cb radio

[exosteve]

Ive never been into or had a cb radio as im a grumpy unsociable git.
But it has to be said it does make sence to have one for off roading.
Ive had a quick look on fleabay and was confused as there is so many different types.
do i go for a console that fits in the car with areial or just a hand held jobby.
advice please?
steve.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Handheld jobbies are convenient, no installation, but can be difficult to hear, and have a habit of falling on the floor just out of reach every time you go over a bump. Both the transmission and reception range is affected by being in the car, and often they have a lower power rating. The are harder to use, as the size makes them hard to hold in one hand when you are driving. They can also be harder to work out which channel you are on, as often they do not have a display, just numbers round the switch, or worse still, up down buttons that take an age to get to the channel.

The more traditional dash mounted style ones, have better reception, due to outside aerial, better sound, as you can plug in extra speakers, or even run it through the car stereo if if has the right inputs. Having a hand held microphone can be easier to use, as it is smaller, lighter, and being attached, it is less likely to "run away" at the first bump.

The downside to the traditional ones is finding somewhere to mount them n the car, where they are not in the way, but accessible, and the need to add an outside aerial, which will most likely, mean drilling a hole in the car somewhere. The other problem is the outside aerial is more likely to get caught in trees and things, so needs to be flexible and as central to the car as possible.

There's a start, I am sure others will add to it. As it happens I am just putting one in my car, for the same reasons, but struggling to find a good place for the aerial, and a good mounting place for the CB.

 

[Fez_uk]

There are some CBs that are easier to hide or have small remote head control units if your having trouble finding a place to mount it. So the main body of the radio goes for example under the seat. And you mount the remote head to the dash or windscreen.

Always buy them new, Unless your buying from a good friend. Too many cbs have been messed about. I tell you this from experience.

Have a look at:
tti TCB-R2000
Albrecht AE-6891

Handhelds with standard antennas are ok in close convoy, But the antenna's at that wavelength need to be over 1.5meteres to work ok.
You can also still connect a handheld to a external speaker or stereo and external antenna. You can even get small mics for the handheld units. They also still have the same output power.

Also look at something like this if you don't have the space:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MIDLAND-A...ecialistRadioEquipment_SM&hash=item5652c7754f

Handheld unit plugs into a adaptor, To run off the cig lighter and a external antenna.

 

[Fez_uk]

Another option:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-POLMA...ecialistRadioEquipment_SM&hash=item1e72bebac0

Body of the radio goes under seat or in glove box. Controls and speaker are on the mic.

 

[Banshee]

I have mine in the cubby hole below the heater controls and it works a treat in there, I brought a 2nd hand one from a guy out of the bargain pages and it's brilliant, never let me down once

As for my aerial I've been told I've got it in the wrong place but it seems to work perfectly

I have it next to the rear leg of my drivers side roof rail, I then trail the cable down the outer seal of the door rubber then the cable enters the cabin behind the light cluster I took it out while replacing the bulb one day and had the moment of genius, it also stops condensation in the cabin like I used to get when I just used to shut the cable in the top of the door lol

My aerial is knackered though to be honest, it's a bit of a bodge job that I did by combining my original cable to a new base and antennae that I brought from a guy on here can't remember his name (whoops)

 

[briggie]

once you have installed your cb and aerial , dont forget to check your swr , if you dont know how to do that , ask someone who does , but do not operate your cb without checking swr first :thumb2

 

[Lincs Mav]

Ive got a TTI made cb quite small in size.Mounted in the storage pocket under the heater controls.I use a mini springer aerial with a mag mount.

Cheers Gav

 

[briggie]

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8617

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

would recommend a small rig like a midland 98,and a mini stinger aeriel on a mag mount
for occasional use, wire run thru a door seal then easily stored in car when not in use.

the mini stinger, even on roof will easily move if meets a branch, and in worst case the
magnetic mount will give way rather than cause more damage as a fixed mount might.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

Started fitting mine today... I have a (Very) old Audioline CB, where all the controls are mounted in the mike, so I can hide the box and just have the mike clipped up on the dash. I can unplug the mike when I am not off roading, and I will have the aerial on a bayonet mount, so I can take that off as well....

I have found a great spot behind the dash for it, just got to wait for the aerial mount to arrive now, so I can finish it all off. I have a combination SWR/Power/Field strength meter from my Dads old gear, and a whole selection of aerials, from Massive genuine Modulators, base loaded, centre loaded, and one that is both base and centre loaded, plus a couple of other, slightly more realistic sized ones, including a Cherokee, if I remember it correctly, they have 2 small thumb wheels at the bottom to adjust the SWR, rather than varying the aerial length.

I will post up some pictures once I have finished it.

 

[exosteve]

Another option:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-POLMA...ecialistRadioEquipment_SM&hash=item1e72bebac0

Body of the radio goes under seat or in glove box. Controls and speaker are on the mic.

likey. and having decided the multi changer is going ive got room.

 

[exosteve]

whats an swr

 

[briggie]

whats an swr

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8617

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

whats an swr

Standing wave ratio... basically tuning the aerial to the installation set up. Things like the length of the coax, the number of connectors, the mount, and even the mounting place all affect the tuning of the Aerial to the radio, and if it is too far out, it will blow the output transistors of the CB, so very important to tune this correctly, as Briggie's link shows.

 

[Lazy-Ferret]

likey. and having decided the multi changer is going ive got room.

Noooo... how can you loose the changer... that is essential on a long run...

I think I have actually found a much better place if you are going to fit a remote one... I will post up the pictures tomorrow, as I think it should be a very neat install.

 

[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]

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...:lol

 

[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.