[MTpockets]

i am looking to get a new cb soon. what is a good cb/ant combo. it'll only really be used to talk with guys while riding. thanks

[Hesher420]

My setup, works great!



My build thread

Originally Posted by Hesher420

Installed my CB today. I decided to go with a Cobra radio and Firestik antenna. I went with a 2' antenna so that it will fit in the garage and it works pretty well around town. I also have a 5' Firestik that I use when I'll be out on the trail or on a road trip.

I got the mounting bracket from JeepOutfitter.com. It worked great, easy to install without having to drill any holes. It comes with the plate to mount the mic on, also a no-drill install.






I mounted the 2' Firestik to the spare tire mount and ran the coax through the hole in the tail gate with the 3rd brake light wires. This did require opening the hole up to 3/4" with a unibit and putting a new grommet in. I then filled the opening around the wires with black rtv to seal it up from the elements.







Helpfull tips:

* After drilling the 1/2" hole for the antenna mount I inserted a 6" x 1/2" bolt into the hole with jam nuts above and below the steel. Then I pushed on the bolt sticking up to bend the area of the plate flat so that the antenna would not be at an angle.

* I ran the coax up the right side of the LJ under the body rail in the back, under the door in the front, and up through the dash to the CB. The 18' coax I got was a perfect length.

[YOGI1]

if you have any truck stops in your area stop and take a look usally a pilot or flying j have excellent pricing on radios as far as a brand try a cobra or uniden are great choices also if you go stus jeep site he just did a couple of reviews and has abunch of information that will point you in the right direction. also most radios are 4 watt output and you can have a good shop tune and peak it usally you get several more watts depending on the radio. be very careful with your antenna and coax choice and have your swr checked that is the match between your radio and antenna if it is off you can burn out the finals in your radio. I run a galaxy radio with a 250 watt electronic linear with a steel whip and it works great. good luck do a little research and match your components and you can get great results

[YOGI1]

[QUOTE=Hesher420;7921371]My setup, works great!



great job but you may want to add a ground from the body to antenna base and go with a taller antenna i believe if i remember right in a loaded antenna that is the windings 3/4 should be above the roof line. someone else could chime in my memory is not what it used to be. anyway your installation nice clean job.

[Hesher420]

Originally Posted by YOGI1

great job but you may want to add a ground from the body to antenna base and go with a taller antenna i believe if i remember right in a loaded antenna that is the windings 3/4 should be above the roof line.

Since the write-up I have added a ground to the body. When the cb gets the most use, on the trails, I run a 5' antenna that gets it well above the roof line. I only have the 2' on there when I am in town and I must sacrifice signal for parking convenience.And, yes, I have had both antennas tuned with an swr meter.

[CJ7-Tim]

Originally Posted by MTpockets

i am looking to get a new cb soon. what is a good cb/ant combo.

Any small CB by Cobra, Uniden, or Midland will work nicely. Firestik, and Wilson make good quality antennas.

Try www.WalcottCB.com for decent prices and good customer service.

www.Firestik.com has a great Tech and FAQ sections and the info applies to all CB antennas.

[owenswj]

Agreed, try out the uniden 510 xl (basic) or the uniden 520 xl (PA function, instant channel 9 access) great prices new and used and both are great radios with an 18' cable and firestik antenna.

[MTpockets]

right on. thanks for all the replies.

[Jerry Bransford]

Another very good radio is the Uniden Pro-510XL which sells for under $40. It's pretty darned near bulleproof. If you want a PA function, one step up is the Pro-520XL which is under $50. My 520 has been in my Jeep for 12-13 years and covered in grime and dirt as it has been most of its time, it keeps on tickin'.

A very good antenna that is easily adjustable to produce the most power your radio is capable of putting out is a Firestick FS-2, FS-3, or FS-4 for 2', 3', and 4' lengths. Even the 2' works well, I dropped from a FS-3 to a FS-2 so it'd fit into the garage and I can't tell the difference using it for on-trail communications between the 2' and 3' I used to use.

Any length RG-58 coax antenna cable that reaches from the radio to the antenna is fine, be sure to leave some extra in case you need to cut the connector off some time and install a new one. In other words, you don't need an exact 18' length for it to work just fine. The old 18' length thing is just a myth.