Cb's and equipment

A Wilson Silver Load is a good antenna and most likely won't need to be tuned, although you can tune them should the need arise. You can put any antenna in replace of the factory ones on any truck. However, the coax that comes from the factory is cheaply made and will affect your radios performance. Depending on the model of truck you'll be driving, buying an antenna mirror mount and 18' of coax will be best. If you'll be in a Pete 387, KW T2000, KW T600 or 660, or a Freightliner Cascadia you'll not be able to easily create a place to mount any aftermarket mounting brackets and coax.

 

There is a lot of info on this subject in the electronics thread,

 

Yes go to the CB thread for more info.

That post about changing the antennas on those pre installed POS that use a splitter for the CB and AM/FM/CD is not good advice! You will have crapy AM and FM reception with an Wilson, Francis or other CB omly antenna. Especially AM. The stock antennas are wrapped (manufactured) for AM/FM radio and CB. You'll have sucky AM and AM is what you need for big city traffic reports. Yes, that's what I said, TRAFFIC REPORTS! AM radio is better than the CB any more and way better than XM and the rest as they can run 30 minutes behind! AM radio in most markets are from 5-15 minutes and can do better than a CB as the route as in NYC or Atlanta ,LA or Chicago with numerous routes can reach further than a 5 mile CB can if you even get that good of reception in rush hour traffic wiyh Billy Big Rigger playing his music, burping or checking his panties!

What I've done since I found out that FL and the rest charge stupid money for a short stock antenna is to go get a nice 4' fibreglass antenna and the best I've found was a Wilson Silver Load. Get a mount, 18' coax and put it on that mirror mount if you can. If your CB has the SWR set switches you don't need an SWR meter or the 3' (three' one foot does not give you a correct SWR reading) coax that goes between the CB and meter. 18' coax is the best length so you have a good wave.

How you run the coax is important also. If you run it through the window you crush the coax. It's made round for a reason and that's to insure that the signal makes the proper wave as some call it. But crushing it causes a flat spot and screws the signal up. Try to run it around the door and then out to the mirror mount. Duct tape or Gorilla glue will keep it secure to the inside of the door frame and tie wraps to the mount.
Do not bundle the excess coax up as this can cause a "trap" and reduce your signal. This is like what Cable TV used to do to keep you from getting say HBO or Showtime or other channels you didn't pay for. If you keep the coax straight it does a better job How I run mine through a FL (plastic truck) is I first take the A pillar cover off ( the a pillar is the part that the windshield mounts to and is what some call the door post. Usually held on with 2 torque screws. Put your mirror mount on as far out as you can. Now start from where the CB goes in the overhead and run the coax either behind that box over your head or into it and back out and out the door NOT THE WINDOW! screw it onto the fitting on the mount. Make a "drip loop" about 6" down and then bring the coax up to the mirror mound and tie wrap it with 2 wraps next to each other the another 2 or 3 until you get to the door . You'll take the coax over the top of the door and (make sure the inside of the door and frame is clean) duct tape it to the inside of the door and take it down to just above the top door hinge and loop it over to the door post and take it up to the top and then bring it into the truck and pull the slack out of it from the cb mounting box. Put the cover back on the pillar making sure that the coax is going through the hole for the horn cable where it mounts to the roof NOT where the valve is. If you take it through the hole where the valve is it will stick in the on position when you pull it and that is not fun!

You now need to run the coax as far to the passenger side as you can by feeding a loop behind the other storage box over the passenger seat then bring it back to the CB and you're done! Now you have a dedicated CB coax and you still have a AM/FM that works!

OH, for some reason morons take the cover panel that comes with the truck and throw it away! Why I have no freaking idea except that they are the same morons that cut the coax ends off in the over head and even the connector on the power plug if it was ordered! It ain't theirs so they don't care! I still have the CB plate that I bought from a dealer that is actually made to fit snuggly over a Uniden or Cobra.

You can actually bend a stock plate to fit over your CB by measuring the front of the radio of your choice, then marking it on the plate and taking the plate into a shop with a nice bench vice and have 2 pieces of 2x4 to keep the plate nice and scratch free! sandwich the plate in between the 2x4s and with the 2x4 on the back of the plate exactly on the line you marked tighten the vice snugly and with a RUBBER mallet or even a rawhide one in hand first bend the plate towards it's back side and when you get it bent almost 90* using the rubber hammer smooth out the bend to 90* and you're done!

Take the plate into the truck and after making sure the CB is connected and working and strapped down put the plate in and put the trim work on and you have a nice pretty CB with a nice cover and not that ugly hole so many have and it also makes it harder for some low life to steal the radio and holds it snuggly so it doesn't bounce and beat it's self to death!

If you don't want to go through that trouble then go to a FL dealer and you can buy that bent plate for about $30. You can also buy both ends of the power plug so you have them for your next truck without having to locate your splices and tape!

Oops, what about the Mic you ask? OK I use some good ole redneck coat hanger technology here! YES I know there is that nice store bought shiny mic holder but it's NOT your truck until you pay the lease! Why put holes in a truck? I've used this since 1987!

You can get a screw with a bigger head that will fit in the hole for the CB mount at a machine supply shop or even at an auto parts store but the best will be a NAPA Store! Get a large 1/2 0r 3/4" washer to go with it. get a metal coat hanger and cut the bottom at the curves. On one end you will make a round "hole for the screw that fits in the mount holes. Do this with a needle nose pliers by just holding the end in the nose and wrap it around the nose and you have a "hole." Attach it to the CB then bring it out to the front of the CB into the truck and let it be maybe 2" in front of the CB face. Now you need to bend the hanger down maybe an inch or so then bend it to the left and using the mics hanger button on the back bend the coat hangar around it enough that it is snug but not tight and then with the needle nose pliers make a nice curly end to the side that will guide the mic into the holder and so you don't stab your self on the end of the hangar! Yes it looks like a redneck job but mine has lasted 22 years! It works. It holds my mic where I can get to it and it is cheap and doesn't put holes in the upholstery of the truck!

Now the cord to the mic. What to do? If you have a side mount mic cord bring enough cord through so that the mic will reach your mouth while sitting in the seat. I don't bring all that excess out as I don't go hide in the sleeper at truck stops playing sissy baby games. It's a tool and I only use it while driving so it reaches the mouth and that's all it needs to do. If I have to let the mic loose to make some fast turns on the steering wheel I just let it go and it hangs out of my way and never hits the dash! I also don't have all those stupid little bungee cords all over the cab looking like a monkeys play set! The mic fits in the redneck hangar and the little amount of cord stays out of my way!
For a front mount mic you're on your own! I know a GOOD CB shop can install a side mount connector or move that front mount to the side and put some kind of a knob in it's place. A good thing about a side mount mic is it really makes it even harder to steal the CB as it just does not slide out the front!

For a Pete with the over head mount I take the mic cord over the top of the CB and that takes care of the excess!I hate KW's and Volvos with those easy steal dash mounts dash tray but it still works! I really don't like electronic equipment laying in the sun! Especially my old CB! A white towel lays on it to keep bad MR Sun from cooking the board!

##### does Rollover ever shut up??? No, knowledge should be passed on! LOL