CB Radio mounting

[evildragon]

I am getting a CB radio for my 94 Caprice, and would like to know the best place to mount the radio, microphone, and antenna.

Also of more importance, how do I hook up the power wires? Where should the electrical connectors be attached?

Thanks.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by evildragon

I am getting a CB radio for my 94 Caprice, and would like to know the best place to mount the radio, microphone, and antenna.

Also of more importance, how do I hook up the power wires? Where should the electrical connectors be attached?

Thanks.

Best place to mount the antenna for the radio may not be the best place to mount it for you - this is in the center of the roof. This gives the best omnidirectional pattern of transmit. You can do what I did however, and mount it on the deck lid. Try to avoid a magnet mount if possible; there's a bit of 'magic' in how these mate up with your car body to effect a counterpoise for the antenna, and they're not as efficient as even the same antenna hardwired to the vehicle's body.

I can't tell you the best place to mount it in your car, that depends on what you want, but I have a setup myself that involves a vintage Cobra 148GTL. This is mounted on a pedestal mount where the laptop mount on my 9C1 was. I have a little 'juice' that's mounted under the dash and the antenna is a Wilson 5K mounted on the deck lid. This was an easy location for me, because the hole for it was already drilled from the car's past life.






The radio is powered from the BAT terminal on the fuse block, and the amplifier is powered directly from the battery with 8 gauge wire.

[evildragon]

Yea I wouldn't be able to mount that there. I have a bench seat with an added console.

http://blackevilweredragon.deviantar...-Seat-91792542

http://blackevilweredragon.deviantar...board-91792358

Perhaps I could sneak it between the console and the dash.

Also, I don't know what the deck is. I was thinking about a magnetic mount though. I'm just worried about it falling off. I'd hate to drill into the exterior of the car, because it has no marks on the outside, still looks like showroom quality.

This is the radio I purhcased.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16872008060

I will later purchase a radio with weather support. Just right now, being laid off, I needed a cheap radio, and this one seemed to fit the bill.

[evildragon]

Well, got the antenna.

http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs46/f/20...weredragon.jpg

I likely won't see the radio until the weekend though, they haven't even shipped it yet.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by evildragon

Well, got the antenna.

http://fc04.deviantart.com/fs46/f/20...weredragon.jpg

I likely won't see the radio until the weekend though, they haven't even shipped it yet.

Hmm, OK. I am pretty huge into CB myself and if you 'get the bug' so to speak (it can be FUN FUN FUN), you will likely want a better antenna than that. It is, however a good starter antenna, kinda like what I started with.

My first CB was also a Midland - in fact I still have it, a model 77-824.

[CD Smalley]

+1 to the Wilson 5K. They are awesome. The 1Ks are pretty decent too. I've had both over the years.

[evildragon]

Here's a dumb question.

Is there a general rule on what channel to broadcast on? For example, I know 9 is emergency, and if I remember, 15 and 19 for truckers?

With 40 channels, finding one that most are using thats free to talk on, sounds hard.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by CD Smalley

+1 to the Wilson 5K. They are awesome. The 1Ks are pretty decent too. I've had both over the years.

Yes I am also running a 5K. I know my page says 1K but I gave that one to a friend The 5K I got 10 years ago.

Evildragon:

Channel 19 (and sometimes 17) are used as interstate channels. Channel 9 is the 'official emergency channel' but nobody's seriously monitored it for years and years and these days, you usually hear Spanish speakers using it (at least here in the 'Cactus Patch'). Channel 6, when you hear the skip rolling, is the 'super bowl' where you won't be heard unless you've got at least 20 kilowatts - no joke. Channel 11 is sometimes called the 'mini bowl' in that you will sometimes hear channel 6 operators on there when 6 is clogged, again during skip...

Whatever local station around town you have, I'd sit there and listen on it for a bit (sandbag) and get a feel for how the channel rolls before you key up your mic and add in your $0.02.

[evildragon]

Got it all hooked up.

Whew, most of the lower channels are full of racist flying crap, including channel 9.

Better view of antenna
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...n/IMGP3387.jpg

The radio in operation
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...n/IMGP3388.jpg

[silicon212]

That radio looks like a Cobra 25LTD! Seriously. It's a good looking setup.

[evildragon]

Originally Posted by silicon212

That radio looks like a Cobra 25LTD! Seriously. It's a good looking setup.

Sounds good too on some channels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rTKBeSEn44

I ended up wiring the electrical right to the battery through the firewall since the radios cord had an inline fuse.

[CD Smalley]

Nice indeed!