I’m looking to get a ch added to my 2013 pinnacle. In the overhead bin I have the power/ antenna connections. The drivers side mirror has an antenna ( I assume am/fm) pass side has a stud but not antenna, so I am assuming it’s all setup to throw a cb in. I’ve never installed one, any tips? What size antenna should I get? 4ft fiberglass whip? Seems like the radio install is pretty basic, it’s just tuning it that’ll take a bit of patience.
After more looking around.. there is a coax end in the overhead cb cubby, but nothing coming out of either mirror. What’s is the easiest way to fish a new cable from the mirror to overhead cubby? It’s looking like I will be needing to run a new cable.
The only real issue to installing a CB is that of the antenna. The radio itself is simple and has a positive and a negative wire. Ideally those wires should be run direct to the batteries and properly fused. The installation of the antenna is the booger on newer vehicles. They need a good rf ground (ground plane). That has nothing to do with a AC/DC ground. Running an additional ground wire won't accomplish anything. You can google rf ground and get a ton of information. (some of it worthless, but there is some good info on the net/youtube) Unless you really want to delve into it and do a bunch of bonding, your best bet is to probably go with the Firestik no-ground plane antenna. https://www.amazon.com/FireStik-FG4648-B-No-ground-plane-antenna/dp/B000X3EOPG They make a shorter one but I would stay with the 4 footer. I don't think they make one any longer than that. Mount it as high as you can get away with. Don't use the coax installed in the truck. Run a separate, single coax to the antenna. The antenna will need to be tuned (SWR set). The radio shouldn't need anything unless it is used and somebody has already messed it up. The "no ground plane" antenna won't have a lot of range but you can get a good enough match (SWR) with it to be functional. The setup I've described isn't ideal, but it is a start and will work, and makes things simple starting out. Hope this helps. You haven't had any comments yet, so either the gurus here haven't seen your post, or had time to answer it. There are some very knowledgeable folks on here. Sometimes, you don't see comments until somebody posts something they can argue with or call out as wrong, according to them,......maybe my post will get them started FWIW
