CB parts list questions

[Okki]

His is the one I'm using:
POWER / SWR METER CB Radio 100 Watts w/ 3' Jumper cable - Workman SWR3P & CX-3-PL-PL

Amazon.com: POWER / SWR METER CB Radio 100 Watts w/ 3' Jumper cable - Workman SWR3P & CX-3-PL-PL: Automotive

Works like a charm although I used the instructions from the Firestik website to understand what I was doing and what the measurements meant.

BTW.. thanks for letting me rant in your ear for a bit Limamike!.. I needed that! (well.. that and a cable that works!) When my soldering station comes in I'm going to try to fix the cable and if that still fails I'm having one made by RF Parts and will chalk it up to "learning expenses".

The youtube video(s) I watched about how to build the cable were not clear enough on one very important details. I'll draw up a schematic some time this week so other who want to venture down the do-it-yourself path for the extension cable won't waste a day and a set of connectors.

Okki

P.S. I did successfully complete the storage access mod on the passenger side tray over the wheel well.

 

[Laubage]

Okki, we grounded the control box on a bolt just below the fuse box next to the parking brake. You'll have to pull the trim lining down there off, but there are several bolts down there you can tie into.

 

[Okki]

Okki, we grounded the control box on a bolt just below the fuse box next to the parking brake. You'll have to pull the trim lining down there off, but there are several bolts down there you can tie into.

I was curious because people have grounded under the yaw/pitch sensor and that doesn't work very well. I ran a dedicated ground to the same location inside the engine bay where the battery is grounded.

Okki

 

[Laubage]

I can mail you mine next week. Just shoot me a PM with your address.

Thanks Limamike, but I think I'll just go ahead and order it online. I figure I'll probably be using it again if I ever get a different antenna. Thanks for the scouting reports guys!

 

[GrantK]

A note on grounding

There are 3 types of grounds when installing a transmitter; power, chassis and RF.

For best results, power ground should go back to the battery (best choice) or other common power ground that can handle the added current. Chassis ground (some CBs don't have a separate chassis ground) should be tied to the cars chassis as close to the transmitter as possible. RF ground should be tied to the body/chassis (pick one, not both) as close to the antenna as possible.

 

[Laubage]

I was curious because people have grounded under the yaw/pitch sensor and that doesn't work very well. I ran a dedicated ground to the same location inside the engine bay where the battery is grounded.

Okki

Okki, before you get out on the open road and talk to the big boys on your CB, make sure you take some lessons from this guy.

CB Warrior (With Trucker Steve) - YouTube

 

[Okki]

Okki, before you get out on the open road and talk to the big boys on your CB, make sure you take some lessons from this guy.

CB Warrior (With Trucker Steve) - YouTube

Not the big trucker type.. I'm brushing up on my TopGun lingo instead. Breaker breaker, iceman got your ears on/ I'm gonna hit the break let you fly right by and turn and burn... :hello: Best Western this is ghost rider requesting a drive-by.... LMAO

Okki

 

[limamike]

Not the big trucker type.. I'm brushing up on my TopGun lingo instead. Breaker breaker, iceman got your ears on/ I'm gonna hit the break let you fly right by and turn and burn... :hello: Best Western this is ghost rider requesting a drive-by.... LMAO

Okki

*brake

I remember when I first started using a CB and I was riding on Channel 19. Truckers love talking **** about Florida drivers, telling each other where cops and hot girls are, and alerting each other of "alligators" in the road. I always have the CB on for long road trips. Saved me a speeding ticket at least a half dozen times!

 

[phillyd2]

I recently drove 8 hours down to NC on I95 and was disappointed that I ran into one speed trap another without a peep on the CB. Is it still used as much as when we were pups?

 

[Laubage]

It probably is, but if your setup is like mine, I only get out about a mile on average.

Last night I did hit some guys on a base station that were 3.5 miles out.

 

[Antman]

CB's are better than radar detectors any day- once you learn the lingo...

"Break 19: 5-O Southbound, hammerlane puttin it down- 67 over 4"

Tells you a cop is southbound in the fast lane, going really fast at mile marker 67.4. What radar detector is going to tell you that? Not to mention the info you get whenever you are stuck in traffic.

You will use your CB more than you think!

 

[Reata]

I was curious because people have grounded under the yaw/pitch sensor and that doesn't work very well. I ran a dedicated ground to the same location inside the engine bay where the battery is grounded.

Okki

Okki, we grounded over in the footwell at the emergency brake right where we tied into the fuse box. Maybe 4 inches from the fuse box.

 

[Okki]

You will use your CB more than you think!

Really? like at 4x4 trail running event in Colorado?:zoom: :banana:

Okki

 

[Antman]

Really? like at 4x4 trail running event in Colorado?:zoom: :banana:

Okki

Aren't you clever, NOT.

 

[Okki]

Aren't you clever, NOT.

I know i'm not.. that's why MY CB still isn't up and running! :lol:

Okki

 

[Antman]

Just drive to MD :dammit:

Half hour, have you up and running! :lmao:

 

[Okki]

Okay.. two items that came up today:

1) I do not possess the skills required to build a mini UHF cable.

QUESTION:
2) If I connect my SWR meter to the control box with the 3ft lead and do NOT connect anything to the antenna side of the SWR meter, what kind of a swr reading should I expect?

The reason I ask because when I tried that today, I get the same 3.6 reading as that I got with my faulty cable. I would have expected a low/normal reading.

Anyone with more CB experience than me any ideas/suggestions?

-----------EDIT--------
Firestik recommends RG-58/U, RG-58 A/U or RG-8X, so I'm going to check with RF Parts and see how that's different from RG316. I know that RG316 is a mil-spec cable and it's used on the first section coming off the Diamond K400 mount, so I'm thinking it should be fine for the remained of the length I need.

Firestik also says to NEVER run your CB without an antenna or a "Dummy Load". So I'm not sure what kind of damage I did (if any) by trying an SWR reading with only the meter attached via 3ft of coax, but I guess I won't try that again.

http://www.firestik.com/Meas-SWR.htm
Some good information there.

Okki

 

[Vegas]

Parts list update? Without diamond k400.

Still confused on a couple things... Sorry I am slow....people mention grounding the control box, you just mean the black ground cord not the red one with the fuse in it... So extended the wire to a part of the metal chassis somewhere, not just any metal screw that goes into the plastic trim.

Also my other question is I plan on mounting the antenna on a future gobi rack. So to replace the diamond k400 mount on this thread for the parts list, can use any generic clamp and take a wire from the clamp and attach it to the bolts in the roof rack to ground it?

*** or do the roof rack bolts make for poor grounds so I would be better off getting an "No ground needed" antenna not sure the real name but its the one in Antmans thread.


*** Can I paint these to match the rack or doesn't that no longer make it a good ground?

Last, since I do not want to try to make my own wire. Can someone check the items below to see i am missing anything to complete my project ?

*Does that 18foot cable connect directly to the bottom of the mounting bracket for the antenna? Hope that makes sense? Do I need like a male or female adapter anything like that?

To power it min fuse tap:
Littelfuse FHA200BP ATO Add-A-Circuit Kit : Amazon.com : Automotive
Cobra 75
18 feet cable
Amazon.com: FireStik K-8A 18 foot single antenna coax cable: Electronics

Mirror-mount (paint black and attached to gobi? Better option?)
MIRROR MOUNT 3 way Aluminum with Stud for CB / Ham Radio Antenna Bracket - Workman RV1 : Amazon.com : Automotive

3' FIRESTICK II TUNABLE TIP BLACK

Firestik SS-3H Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Antenna Spring

SWR METER for CB Radio Antennas with 3' Jumper cable - Workman SWR2T & CX-3-PL-PL



Thanks for all the help!!