Topic: Newbie CB questions

[Wainiha]

I'm thinking of getting a CB.  A friend too.  I have read a few installs, but other than size and radio features I don't what's next.  I would like mine to be a DIN size or ashtray size for my Taco.   Ashtray size I see:  Cobra19DXIII and Uniden520XL

Where can I learn about everything needed?

Radio
Mic - do I need an external?
Antenna size and type
SWR tuning

I'm lost.  Can anyone set me in the right direction to learn a little before I make a preliminary plan?

[Wainiha [OP]]

I signed up for a CB forum.

I thought there was a baby forum here for CBs where asked once.  I must be blind.

Edit: I see it now.  Soon as I post duh

Move my thread if needed.  Thanks Marlin.

[Prismo]

Both companies make a good cb. I have had a larger Uniden with dual side band and a bit more power than those for 10 years, Ilike it. Key to the deal is a good antenna & a proper length cable. I have a wilson 5/8 wave which is a pretty big antenna but it does get out well. I made a bracket on the rain channel to hold the tip while I am wheeling, getting smacked by an antenna is no fun. You can buy a swr meter at radio shack or off the internet. Do not run the cb until you get your antenna tuned right. I also ran the power wire (sheilded) directly to the battery to limit background interference as Toyotas are bad for picking up engine whine on the radio. Do a little reading on how it all works .

[Prismo]

The other thing to consider is where you mount your antenna, that will also affect your signal strength & range especially if the body is blocking a portion of it. You don't want to look like one broke richard when you spend all the money & it doesn't work. 

[Wainiha [OP]]

Antenna mounting will be interesting.  The low hanging trees on the trails here are going to hit it.  I got some reading to do first.  Especially on SWR tuning.  I don't anything about that.

[Wainiha [OP]]

Thanks for moving this Mike.

[2manytoys]

rightchannelradios.com has some good buyers guides and reviews. Also has how to videos.

[OTO Phil]

SWR might be the most important thing for your whole radio setup! Tune your antenna, or you'll risk burning out your finals inside the CB.

Also, my .02 about antenna type: Buy a 108" whip. Not a 102" like most people have. The 108" is exactly a 1/4 wave and will be easier to tune, and if you get a good stainless whip, you shouldn't have a spring on it! Can't stress that enough! Don't run a sprint with your whip! I've driven under thick branches, and bent the whip pretty sharp. It always returns to it's original straightness haha...
If you don't like the way the whips look like on your whip, get a firestick, and yeah, run it with the most HD spring you can find

On placement: Theoretically, you want the antenna at the center of the vehicle, as high as possible. While that's nice in theory, the best practical place to put it is as high up the fender as possible, right against the cab. this will give you a decent ground plane (the hood) and also will raise it up pretty high. I see all these jeeps putting the antennas on the back (and some yotas too) but you'll get crappy transmission because you don't have a ground plane to "bounce" the waves off of. Think of it like a satellite dish: you want something to reflect your signal up and away from the base of your antenna. This is the ground plane. So you soft topper guys... fiberglass doesn't count sorry

Anyway, I don't claim to be a professional, and hope my .02 doesn't offend anyone... if so, go join the military and get some thicker skin

[79coyotefrg]

this is old BUT my favorite for a smaller radio is a Cobra 25 with mic and RF gain.  the rf gain allows you to tune out most static without loosing range like using the squelch does.