CB Antennas and wires

[Synchro]

since this is a forum for installations and howtos, i figured this would be the best place. if not please move it there.

ok can everyone go through their CB antenna installations and how and where they ran the coax to the CB itself. the ARB one i know, but that is not the best for signal. anyone using a u-bolt or something else fancy ont he roof rack. not really interested in a magnetic mount, but if you want to post that for someone elses sake that would be fine.

i am trying to get mine up onthe roof somewhere. preferably int he center part of the rack, or the pack part along the channel of the hatch. but i am having trouble getting something that looks right, fit right or is easy enough to run the cabling with.

[Mobycat]

First way - I had mine on the roof above the rear driver's side door. Ran coax from the unit under the floor mats, up through the door weather stripping (pinched it in there) and then out the door to the rack. Never had any problems with reception. But the constant whacking of the antenna on limbs got quite annoying.

Second - on the ARB. Ran the coax through the gromit on the firewall (passenger side), then across the firewall to the driver's side, up the quarterpanel and back across the front (in front of the radiator) to the ARB. Strange, yes, but it made it possible to avoid *any* coiling, and I've never had any problem with reception - and I haven't checked with the SWR meter yet.

[wqbang]

When I had mine on the roof, I ran the cable down the drivers side interior behind the interior panels back to the rear taillight assembly. I started from the back drivers side grommet for the 3Rd break light on the upper left hand side of the hatch pillar. I cut a small slit through the side of the rubber grommet. I fed the coax down to the brakelight assembley and out through the acecss hole, I then fed it behind the panels like I mentioned earlier. After that, I positioned the cable and and pushed the cable into the slit made in the grommet. The gromet never leaked. The cable then went through the gap between the roof and the top hatch when closed and out to the antenna. never had a problem.

My new mount follows the same path, but on the passengers side, and instead of going up to the roof, it travels out the rear vent on the passenger side and out to the rear bumper.

Of course I can show all of this to you this weekend if you need me to.

I definitely have to take a picture of my new mount now.

[Chainsaw]

I followed the same clamping method for the roof rack mount.

Used a U-bolt exhaust bracket, scrap aluminum from the Boeing surplus and a can of the trusty black Plasti-Dip to coat everything.

Ran the coax through the top of the back hatch and along the drivers side inside trim, under the cargo area carpet, under the backseats then under the rubber floor mats to the cobra WXST remote box under the drivers seat. There is the exposed cable from the underside of the back seat cushion to the floor mat, but the weight of the mat keeps it tight and out of the way. Not the cleanest install, but the cable is not noticable unless you really look.

I'll probably end up moving it to the ARB just to avoid having to get out and fold the anntena up and down for branches, drive-throughs...etc.

[Synchro]

here's a question for you guys now....how much noise will the line get by being near the computer under the dash. i ended up having to clip the 18' cable just behind the connector since it was too big to fit through the grommet, fishing the cable through the firewall and under the dash to the passenger side to the CB on my dash and i will add a new connector back on. hopefully i didn't screw up the cable too much by shortening it by 1" or 2". when all is said and done and i get my CB in the dash the cable will be back there anyhow.

but how much noise will get into the line from the ECM? God i hate screwing around with this stuff when i don't know enough about it. <sigh>

[Mobycat]

I would *think* the shielding is enough to prevent any noise from the computer. But then again, when I put my cell phone next to my unit (no rude jokes here!) and it rings, noise just goes off the chart - but only during the ring.