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I been using CB's for quite some time. First what you want to do is get some 8-10 gauge multiple strand wire for your positve power lead, (which the bigger the guage wire, the better the power source for the CB and also helps in output), (on my other truck I had I gotten an alternator for an ambulance as they have a higher voltage and amp output, also better for reception and output), for your CB and amp power and have it go directly to your main battery, (NOT your accessory battery, otherwise you will get noise interference in your CB speaker), from your CB with a 30amp fuse between the two. What you want to do is measure the distance between center hub of front and rear axles and at the halfway point is where you want to mount the antenna, generally on the roof of the truck but put it as close to the halfway point as possible but center of the top of the cab. This will actually give you better reception and better output. If you are running a power amp with your CB it is better to run an additional ground wire from the CB case to the amp case and then to the ground wires. Your ground wire can be 16 guage multiple strand wire.
The reason for the measuring I had a CB tech guy out by Georgia and Alabama line on IH 85 down by West Point that built CB's and he had set mine up and after the fact he had a meter that after he had the power on he walked around my truck to make sure the readings on his meter were right, the meter picked up the signal output of the CB waves from my truck. I can't remmeber what he was reading, I am not sure if it was olms, or something else. But he said that with the tires being grounded to the road, the best place for the antenna and better output and range was exactly halfway between the front and back axles on the roof of the cab.
Most people will mount the antennas on the bed rail just behind the cab which is also good but you want the antenna to go at least 2 feet above the cab. Now if you plan on running 2 antennas the thing about that is to get good range and without the antennas fighting each other you need at least 8 feet between the antennas which pickup truck beds are less than 5 feet from side bed to side bed. If the antennas are too close together you will not get the range and you will lose reception.
It would also be good to get a meter and tune your antenna. 1/8 inch wire whips are the best antennas to get. Stay away from fiberglass fire sticks or fiberglass antennas that have coiled wire around it as they eventually break and go bad and antennas are a lot of money.
If you mount the antenna on the bed rail where the post hole is. Make sure you get some sandpaper and sand the underside lip of the hole where the antenna mount makes contact with to make ground contact.
Also, if you are going to peak and tweak your CB be careful who you bring it to as some people out there that soldier don't have that much knowledge and experience and won't peak and tweak it right. Find an older man who has years of experience. Most of them are former military vets who repaired radios in the service. Stay away from young kids who are only shown what to do. Talk to some truckers around your area and see if they know of a reputable guy that peaks out radios.
I am running a Cobra 29 peaked and tweaked with talk back and a roadking dyna mike and a Texas Star power amp. I can get a good 20 mile range on my radio and about 28 miles with the amp on,
Last edited by TheHarleyMan2; 06-09-2010 at 07:32 PM.
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06-08-2010, 09:13 AM
Linear Mode
