Rise of the Silver Pheonix: a build thread

[downpour11]

i'm not quite sure how far i want to get in chasing down RF....you got a good cheap solution?

Yeah, but it kinda sucks our mounts aren't made of stainless steel. I have no engine noise at all, my signal comes through real clear, but I had to grind off the powdercoating around all the mounting holes for it to ground properly (where the stud mounts, and the holes for where it mounts to the body). But since these mounts are made of steel, they will rust pretty quick. Mine is already showing signs of rust. My SWR is at 1.6 which is pretty decent (ideal SWR is 1.1 as you prob know). I'm putting a ground wire from the mount to the frame as well which should lower the SWR a little bit and I'll be right around 1.1. Otherwise, best bet is to get a stainless steel mount with no coating and add a ground wire and you should be good to go.

The guy who tuned by antenna recommends 604 stainless steel so I might see if I can have a friend replicate the drifter mount.

 

[theizzardking]

Otherwise, best bet is to get a stainless steel mount with no coating and add a ground wire and you should be good to go.

The guy who tuned by antenna recommends 604 stainless steel so I might see if I can have a friend replicate the drifter mount.

played around with it a bit more today,moved the power lead to the spare battery where there's nothing else coming off it, ran a ground wire from the ant to the body and had much better results in term of range, i'm picking things up from at least 10miles away as far as i can tell, and my area is very hilly and wooded , but who knows what those guy are transmitting on..so i'm pretty happy with that but the engine noise is still an issue, i ran through my lights,winch, ect trying to see how much rfi those produced and if they might be the problem but the issue happens at key on,nothing to do with the other accessories.. it's pretty quiet when just pulling from the battery with out the key on, but when running i have my squelch up just under half way to drown out the engine.

also the mount with the ground wire under it is now scratching the side of my hatch, and also deflects under the weight of the antenna, i'm running the 5ft where i think most are going with the 4ft , i'm just wondering if others are having these issues, i think i'm with you in looking for another mount that's going to give a better ground, i'm looking to making something up in the coming week or so as well, it makes me nervous, also seen anything around that looks better than a tennis ball for body protection?

 

[downpour11]

also seen anything around that looks better than a tennis ball for body protection?[/B]

Try running a ground wire from the mount to the frame too, that might kill some of your engine noise. Too many damn ground issues LOL. It's annoying. The powdercoating is one of the main problems.

 

[theizzardking]

Try running a ground wire from the mount to the frame too, that might kill some of your engine noise. Too many damn ground issues LOL. It's annoying. The powdercoating is one of the main problems.

yeah i just spray painted the mount so i have no problem grinding it down, i really need this holiday shipping stuff to be over so i can get my swr meter in the mail, i'm going to play around with mount and see how much of a difference it makes in terms of rfi, because it seems expected that things like the fuel pump might interfere with the radio...you running the same cb as me?


haha, those actually serve a purpose? didn't think they would be robust enough of a real antenna.

 

[downpour11]

LOL no I was just kidding - I don't know what else there is. You're just talking about keeping the antenna from whipping the truck?

Nah, I'm running a Midland 1001LWX. Play around with your dremel too. I also dremeled the top of the bolt for the stud mount (the top of the bolt that you screw the coax cable into). I'll get a pic, one sec...

My nikon coolpix camera suckssss but here's what I'm talking about:

Dremel the top of the bolt that is touching the mount:

 

[theizzardking]

Nah, I'm running a Midland 1001LWX. Play around with your dremel too. I also dremeled the top of the bolt for the stud mount (the top of the bolt that you screw the coax cable into). I'll get a pic, one sec...

hey i'm eye balling this you know if it works?
Firestik SS204A Adjustable, SS Vertical Door Jamb Mount CB Radios, Stryker Radios, CB Radio Antennas and Accessories - Experienced CB Technicians at WalcottCB.com

also check this stuff out, might come in handy down the line
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...Solutions/DiplaySubAssembly/EMI_RFIShielding/

 

[downpour11]

That mount would work perfect. Prob need to drill some holes and possibly bend it to make it work. The RFI shielding tape is pretty cool, where/what do you apply the tape to? The mount? Stud?

 

[theizzardking]

That mount would work perfect. Prob need to drill some holes and possibly bend it to make it work. The RFI shielding tape is pretty cool, where/what do you apply the tape to? The mount? Stud?

don't know never played with it might wrap the box in the stuff or try clearing some paint from the chassis,cleaning and put a layer of this stuff down and bolt over the top of it, should protect the bare steel and allow for a god ground though to be honest i'm not quite sure how this stuff works, i'd have to try a couple of different things and see what flies , i just got my ham license and i suck at electrical stuff hard, so this is all a learning process for me, and i really need to try a few things and see what works.

side note, this looked really cool, i wish i would have found this before i bought the other cable, it has a small detachable end to make feeding the cable easier and allows for smaller holes to be made for feeding wires..if i ever do this again i'll try one of these
18' CB Coax Cable w. Removeable PL259 Connector 188XN13 CB Radios, Stryker Radios, CB Radio Antennas and Accessories - Experienced CB Technicians at WalcottCB.com

haha,also if the new mount fails might try one of these...you think it'll have any merit? i really think if no one else is having issues, i might need to just sort my grounds and mounting situation out.
Power Line Filter for CB Radios and Stereos CBNF3AXX CB Radios, Stryker Radios, CB Radio Antennas and Accessories - Experienced CB Technicians at WalcottCB.com

 

[downpour11]

don't know never played with it might wrap the box in the stuff or try clearing some paint from the chassis,cleaning and put a layer of this stuff down and bolt over the top of it, should protect the bare steel and allow for a god ground though to be honest i'm not quite sure how this stuff works, i'd have to try a couple of different things and see what flies , i just got my ham license and i suck at electrical stuff hard, so this is all a learning process for me, and i really need to try a few things and see what works.

side note, this looked really cool, i wish i would have found this before i bought the other cable, it has a small detachable end to make feeding the cable easier and allows for smaller holes to be made for feeding wires..if i ever do this again i'll try one of these
18' CB Coax Cable w. Removeable PL259 Connector 188XN13 CB Radios, Stryker Radios, CB Radio Antennas and Accessories - Experienced CB Technicians at WalcottCB.com

haha,also if the new mount fails might try one of these...you think it'll have any merit? i really think if no one else is having issues, i might need to just sort my grounds and mounting situation out.
Power Line Filter for CB Radios and Stereos CBNF3AXX CB Radios, Stryker Radios, CB Radio Antennas and Accessories - Experienced CB Technicians at WalcottCB.com

Man, I am horrrrrible with electrical wiring. I'm learning along the way too. I can read simple schematics but that's about it right now LOL.

I was just thinking about a RF filter too! That would help a lot, if you're getting a grip of RF noise I'd just grab one of those anyway. The grounding + the RF filter would prob solve all your problems. Sounds like you're getting good range already, just trying to kill the damn noise. Let us know what your SWR is at when your meter arrives I'm interested.

 

[theizzardking]

swapped out winch plates,decided to throw on the synthetic line, gave her a bath and went to the lake for the day before heading to a fundraiser for a buddy, also added links to my build thread on the fist page for the work i've done

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Just wanted to check in as I haven't seen your thread in a while, still looking awesome, I hope the rack has been good as its one of the first! Keep it up!

 

[theizzardking]

Just wanted to check in as I haven't seen your thread in a while, still looking awesome, I hope the rack has been good as its one of the first! Keep it up!

thanks for checking in!

Rack is doing great man, has served me well for everyday that I've had it, i try to send people your way every chance i get because I'm still happy with it every time i load up for the weekend and send it out, i think the only ones that like more than me is the pups, they really appreciate having all of that extra room in cabin now! lol

been super busy wit life and a few other things, so haven't done much work to the truck, she's just turned 205,xxxx and still going strong without an issue to be seen, had a few more trips down to UT and back in her and am fully confident in her getting me where i need to go...

still need to do a rear bumper and few other little things, but all in all haven't been let down yet!

 

[Hepar]

thanks for checking in!

Rack is doing great man, has served me well for everyday that I've had it, i try to send people your way every chance i get because I'm still happy with it every time i load up for the weekend and send it out, i think the only ones that like more than me is the pups, they really appreciate having all of that extra room in cabin now! lol

been super busy wit life and a few other things, so haven't done much work to the truck, she's just turned 205,xxxx and still going strong without an issue to be seen, had a few more trips down to UT and back in her and am fully confident in her getting me where i need to go...

still need to do a rear bumper and few other little things, but all in all haven't been let down yet!

We need to meet up! Still haven't seen the reborn Phoenix!

 

[theizzardking]

We need to meet up! Still haven't seen the reborn Phoenix!

lol...you've been busy to brother, we should make a trip sometime this spring and go run a few trails and camp!

 

[Kitsune]

WOW! Beautiful!

 

[Hepar]

lol...you've been busy to brother, we should make a trip sometime this spring and go run a few trails and camp!

For sure. Heading to the coast the weekend of March 22nd if you have any interest.

 

[shootmymime]

Yeah this is the runner i was talking about. i hadnt seen the build since now.

any thoughts for a BL in the future?

 

[shootmymime]

Wait, your running your stock amp with that head unit? Ive got the same head unit and pulled the factory amp out.. why is yours still there?

 

[Scramble]

Nice truck, I'm thinking of buying the same rims in 17" from Discount Tire. They're on sale for $320, free shipping. I want to do the TBU before winter hits. Thanks for the info.