CB Install

rescu2000 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:55 am

I just installed a CB and noticed a couple ideas that I wanted to point out. I'll take Pictures of the way I did it later today. I took off the trim piece to the right of the steering wheel. It is about 2 inches tall and 6 inches wide (roughly). Then I took out the two screws that hold the shroud to the instrument cluster.

I have the cheapo Cobra ($35) from WalMart. The bracket that comes with it will fit behind the two tabs that hold the shroud on. Then the screws that hold the shroud on go through the plastic tabs AND the bracket for the CB.

Then the CB covers the area where the trim is missing. This puts the CB Vertical to the right of the steering wheel. It is behnd the ignition and the wiper controls. This points the speaker right at the driver.

It would be possible to cut the dash there and flush mount it right in there where the trim piece goes, but it would be a lot of cutting. I may do it anyway. You would need to use an external speaker though.

Another thing I noticed is that there is a cavity under the steering column. There is a door that swings down if you pull hard on the plastic right under the steering wheel. There is a lot of room inside. You could mount the CB in there and hide it. When you trail ride, just open the door and take it off (it comes off by just sliding it to the side.

Rescu2000

rescu2000 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:25 am

Couple of Pics...

This is one of a power expander I got from Wally World. Has a USB port too, so I can charge my Pocket PC, phone, etc and still have three ports open. Also, that light switch in the pic lights up red when the lights are off and green when they are on.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:24 am

That looks like one hell of a knee knocker to me. I did the 75swx and under the driver's seat for prying eyes and out of the way. I am 6'1" and need all the knee rome I can get.

That little cb could be installed between the seat and the center console. just pull the seat, mount the cb, replace the seat. An external speaker would be needed. I mounted mine in the knee bolster under the steeringwheel shaft. It drops down and there is a good metal brace where I fastened it with slef tapping sheet metal screws. Good sound and out of sight.

How is the swr with that spare tire mount.

Another LOST member was having trouble with his but was not very "Receptive" to ideas.

rescu2000 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:52 am

I'm 5' 10" and I know it looks like it is close to th knees in the picture, but it isn't. If you notice in the picture it is UP behind the steering wheel. Unless your knees come up 6 or 8 inches above the bottom of the steering wheel, you get no where near it. I also like the fact that the speaker is aimed right at you.

SWR - I haven't measured the SWR yet. I will in the future to get things tuned in. My main goal with the CB is to be able to communicate with the guys I am directly trail riding with. I will tune it in though.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:57 am

Like most of us that is what we use the cb's for, only on the trail. But tuning is not about distance. That is a benefit. It is about having the antenna work in conjunction with the radio and the cable to send the best signal possible. IF there is too much swr then you can cook your radio, no matter what the radio costs.

PLEASE get it tuned BEFORE you use it ANYWHERE!! That radio is a bargain and will work great for you. but not much of a bargain if you need to replace it.

Tune it before permanent damage is done

Gopher · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2008 6:57 pm

Dumb question here (and kind of hijacking the thread), but do you have to tune your CB if you're using a whip? I've been told no, but not by the most reputable sources. Thanks

CrossBones · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:54 pm

I ran across this tip while reading a review on the FireFly CB Ant:

Quote:

The tunable tip on the top of the antenna is great for fine tuning with a SWR meter, however after finding the optimum setting you MUST take another reading with the rubber cap back on. The rubber cap effects the overall effectiveness of the signal. In my case I found that removing the adjustable thumb-screw, set screw and o-ring and putting the rubber cap back on was as close to perfect as one could get.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Sep 30, 2008 8:25 am

Again,

YES you should tune EVERY antenna. The SWR is (I think I can get this right) the relationship between the signal you are sending out and the part of it that is reflected and sent back into the radio. The Higher the SWR the more signal is entering the radio and that is what can fry the circuits. The length of the coax cable and antenna mast need to be long enough to allow this to not effect the radio.

The coax should be run so that AT LEAST 18 feet of cable is used and the important thing is to NOT have the cable coil back over itself. The easiest thing to do is roll it up, zip tie it nice and tight and stuff it inside the interior plastic panels. BAD IDEA. run it around and DO NOT TRIM IT.

Run it to a good quality antenna in a fixed position. I know some like the magnetic mounts for parking garages and what not but by their vary nature, do not allow for a consistant SWR. You may not vary it alot, and putting the antenna back in the same place every time and all that, but it does change the SWR.

A fixed location allows you to tune and be sure it will stay tuned.

Also remember that tuning an antenna on your KJ should be done "AS if you were actually using it." Meaning if you have a roof mount and plan to use it on the road or trails and you carry a bunch of crap on the roof, then put the crap up there, tune the radio and you will be better off. If you use a spare tire mount like above, and lpan to load a bike rack on it or what ever, load it up. All that metal of the bikes can effect your SWR. If you are using a Spare mount and have a whip that is just over the roof height and load up a roof rack for the trails then you are in for a shock. your radio will not perform as well as it did in your driveway when you tuned it.

As the post above stated Always put the little antenna condom back on after adjusting the length of the tuning tip. This GREATLY effects the SWR reading.

Protect your investment, how ever small, get it tuned or learn how to do it yourself, it ain't hard.

Load up ur KJ, take it to the Walmart parkinglot away from buildings, sit there and look like a CB geek and tune it properly. then go "Breaker Breaker 1-9, Good Buddy" if you want till your hearts content. Trust me you will LOVE the results and get plenty of the "Did you just come out of the 70's" looks while you are at it. But it is fun.

CB Install

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