Where did you mount the antenna? Did you run a SWR test to tune the antenna after installation? That is a crucial step to making sure that you are able to transmit and receive without damaging your CB.
There are many things that can affect performance (i.e. cable length, grounded connections, continuity, opens, antenna location , antenna height, antenna type, etc).
I have a 2001 durango and mounted a cb in my truck.. i closed up my cig lighter and put a magnetic mount in the back... it works perfect.. i'll post some pictures real soon.
This is my durango with my cb radio... it put it across my cig ligter and it prevents it from falling down and the d got alot more power outlits around.
Thanks for the pics. I was thinking about placing my radio a little to the left of where yours is, but it would end up blocking the light that is used to illuminate the par of the center console that is right up under the dash. I'll end up toying around with a few locations before settling on drilling some holes.
I'm also eyeballing an installation inside of the center console with the possible addition of an external speaker, but who knows yet. Gear should be here in a day or so, at which point I'll know 100% what I'm working with.
I'm also trying a CB with a front-firing speaker to see how it sounds in comparison to most other radios that have the down-firing speaker underneath of the unit.
Very true about power the outlets in these things, they are everywhere.
Where did you mount the antenna? Did you run a SWR test to tune the antenna after installation? That is a crucial step to making sure that you are able to transmit and receive without damaging your CB.
There are many things that can affect performance (i.e. cable length, grounded connections, continuity, opens, antenna location , antenna height, antenna type, etc).
The antenna is a magnet mount on the roof in the center in front of the luggage rack. My CB has a meter on it and it shows full strength on just about every channel. I barely get fuzz unless I turn the sq.almost all the way down. The antenna is one of those thick 1' high Pep Boys magnet antenna's. Under the cap on the tip is a screw that I can adjustm but never have messed with it.
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Sean
'03 Durango 4.7
'97 Avenger 2.5
'76 Cobra II 5.0
'78 Mustang II 2.3
A 1' antenna won't pick up from a great distance and will not allow far transmissions, but it should at least pick up something. When you say meter, is it an SWR (standing wave ratio) meter? The system probably needs to be tuned so you can receive and transmit properly. The tunable tip on the antenna is there for a reason, as CB radios and antennas are by no means a plug-and-play operation.
If you don't have a SWR meter built into the radio, you'll need to pick one up (only like 10 bucks or so) and run a proper tuning test (or take it somewhere to have someone do it for you) on your system to ensure that everything is in check.
yeah i have a 4 foot mag mount antana on the back of my truck infront of the back roof rack mount... i also have full use of the cup holders where my cb is mounted..
That is the one thing I am grappling with at the moment: what to sacrifice to install the radio. Anywhere along that part of the dash can result in the loss of one or both of those cup holders, power plug, and/or ashtray/cig lighter. Now, since I don't smoke and no passengers smoke, losing the ashtray is not a huge problem. I'm just not a fan of obstructing factory functionality of the interior.
All in all, it's a compromise between ergonomics and interior functionality. I think I'm going to sacrifice the ashtray and the right (passenger side) cup holder, which still leaves the big cup holder in the center and the driver's side adjustable cup holder as well. I just prefer not to have to lean to adjust the radio while I'm driving; call me lazy or just a safety nut.
There are a few other mounting options with varying levels of difficulty/problems:
1. Door. Mounted vertically inside of one of those compartments that aren't handy for a lot of things. Only problem, radio goes for a ride and gets slammed with the doors. Probably not the best option.
2. Inside of center console, mounted vertically. This option would require the use of an external speaker, since I prefer to rest my right arm there, and not have it on the radio. Also requires removal of center console to run wires.
3. Dash right above emergency brake release, but it's an interesting fit between the door, steering column, and emergency brake release handle.
4. Dash right above accelerator leg. Problem here is visibility of the radio's face and potential for contact with the leg while driving.
5. Dash right in front of the power outlet (just to the right of #4), but this eliminates that adjustable cup holder on the driver's side.
What needs to be included in all of this is the presence of the microphone and it's cable. They take up space too and need to be ergonomically functional to utilize and not interfere with the interior too much.
Perhaps I'm putting too much thought into this, but I just want to be 100% happy when it's finished (and I've drilled holes into something that can't be undone). I'm all for trying to figure out some other creative ideas too if anyone can think of something.
CB Radio
