition=0&alloworigin=1.jpg


Forever Wave Flags: https://foreverwave.com/product-category/jeeps/
USA-Printed.png
 
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Mr. Bills said:
I am using an Arizona Rocky Road overhead mount and highly recommend it.

View attachment 55307
Click to expand...
Thanks all for the info, Is that a 2 meter on top of the CB?
I would like to get a dual antenna mount for a 2 meter antenna. I have been licensed since 93.
I looks like I will be taking a trip to the local welding/metal supplier for some flat stock and fabricate some mounts.
 
Not speaking on Bills behalf but my Uniden 520XL has been great for the last 3-4 years. Its basic with an RF gain, squelch, and 40 channels. Plus a PA switch if you want it. Most here will recommend a firestik antenna, they are easy to tune with the set nut on top under the cap. Make sure the mount is grounded well. I am running a 3' and plan to go down to a 2' one soon. Last I checked (during initial setup) my SWR was 1.3.

Which brings me to a question--does an antenna need tuned every year?
 
Of all the available CB radios, Uniden is my #1 go-to. I've had a Pro-520XL in both of my TJs over the past 22 years and never had an issue with it. Cobra would be my last choice, their quality has sank from when they were the #1 brand many years ago. I guess Midland would be my #2 choice if Uniden were to disappear.

This is my installation, that's a Yaesu FT-2900R 2 meter ham radio on top. That pic was taken right after mounted them, they're shiny clean then. They're both now heavily encrusted in dirt & grime and both experience a lot of shock, jolts, etc. yet still work perfectly, they hold up very well to tough conditions.

CB Radios New Jeep.JPG
 
hk940 said:
How do you like the Uniden, It's got a lot of good reviews? What antennas for each?
Click to expand...

The Uniden Pro520 XL has everything you need for a CB in a Jeep. There is no need to spend more.

Antennas:

CB - I switch between a 2' Firestik II and 4' Firestik Firefly as necessary. The 2' is used most often. As for whether a CB antenna needs to be tuned every year - probably not, but the SWR should be checked periodically to ensure that something hasn't changed. How often that is depends upon whether the antenna is constantly striking objects, or something in the system has been changed, or if radio performance isn't what it should be or was before.

Ham: I've collected a few over the years for both dual band VHF/UHF and single band 2m. For dual band I am partial the the Larsen NMO2/70B (34.5") and the shorter NMO2/70SH (19") For 2 meter only I am currently using a Larsen NMOWBQ150B wide band 1/4 wave cut to 18 1/2"" and a Larsen NMOWB150B wide band 1/2 wave cut to 38 1/2".
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Be aware that if you go with the recommended Teraflex CB antenna mount that you WILL have to grind the powder coating off in two locations so the antenna mount can get an adequate RF ground connection as is required by the antenna.

I can guide you on how to do that if you go that way. It's a good mount otherwise. You can PM me on that or just post up here.
Click to expand...
A little more info on that... while grinding the powder coating away from the back is important to the bracket being grounded adequately to the tub, not many understand you also have to grind a ring of powder coating off from around the bottom of the bracket where the top of the SO-239 Coax Connector seats against the mounting bracket. That ground connection for the top of the SO-239 is critical to the antenna having a good low SWR.

I wish someone would come out with a good stainless steel or aluminum version of Teraflex's bracket where none of this would have to be worried about. I've told Teraflex several times over the years that powdercoating their brackets causes problems for CB antennas and it'd be great if they would just come out with a SS or aluminum version but they don't pay any attention.

As shown here...

ant-mount grind away location.JPG
 
Someone mentioned grinding the paint off the tub as well. I'm not ok with that, is there some other way? The bolts going through the bracket dont ground it to the chassis, if you grind the powder coat from the bracket where those bolt heads are.
 
Jeepaholic said:
Someone mentioned grinding the paint off the tub as well. I'm not ok with that, is there some other way? The bolts going through the bracket dont ground it to the chassis, if you grind the powder coat from the bracket where those bolt heads are.
Click to expand...
Keep in mind one thing, that a ground that is more than adequate for a light bulb or your car radio is not adequate as an RF ground as is needed by a 2-way radio antenna. If you're unwilling to remove some of the paint I can only suggest you pass the bolts through a braided ground strap, secure them with flat washers to make a good connection to it, and then give that braided ground strap an excellent ground connection to the tub... which really is going to require you grind the paint away from where it touches.

Your Jeep is full of places the factory left the paint off for its many ground connections so don't be overly concerned with grinding a little paint off here and there where required.
 
A question here, I use a 5/8 wave Larson 2 meter antenna mag mount on the roof of my truck, no ground.
I have contacted repeaters 70+ miles away (admittedly , 85 watts)
Why would I need a ground for a cb antenna if i used a mag mount?
 
hk940 said:
A question here, I use a 5/8 wave Larson 2 meter antenna mag mount on the roof of my truck, no ground.
I have contacted repeaters 70+ miles away (admittedly , 85 watts)
Why would I need a ground for a cb antenna if i used a mag mount?
Click to expand...
Technically mag-mount antennas do have a ground and thus a ground plane, they achieve it through capacitive coupling to the steel roof of your truck. That type of antenna works fine for VHF/UHF frequencies like your 2m rig operates at but not at the HF 27 MHz frequencies a CB operates at.
 
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