cb radio

[Lazy-Ferret]

Well, I fitted it... There is a nice space in the dash, up above the kick panel on the drivers side.

First I removed the bottom of the dash... to do this, you need to take out the last fixing on the plastic sill protector, then remove the kick panel, this has a single screw behind the little round cover, and has a panel clip in the middle that also keeps it in place. Once the kick panel is out, you can pull off the door seal, and then undo the 4 screws holding the lower dash in place.







For some reason, the 4th screw is worthy of a small plastic cover, which has to be removed.



Once the 4 screws are removed, the lower dash can be pulled away, straight towards the drivers seat, as there are several spring clips still keeping it in place.

There is a nice area just waiting for something to be installed, so in my case, the CB has gone here..

I removed the screw holding the relay in place.



I then made a plate that would fit in this location, that I could bolt the CB too.



I then used a 6mm tap, and tapped these holes, so I could fix my plate to the side. I also used the relay fixing bolt as well.



I then attached the plate to the top of my CB.



And bolted it into place.





I am still waiting for the aerial mount I ordered to come, but had an old gutter mount lurking, so for the purposes of testing, as I have had this radio since 1988, and wanted to see if it still worked, before drilling any aerial holes etc, I made a bracket up for the front bull bar, and mounted the aerial on there, since there was already a convenient fixing just waiting for something to be bolted to it.





Excuse the Bird Poo, it did that while I was taking the picture...

I did the SWR, 1.2 to 1, so happy with that.

I then refitted the dash... and this is how it looks with everything back where it should be..





Now all you will see is the control unit.







I still need to get a Microphone clip, but basically it all seems to work. I will try it out for a few days, and if I am happy, I will then fix the aerial mount to the back off side, using a vertical side mount, although, I quite like it where it is for off roading, as it is in the place least likely to get caught up.

[millie2]

beware whipping your windscreen from there years ago i put mine out with my ariel. KEV

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by millie2

beware whipping your windscreen from there years ago i put mine out with my aerial. KEV

Cheers.. I was wondering that...

I was thinking of running a bit of fishing line from the aerial whip to the roof light bar, so it can't whip. Having said that, it may be all academic, when it gets moved to the back corner.

The problem then is, it will be the body work that gets hit instead... Will have to put some cold water pipe insulation over it...

[millie2]

Nice neat install bud good look with the twig. KEV

[Dynamics]

For some reason, the 4th screw is worthy of a small plastic cover, which has to be removed.



That screw is in the wrong place Mate. It should be in the possition of the side screw in the top picture.

Brian.

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by Dynamics

That screw is in the wrong place Mate. It should be in the possition of the side screw in the top picture.

Brian.

Dohhh... that would make a lot more sense....

I did wonder why a visible screw is left as a black blob, and a hidden one is covered, but since that was how it has always been, just accepted it.

Now I will have to change it...

[solarman216]

Just a point about your twig mount, it has very little if any ground plane, for a good swr it needs a foot of metal all round the base minimum , Briggie will tell you the details, Rick

[Fez_uk]

In a ideal world it needs to be in the centre of the cars roof. I wouldn't worry too much about the front mount other than whipping the screen.

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by solarman216

Just a point about your twig mount, it has very little if any ground plane, for a good swr it needs a foot of metal all round the base minimum , Briggie will tell you the details, Rick

Originally Posted by Fez_uk

In a ideal world it needs to be in the centre of the cars roof. I wouldn't worry too much about the front mount other than whipping the screen.

Thanks Guys, I did do my RAE course, so know a bit about it. Basically, it is not going in the middle of the roof, as firstly I would struggle to reach it to take it on and off, and even the little bee sting radio aerial hits the car park roof. I also only intend to use it for Pay and Play days, so it will be off of the car most of the time.

The SWR is actually very good, as long as there is some metal around the base, bearing in mind it has a bonnet right behind, and the bull bars and stainless steel spot lamps, which are all earthed are also in close proximity. The ground plane really has more effect on the direction of transmission than the SWR, so my inst will mainly transmit behind, and not be too hot going forward.

The other mount I have ordered is worse, as it goes on the back wing, so only has metal to the one side, and nothing underneath.

[exosteve]

all good stuff.thanks for all the advice
steve