I'm getting ready to install the CB.. Wanted to ask you guys where you have the CB mounted and where you have the antenna mounted. I have an 03 and I was going to mount it in one of the center cubby holes but then I'll have to add an external speaker. Also, I'm having a huge dilemer about where to mount he antenna. Any help would greatly appreciated as usual http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif


ThanksEdited by: blowingsmoke

blowingsmoke,


I too am interested in installing a CB but have not seen any threads about this subject except yours. I have an 04 and there is a good sized cubby hole down at the bottom of the dash just before the cup holder? Now to find the right sized cb and I should be good to go. The antenna looks to be the harder part as far as location is concernedhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif.Please keep us informed as to what you come up with. I appreciate it.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Thumbs Up.gif


twebb

I have a scanner in my truck...no transmitter, just a receiver. I mounted it inside the stash box between the front seats. It is out of sight, easily accessed, and fits perfectly. I ran an external speaker to the drivers side of the center console, behind the FM radio-CD player. The speaker sits just inside the console, next to the accelerator. It too is hidden from sight, yet works exceptionally well. The antenna is a glass mount on the rear windshield. The only difference with a CB would be routing the microphone to a convienent location. Just a thought...http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


Kevin

There was a fellow selling stainless steel antenna brackets for the drivers side, which would mount an antenna in the identical spot as the radio antenna on the other side and look factory..


I bought one but haven't installed it yet. There was a thread about it at TDP, anyone have a link?

I mounted a CB in an ’02 2500HD. The truck has bench seats so we unbolt the center trim panel below the radio and A/C control(where the swing down cup holders are on some trucks) and mounted the CB in that area. Running the wiring was easy as all we had to do was tuck it up underneath the dash. Right now the antenna is mounted in the bed but I ordered a bracket off a member on another forum. You can read about it in the link below.

Click here
http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL250/1241443/2354223/28494670.jpg (http://forum.thedieselpage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=001257)Edited by: y2kboti

http://forum.thedieselpage.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=001257


Here is the link, great antenna bracket


Steve

My CB fits in the cubby near the drinks holders.. - If I put it there I'm going to have to run an external speaker - but, as I don't use that cubby for anything I think that's where it's going. As for the antenna, I was going to route the cable up to the Bed light and cut a notch out of the bed light and feed it through there and seal it with silicone, or run the cable to the bed and mount on the top of the bed between the cab and bed.. It a tough on to figure out.


Camstyn : I looked at that bracket - right now I have a 4ft Fire Stick which Is just going to look a bit silly attached to that bracket. I like the look of a mag mount on the roof - Makes it look like a giant RC truck http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif - trouble is they scratch.. - I dunno - Was just looking to bounce it off you guys.


Thanks for the input.

My only suggestion would be to NOT use any silicone product to seal anything on the exterior of your truck. Silicone caulk is highly over rated, and over used in the auto industry. In an interior application, like bathrooms and kitchens its okay, for exterior applications the ONLY sealant I use is 3M 5200 polyurathane sealant. It is the only sealant I use on my boats as well, both above and below the waterline. It will not break down, discolor, peel, mildew, or pull away like silicone will. It costs more, $6 to $8 per tube, but a $45K truck is worth it.


Just my 2cents worth,


Kevin

Here's some excellent information when installing CB's.


http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm


Bob

I installed CBs in both a truck with center console, and one without. The one I mounted on the drivers side of the console...I uggh drilled holes for the bracket and bolted it right down, Its been working fine for 3 years now.


On the other non console truck. I bent a piece of steel into a upside down "7" and bolted the steel right into the floor, and then drilled holes in the steel for the CB bracket. I like it this was because the steel has some "spring" to it and doesnt exert the CB to bouncing and banging around.


For the antenna I wired it down through the metal bracket that is a support for the dash(left side of tranny hump). Wired it down through and under the door jamb covers on the floor....and upthrough the panels for rear seatbelts under the headliner and out through the center high mounted stop light. Theirs enough clearance So you dont have to solder on connectors. Its a magnent mount Wilson Antenna


I gotta figure out this digital camera stuff so I can post pics


Bill

Installing the CB isn't a problem (done it many time thus far http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif) - I wanted to see if you guys had pics or other suggestions for locations.


TheChevyHDMan : That Mag mount sounds just like what I was thinking of doing.. - Did you cut the light lens? Did you re seal it like above not using silicone..?


Thanks Y'all

BlowinSmoke. I trimmed it back A tiny bit (brake lense), because the wire is too thick, And it left a gaping hole. I trimmed it down say 1/8-1/4 inch and tightened it down, then put a line of clear silicon on the top of the lense to prevent any possible leaks. Its the best mount Ive seen yet for ontop the roof......Nothing looks crappier than a wire stretching to the center of the roof from the extended cab door....Or like my lameass brother running up the whole back of the cab too the roof.


Im actually running two wires up and through their, CB and XM...been fine for 2 years now

Here's my cb ... a Galaxy 929 ...had to do some trimming to make it fit but it's a good fit, solid, no rattles, etc. you can see the small radio shack speaker in the upper right cubby hole which works real well. I am using the bracket pictured in a few posts up ... run a 2' Firestick locally so I can fit in garage and a 4' Firestik on longer trips. CB is wired directly to battery.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/DBD_cb3.jpg

When using that SoMnDmax antenna mount, a 2' whip with a Firestick Quick Connect is pretty close to the same height as the AM/FM antenna. After seeing Tophog's pics 2 other things came to mind.


1. If you're going to mount the radio in the console then buy a radio with a mic connection on the face. I have the DX-959 and my mic connector is on the side of the radio chasis.


2. You may need to think about where to mount an external speaker. I put mine in the overhead cubby that supposedly conceals a garage door opener. Small speaker for a boat from West Marine has better sound than a much bigger Cobra external that I have in my other truck.


Nice install Tophog. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Actually at the moment I'm running a 2' Everhardt Tiger fiberglass antenna ... not as thick as the firestik or wilsons and looks much better being so short. The cb antenna barely clears my garage door but my radio antenna hits by about 1/2" so my cb antenna is a tad shorter then the radio. I did something wrong too (dumb luck) as my SWR with both the 2' and 4' antenna's was right at .5 ...so I didn't do any further tuning and it talks really well.Edited by: tophog

Anyone ever consider mounting a cb in the overhead console? I have a small Uniden 520 xl, seems it might fit. Might try to rig something up over the next couple weeks.


I also ordered that bracket to mount the cb antenna opposite the radio antenna. Looks like a nice setup.

Good idea except for anyone planning to mount their Attitude controller there.

I received my CB bracket in the mail today and will be going down for pick up a 36" Firestik antenna. I'll be sure to take some pics of the bracket, install and CB mount/location.

Topdog, very nice install...nice radio as well.


That is were I want to mount mine! How much cutting/trimming did you have to do to get it to fit and what tool did you use? Also how hard was it to get the center out to do all the trimming?


On my old truck I mounted the ant on the inside of the bed by the foward post hole. I used the heavy duty mirror mount...just the one side were the coax goes into it. I ran the coax up though the post hole made for a real clean look.

I had to enlarge the console faceplate opening about 1/8" inch along the bottom so the CB would fit thru the opening. I did everything with a dremel tool however it was't the best tool for the job...seems like I always melt plastic parts rather then cut. In the 03+ trucks there is some obstruction inside the dash area that prevented my CB from sliding in far enough ...which I had to grind down ... a plastic hump I think that provides a support for a cassette deck or something ... not a big deal or difficult by any means.


I opted to enlarge the console faceplate opening by cutting along the bottom so any imperfections are not visible :) It's hard cutting hard plastic with a dremel tool ... I would almost use the word "melt" vice "cut". The faceplate is simply removed by a firm "tug".

Topdog, thanks for the info...did you use anything to secure the unit or did you just slide it in?

Here's a pic of mine;
http://207.53.239.181/~terry/truck/uniden/uniden3.jpg

Thanks to tophog for the RatShack speaker idea (and others).
I too used the stainless bracket from Jerry McKinley
(JERMCK@aol.com) I also used a FireStik antenna
and firering coax cabling.

I've got a few pics at these links
CB Mount (http://207.53.239.181/~terry/truck/cb-mount/)
Uniden Radio (http://207.53.239.181/~terry/truck/CB-Radio/)

good luck,

T.

Edited by: Terry

Topdog, thanks for the info...did you use anything to secure the unit or did you just slide it in?





It's just pushed in ...very tight fit, definately not going anywhere. I removed the little rubber pad in the cubbie holde and velcroed the speaker to keep it from sliding around.

I had a 99 nbs with the full overhead console and had the cb mounted under the front of the console with the screw that holds the console up worked pretty well.

Thanks for all the info guys.. You say the black face plate just comes off with a tug from between the two cubbie holes?

This is the one I use. It is very easy to mount the base under the center console. Then I ran the female connection for the controller to the little space behind the drink holders through a rubber grommet. I mounted the mic holder on the drivers side of the console about 3" in front of the seat position. All the controls are on the mic itself and you can buy another base for about $29 and use the system in another vehicle, boat or whatever. I don't want everyone that looks thru the window to know that I have a CB ready for the taking. I unscrew the connection to the mic and store it in the center console when not in use. The coax is ran to the bed where I use a 1/2 of a SS truckers mirror mount "L" base bolted to the front drivers side post hole, where I mount a 4' Firestick. Everything works very well and is easily concealed when not in use.








http://dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/788_cobracb4.jpg



<DL>
<DT>40 Channel CB Radio with Weather Radio and Remote Mount System
Item Number: Cobra C75-WXST </DT></DL>
<DL>
<DT>SoundTrackerTM system cuts noise up to 90%
<DT>10 NOAA weather channels
<DT>Remote mount system
<DT>Dual watch and full channel scan
<DT>Full-featured LCD display panel
<DT>5 digit frequency counter
<DT>4 memory channels
<DT>Instant channel 9 and 19 </DT></DL>


MSRP: $129.95
Our Price:
$94.99<STRIKE>
</STRIKE>

That's nice, I like the incognito source unit!

I've seen those and wondered how well they work.. They're cheap too - my unit alone cost a considerable amount more than that. I have a Midland with Digital removable face http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

Here's mine - It's a Cobra 18 WX ST II. I'm no cb expert, but I like it because:


* It fits perfectly in the opening.


* It's black with white lettering (like the instruments).


* It has a front-firing speaker (no external spkr needed).


* It receives the weather channels.


I also have the antenna bracket mentioned above with a 36" x 1/4" diameter Francis. Looks and works great.


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/3A4_CobraCB.jpg

Does anyone know if you can buy the center piece already cut for the cd player... I was thinking of just swaping it out with a new one that would already be cut....it looks like my Uniden 78 would slide right in. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Geek.gif

I have the one like Neverenuf has. Its works good to about 2 miles on my truck. The only thing that sucks is it doesn't have a RF Gain. I run a Wilson whip mounted on my Back Rack.


http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL227/437876/777914/37263484.jpg


I run a tuned and peaked Uniden PC66 in my Freightliner Columbia.Edited by: Maverick

Hey Maverick, speaking of your Freightliner, do the truckers use VHFs too in the states? They're way better than CB's for reception but I never hear any mention of them except in Canada.

Hey Maverick, speaking of your Freightliner, do the truckers use VHFs too in the states? They're way better than CB's for reception but I never hear any mention of them except in Canada.


Very few do. Seems to be only a Canadian and Alaskan thing. With few points to stop at and being so remote, the VHF radio is the only way to go up there. Ran one in my truck up in Alaska. Motorola.

blowingsmoke


is you midland unlocked??


79-290?


i got 120 below and 80 above as well as 28Mhz to 29.7 Mhz i think? dont use them but its there if i ever get my liscense. and it lets a few other things work......

Chevmeister : - Yup 79-290 - You can have the straight 40 channel, or with the press of a few buttons - 240 Channels from 25.6 to 28.3 - or press a few more buttons and you have the 10 meter option which is from 28 to 29.7 10KHz steps 170 channles.. I think. Nice unit.. Haven't used it in ages and I really need to get it put in.

............................


On the other non console truck. ...................


For the antenna I wired it down through the metal bracket that is a support for the dash(left side of tranny hump). Wired it down through and under the door jamb covers on the floor....and upthrough the panels for rear seatbelts under the headliner and out through the center high mounted stop light. Theirs enough clearance So you dont have to solder on connectors. Its a magnent mount Wilson Antenna


I gotta figure out this digital camera stuff so I can post pics


Bill





Bill ~ could you clarify the part re rear seatbelt panels ~ it that something I would have to remove the back of the rear seat? Been comptemplating running the cable out the back cab vent to the rack on the campershell but can't seem to locate the cab vent to pass thru. Don't mind seeing the cable in the window as I've the LT tint package and 2 more tinted panes in the shell, its to dark to see anyway. Would like to go the magmount to the roof but its so flimsy, wonder if it would cause metal fatigue of the sheetmetal?


Edited by: ShumDit

I made a SoMnDmax mount, from his scale drawings.
And, mounted my scanner and mini-CB in the center console. I piggy backed the scanner antenna onto the AM/FM so the CB and scanner don't add a lot of additional antennas, and the one that is added looks factory.
Pics here http://www.picturetrail.com/TxDoc
Make sure, no matter what antenna you use, that you tune the antenna.

--------------------------------------------
Additional info for reading:

Make sure you check your antenna for a good ground and check and tune for optimal SWR setting. Here is a good set of instructions for that:



http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm

Setting the SWR of Your Antenna
Compliments of Firestik® Antenna Company Technical Support Team
&lt;http://www.firestik.com/images/fs-line.gif&gt;
Copyright © 1996 Firestik® Antenna Company

SWR (standing wave ratio), is a measurement of how efficiently your antenna system will radiate the power available from your radio. In simple terms, your radio would like to radiate all of its power, but can only do so if the other components cooperate. Bad coax and mounts, or inefficient antennas and ground plane can cause system bottlenecks. The easiest way to understand the concept is to think of it in terms of water flow. That is, if you put a one inch faucet on a two inch pipe, your potential output will be restricted by the one inch outlet. So goes antenna systems. Setting your antennas SWR will reduce the restriction of radiated power.

If all radios only transmitted on one channel, it would be a much easier task to design antennas. As it is, on CB alone, there are 40 channels to contend with. Mobile antennas can only be made to resonate at one specific frequency (channel). The goal of the antenna manufacturers is to build the antenna to resonate at a frequency in the middle of the available band (channel 19 on CB) and make it broad- banded enough to keep the off-frequency related SWR at the two extreme ends of the band below 2.0:1. It should be noted that if you communicate on one or two adjacent channels anywhere within the band, you can tune your antenna to achieve optimum performance on those channels. Most people, however, prefer to use the entire bandwidth when tuning.
THINGS YOU WILL NEED

1. Knowledge of what not to do .... read previous sections.
2. Properly installed antenna system (mount, coax and antenna) that was made for the type of radio you will be using and has been tested for shorts and opens in continuity. (See "Testing Continuity")
3. Functional radio.
4. SWR meter. (See "SWR Meter Hook-Up")
5. Short piece of coaxial cable (jumper) with PL-259 connectors on both end.

SWR METER HOOK-UP

The SWR of the antenna, without feedline, can be measured by placing the SWR meter in-line at the antenna instead of at the radio. However, the coax can help or hinder performance. In the end, your SWR should be checked at the radio end because all components will be a part of the final operational system being used.
SWR TESTING REMINDERS:

1. Remember to check for continuity, shorts and opens in your coax and mount installation first.
2. Take measurements in an open area with the vehicle's doors and hatches closed.
3. All measurements should be taken with antenna tip on, unless you do not plan to use the tip in normal use.

THE SET UP

<img onMouseOver="this.style.cursor='hand'" onMouseOut="this.style.cursor=''" alt='Click on image to open in new window' onClick="window.open('http://www.firestik.com/images/swrsetup.gif', 'Image', 'toolbar=0,location=0,status=0,menubar=0,scrollbar s=1,resizable=1');" src="http://www.firestik.co

TxDoc ~ thanks for the tutorial ~ ans'd a lot of unasked questions.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

TxDoc - thanks. Ignore my PM - I should have read the post first.. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif What length firestick are you running..?

I am using a 3 Foot tunable FireFly, but they have a 4 foot version, too.

Yeah - I have the 4 footer but was thinking of going a bit shorter for the front mount bracket.


Thanks

Yeah - I have the 4 footer but was thinking of going a bit shorter for the front mount bracket.


Thanks

Here's a (bad) pic of the 3'
FireFly (http://207.53.239.181/~terry/truck/cb-mount/IMG_0001.JPG)

The tip is roughly 6"-8" above the top of the roof...

hth,

T.

Hey Terry!.. Thanks.. I thought I recognized the area.., I'm in Sachse too http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big%20Smile.gif

He guys. Just a little about CB radios. The FCC limits the output of all CB radios to 4 watts output power at the antenna connector. Your choice of radios is really only a personnal choice. What's really important is the antenna gain (db) the higher the number the better and the match between the radio and antenna, anything lower than 2.0 to 1 SWR is good. An expensive radio with a cheap antenna is a waste of money. Buy a good roof mount and punch a hole in the roof, it's only sheet metal. Keep the antenna as vertical as possible, don't send the energy off into the xenon mist with an angled antenna. With a good system and clean install then 10 miles on the oper road should be easy.

The FCC limits the output of all CB radios to 4 watts output power at the antenna connector. With a good system and clean install then 10 miles on the oper road should be easy.





Do you work for the FCC? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif If you do, 4watts is the max power a radio will do out of the box. Now, in the real word most radios are putting out much more than 4w. And I would really like to see a stock radio walk 10miles.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clown.gif Maybe on ch40 at 3am, a clear night, and sitting on top of a hill.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


Just remember truckers WILL NOT TALK TO YOU IF YOU SOUND LIKE A "four wheeler". Knowing the lingo and walking hard also it will not hurt to get a echo....this will get you the responce from the professional...used lightly.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

A screw drivered HR2510 and an echo mic will get their attentionhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif.


Nobody will answer if you're a mud duckhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif.

"Ya 10-4 on the mud duck"


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Not with the FCC. Just a lowely Electronics tech that builds a lot of antenna systems. I also spent a lot time talking to other Amatuer Radio Geeks (Hams). With the kind of language on CB now, I don't really want to talk with the truckers. FYI. I've done 16 miles on a stock CB long before they had a channel 40. Just a clean install with a half wave whip on the back of a jeep CJ5. Beer call, Nags Head NC. 1971.





The FCC limits the output of all CB radios to 4 watts output power at the antenna connector. With a good system and clean install then 10 miles on the oper road should be easy.





Do you work for the FCC? http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif If you do, 4watts is the max power a radio will do out of the box. Now, in the real word most radios are putting out much more than 4w. And I would really like to see a stock radio walk 10miles.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clown.gif Maybe on ch40 at 3am, a clear night, and sitting on top of a hill.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


Just remember truckers WILL NOT TALK TO YOU IF YOU SOUND LIKE A "four wheeler". Knowing the lingo and walking hard also it will not hurt to get a echo....this will get you the responce from the professional...used lightly.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

You are 100% correct about the langauge! But the one thing I will say is my radio saved me many times from speeding tickets....knock on wood http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif


Back before there was a channel 40 I believe that...that was before anyone knew how to trun up radio...more radios, higher watts, less range...and they probably made much better radios back thenhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif.


Counting the days to OBX....we go right up to the VA boarder....4X4s only!!!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif NOTHING like it in Missouri!!!Edited by: NoWake200

When I was 4 wheeling the Outer Banks there was nothing but sand from Carolla to the VA line, now mostly houses. Radios weren't any better in the 70s just less people screwing up the waves with their power mikes and 1K linears. Maybe they can get out better but that noise skips all over the world affecting everyone else. Once you get away from the Circus Band, you can talk all over the world on 5 watts providing the atmospherics cooperate. As far as speeding tickets are concerned, when towing a 12,000 lb FW, speeding isnt much of a problem although my new DMAX is changing that.





You are 100% correct about the langauge! But the one thing I will say is my radio saved me many times from speeding tickets....knock on wood http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif


Back before there was a channel 40 I believe that...that was before anyone knew how to trun up radio...more radios, higher watts, less range...and they probably made much better radios back thenhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif.


Counting the days to OBX....we go right up to the VA boarder....4X4s only!!!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif NOTHING like it in Missouri!!!

Just curious guys, isn't there some type of replacement antenna that can double as a radio as well as a CB antenna.Trying to get out of mounting anything extra on the truck.

I remember seeing something like that when CBs first caught on in the private sector, about 20 years ago or so??? I never heard of any of them working very good(no range on the CB side). Don't know if there still around or not.


Dave

CB has been a good way to keep posted on road conditions as well as Bear reports, etc. I have a SS bracket which mounts in the stake hole on the bed and rests under my x-bed tool box. Have a 3' Firestick and a cheap Unidin which I will mount in the location in front of the center counsel. May get a better grade of CB before I do?

Was thinking about going with a Uniden. The new 04 I have has an excellent place for mounting the radio as shown in the other posts, but llike I said earlier I just hate to mount that antenna on my truck.

Does anyone know if Jerry is still selling the brackets? I would love to get one for myself and a few friends.





Russ

I still sell the brackets. E-mail me at jermck@aol.com. They are $25.00 plus $5.00 shipping.

I just finished installing my CB, here is the end result!


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/735_DSC00536.JPGEdited by: Duramaxdad

Looks great. What kind of antenna mount did you go with? Lets see of pic of that as well.

Bushwacker,


I havent mounted my antenna yet, Iam going to buy the bracket that Jermck sells, it looks nice. I a T/A Center near my work so I will pick up a Firestik there sometime this week. As soon as it is mounted i will take some picks.


Russ

here's mine, wilson 1000 is roof mounted in the center.


www.chromewheel.com/gallerypages/johntruck.htm (http://www.chromewheel.com/gallerypages/johntruck.htm)


02 chevy drw cc lb 4x4 lt/ 10 lugconversion,xde 245r 19.5 alcoa's, bearcat scanner,cobra 29,wilson 1000/afe,magnaflow,banks acutator,transynd,delvac 1,amsoil bypass,putco running boards


38' prowler 365flts,quad slides with all the goodies,14100lb's loaded


http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/Z64_johns_cb.JPGEdited by: tulsa1718