Got a CB!

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Just remember to run one antenna. Dual mounts are not practical on Rangers - to properly run a dual you really need around 10-12' between antennas. That's why semi's running duals have them hanging off the mirrors. They're getting close the the proper distance.

I bought my 102" whips for around $20 plus the mounting stuff.

On my F-150, I've been thinking of running a shorter antenna, but since the chances of it smacking something along the way is pretty good, I'm planning on running a steel whip rather than fiberglass. Although fiberglass is pretty durable with a spring mount, the whip just seems safer for a work truck, lol.

Decent steel whips seem priced a little cheaper than fiberglass sticks, but they can be a little trickier to tune properly (although most 102" whips don't need much tuning - they're long enough that the signal wave works out nicely).

 

[--weezl--]

Sorry weezl I meant to tell you I fully plan to get a spring mount on your recommendation. Any way you can recommend a kit or two? way to many to be able to decide. Once I know the model I can search for a good deal :thumbup:

firestick II, make sure when you're looking at it that in the package, the cap on the end of the antenna is not on the antenna it's self, if (while in the packaging) the cap is on, it is not a tuneable one, if it's off, it's a tuneable...

other than that, the parts are all pretty much universal, so pick which ever you like... ebay is a good place for them... there aren't really any kits that i know of...

also, just because your antenna is longer, doesn't mean anything about it not needing to be tuned... you still get a reflection of the transmission wave back into the transmitter, which if minor, causes performance issues, if major, will burn the transmitter out... also keep in mind it's not JUST the antenna you're tuning, you're also tuning the feed line...

my first tune on my cb got me an SWR of approx 1.05:1, exact same setup, but the wire into the bottom of the mount broke, so i stripped it back, and resoldered it, so the only difference was about 1" of cable missing, checked SWR again, and i think it was about 4:1, so i re-tuned the antenna, and the best i could get was about 1.8:1

 

[killj0y]

Got it wired up and tuned, works great. Wish it reached farther but don't want an amplifier or massive antenna. Went with a 4' firefly fl from firestick. it's mounted to the toolbox and properly grounded. Now to hook up that PA lol, that's gonna fun when someone on the road pisses me off. Rofl

 

[kryptonitecb]

Make sure to mount the pa speaker in a good spot or no one will be able to hear you. However it is fun to mess with people using the pa.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[AgPete139]

Make sure to mount the pa speaker in a good spot or no one will be able to hear you. However it is fun to mess with people using the pa.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

What kind of speaker are you using? I got a small one, mounted in my engine bay, and it's very difficult to hear (even if you're close). I know I need a larger one. Suggestions?

 

[--weezl--]

i used one i picked up from a truck stop for about $30, installed it infront of the rad, works well... i'm going to see if i can steal a siren speaker from work, from our parts cabinet, maybe a siren too... i just want the airhorn module out of it, to replace my stock horn with

 

[AgPete139]

Got pics of it, Weezl?

 

[--weezl--]

Somewhere I'll
Take a look tonight


Sent from somewhere naughty!

 

[killj0y]

Update:

Ok so I've had the CB hooked up for a while now and it has worked so-so the entire time. I'm looking to correct all the issues since performance seems very hit or miss. Ok so I moved my antenna to the top middle of my headache rack and it now completely clears my cab. Previously I had it mounted to the side of my toolbox and reception was spotty. Now for the record it is a Uniden Pro 538W with a firestik firefly antenna, both are grounded with the power lead coming straight off the battery.

Mainly I had noticed that I was getting engine noise I meant to track it down but my alternator blew up shortly after and once I replaced it no more engine noise.

But, I have noticed a major drop in performance where I can only hear straight static on it (which prompted me moving the antenna). Previously even if I had so-so reception
I could pick up the weather (it has an option for it) very well. Now it seems I canot pick up much of anything. Every now and again I can pick up something but like I said its really hit or miss for both CB channels and weather.

Now aside from moving my antenna and double checking my grounds which I have done. I know its not engine noise since the static is stable no fluctuation with engine on or off or with RPMs higher or lower. I plan on checking the grounds in my engine bay to rule that out. I'm kind of at a loss so far as to what else I can check.

The one other thing is when I hook up my SWR meter to tune the antenna or just test it. Since initial setup, when attempting to tune the needle would not adjust to the set mark without fideting with it for a while and rocking the needle back and forth by keing the mic a few times. After getting it there It will REF at 1 or 1.1 always on channel 1. When trying channel 40 though I cannot get it to the set mark. It will go almost all the way and in the few cases I can it will not give a reading when switching to REF. On channel 40 it will always bottom out on the left instead of stopping on 1 or higher. So any ideas?

Hope someone can chime in with some tips or advice on what to check next since I'm halfway tempted to chuck the damn thing out the window going down the highway.