Newbie upgrading from factory 2018 Cascadia Evolution CB antenna and radio

I just finished it in a cold parkin lot in just a 10 min...Its only basically in olace for now,ill tidy it up when i get more free time...So far i get no electronic moise from anything ither than a lil from a cell charger....How ever i did notice a cpl time noise would die off when i applied the brakes..Gonna have to get some graphite for front wheel axle oil..

 

Got mine hooked up just a few minutes ago. About 20 minutes like you said..(once I finally found a ratchet and wrench that would fit in the space). Once I got all put back together, cranked the truck up and fired the radio up. Still had to squelch it down, so unhooked coax. No noise, so know it's not the truck. Gotta start researching the antenna issues now...ugh.

 

What noise?

Does the noise happen when the truck is running?

If so, what is the meter reading of the noise level?

 

Ridgeline, it's static mostly. Hard to describe and yes, it happens when the truck is running. Like I posted, there's no noise when I unhook the coax (I have it direct wired to posts near fuse box) .
Not sure of the meter reading. Don't have a swr meter - that's on my list to get tomorrow. Until then I will do research and see if I can find idea's on grounding perhaps or best thing, take it to mu local CB shop and let them do their magic.

 

Start with the tallest ant(min 5ft),no wilson 2000 styleant.....Your ant stud should not be any of the crap studs that come with ant brackets..Grab a wilson hd alumium stud..
Grab 2 or 4 wide braided ground straps and connect a door side of door hinge to cab side..No longer than 8"..
Now get a decient multi meter and learn what to look for in ohm loss...If possibe use as much stainless as possible with ant mounts n such..
Study up on k0bg.com

 

craig_sez, Got the newest mount made for the Cascadia's - the one with two bolts - and best coax they had at the CB shop. Running a 7' Firestick. Wife has me doing stuff before I head out Sunday, so no going shopping yet.
Will run to CB shop tomorrow and see what they say. If anything, I'll get the ground straps there and attach them and go from there.

 

What I had in my 2019 Cascadia

1). Uniden 880 (recommend 980)
2). RM ITALY KL203 amp
3). West Mountain Radio DSP Speaker
4). Pair PROCOMM antenna mounts
5). Pair 7’ Skipshooter antennas
6). Wilson co-phase coax
7). DIY 10ga power leads, both ends fused (ANCOR wiring products only)
8). Radio, amp, mike, speaker and distribution panel can all be mounted in a TAC COMM TRC-1 Radio Carrier. Then Velcro to dash.
9). DX Engineering RG8 1.5’ coax jumpers
10). DX Engineering antenna weatherseal Kit
11). UV resistant nylon zip ties.
12). Power leads straight down center front and under cover to fuse box power leads. Radio, speaker and amp all need power. I used a West Mountain 5-circuit Rig Runner which was mounted to an optional radio carrier panel
13). ANDERSON POWER POLES used.

Coax will go to exterior at same place door wiring enters body.

Cover all with flame-resistant ANCOR split loom.

Both coax and power need to be treated for noise at either end. A 1:1 balun or ferrites at antenna coax feedpoint, and similar at radio. Ferrite for power leads both ends.

I used products from both

DX ENGINEERING
PALOMAR ENGINEERS

for noise reduction on coax and power leads.

The DSP Speaker is a revelation. Cuts noise so substantially that CB is a new experience.

The other noise reduction (as above) and in replacing some chargers and treating other 12V with ferrite solutions to make a clean sweep.

10-15 miles to another Mobile with favorable conditions. 5-10 almost always. Past those to a base station. Really comes down to quality of other man’s rig. With skip rolling, hundreds or thousands of miles.

A). The tiny amp will get you heard.

B). The DSP Speaker will let you hear conversations you'd otherwise never know existed.

C). The Radio Carrier keeps everything neatly together. Protection. No more damage moving it in or out.

No need with a 980 to have a shop do anything to it. You’ll want someone with an antenna analyzer to get the most from that system (bonding, etc, indicated)

Someday, you want bigger & better, go to it. But less quality than this isn’t worth it. First thing I’d add is a DIAMOND cross-needle meter (as an example).

Take your time with parts list. May also need tools. Ideally your system is as good or better than how the factories wire things up. Better supplies, but also better work. No chafe points. No taut runs. Etc.

Reference reading is the HAM guru www.K0BG.com
That’s your bible

Good luck

.

 

Alan is not a guru.

 

For Mobile he’s close enough.

If you’ve another source, post up.

You could’ve waited with that. I almost had the bobble-head dashboard ornaments confirmed for production.

 

Did a short quicky vid for power wire run on my youtube ch..Also did a short one on wheel brg static...