CB Radio Hints and Tips, Installing guidance.

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ghosthunter:
Well I got a chance today to work on this project a little. Set the magnetic mount antenna on cab right above the cargo light. Routing the coaxial was a lot harder than it should have been.

I folded my seat backs down took one end of sound barrier to access a factory hole. I removed the grommet. The hole was the exact size of the p whatever connection. And the hole was right behind a brace. I could just get my flat hand up there with coaxial between my fingers.
I struggled with it awhile before I gets my wife involved with her long slender hand. Got it through.

My next step will be to run a hot wire from battery to same spot. Than a ground. I am torn about the ground . Can I just go to the frame? Or do I need to go to the battery with it too?

Once the wires are run, they will go to storage area under back seat.

The radio will not arrive till next week but I should be already by then to just make final connections.

The question was Do I trust the SWR meter on the radio to use its reading? Well I guess.

Cobra is aware of the importance of SWR, so I trust they would have a meter that works.

I bought a Workman five inch extra strong magnet base and a Workman Half Breed bottom loaded stainless antenna to pair with it. You tune the antenna by losing a Allen screw and moving it up or down in coil.

The mic will mount above my four way flasher button and plug into my existing array of usb ports.

I put a two inch piece of reflective tape up under the end cap on the antenna, this is kinda a safety idea. Should you go off the road into water,snow or even down an embankment it might be easier for rescuers to find you especially in water. Since my roof is 6 ft off the ground and the antenna is four feet long. Should be visible up to ten feet.

ghosthunter:
This answers a lot of questions on SWR.

Just happens to be the radio I bought.

t=210s

Rat44:
Always good to get the hot from the battery directly just remember to fuse it .
A ground to frame is usually the best way just make sure you have a good metal to metal connection.
The built in meter is better than nothing but is not very accurate .

spin05:
My only Tip is taking it to a CB radio shop and tell em you want it modified. They will tune it to double your power((Watts) .CB shops are hard to find these days. Last time i did one i took it to a place in Spanaway which i think is gone now. They charged me i think $40 or $50. Well worth it to double your power.

ghosthunter:

--- Quote from: spin05 on October 30, 2025, 11:23:55 PM ---My only Tip is taking it to a CB radio shop and tell em you want it modified. They will tune it to double your power((Watts) .CB shops are hard to find these days. Last time i did one i took it to a place in Spanaway which i think is gone now. They charged me i think $40 or $50. Well worth it to double your power.

--- End quote ---

Yeah the CB shops are few. ThinkI saw one at Loves over near Ellensburg. I have a good electronics store near me. But their main interest is music electronics. They have CB equipment but don’t appear to have a lot of specific knowledge on CB. But I can get most what I need there.

I knew more about the Cobra 75 All Road than they did.

The unit comes with fused hot wire. And I may do another along the string nearer the battery. Will see once I get into it.

Studied a lot on SWR last night so am reasonably confident I can tune the antenna. Grounding to the frame is certainly easier because of shorter run. Online is evenly split on whether to ground to battery or frame.

Most important good ground. I can remember grounding to frame in my younger years with no issues.

Once I get project going I often have trouble sleeping , because I can’t shut it off. Thus the time of this post. LOL

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