CB Radio install/location/antenna

skillettxxx · Member Joined: 08 Apr 2008

I have probably read 30-40 web articles regarding CB and antenna placement regarding my 2005 Jeep Liberty Sport. Unlike my 94 Cherokee XJ, the Liberty is limited on radio placement. I refuse to mount it under my seat, which leaves either using a dremel on the hole under the climate control switches, or going with a Cobra 75WXST mic radio.
Glass mount antennas tend to have poor operation, leaving me with either a mount around the spare tire or drilling the body for a big ol whip antenna ( wife would love that, NOT! LOL)
So, any thoughts on radio and antenna types and mounting???? GPS and SAT radio will be glass/suction cup mounted lower windshield dead center.
Thanks in advance for any posts/ideas!
J.R.

Drake69 · Member Joined: 26 Mar 2004 Location: Stormtroopin....

I currently run with a Cobra 75WXST, and it's a good CB in my opinion. It may not have the big box with lights and dials and such, but it does the job it's supposed to do AND it has weather channels built in.

As far as mounting options go, either a ceiling bracket or beside the gearbox on the passenger side are good places for mounts. If the interior is anything close to a Cherokee, then you really don't have a lot of options. As far as a whip antenna, you could get one of those trucker brackets and attach it directly to your roof rack, which is pretty optimal for reception purposes, but figure on it banging low overhangs quite frequently. Don't know the clearance the spare tire gives in the back of Liberties, so can't help you there. I mounted my Firestik to the swing arm of my Tomken bumper and it's well anchored there.

Good luck! Mr. Green

skillettxxx · Member Joined: 08 Apr 2008

I know all about the overhang issue, LOL!! I had a 5' K40 on my cherokee. I am seriously looking at the 75 WXST due to mounting options. Thinking of fabricating a peice of angle to work at the spare tire, but doing more research. Thanks for the info.

IBTJn · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 5:32 am Post subject:

To this day I do not understand why Jeepers are so hung up on that radio (Cobra75). With the low audio chipset they have in them I've yet to hear/check one that did better than 50% audio. Most of the guys I wheel with dumped theirs in favor of a Uniden Pro510 which does 80%+ modulation right out of the box. Does this matter? You bet it does. You'll eventually find guys with a much weaker signal strength than yours walking all over you because their audio is good and your's is in the mud (no pun intended). Nevertheless, I'd find it very hard to believe you have less room than we TJ owners have. Sometimes simply getting creative is the key. The Pro510 is very small but has good audio right out of the box...not to mention it's less than 1/2 the price of the 75.

The antenna system by far is the most important. It's literally 90% of the system's overall performance. I would probably suggest staying away from the insulated roof rack if you are hesitant to drill any holes or use a self tapping screw to achieve a good RF ground (different than a DC ground). You'll never get the standing wave (SWR) down on the antenna without it. A fender mount isn't a bad option. I run one on the wife's XJ and my pick ups and have for years without a problem. With even a base loaded antenna performance is reasonably good there (although not as good as roof mounted). If you are leary of drilling anywhere, I'd suggest using a mag mount. Probably the Wilson Lil' Wil or Wilson 1k and placing that on your roof. I'm not a mag mount fan at all, but for those people who don't want to drill it's a viable alternative that works (although not as well as a hard mount IMO).

Just my $.02
Wink

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skillettxxx · Member Joined: 08 Apr 2008

I am actually exploring some placement options concerning the center consol, but thanks for the .02 worth, I do appreciate it. I am not sure which type of load, top or base I should be looking for, any recomendations?

IBTJn · Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:06 am Post subject:

skillettxxx · Member Joined: 08 Apr 2008

will either be a mag roof mount, mount on the spare tire, or I may still put a whip in the passenger side rear qtr panel. If I use the whip, Ill probably go with a firestick.

azmotoman · Member Joined: 28 May 2010 Location: Arizona, U.S.

IBTJn is right about modulation. The Uniden chipset is about the best out there. It has been for many years. They even have the best cordless phone chips. They made them for Panasonic in the 90's.

As for CB's in general, the older, the better, in most cases. I would love to have my old (circa 1970's) Monkey Wards 23 ch unit BACK. It had all of the meters and would reach out to touch someone MANY miles away with little more than a mag-mount RS antenna.

On the other hand, I have used 2 Cobra radios with a 110+" whip and they had enough power to make 30 miles+ in a densely populated area.

I drilled our 1st CRD and installed a whip on the right rear quarter. It worked well, but wifey doesn't want holes in the new CRD body. Looks as if I will be doing a remote mount (probably on the tire mount bracket) and a Firestick at some point.

My Cobra mounts under the dash/shin area on the left side of the column. Easy to install and plenty of power take-offs in close proximity.
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