CB Radio Install Noob Questions

[SAC-CA-Runner]

I hope someone can help and confirm what I may have done or NOT done correct on my CB (Cobra 19DXIV) installation. I mounted it in the ashtray location and came out great. I used one 90 from the back of the unit to a 18' Antenna cable run along the drivers side. I ran it thru the vent in the back to another 90 and connected it to the Firestik 4' Tuneable Antenna.

Now at the back (and this is where I need some clarification), I bought t4r4life's mount. I painted it silver (like my 4R), but I sanded it on the underneath portion of the mount where the antenna connector goes thru and where the bolt holes are near the hatch. I also sanded the car paint a little to get some good contact (Measured .003 with ohmmeter if I remember correctly). When I mounted the antenna I went Medium Spring then Quick Disconnect. Now underneath the mount it is metal on metal there. The plastic ring is ON TOP of the mount where the spring is.

One other thing...when I installed the radio and put power to it I hooked the Mic up and hit the transmit button. It states NOT to do that. Well...I read that a bit too late. I guess it can fry components in the radio? I didn't have an antenna or antenna cable hooked up at the time.

I bought an SWR meter and attempted to tune my antenna. ON ALL the channels 1/19/40 I was well in the red zone when I tuned it and then when I switched it from FWD/REF.

So my questions are:
1. Did I screw up my CB by hitting the transmit button with no cable/antenna attached?
2. Do I have it grounded improperly at the mount in the back?

I can't imagine my antenna wire is screwed up. It's fairly straightforward to run. And I've put in MANY stereos in my day. So I'm kinda stumped on this. And I know it's easy!!!!

Any help or pics of your rear mount would be appreciated. Or if someone in CO (Denver proper) would want to help it would be appreciated. I'd like to have it working before my drive out to CA on the 25th. Thanks and sorry for the long post.

 

[So Many Roads]

I had the same issue with t4r4life's mount. Ultimately, using a multimeter, I found there was a short in the stud assembly where it connnected to the mount which was causing a SWR reading of 10. The mount hole in the antenna mount was 7/16ths. Standard size is 1/2". The nylon washer provided by firestick is made for a 1/2" hole. Once I drilled out the hole to 1/2", it solved the problem. I still need to replace the nylon washer, as it was damaged by the smaller hole.

Look at this diagram, I found it helpful. Make sure the stud is set up properly (nylon washer on top). If you need a multimeter or some help, PM me and come up to Boulder Sunday and I can help you out.

Testing Continuity -- 1996 Firestik&#174 Antenna Company

I also need to give [MENTION=47554]t4r4life[/MENTION] a heads up on this issue.

Your question - 1. Did I screw up my CB by hitting the transmit button with no cable/antenna attached? No, should affect the CB. You would have to transmit (& speak) for some period of time before it would damage the radio.

 

[t4r4life]

My apologoies, when i first test fitted using my own firestik it was the older style, and i was getting good swr about 1.6:1. Sorry about the issues. I'd make you guys a new one and take back the old one but i no longer make these.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Great! Thanks So Many Roads! Maybe tomorrow or Friday when it warms up a tad I'll go out there and drill it to a bigger hole and do those measurements you sent the link on. If I still have an issue come Saturday I'll send you over a PM to see about some help on Sunday. I'm hoping I can resolve this myself. But I will be in Boulder on Sunday anyway hitting up Avery and Upslope for some brews. If you help out I don't mind buying you a couple! Also...forgot to ask...part G on the diagram where it touches the t4r4life mount, did you sand yours down to bare metal or leave it painted? I sanded mine down to bare metal. Good? Bad? Thanks

[MENTION=47554]t4r4life[/MENTION] - No worries! Sh*t happens, but it might be good to let people know just in case someone else has this issue. IF, IF that is even my issue.

 

[downpour11]

Also...forgot to ask...part G on the diagram where it touches the t4r4life mount, did you sand yours down to bare metal or leave it painted? I sanded mine down to bare metal. Good? Bad? Thanks

It's good to sand it down to bare metal, it allows for a much better ground. The powder coating will mess with your SWR. So yeah, it's good you sanded it.

 

[So Many Roads]

On that diagram, G is ground & H is hot. Everything that is grounded should have continuity together, everything that is hot should have continuity together, and G should have no continuity with H.

On the stud mount, you should have no continuity between the base of the stud mount (which is grounded) and the top of the stud mount. I had continuity between these two because of the short. The nylon washer prevents the threaded post that goes through the antenna mount from touching the mount. Mine was touching the mount because the hole was too small, hence the short.

It sounds like you've done a good job grounding the mount, which is important. Here is a link that shows how to verify it's grounded properly.

Testing for a Ground | Right Channel Radios

The picture below shows how I grounded mine. I removed the paint where the mount screws into the frame, and left the rubber piece off. Seemed to work well.

Let us know how you solve the problem.

 

[t4r4life]

I thought people always ran a seperate ground wire, thats how me and COB did ours, that might be your problem.

 

[So Many Roads]

If you have continuity between the antenna mount and the negative terminal on your battery then it is grounded properly.

 

[TRDteen]

I thought people always ran a seperate ground wire, thats how me and COB did ours, that might be your problem.

thats what did. ran it inside the taillight. (COB helped me haha)

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Well, I had to order some more nylon washers on Amazon. Will be here on Friday. The one I used initially is shot. I had to open the hole to 1/2" as well. But as I tightened the rod kept moving and touching the mount. So I'll get those Friday and re-try. Everything is grounded as I was at .02 on the ohm meter for ground when it wasn't touching. I'll then try and use my SWR to tune it again! Thanks guys!!!! Glad I posted up! I'll let you know the results

 

[Gerdo]

Grounds are probably the number one issue people have with poor CB performance.

Make sure that the antenna is touching bare metal.
Make sure the mount bolts are touching bare metal on the mount and the body.
Run a separate ground wire to the chassis of the CB.

Also, don't coil up the extra antenna cable, it will act like a choke and kill performance (sometimes it won't receive or transmit at all).

 

[1blink]

.0

0.02 ohm is not the best ground. Ground may be your problem. Shoot for 0.00