Question for those with CB's

Post by **VerticalTRX** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:27 pm

Just got a CB and 3' Firestick for the '79, planning on mounting the antenna on the passenger side of the main roll-hoop. Just wondering where/how everyone is running the coax from the CB in the cab to the antenna outside the cab? Where do you run the cable to the outside through? Use a grommet? Through the rear glass (not a big fan of this)? Just looking for suggestions on how to run the coax.

Thanks.

Post by **BlueDodgeRam** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:38 pm

i run mine down between the bed and cab, under the truck(zip tied to good places, not hot spots, etc.) then up the firewall, into the cab via a grommet.

Post by **Sandracer799** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 12:59 pm

I dont know if your truck has a 3rd brake light or not, but I have run the cable through there and into the cab out the dome light. That is how did it in my '95 and i think baber did his that way too.

Post by **VerticalTRX** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:27 pm

BlueDodgeRam wrote:i run mine down between the bed and cab, under the truck(zip tied to good places, not hot spots, etc.) then up the firewall, into the cab via a grommet.

This is how I will probably do it. How did you poke the big plug on the end through without making a huge hole/needing a large grommet?

Post by **BlueDodgeRam** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 1:28 pm

i just poked a screwdriver through it and moved it around till i could get the coax through

Post by **Sandracer799** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:00 pm

VerticalTRX wrote:
BlueDodgeRam wrote:i run mine down between the bed and cab, under the truck(zip tied to good places, not hot spots, etc.) then up the firewall, into the cab via a grommet.
This is how I will probably do it. How did you poke the big plug on the end through without making a huge hole/needing a large grommet?

The big plug comes off

Website · Post by **tsmall07** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:17 pm

I would drill a hole in the floor beside your rear body mount and bring it in through there. My 96 came with a hole there for that purpose (don't know if yours does or not) and it worked out well. Just put a grommet in there if you drill a hole and you're set.

Post by YJ » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:23 pm

I have an SWR meter to tune them, if you want to go that far with it.

Post by **hklvette** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:30 pm

hutch wrote:I have an SWR meter to tune them, if you want to go that far with it.

From personal experience, You probably should borrow an SWR meter from Hutch or myself to tune your antenna. I fried my last radio becuase I didn't tune it and the SWR was off the chart.

Post by **Yoda** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:14 pm

maybe that could be our next tech at the meeting because i will need to tune my as well. also where did you pick up your firestick? i wanted to try and get one local but will order one if i have to.

Post by **Steinberg** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:43 pm

you can cut the plug that comes on the wire and replace it with another one from radio shack- this will allow you to run the coax through a much smaller hole, and do away with the extra cable. Heavener hardware has rubber grommets in a variety of sizes- you can find one that will fit tight around the cable and will only require you to drill a 3/8" or so hole in the cab.

I brought mine into the cab through the shifter boot, which put it right where I needed it since my CB is mounted under the middle of the dash.

Post by **VerticalTRX** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 7:36 pm

Thanks for all the info. I've decided to run the cable through the firewall since there is already a hole and grommet there. My concern now is the location of my antenna. Its right behind the cab on the passenger side, I only want it to stick up 6-8" above the cab. Will this work or will it cause havoc with signal? Also this antenna isn't nearly as flexible as I thought it would be, will it break by getting bent under limbs, etc? I don't care if its ultra powerful, but I would like it to work for your average trail situation. Anyone have any thoughts?

Post by **Steinberg** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:00 pm

for best performance, you want as much of the antenna above the height of the cab as possible. granted, in our case that's not very practical. putting it on the front or rear bumper helps some by putting more distance between the antenna and the metal of the cab. you can get a springy mount that will bend over when the antenna gets caught on something. in fact, I think there is one on the bottom of the antenna we found during the trail cleanup if you're interested, although it may not be in great condition.

Website · Post by **tsmall07** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:28 pm

Yoda wrote: also where did you pick up your firestick? i wanted to try and get one local but will order one if i have to.

One of the radio shacks in bburg or cburg has them. I can't remember where I found mine.

Matt,

I would mount your fire stick to the rear corner of the bumper. I got a big spring to mount mine and it only got damaged when it hit the overhead beams in a parking garage. The big fat spring that truckers use is a lot better than the tiny little ones that most people get.

Post by **Leach** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 10:05 pm

Also you can try Two-Way Radio near Collision plus in Christiansburg. Right behind the Hess gas station and they were awesome for me getting parts when I put a CB in my old ranger.

Good group of guys and tons of parts in hand, trick parts too for cool CB mounting/accessories.