My Cobra 75 CB and antenna install

[HG07JKRubi]

I couldn't really find a spot I liked in the JK to install my 20 year old Cobra 20 CB so I picked up the popular Cobra 75 all in one unit and thought I'd share some pics of the install...

First the antenna, a 36" Firestick mounted to the spare tire carrier (purchased the mount from a local CB shop that sells through Quadratec). The antenna cable is routed through the same rubber grommet used by the brake light wires.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0018a.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0015a.jpg

The CB box is installed under the glove box on the metal bracket and quick disconnect on the panel beneath the glove box. (This is wired directly to the battery)
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0011.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0008.jpg

Cooltech VersaMount with cb mic bracket riveted in ...
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/cb/IMG_2106.jpg

Finally, the mic mounted on the CoolTech VersaMount:
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0013.jpg

That's it...it sounds great and the antenna tuned real well...off to the trails !!!

[Robar]

Looks great.

[TORN]

I would like one of the mounts for rear tire but couldnt find it on quadratec site or catalog, any info on how to get one would be appreciated.

[HG07JKRubi]

I would like one of the mounts for rear tire but couldnt find it on quadratec site or catalog, any info on how to get one would be appreciated.

The mounts are still pre-production and not listed in the catalog yet. Call Bob at Chadds Ford Electronics in Chadds Ford, PA who designs and manufactures them. You may be able to get one directly. You can look up the number on Google.

[TORN]

The mounts are still pre-production and not listed in the catalog yet. Call Bob at Chadds Ford Electronics in Chadds Ford, PA who designs and manufactures them. You may be able to get one directly. You can look up the number on Google.

I contacted Bob and he said Quadratec should have them soon, thanks.

[biglynny]

One thing I've noticed about most of the antenna mounts posted in the forum is people don't seem to be using a spring between the mount and the antenna. I suppose many people don't live or wheel in/around a lot of brush OR there's enough flex in the antennae so a spring isn't needed. Any thoughts? Sorry if I hijacked the thread HG97TJ. I like the install you did - very clean.

[brade1]

:crazyeyes: When I instal mine it will have a spring I broke 3 off my old jeep befor I relized the problem

[Magister]

I have the ultra mount. If I had a spring, it would just be too tall. As of now, it still bangs a little on the garage door opening.

A spring would add what? 6 or so inches? I have been pretty happy without a spring, so lets see what happens.

[mclee]

One thing I've noticed about most of the antenna mounts posted in the forum is people don't seem to be using a spring between the mount and the antenna. I suppose many people don't live or wheel in/around a lot of brush OR there's enough flex in the antennae so a spring isn't needed. Any thoughts? Sorry if I hijacked the thread HG97TJ. I like the install you did - very clean.

Most of the brush I encounter hangs over from the side of the road, which is tougher on side-mounted antennas. The spare tire mount puts them in the middle of the vehicle. I am hoping there is enough flex in the Firestick to handle most overhanging obstacles. If it appears close, I will remove the antenna since a spring mounted antenna tends to whack the body a lot.

[JackMac4]

I would like one of the mounts for rear tire but couldnt find it on quadratec site or catalog, any info on how to get one would be appreciated.

check walcott cb, they have one thats almost identical and is made by teraflex. I'll post pics of it tonight.

teraflex part#004997100

[toad]

I couldn't really find a spot I liked in the JK to install my 20 year old Cobra 20 CB so I picked up the popular Cobra 75 all in one unit and thought I'd share some pics of the install...

First the antenna, a 36" Firestick mounted to the spare tire carrier (purchased the mount from a local CB shop that sells through Quadratec). The antenna cable is routed through the same rubber grommet used by the brake light wires.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0018a.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0015a.jpg

The CB box is installed under the glove box on the metal bracket and quick disconnect on the panel beneath the glove box. (This is wired directly to the battery)
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0011.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0008.jpg

Finally, the mic mounted on the CoolTech VersaMount:
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0013.jpg

That's it...it sounds great and the antenna tuned real well...off to the trails !!!


That's a sweet set up. I really like that and would be interested in doing that on my JK. Did the mic connector come with that mic or was that a seperate purchase?And if so, what is it?

[Rubimon]

that's a clean bracket. I drilled mine in the tire carrier and like it but would also have used this had it been available at the time!

[HG07JKRubi]

That's a sweet set up. I really like that and would be interested in doing that on my JK. Did the mic connector come with that mic or was that a seperate purchase?And if so, what is it?

The quick disconnect setup for the handset comes with the Cobra 75. It a face plate w/2 screws and rubber grommet to hold the quick disconnect. Just unplug the handset and stash it away somewhere safe when not in use.

[toad]

Awesome! Now I'm all excited about getting this. :D Love how you set it up!

[07 RBY]

So you can't actually see the CB from the outside?

[toad]

A jeeper friend of mine had this CB in his rig (TrailBud), and the box was out of sight. The main CB is in the handset so that can be put out of sight as well (ie mounted down lower in the jeep) I like how you can disconnect it and lock it up or take it with you. All in one! NIce idea. :yup:

[Rubimon]

Yeah its the Cobra wsxt75?? where all the controls, speaker, etc. are all in the handheld mic. I have a little zippered pouch I keep it in, and just leave it in the trunk. My 3' Firestick lays perfectly under the trunk lid right above the jack storage area. When you shut the gate it's all locked up and out of sight!

I mounted my box in the center console, and have the mic jack right below the lip of the console lid.

[fullbore]

Can anyone recommend the easiest way to route the power from the CB junction box (mine is located under the passenger side dash) to the battery?

I have everything installed including my Versamount for the handset. Now I just need power before I stop by a friend's tomorrow to tune the antenna.

Thanks

[awfrode]

Can anyone recommend the easiest way to route the power from the CB junction box (mine is located under the passenger side dash) to the battery?

I have everything installed including my Versamount for the handset. Now I just need power before I stop by a friend's tomorrow to tune the antenna.

Thanks

I got power from the 12v outlets. I tapped into the one on the lower left. It is switched. The power port on the right is non-switched. Remove the console trim ring. Remove the face plate that covers the radio, HVAC switches and the 12v lighter wire is there. HTH

[awfrode]

Very nice installation. Thanks for posting

[Rubimon]

Can anyone recommend the easiest way to route the power from the CB junction box (mine is located under the passenger side dash) to the battery?

I have everything installed including my Versamount for the handset. Now I just need power before I stop by a friend's tomorrow to tune the antenna.

Thanks

You want a direct conection to the battery not the cig lighters.

Give your passenger vent bezel by the door a 1/4 turn and remove it. Push/pop the plastic dash side piece out by reaching your finger through the vent hole. You can pry it out from the outside but you risk making a mark/scratch. Once the side dash piece is out you will see a hole filled with foam. Push a straighten piece of coat hanger through it. It will come out right under your hood next to the battery. Tape a piece of wire to it and pull it back through.

Hope that helps!

[toad]

OK guys, I finally got my CB installed (Thanks Bullfrog, WOL, SDMF, and Rubimon) like the original poster of this thread and I have to say, it turned out awesome! Thanks for the original write up and pics. Excellent job. Here's mine:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/mooselove13/100_5013.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/mooselove13/100_5014.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/mooselove13/100_5015.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/mooselove13/100_5017.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a38/mooselove13/100_5016.jpg

I'm going to have Bullfrog make a bracket to hold the CB up next to the radio. Thanks again guys! :D

[OffTopic]

OK, you guys have me convinced that this is the way I want to go :D I really didn't like any of the other mounting locations I've seen where it just looks like the CB is going to get in my way, and this makes security an easy fix, too. Plus it looks really cool!

But please help me out here - I was poking around looking at prices and found a price variance of around $50 :eek2:. None of the sites say what is "in the box", one place also shows a remote mount connection box that is an extra $24, another site shows that it includes a "remote juntion box" (is that the same thing?) but also shows a dashjack mod as an extra component for $30 which looks like it may be what you have, our sponsors don't show anything extra as being available but also don't state that anything extra is included despite the higher price...I'm sooo confused (and I'm blonde) :crazyeyes:. If I buy at the cheapest (very reputable) source I found, am I going to be missing something I need to do the install the same way you've done it? Is there are certain kit/part# I need to get to make sure I have everything I need?

[toad]

I bought mine from David @ Northridge 4x4. It was a package deal..came with the CB, 4' firestik, 18' cable and an external speaker (which I didn't end up using since I used the ipod port to the radio as an external speaker) for around $170. I priced everything seperately and it basically came to around the same. Maybe a little less but I wanted everything from one place and a company I could rely on. Everything I needed came in that box. Although, I had a little help from some friends ;)

[OffTopic]

Thanks Toad! They were the first place I checked because I've had great experience dealing with them in the past. But it looks like Northridge only carries the 4 ft firestik, and if I put it on the spare tire carrier I think I'd rather have the 3 ft. And Rubimon makes a great point about being able to hide the 3 foot antenna in the little cargo space. Guess I'm just going to have to buy the antenna separately.

[toad]

Well, I wanted the 3' one originally as well, but the 4' one gets more range and I am going to put it up underneath the hard top near the back window..use some velcro sticky ties or something. But, it's your perogative. I chose to go with the bigger stik :synister:

[OffTopic]

hehehe, us girls talking about the size of our sticks :rotflmao1:

[toad]

shhhhhhhhh..you're gonna be giving the guys some visuals :synister: :rotflmao1:

In any case, I'm real happy with "the size of my stik" and I wish you luck in getting yours ;)

[Monty-]

i like that bracket but quadratec has it listed at $64. if i'm reading the catalog right, it comes with the cable too. still seems pricy though. the tereflex bracket is listed at $20 but it mounts on the right side (passenger) of the tailgate vs the other bracket.

[toad]

I don't really think you need to put out money for a bracket when you can just mount it directly to the tire carrier. But, that's just me ;)

[HG07JKRubi]

I don't really think you need to put out money for a bracket when you can just mount it directly to the tire carrier. But, that's just me ;)

I'm not pretending to be an expert on the matter but I think the argument of the bracket vs. mounting directly to the tire carrier is the bracket will provide a better ground. At least that's what the guy told me who makes these brackets for Quadratec.

Nice job on the install!

Also - when you said you used the iPod input for your external CB speaker, what type of cable are you using from the cb junction box to the Aux input and where did you get it?

Thanks!

[Monty-]

what did you pay for the bracket direct, if you don't mind my asking?

[toad]

It's entirely up to you where you want to mount it. I, for one, as well as others I wheel with, haven't had any problems with it mounted directly on the tire carrier. As for the cable that hooks up to the main CB box to the Ipod port, it's basically a "male to male" cable you would use that would come with your ipod. You can pretty much pick those up anywhere.

[mfbarnes@barnes]

Myself personally, I like the Cool Tech mount.

http://www.cooltechllc.com/catalog/RearLow.jpg

[toad]

I was told that you get better range if it's centered as much as possible.

[toad]

Not that there's anything wrong with that :rotflmao1:

[mfbarnes@barnes]

I was told that you get better range if it's centered as much as possible.

Not so much when it is all the way to the rear of the vehicle already. On AM (CB freq) it's not quite as sensitive as say FM (2 meters) It mainly makes it a little directional when it's to the extreme rear or front of your vehicle because of it's position in the ground plane. Ultimately it would be be best to be centered front to back and side to side. And the absolute best antenna is the 1/4 wave 108 inch whip. But the stick up so far they are a pain in the butt. Don't get me wrong, position is very important when mounting a CB antenna. You want to mount the antenna as high as possible to get the best performance. Most people mount the antenna on the roof, as this is normally the highest point on a vehicle. Also you must position the antenna so that it is not near any other metalwork (a car stereo ariel for instance), as this will affect the SWR of the antenna, also if your run metal racks,

http://www.discountjeepparts.com/images/products/warrior/war834.jpg

like I do on your rear spare mount, that will affect the SWR. That's the main reason I run the side mount.

Just be sure to keep your SWR as close to 1:1 as possible. Over 3 is usually unacceptable and can damage your radio, 2 or below will give you a good range and is quite acceptable, 1.5 or below is fantastic and will give you optimal TX and RX performance. If your SWR reading was higher on channel 40 than it was on channel 1, then it simply means the antenna is too long. If it was higher on channel 1 than it was on channel 40, it is too short. This is really easy to change if you own a tunable-tip antenna. If you own an antenna like this, you can simply unlock the tip and raise or lower the antenna. Continue tuning until you reach a good ratio. If you own a fiberglass whip antenna, it is a little more difficult. First, you have to remove the tip and cut until you can access the wire coil. If it needs to be shortened, you have to begin cutting in around ¼" increments until it is correct. Now, if it is too long, you have to take the top coil and continue moving it out in slight increments until it is correct.

73 and good luck

AA5D

[OffTopic]

As long as you don't tell us to take it to Show and Tell :rotflmao1:

[wayland1985]

Myself personally, I like the Cool Tech mount.

http://www.cooltechllc.com/catalog/RearLow.jpg

x2 for the cooltech... If I didnt' have wimpy wheels and tires right now, i'd order one just for looks... (and buy the radio a little further down the road, of course.)

[FLLawdog]

I never was a big fan of the LOOKS of this unit, but the more I look around the interior, the better this option is looking.

As for mounts, try Radio Shack and the Firestick web site.

Gotta question, though....a long time back I heard that the antenna should be like a foot or so above the roofline. Any truth to that?

[OffTopic]

That cooltech mount is really sharp, but I relocated my license plate to the spare that's no longer an option for me. That mount requires the stock license plate holder, doesn't it? I was thinking about leaving the holder and putting a vanity in there so I could the cooltech mount, but we cracked the holder when we removed it.

Firestik says that an antenna mounted on a swingaway tire carrier will have problems with proper grounding because the powder coating, nylon bushings, brass and ball bearings all intefere, but all you need to do is run a separate additional line 12 guage or heavier black wire to a location that will give a good chassis ground, such as right inside the tailgate or the taillight bezel. If it's good enough for Firestik, it's good enough for me.

Anyway, Toad I went back and looked at your photos, and now that I see the photo of your 4 footer :eek2: , I see what you mean about the length. I thought you had switched out to the 3 footer, and assumed that's what was in your photos the first time I looked at them. Anything shorter in that location really wouldn't look right, let alone have enough clearance for good range.

[kb7our]

I never was a big fan of the LOOKS of this unit, but the more I look around the interior, the better this option is looking.

As for mounts, try Radio Shack and the Firestick web site.

Gotta question, though....a long time back I heard that the antenna should be like a foot or so above the roofline. Any truth to that?

Ideally keep the coil above the roof line in the clear. With antennas like the Firestick the entire length has some loose windings but towards the top you can tell where there is a tighter winding which is what you would like to be in the clear.

[FLLawdog]

Thanks :2thumbs: for the clear up!

[Jamooche]

You've done a great job installing the Cobra radio. I have the exact same model and have a few questions.

Did you need to add a ground strap to the rear door?
Does the Fire-ring on the coax cable that attaches to the antenna mount fit through the rear door gromet without any cutting and splicing?

Thanks!

[mfbarnes@barnes]

I tell you, I bought the Cobra 75 with the cool tech mount, slapped it in and checked the SWR, 1.4:1 with no tweaking, good enough for me. Reception is great, and the trucker say it sounds good to them out on the road. I was impressed. I have been a 29 LTD Classic man for years, but the 75 does a great job and the Cool Tech Antenna was very impressive, some one did their homework very well.

[ybnormal2]

Thanks for the pics and direction. Installation was a breeze.

I made the mic mount myself out of 16ga s/s. If anyone else is attempting. I put .210 dia holes in the plate .220 measured back from the tips of the ears 3.205 ctr to ctr. Then drew a bend line .580 back from the centers of the holes. I worked out perfect.

thanks for all the guidance.

[HG07JKRubi]

You've done a great job installing the Cobra radio. I have the exact same model and have a few questions.

Did you need to add a ground strap to the rear door?
Does the Fire-ring on the coax cable that attaches to the antenna mount fit through the rear door gromet without any cutting and splicing?

Thanks!

I did not add a ground strap to the door. The cable fit through the grommet with no problems. Good luck with your install and let me know if you have any further questions.

[DLM]

HG97TJ looks nice, clean setup, great job !!

[Jamooche]

I did not add a ground strap to the door. The cable fit through the grommet with no problems. Good luck with your install and let me know if you have any further questions.

Thanks! I installed the CB brains, now I just need to decide which antenna mount I want.

[Hoovis]

All the info in this thread is great. Much Appreciated. I am doing a similar set-up but am a complete rookie. Have the Cobra 75, TeraFlex mount, 3' Firestik, coax, and stud. Planning to install it now.

My question is 3 fold, and thought those of you who have already done this would know the answers offhand. Any info is appreciated.

First, I was told that the Teraflex mount (paint scraped at stud mount and scraped at bolt area) would be sufficient for a ground with just the coax. But I read that others have a ground wire of some sort also. Am I missing a part?

As for the SWR, the owners manual on the Cobra 75 doesn't mention much of it. Does the handset have a function to get an SWR reading, or do I need to buy a meter to be sure it is in range (1.0 to 1.4, I think?)?

Lastly, I bought a 3 foot Firestik, so that it would stick up a bit over the soft top. It sticks up about a foot over the roof, and therefore smacks against the bottom of my garage door when I pull in and out. So to keep the antenna on permanently, I think I would need to get a 2 foot antenna which would be only about roof high. Would this just limit my range and reception slightly, or make it almost useless? I don't mind giving up some range (versus going through 3' antennas all the time... I already heard a "crack" and may have already ruined the 3'), I just don't want to have it be useless by not having an antenna above the roofline.

Any help is much appreciated. Thanks again for all the info already.

[RubiconOrdie]

1 . I don't have that mount but (I may be wrong) adding the extra ground wire is a "better safe than sorry" thing. I added one as well because I didn't want to have to go back and trouble shoot it later.

2. The Cobra 75 (I have it) doesn't tell you anything about the SWR. Your going to need a meter.

3. It will effect the range ofyour setup but I wouldn't say render it useless. Hand held ones are short too and they seem to work. With one that short you really need to tune it, though. Just remember that with a short antenna you need to make little adjustments to it.

Just go to the Firstik web site and click on the tech help link. A ton of information that you can use (SWR Tuning, Trouble Shooting). I highly recommend checking it out.

[Mowabb]

As far as the antenna goes, I would stick with the 3'. You can get a quick disconnect and remove the antenna when not in use:

http://www.quadratec.com/products/96081_005.htm

http://www.quadratec.com/Assets/Images/53756/53756-md.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>: void;)

[Hoovis]

Thanks for the quick reply. I agree on the "better safe than sorry" logic. No sense in running the wires twice. However, for the life of me, I can't find a local CB shop. So I may well have to try it and hope I have a solid ground. If I'm not completely ignorant, doesn't the coax cable come with either a ground connection, OR just comes as one cable with two ends (and no separate washer on the end for a ground)? The one that was recommended is the type that does NOT have a seperate ground wire.

On that note, the two ends of the coax are not identical either. On end has a metal coax plug on it, and the other end has a thick rubber like gasket around the end, tapered down about 2 to 3 inches. From the pictures I've seen of installs, it looks like the thicker "rubberized" end goes into the box (under the glove box), and the stainless steel all metal end goes into the antenna stud. Hopefully someone will correct me ASAP is that isn't the case, otherwise I may be ripping up the carpet twice anyway.

So I will also need an SWR meter. thanks for clarifying. As for the antenna, I guess I'll just let it bang against the garage until it either breaks or stops working. It isn't that bad, but I may as well try it or let it break before getting a new one.

Did I say thanks? :toung:

[JackMac4]

Hey Hoovis - we'll get you taken care of here. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I'll get you my cell phone.

Depending on which coax you got, it's hard to say which end goes where. Some pictures might help.

Is the rubberized one a ring to attach to the stud?

You can fix your clearance issues as well by mounting the teraflex mount upside down -- that's what I did, worked great.

[bofer84]

ok, im considering going this route, but i have a question. And before anybody jumps on me for being illegal, i frequently go out to my best friends ranch. Its 30k acres, and there is no cell reception anywhere, so most of us use CBs with an external amp to get all over the property. While i know this is illegal, it is the only way to communicate to someone all the way across the property.

So, could you hook up an external amplifier to this thing. Or would it blow the unit since most everything is in the hand held portion??

[boots]

Hey HG97TJ,

Very nice install on your Cobra 75. Hope you don't mind but I have got to steel your Mod for my JK as well. Again very nice install.........

[Hoovis]

Hey Hoovis - we'll get you taken care of here. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions and I'll get you my cell phone.

Depending on which coax you got, it's hard to say which end goes where. Some pictures might help.

Is the rubberized one a ring to attach to the stud?

You can fix your clearance issues as well by mounting the teraflex mount upside down -- that's what I did, worked great.

JackMacOKC, thank you so much for making me feel so at home. I may PM you later, but might not have to. The place I bought the CB equipment from has pretty good customer service, and I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier, but I simply called them and asked about which end goes where. They told me that the "rubberized" end goes on the outside stud mount for weatherproofing, so solved that problem.

My friend and I installed the whole CB. Funny story actually. I thought we had some old equipment (his actually) and it was right in his garage. So we pulled it out (first box of our radio equipment we opened) and found the SWR meter. Hooked up the CB almost identical to HG97TJ's write-up (thanks HG), but the meter didn't work one bit. Couldn't get the meter to budge. We figured at first that the problem after a 3 hour install was due to the beverages we'd put down, so decided to test another theory.

Back in our college days, we had hooked up a pirate radio station (got too popular so we had to shut it down after a year of broadcating at a set time), and the equipment we used to do it with was in the same box as the SWR meter. So we hooked it up again and broadcasted again to see if the meter was bad, or simply our "mechanics." The broadcast worked fine, and we were "back on th air" for a bit. But clearly the SWR meter was no longer operable (it has been about 10 years). After some fun, which likely nobody else noticed on the frequency we were airing on, we went back to the install. The radio receives just fine, but I was too nervous to burn out the CB by trying to transmit from it. So I'll have to get another SWR meter before I try to transmit.

Anyway, if this can be of any help to others, I routed the coax through the air ducts directly behind/under the tire carrier. This saved us from having to cut the grommet or otherwise seal the rubber that accesses the tailgate. I had not read about this option previously, but found it a nice and easy alternative which should remain weatherproof. So I hope it helps others in installation. The coax fasteners fit through the openings between the plastic and rubber air vents directly behind/under the tire carrier, so this was a great option.

Anyway, I appreciate all the help and info from everyone. I was able to hook up the CB easy enough. I'll still need to use an SWR meter before transmitting, but otherwise it all works great. Will let you all know if the SWR causes me to make any adjustments outside of the Firestik antenna tuning.

Lastly, as for the TeraFlex being used upside down, I found it was too close to the spare tire on the bottom left side so would not work for me (no clearance). So I'll probably either wait until the 3' breaks on my garage, or just go with a 2' (and heavy duty spring to add 3") and then use the 3' only for major offroad excursions.

Once again, outside of the websites I use for work, this is BY FAR the most fun and useful. Thank you all again for the input and help. I plan to help others as much as I can.

All your help is VERY much appreciated. Thanks again.

Edit: Also, I simply tapped into the left cigarette lighter for power. This saved me from having to route the power through the firewall, and makes it so the CB will turn off with the ignition (after either a door opens or with doors off, after 30 seconds. Given the low power draw, and the small fuse on the CB, I liked this option personally).

[JackMac4]

Glad you got it up and going :2thumbs:

[Hoovis]

Ok, so I finally got the second shipment of CB stuff so I was able to tune the new antenna.

SWR question: I went through and tuned the antenna best I could (as a rookie). Finally got it so that channel 40 was about 1.6, channel 1 was about 1.5, and almost 1:1 at the middle channels. Can anyone chime in if this sounds right? Previous to doing this, I sort of thought you'd end up with the same readings (or thereabout) on all channels. But clearly it is almost 1:1 on the middle channels and goes up toward the outside channels, to as high as about 1.6:1. Everything else I read showed people giving their readings as only one number.

Antenna question: I went with a two foot Firestik II and added a 3" spring. Granted, this is about 9" shorter than the 3' Firefly (without spring) I had before, but at least it won't twang on my garage and all the parking structures around here. The new set-up is about two inches higher than the highest part of the soft top. Now, maybe it is because it is now tuned better than the 3' was, but is it possible that the 2' Firestik II actually gets better reception than the 3' Firefly? Sure seems that way as I am now picking up much more stuff and far clearer than I could before.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[mclee]

That's about as good as you'll get. There is always minimum in the middle rising to a higher level as you move away from the center frequency (channel).

[Hoovis]

That's about as good as you'll get. There is always minimum in the middle rising to a higher level as you move away from the center frequency (channel).

Thanks. Good to know I can now call out.

"Lost Sheep to Bo Beep." :)

It has been working great. Thanks again to everyone for all the help.

[Hoovis]

I'm Sold!! Thanks for the info!!! I think I'll go with the cooltech mount though. Does the interface mounted on the dash come with the cobra kit??

JKrazed, if by "interface" you mean the quick disconnect part that connects the handset wire to the CB box between the dash/glove box panel, then yes, it comes with the Cobra 75.

[gunsnrods]

Great looking setup. I took my Cobra out of my F150 when I sold it, where did you get the facia plate where the lead comes out from under the dash??I don't have anything like that with my radio..., if that's a Cobra part I'll try to order it.

[JackMac4]

Gunsnrods - yes it comes wit the Cobra 75, so you should be able to order it from cobra I would think.

[NE Wrangling]

Nice writeup and idea's. I have the cobra 75wx and just ordered a firstick kit to install on the license plate.

[cibach]

nice install can't wait to get my jk in so I can install mine the same way..

[wakerunner08]

Has anyone experienced issues tuning the 75? I installed mine a while back, but when I went to tune it, I couldn't get anything. Tried all the suggested troubleshooting from the Firestik website, but it still won't budge... did I get a bad unit? Or SWR meter? Thanks...

[Jamooche]

Has anyone experienced issues tuning the 75? I installed mine a while back, but when I went to tune it, I couldn't get anything. Tried all the suggested troubleshooting from the Firestik website, but it still won't budge... did I get a bad unit? Or SWR meter? Thanks...

What sort of problems are you having with tuning it? Mine tuned perfectly, but I got a ton of interference and had to install two noise cancelling devices.

[JackMac4]

Has anyone experienced issues tuning the 75? I installed mine a while back, but when I went to tune it, I couldn't get anything. Tried all the suggested troubleshooting from the Firestik website, but it still won't budge... did I get a bad unit? Or SWR meter? Thanks...

I had the same issue - ended up being a bad meter for me. Took it to a shop and they tuned it just fine. I even had him try my meter to make sure I wasn't crazy..still didn't work.

[Coldfire]

As usual there is something I don't understand. When you run the antenna cable through the back door/gate through the grommit, what happens to the cable when you open the gate? Does it just hang there?

Am I missing something obvious? :crazyeyes:

[Hoovis]

As usual there is something I don't understand. When you run the antenna cable through the back door/gate through the grommit, what happens to the cable when you open the gate? Does it just hang there?

Am I missing something obvious? :crazyeyes:

I ran mine with just enough slack to duplicate the slack in the tailgate "stop" that holds the wires to the third brake light. Then I zip tied the CB coax to that same piece so it doesn't get any more pressure when the tailgate is fully opened. That is what I did and it seems to work just fine with little extra effort. For what it is worth.

[Rubimon]

Just follow the other wires right through the protective sleeve.

[Rubiconjoe]

WOW great write up i bought my Cobra 75 about a month ago and ive been waiting for some good weather to install

You helped me out a lot with figuring out where to put it and i love the idea of putting the jack where you did 2 thumbs way up!!

[wakerunner08]

What sort of problems are you having with tuning it? Mine tuned perfectly, but I got a ton of interference and had to install two noise cancelling devices.


My SWR meter just reads full red (over 10) whenever I attempt to tune the antenna. I tried measuring voltage across the co-ax cable, but it was fine... maybe it is my meter... anyone know of a cb shop in CT???

[JackMac4]

go to a local truck stop - they can usually help you find one or look in the phone book.. a lot of two way radio shops and communication repair stores will also be able to do it.

[mcds99]

Great Job!
I like how it's out of sight.

[mclee]

My SWR meter just reads full red (over 10) whenever I attempt to tune the antenna. I tried measuring voltage across the co-ax cable, but it was fine... maybe it is my meter... anyone know of a cb shop in CT???

First make sure your antenna good metal ground plane. It possible use a magnetic mount in the middle of your car roof. If you have a trunk like or similar peripheral mount, made sure you remove some paint under the screw that holds the mount to the car body so you will have a good ground. You may have to run a ground wire from the antenna base to a screw i the car body for a good ground. If you antenna is on the tail gate or other hinged door, you may have to install a ground strap from the tail gate to the body for a decent ground.

If a ground plane or grounding does not solve the problem use an ohmmeter to check the resistance between the center conductor and the shield (or threaded sleeve on the connector) on the cable. If you measure 0 ohms, then you have a short in the cable, probably in the connector. You should try to solve the problem by insalling a new connector. Careful, it is easy to short them out when soldering. If that is OK, then measure the resistance of the center conductor from end to end. If you do not get zero ohms or thereabouts, then you have a broken conductor and the entire cable will need to be replaced.

If those tests prove out, you antenna may be so long that the minimum SWR in outside the 40 channels on the radio. Flip thorugh the channels with the mike key down and SWR meter connected to see if the SWR goes down at all. If you find the swr lower on channel 1 than on Channel 40 then, the antenna is way too long. Continue shortening the antenna or adjusting the tuning slug until the SWR min moves to the desired channel (often 20 in the middle of the band) the 1-40 channel range. If the SWR is lower on Channel 40 than Cahnnel 1, then the antenna is way too short. If you have an antenna that is tuned by cutting off a piece of the radiator wire, then buy another antenna and start over. Otherwise, fiddle with the tuning slug to get the SWR min within the 40 channel range of the radio.

[cibach]

just wandering if anyone has put the connector on the center dash under the ac controls. It seems like that would be easy to replace if you needed to replace for some reason and go with a diiferent CB????

[Hoovis]

just wandering if anyone has put the connector on the center dash under the ac controls. It seems like that would be easy to replace if you needed to replace for some reason and go with a diiferent CB????

I think that would work so long as you are referring to the lowest panel on the dash (the one that is completely separate, below the hazards/ESP, etc). However, on any of the front dash panel, you may be annoyed with the way the cord sticks out. The first 3 or 4 inches of the cord stick straight out from the quick disconnect, so it might interfere with the gear shifter (manual or auto). Of course, if you position it appropriately, you can probably get around this, but keep these these factors in mind before you attempt it and drill in the wrong spot. No sense in having extra dash holes.

[cibach]

I think that would work so long as you are referring to the lowest panel on the dash (the one that is completely separate, below the hazards/ESP, etc). However, on any of the front dash panel, you may be annoyed with the way the cord sticks out. The first 3 or 4 inches of the cord stick straight out from the quick disconnect, so it might interfere with the gear shifter (manual or auto). Of course, if you position it appropriately, you can probably get around this, but keep these these factors in mind before you attempt it and drill in the wrong spot. No sense in having extra dash holes.

Yes that is the panel I am talking about. As far to the right as possible on that panel would probably be the best location? Anyone put it there? Will it be in the way of the manual shifter?

[Hoovis]

Yes that is the panel I am talking about. As far to the right as possible on that panel would probably be the best location? Anyone put it there? Will it be in the way of the manual shifter?

Hopefully someone who has done this will chime in, but I think you'll be fine in that spot. It may be a little tricky connecting and disconnecting (the rubber grommet part has some give and sometimes feels like you are about to push it all the way back inside when connecting the cord), but if you are careful on the placement, I think you'd be fine. Just pre-test it to see that you can get your fingers in there and able to screw it back in. If it is low enough, the cord should be able to be routed just fine to the right of the base of the stick boot.

Lastly, with the "box" of the CB behind the glove box, you can easily access the aux port to change from using the speaker in the handset to the Jeep's speakers, but if you plan on an external speaker for the CB or just permanently using the speaker in the handset, then you won't need to worry about gaining access to that port.

Sorry to be verbiose. Just trying to explain some of the troubleshooting so you don't need to do it twice.

[DallasJeeper]

I sent the OP a PM regarding this, but figured I'd post my questions here too, so hopefully anyone that has followed his setup can chime in. I'm hoping to get started on my install this morning. Thanks.

1.) When running the wires out of the cabin into the engine bay, do I need to drill at all, or is there already a hole for other wires?

2.) The instructions for the Cobra say to connect power source directly to the battery, how did you make it stay in place? Just wrap the wires around the battery terminal?

3.) Did the power wire that came with the Cobra reach the battery, or did you need to get more wire?

5.) How did you keep the power wire to the battery from sitting loose in the engine bay? Just zip tie it out of the way?

6.) Running the antenna back to the tailgate, is it pretty easy? Is there something under the Jeep to keep it from sagging/drooping down?

[artpics]

I
1.) When running the wires out of the cabin into the engine bay, do I need to drill at all, or is there already a hole for other wires?



on the passenger side turn the heating vent half turn and remove, you can then unclip the side panel by pushing from the inside. you will then see a piece of foam like the spray expanding stuff, poke a coat hanger through this, attatch wires and pull back through to your battery.

[DallasJeeper]

on the passenger side turn the heating vent half turn and remove, you can then unclip the side panel by pushing from the inside. you will then see a piece of foam like the spray expanding stuff, poke a coat hanger through this, attatch wires and pull back through to your battery.

Found it, thanks. That was helpful.

[gunsnrods]

I just finished up my Homelink mirror, wired that into the cig lighter, no more loose garage door opener flying around....I have a Cobra 75 that I had in my F150, does anyone have a suggestion for an antenna? I was just looking at Cool Tech's web site, I think I'll buy a VersaMount and I like the CB antenna Quick disconnect, does any of the discount online retailers sell Cool Tech stuff or is evryboy just buying it from thier website? What about the antenna disconnect, anyone have one, any issues with it?

[toad]

I sent the OP a PM regarding this, but figured I'd post my questions here too, so hopefully anyone that has followed his setup can chime in. I'm hoping to get started on my install this morning. Thanks.

1.) When running the wires out of the cabin into the engine bay, do I need to drill at all, or is there already a hole for other wires?

I believe this question was already answered....run it thru the little hole on the side, poking the wire thru with a wire hanger.

2.) The instructions for the Cobra say to connect power source directly to the battery, how did you make it stay in place? Just wrap the wires around the battery terminal?

Attach a 1/4" eyeloop connector (crimping type) onto the wire and connect it to the battery that way. The negative cable is hooked up the same way but grounds to the door jam (inside the side dash panel).

3.) Did the power wire that came with the Cobra reach the battery, or did you need to get more wire?

It comes with enough to reach from the back to the front. You're good there.

5.) How did you keep the power wire to the battery from sitting loose in the engine bay? Just zip tie it out of the way?

Yes, that would be correct.

6.) Running the antenna back to the tailgate, is it pretty easy? Is there something under the Jeep to keep it from sagging/drooping down?

The cable fits right underneath the carpet along side the jeep from the passenger floor to the rear, just below the hardtop/softop.

If you have any other questions, you can call me on my cell. 661-993-4908 ;)

[DallasJeeper]

If you have any other questions, you can call me on my cell. 661-993-4908 ;)

Toad,

This is great, thank you thank you and thank you. I'm working on it right now, I'll let you know if I run into any problems. :2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:

[BaltChief]

Just got mine in, Thanks Toad.....

antanna...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek017.jpg

Radio....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek014.jpg

New light....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek015.jpg

and a little sumpin sumoin for the cell phone and other things...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek016.jpg

[wayland1985]

Just got mine in, Thanks Toad.....

antanna...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek017.jpg

Radio....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek014.jpg

New light....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek015.jpg

and a little sumpin sumoin for the cell phone and other things...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek016.jpg

Any more pictures of the CB's recepticle? How about night photos of the Light??? And where did you get the change holder thing? Custom made? I hate how the JK has no place for change. The TJ had a nice spot!

[BaltChief]

Any more pictures of the CB's recepticle? How about night photos of the Light??? And where did you get the change holder thing? Custom made? I hate how the JK has no place for change. The TJ had a nice spot!

I will get more pics for you tonight. As for the change holder, I picked it up at pep Boys for $4...and the fit was perfect. The only thing I did to it was put on a little Gorrila glue instead of the 2 sided tape. Works great.

[Rubimon]

Here's a pic of the styrofoam point to feed the power wire into the engine compartment.....

Here ya go, Guinessdawg

http://my.project-jk.com/data/507/medium/CB_power_wire.JPG

[Okie4WD]

Just a quick thought here, would the connector for the handset fit in the cigarette lighter or accessory lighter hole?

[toad]

Just a quick thought here, would the connector for the handset fit in the cigarette lighter or accessory lighter hole?

Hooking it directly to the battery is a better way to install it from everything that I've been told or read. ;)

[Rubimon]

I think he is just talking about using the hole not the power, and give up one power plug.

[toad]

Oh OK...I misinterpreted it. :crazyeyes:

[pushntin]

[QUOTE=BaltChief;434702]Just got mine in, Thanks Toad.....

antanna...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/baltchief/rausch_creek017.jpg

Out of curiosity, what kind of antenna mount is that, did you make it? I have the spare tire mount, but the tire was pinching the antenna just enough that I couldn't use the quick disconnect, but a couple washers fixed that. And thanks to TOAD for that "stick on clip inside the hardtop to stow the antenna" idea :thumbsup:

Not to get all political but a :2thumbs: to Al Gore for inventing the internet :rotflmao2: so we can all share these ideas.

[toad]

[QUOTE=BaltChief;434702]And thanks to TOAD for that "stick on clip inside the hardtop to stow the antenna" idea :thumbsup:


:bow: :D

[pushntin]

[QUOTE=pushntin;489570]

:bow: :D

haha not modest are ya? :bleh: j/k Canyon Country? Is that near Soledad Sands? I think thats what it was called. I used to go there when I was a kid, a loooong time ago

[Hoovis]

Toad said hooking the power to battery is the best. That may be true, but I have the power hooked to the left cig lighter on left side (for CB and aftermarket fog lights). She may be correct, but my way works fine as well. I did it this way so that both turn off with the ignition when I remove the key.

Also, as an aside, for other people looking to use a CB, I first had a Firestik 3' Firefly, but it twanged on my garage door as I pulled in and out. So (on a Teraflex mount), I went with the 2' FS2, and I found the range was about the same. I didn't know why, but the FS2, after looking into it, has a bit more power. I may well be off on my tech specs, but either way, when on the trails (when I really want the CB in the first place), the two foot antenna works plenty good, and I can just leave it on all the time (added a spring so it goes above the soft top by about an inch and a half).

As always, depends on your use, but just wanted to point out that this option works plenty well also.

[BaltChief]

Toad said hooking the power to battery is the best. That may be true, but I have the power hooked to the left cig lighter on left side (for CB and aftermarket fog lights). She may be correct, but my way works fine as well. I did it this way so that both turn off with the ignition when I remove the key.

Also, as an aside, for other people looking to use a CB, I first had a Firestik 3' Firefly, but it twanged on my garage door as I pulled in and out. So (on a Teraflex mount), I went with the 2' FS2, and I found the range was about the same. I didn't know why, but the FS2, after looking into it, has a bit more power. I may well be off on my tech specs, but either way, when on the trails (when I really want the CB in the first place), the two foot antenna works plenty good, and I can just leave it on all the time (added a spring so it goes above the soft top by about an inch and a half).

As always, depends on your use, but just wanted to point out that this option works plenty well also.

I got the 2 ft and it works great. I think as long as you clear the top of your Jeep they do ok.

[Okie4WD]

I think he is just talking about using the hole not the power, and give up one power plug.


Correct. Again, I wonder would the plug for the Cobra 75 fit into the cig lighter hole without modification. Just thinking....

[Hoovis]

Correct. Again, I wonder would the plug for the Cobra 75 fit into the cig lighter hole without modification. Just thinking....

From "eyeballing" it, I believe this would work just fine. There is enough room for the plate that holds the rubber grommet, and the cigarette lighter hole looks big enough (but not too big) for the hole that would need to be drilled. So in my opinion, the hardest part would be to simply remove the cigarette lighter mechanism, but I can't imagine that being a problem.

That being said, I would not personally use this spot unless you only rarely have the CB handset plugged in. The plug on the Cobra 75 sticks straight out about 3 inches from the spot where you connect the handset to the box (in this case, from the cigarette lighter). Given the placement (the heighth mainly), it might feel a bit cluttered or awkward or even get in the way of your shifters (particularly a manual). So that is something to consider.

But certainly, for when the mic is disconnected, that spot would look very clean.

[Okie4WD]

Thanks. The clearance issue could be a problem, I was thinking of a clean look (and also about making holes in the dash).

[rrussell6]

Install looks great! I just did the Cool Tech mount and it looks very clean! You can see it on their website. Like you I bought the cobra 75 CB off of EBAY. Now I am trying to figure out where to put a short wave radio.

[Hip2u77]

Thanks. The clearance issue could be a problem, I was thinking of a clean look (and also about making holes in the dash).


Just mount the box behind the glovebox and leave the connector free. It doesn't have to be mounted to work. I don't keep my mic hooked up all the time as it's too easy a target for thieves, but I've had it dangling off and on for over a year and nobody's ever complained about it, whether the mic is hooked up or not. You can easily get to it to plug and unplug the mic (though it does sometimes take both hands), and you can hide it away if need be. Simple, quick and no extra holes in the Jeep.

I used the hole on the side of the dash to run wires straight to the battery so it took me less than 10 minutes to wire it up.


And yes, our JK is filthy. . . just the way it likes it. (???)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Hip2u77/Untitled-1Medium.jpg

Edit to add picture.

[Brad2893]

I just did mine today, in about an hour, and connected it to the battery (isn't that why there's a fuse there, anyways?). So far no problems. Plus, there were a couple of good grounding spots nearby.

We'll see what time will tell.

Cheers.

[high-octane]

I got mine hooked up yesterday. I still need to put a SWR meter on it. I hooked the pos. to the battery and the neg to a good ground(under the hood). The sound clarity isnt what I expected but this is my first cb so i didnt know what to expect. Some people you just cant understand. Others are loud and clear. Overall i am very pleased. :ya:

[marlettx]

how difficult is it to lift & re-set the carpeting to run the antenna cable from the rear to the front? what needs to be removed along the way?

also, if connecting cb directly to the battery, does this mean the cb "stays" on after the ignition key is turned off? is there enough draw that the battery could be drained after a length of time?

if connected to the cigarette lighter, which wires should be used?

sorry, i'm just learning to do all this:?:

[high-octane]

how difficult is it to lift & re-set the carpeting to run the antenna cable from the rear to the front? what needs to be removed along the way?

also, if connecting cb directly to the battery, does this mean the cb "stays" on after the ignition key is turned off? is there enough draw that the battery could be drained after a length of time?

if connected to the cigarette lighter, which wires should be used?

sorry, i'm just learning to do all this:?:

Its not hard. I just ran mine along the edge and tucked it under. I used 18 feet of cable and had a foot or so left over. If you hook straight to the battery it will stay on untill you turn the unit off. Hope this helps some.

[marlettx]

thank you high-octane! it does help:yup:

[08RedRockRubi]

Its not hard. I just ran mine along the edge and tucked it under. I used 18 feet of cable and had a foot or so left over. If you hook straight to the battery it will stay on untill you turn the unit off. Hope this helps some.

I will be doing this install this evening or tomorrow. So I have a couple of questions.

What do I need to do with the extra foot that's left over?

Also, did you have to unscrew the end that's attached to the mount to push through the grommet on the tail gate??

Thank you very much for your input in advance.


Just mount the box behind the glovebox and leave the connector free. It doesn't have to be mounted to work. I don't keep my mic hooked up all the time as it's too easy a target for thieves, but I've had it dangling off and on for over a year and nobody's ever complained about it, whether the mic is hooked up or not. You can easily get to it to plug and unplug the mic (though it does sometimes take both hands), and you can hide it away if need be. Simple, quick and no extra holes in the Jeep.

I used the hole on the side of the dash to run wires straight to the battery so it took me less than 10 minutes to wire it up.


And yes, our JK is filthy. . . just the way it likes it. (???)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Hip2u77/Untitled-1Medium.jpg

Edit to add picture.

I think I am going to leave the connector free like Hip2u77 did.

[high-octane]

I just took the grommet out, ran the cable and then put the grommet back in. The extra coax is just loose up under my dash. Im having some issues with my ant that i posted about in another thread. I think its grounded. The continuity between the ant coupler and the mount is 4 olms. I think this should be open. Hope this helps you.


edit for anyone that has any advice: http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=41594

[bobzinger]

Can anyone post a picture of their wires hooked to the battery? I'm not sure how to hook up power. Red goes to the + of the battery, I know that much, but just wrap it around the post? Does the black go to the - or to some other place? I read earlier in this thread that someone hooked it to another place under the hood.

Sorry for the n00b questions. Thanks very much for your help!

:thumbsup: Bob

[Hoovis]

Can anyone post a picture of their wires hooked to the battery? I'm not sure how to hook up power. Red goes to the + of the battery, I know that much, but just wrap it around the post? Does the black go to the - or to some other place? I read earlier in this thread that someone hooked it to another place under the hood.

Sorry for the n00b questions. Thanks very much for your help!

:thumbsup: Bob

Bob, easiest way to hook the positive to the battery is to get a little connector that looks like a metal donut on the end. Double check the size of the donut for the screw that connects the battery (the connector will have a red, blue, or yellow plastic thing on it, depending on the size for the wire and donut you are using), and you just trim the end of your positive lead by about a quarter inch, twist the exposed wire together like a rope, then crimp it into the plastic part on the donut. Then unscrew the bolt that fastens the main positive lead onto your battery and put the donut in between before tightening the bolt back on.

As for a ground, I would just find some other wires that are grounded closer to where that negative wire is. If you look hard enough behind the dash, you'll find some other wires (usually black) that look screwed into "nothing," just some bolt in the metal. These are almost always a "ground," and you can just add a ground there as well as you know it is a good ground already. (Again, these will be little donut liiking metal connectors as well).

Sorry I don't have pics. But wanted to give you a response. Let me know if you have more questions and I can help you further. Without pictures, might be easier for me to explain by phone, if you are in a hurry to get it done.

Good luck.

[bobzinger]

Ok, I think I know what you're talking about. I'll swing by my local hardware store and check out what they have. It sounds like its pretty easy to do.

If I run the hot wire to the battery and run the ground to someplace behind the dash, can I just cut the black wire so I don't have a lot of extra cable? Or would it just be best to tie it up someplace back there?

Thanks for the quick response!

-Bob

[Hoovis]

Ok, I think I know what you're talking about. I'll swing by my local hardware store and check out what they have. It sounds like its pretty easy to do.

If I run the hot wire to the battery and run the ground to someplace behind the dash, can I just cut the black wire so I don't have a lot of extra cable? Or would it just be best to tie it up someplace back there?

Thanks for the quick response!

-Bob

It is quite simple to do. Particularly once you have done it a couple times.

And yes, you can just cut any extra wire you don't need. No need to have a bunch of extra wire cluttering things up. That goes for the power and the ground.

One last thing. This is personal preference, but I ran my power to the ignition, NOT the battery. I did this so that the CB, if left on, would turn off on its own when the key is removed (just like the radio does). That way, you won't have to adjust volume, squelch, etc. if you sometimes leave the CB connected and still want it on. Connecting the power to the battery should be an "always hot" connection, which means that if you have the CB on after turning the Jeep off and leaving the vehicle, the CB would still remain on indefinitely unless you also manually turn the CB off, and this could drain the battery.

But again, it is a personal preference. If you like to use the CB a little more often, I would advise tapping into the ignition. If you really only want to use it on the trails, then I would think the battery is best (so you could still hear it with the key removed).

But if you choose the ignition way rather than the battery, the easiest way is to tap into the blue wire behind the drivers side cigarette lighter. That is on and off with the ignition. The right hand side cigarette lighter is an "always hot" wire. (You could also use this one to tap into instead of running the wire through the firewall directly to the battery.) If you go either of these routes, you would just cut the proper wire (making it into two), then add the power wire from the CB, twist them all together and fasten with a connector. (The connecter for this kind looks like a thimble that tapers some towards the closed end.)

Lastly, I like to wrap a some electrical tape around my connections, just to be sure the crimping remains tight.

Good luck. Hope you enjoy the CB.

[Bonehead]

Thanks! I installed the CB brains, now I just need to decide which antenna mount I want.

Wilson ultra flex antenna IMO....and it comes with a lifetime warranty..

[grav]

Last weekend I installed a Cobra 75 in my '08 Sahara. The only thing I'm not really happy about is the mic plug location. I installed the mic plug in the same spot as HG97TJ did. I sat in the passenger seat and didn't like how my knee bumped against that plug. So last night I ordered the extension cable from Cobra which gives you another 4' to locate that plug in another location. I'm thinking I'll put it on the bottom panel in the center stack.

[Hip2u77]

Last weekend I installed a Cobra 75 in my '08 Sahara. The only thing I'm not really happy about is the mic plug location. I installed the mic plug in the same spot as HG97TJ did. I sat in the passenger seat and didn't like how my knee bumped against that plug. So last night I ordered the extension cable from Cobra which gives you another 4' to locate that plug in another location. I'm thinking I'll put it on the bottom panel in the center stack.

There's not much room behind that lower panel.

It you look a few posts back . . . you'll see my pictures and how you don't have to mount the end. Follow my lead and you'll see it's not in the way at all. The mic cable hugs the center stack so it's out of the way.

I'm all about mounting stuff when need be, but don't make this harder than it has to be.

[ranger1308]

Has anyone looked into the Quadratec CB bracket/ antenna/ cable package. They said that the antenna is already "pre-tuned". Does that seem correct? I would like to go with that package if that means I do not have to deal with tuneing the antenna.

[high-octane]

Has anyone looked into the Quadratec CB bracket/ antenna/ cable package. They said that the antenna is already "pre-tuned". Does that seem correct? I would like to go with that package if that means I do not have to deal with tuneing the antenna.

Thats what i got. Works great. You still need to tune it once on the jeep though.

[boots]

Has anyone looked into the Quadratec CB bracket/ antenna/ cable package. They said that the antenna is already "pre-tuned". Does that seem correct? I would like to go with that package if that means I do not have to deal with tuneing the antenna.


This is the first time I have heard of this set-up. :thinking: If it's true it would be a nice kit. No more trying to find someone with a SWR meter to tune your antenna. :yup:

[high-octane]

I think it is just bench tuned. Its close but should still be tested once on your jeep.

[nota4re]

There is absolutely, positively, 100% certain, no such thing as a "pre-tuned" CB antenna. The antenna radiates energy and HOW this energy is radiated is VERY dependent on the grounded surfaces surrounding the antenna. Antennas are very sensitive to this! Many antenna kits may work OK "out of the box" if they are well designed and installed correctly. However, you are not going to get optimum performance unless the SWR is tuned on your vehicle.

[Hoovis]

There is absolutely, positively, 100% certain, no such thing as a "pre-tuned" CB antenna. The antenna radiates energy and HOW this energy is radiated is VERY dependent on the grounded surfaces surrounding the antenna. Antennas are very sensitive to this! Many antenna kits may work OK "out of the box" if they are well designed and installed correctly. However, you are not going to get optimum performance unless the SWR is tuned on your vehicle.

Agreed. "Pre-tuned" does not mean that you are tuned correctly after install. You will still need to use an SWR meter or risk frying your CB. Please do not assume that a "pre-tuned" antenna is correctly tuned to your vehicle for transmission.

[JackMac4]

There is absolutely, positively, 100% certain, no such thing as a "pre-tuned" CB antenna. The antenna radiates energy and HOW this energy is radiated is VERY dependent on the grounded surfaces surrounding the antenna. Antennas are very sensitive to this! Many antenna kits may work OK "out of the box" if they are well designed and installed correctly. However, you are not going to get optimum performance unless the SWR is tuned on your vehicle.

what he said :thumbsup:

[artpics]

SWR meters are very cheap only $9.99 from frys.

[hammerg26]

OK - I FINALLY have the mounting bracket and antenna (a 4' Firestick - is that going to matter)... question is this:
how do I get the coax through the grommet? Do I unscrew it from the mount (came from Quadratec that way) or do I feed the other end (which plugs into the CB) through the grommet?

Thanks,
Hammer

[HappyCurmudgeon]

I sliced my grommet like a hot dog roll, stuck it in there with a dab of clear rtv, and zip tied it back closed/popped it back in.

I didnt feel like screwing around with removing reinstalling the connector.

[Hoovis]

OK - I FINALLY have the mounting bracket and antenna (a 4' Firestick - is that going to matter)... question is this:
how do I get the coax through the grommet? Do I unscrew it from the mount (came from Quadratec that way) or do I feed the other end (which plugs into the CB) through the grommet?

Thanks,
Hammer

I was going to go the "grommet" route as well, but then found out that the coax end was just small enough to fit in through the back air vents behind the tire carrier. I was then able to feed it through to one of the open holes on the inside of the tailgate.

I would have to double check exactly but I thought the air vents were far easier and cleaner than going through the grommet. Not to mention that there is no chance of any water leaks through the grommet.

[HappyCurmudgeon]

I wasnt really worried about leaks, there are a ton of holes in it from the vents, I am sure more gets in through there than whatever tiny little razorblade width cut i added in would allow to pass.

[Hoovis]

I wasnt really worried about leaks, there are a ton of holes in it from the vents, I am sure more gets in through there than whatever tiny little razorblade width cut i added in would allow to pass.

I would agree with that. That wasn't any real concern of mine either. Frankly, I just found an easier way (for me anyway) that was just as clean. So just adding another option.

[HappyCurmudgeon]

I would have done that to if my stock carrier was going to stay, but I was just setting myself up for when i remove my tire carrier to replace my bumper. I intend on leaving my antenna on tha tailgate. Both would work just fine. The grommet just was closer to my antenna mount. (kind of) :dontknow2:

[08RedRecon]

Great install. Thanks for the post. Now I know which CB Im going to purchase and how Im going to install it.:ya:

[JKsJK]

newbie question:

it seems most run this set-up straight to the battery. isn't the cb always "on" or does the cobra 75 have a power switch? since the controls are on the mic, is there a power switch on the mic, and if not, is the cb "off when the mic is disconnected?

[scotlandjk]

just wondering how the glove box thing comes off is it simple or do you have to remove panels, probz me just being an idiot

[Leave Town]

Open the glove box, squeeze the top edges in, and then it pulls right out...

[Leave Town]

newbie question:

it seems most run this set-up straight to the battery. isn't the cb always "on" or does the cobra 75 have a power switch? since the controls are on the mic, is there a power switch on the mic, and if not, is the cb "off when the mic is disconnected?

The mic has the on/off volume right there...

[REL1203]

For those of you with the 75, where do you keep the squelch? like 1/3 turn down from the top or so?

[Raiderse]

Good install, where did you get the hardware (plate) to mount to the panel below the glovebox?

[OffTopic]

For those of you with the 75, where do you keep the squelch? like 1/3 turn down from the top or so?


I adjust it as needed depending on the channel traffic. Usually that means adjusting it throughout the day.

[toad]

Good install, where did you get the hardware (plate) to mount to the panel below the glovebox?

It comes with the CB. We just drilled a hole and mounted the plate. :wink: Also, here's a bit of info we figured out AFTER w installed it..the plastic portion uder the dash comes off so drilling would be easier with it off. :doh:

[JKsJK]

seems like the best overall cb option for what i'm looking for. ordered and waiting for it to arrive.

[Raiderse]

Me too. I think that is the one for me.

[hyatt147]

Ive been looking around the forums for a Antenna mount and I think i just found the solution to all my problems

[JKsJK]

cb is here. ordered some supplies from cool tech - antenna mount, quick disconnect and mic mount. hopefully those will be here soon and i'll get everything hooked up. this has been a very informative thread - thanks

[JKsJK]

so everything arrived friday and i installed today. cool tech versamount for mic and ultra mount for antenna. i was thinking of posting pics, but guess what? they look remarkably similar to the others. i think the install went well and overall i'm happy - i wish the trim piece under the glove box was held in by more than just those tabs - feels flimsy. and, the ultramount method was very difficult with my aftermarket bumper - not cool tech's fault, just letting others know. i ended up cutting the screw holes for the license plate mount rather than loosen the bumper. but, i am otherwise happy with the install.

however, i've got 40 channels of nothing. :sad2: i haven't adjusted the antenna, because if i'm doing it correctly i'm showing 1.9 on the meter, which i thought would be okay for testing. i've gone back through and checked the other connections. the ground is good. everything seems to be okay. i went out on a major interstate and i live in an area where jb hunt and several other large trucking companies are headquartered - i know there are active cb's in the area. any thoughts on what to do next? :thinking:

[HappyCurmudgeon]

volume up? squelch set to low?? :thinking::dontknow2:


I live right by a border crossing, the traffic here is surprisingly minimal

[Choppus]

x2 volume up squelch set to low, and use channel 19 (trucker channel) Also, a lot of the day the guys don't talk much in some places. I have found that you will get more traffic on the CB after dinner and into the early hours of the morning.

[JKsJK]

ok thanks, i'll play around with it some more. i tried adjusting volume and squelch with no result. i'll give it more time. while installing, i noticed that the antenna felt like it should go into the cb more - meaning it felt like there was more room inside the cb - but the jagged edge of the two connectors touch and i'm able to screw on the outside cylinder that locks the two together (clearly, i don't know all of the technical jargon) so i'm assuming the connection is good.

[Choppus]

With the volume up and the squelch low, on channel 19, just key the mic and say break 19 for a radio check. You should be able to get something.

[HappyCurmudgeon]

If your connectors are bottomed out, you should be fine.

Also, grab a map, and when you ask for a radio check, ask location too, then you can get a little idea about your range.

Also, are you recieving the weather bands? I always get those, (assuming squelch & volume are set) even when the other channels are ghost towns.

[Choppus]

If your connectors are bottomed out, you should be fine.

Also, grab a map, and when you ask for a radio check, ask location too, then you can get a little idea about your range.

Also, are you recieving the weather bands? I always get those, (assuming squelch & volume are set) even when the other channels are ghost towns.

Yeah forgot to say if it's bottomed out you should be good. I didn't think to tell you to check the weather bands.

[rubi-u]

The single most important part of a CB connection is the ground for the antenne. I hooked my 75 up this weekend. I thought I had a good ground, but my SWR meter went over 3. I had left out the little plastic spacer on the firestick. I put it back together, trimed a little off the top, and I pulled a 1.4.

Take a spare piece of wire and connect it to the outside of the connector (ground) at the antenna, then find a GOOD grounding point somewhere else (frame, neg battery) and see if that makes a difference. If it does, then your gound at the antenna needs help. If it does NOT help, then your coax it probably the culprit. Hope that helps.

[JKsJK]

thanks for the info. let me try again tonight. i tried the radio check this morning, but didn't get a response. i have not tried the weather channels - should have thought of that :naw:

[qf4phlyer]

I had a Cobra 148 in my TJ. Wasn't looking forward to mounting it in the JK. After reading this thread I purchased a 75. Thanks to the info in this thread :thumbsup:, the install went without any glitches. I'm waiting for my antenna mount, and I'll be done. Thanks

[JKsJK]

so i did the "break 19 for a radio check" ... crickets

but, i do get the weather channels - or most of them, some still are mostly static, but i have about 2 or 3 that are crystal clear. is that typical? if so, i suspect that there just isn't a lot of activity in my area and that my set-up is otherwise fine. i haven't driven much and unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your point of view) my commute to work is under 10 minutes, so i haven't had time to test in other areas. appreciate the suggestions and help.

[HappyCurmudgeon]

if your receiving weather your in the ball park, maybe just a bit of tweeking.

I would guess maybe though that you just happen to be on at the wrong times? Mine is dead quiet, and i can see semis sitting in Lines 3-4 miles long at times waiting to cross into CA.

Nothing, not a peep, but it worked beautifully at Rausch Creek last weekend. Crystal clear.

Maybe find someone else locally with a CB or a base station, and have them radio check you?

Ask anyone at a truck stop, they should be either to help you, or point you inside to a manager that can. for the most part, truckers are a helpful, if not highly opinionated *L* bunch. :yup:

[JKsJK]

will do. thanks man, appreciate the help :thumbsup:

[MB-08-JK(R)]

check walcott cb, they have one thats almost identical and is made by teraflex. I'll post pics of it tonight.

teraflex part#004997100

I used the Terraflex mount on my install and it arrived significantly out of square. My antenna leaned off to the right by about 15 to 20 degrees! My OCD was bangin' that day and I just couldn't stand it so I took the only metal removal tool I had at home, my dremel tool, and ground away at it for an hour. Where Terraflex had gone wrong was when they welded on the stand-offs to the back side of the bracket they got a little out of alignment and then someone got happy with the welder.

[qf4phlyer]

Here is a pic of the Arizona Rocky Road antenna mount. Nice piece, easy install. Rick the owner is really great to deal with.

[qf4phlyer]

Here another shot of it.

[qf4phlyer]

Wired directly to battery.

[JKsJK]

Wired directly to battery.

looks clean. i wondered about the wiring and protecting from the elements - where did you wire the ground?

[jcmrubicon]

Thank you for the info! Very very helpful!

[KA3PIT]

that is a very cool idea and one I will be doing again thanks it looks AWESOME!!!

[Jarne]

Here is mine:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n299/ibebadmf/CB.jpg

I left the fuse sticking out under the console incase I ever needed to change it.

Antenna mount is same as gf4phlyer with spring.

[JKsJK]

Here is mine:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n299/ibebadmf/CB.jpg

I left the fuse sticking out under the console incase I ever needed to change it.

looks good. is the box in the console or under it?

[wayland1985]

Here is mine:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n299/ibebadmf/CB.jpg

I left the fuse sticking out under the console incase I ever needed to change it.

That's a nice spot for it too...


I wish the plugs sat more firmly in their grommet... I always feel like it's going to fall through when I'm plugging the handset in...

[Jarne]

looks good. is the box in the console or under it?


I have that box thing mounted underneath...I have it mounted to the front part of the compartment thing. I also left the fuse in the hotwire sticking out incase I ever needed to replace it.

When I park, I simply just toss the actually CB underneath my seat...you can not tell it is there. I like it here cause it is not in the way of driver/passanger feet or legs. If it is hanging up in sight..asking to get stole.

If you take that center console off....Both shifter knobs are heck of a lot harder to get back on that take off. The parking brake almost has to be straight up...and be careful..I think some electrical stuff to your airbags are underneath that center console (if I remember correctly)

[JKsJK]

That's a nice spot for it too...


I wish the plugs sat more firmly in their grommet... I always feel like it's going to fall through when I'm plugging the handset in...

i'm with ya. the trim piece under the glove box is weak too and my whole trim piece popped out once

[JKsJK]

I have that box thing mounted underneath...I have it mounted to the front part of the compartment thing. I also left the fuse in the hotwire sticking out incase I ever needed to replace it.

When I park, I simply just toss the actually CB underneath my seat...you can not tell it is there. I like it here cause it is not in the way of driver/passanger feet or legs. If it is hanging up in sight..asking to get stole.

If you take that center console off....Both shifter knobs are heck of a lot harder to get back on that take off. The parking brake almost has to be straight up...and be careful..I think some electrical stuff to your airbags are underneath that center console (if I remember correctly)

don't plan on going under there for anything, but good to know. i like that location. nice job.

[KA3PIT]

Any more pics ? that looks like a good spot also.

[KRUNCHYTACO]

Did you have to attach a ground wire with your antenna mount?
I picked up my mount from Rick as well...Nice guy.


Here is a pic of the Arizona Rocky Road antenna mount. Nice piece, easy install. Rick the owner is really great to deal with.

[HG07JKRubi]

Here is mine:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n299/ibebadmf/CB.jpg

I left the fuse sticking out under the console incase I ever needed to change it.

Antenna mount is same as gf4phlyer with spring.


Nice install Jarne !!!

[Jarne]

Wow..thank you all for the compliments. :ya:

[tibbar]

Great post, can't wait to install mine!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[RedDavid]

Nice installs. I've had a 75 sitting in my office for 2 years. I keep intending to install it but then something else comes along. Now it's a weekend almost and this pics have got me motivated (again). Anybody know of a place in SoCal to pick up parts, antenna cables etc?

[Choppus]

Nice installs. I've had a 75 sitting in my office for 2 years. I keep intending to install it but then something else comes along. Now it's a weekend almost and this pics have got me motivated (again). Anybody know of a place in SoCal to pick up parts, antenna cables etc?

Find your nearest truck stop. They will have anything you need to install a CB. Also, some truck stops have CB shops in them, and you can pick the workers brain on a questions that you might have. :thumbs:

[RedDavid]

Good idea. Thanks, I have a TA about 10 miles from my house.
Find your nearest truck stop. They will have anything you need to install a CB. Also, some truck stops have CB shops in them, and you can pick the workers brain on a questions that you might have. :thumbs:

[JKsJK]

finally got around to burying the coax. how did others hide this cable? i used the cooltech mount, so mine came in through the license plate area, and i tucked it under the trim all the way to the front of the jeep. i went up behind the trim under the steering column and over to the glove box, to where the cb "box" is. reached the box perfectly. my cable basically runs behind the lower trim panel, below the hazard button, etc. when routing through here, i thought i felt something hot. this may be a dumb question so please forgive my ignorance, but is there anything in behind that panel that i should be concerned with?

[Hoovis]

finally got around to burying the coax. how did others hide this cable? i used the cooltech mount, so mine came in through the license plate area, and i tucked it under the trim all the way to the front of the jeep. i went up behind the trim under the steering column and over to the glove box, to where the cb "box" is. reached the box perfectly. my cable basically runs behind the lower trim panel, below the hazard button, etc. when routing through here, i thought i felt something hot. this may be a dumb question so please forgive my ignorance, but is there anything in behind that panel that i should be concerned with?

I doubt there is anything behind the dash panel you need to be concerned with. If the rest of the wiring is fine back there, the coax should be as well. Of course, without knowing what and where specifically you are referring to, I can only surmise a guess.

[JKsJK]

I doubt there is anything behind the dash panel you need to be concerned with. If the rest of the wiring is fine back there, the coax should be as well. Of course, without knowing what and where specifically you are referring to, I can only surmise a guess.

just wanted a gut check. everything went fine and there seemed to be a lot of room behind there, but i wanted to make sure there wasn't a watch-out back there somewhere. thanks for the response.

[08 rubi]

just orderd a cobra 75 from northridge and a mount from tera flex thanks for the write up

[JeepsterWayne]

this may be a dumb question, but how big of a hole did you drill in the plastic where your antenna plug came through. thanks.

[wayland1985]

this may be a dumb question, but how big of a hole did you drill in the plastic where your antenna plug came through. thanks.

Hmmm... inside the jeep??? I actually did what I should've done years ago, and went out and bought a uni-bit. Then, I just kept drilling until the bugger fit through.

There's a good amount of room for error, with the plate...

[JeepsterWayne]

thanks for the info. I appreciate it.

[RickM610]

This write up and information Cobra 75 is great. System seems perfect for casual trail use so I purchased the Cobra 75 WX ST, but mine didn't come with the rubber grommet or faceplate for mic in dash quick connect as shown in picture below.

Was this something that you guys puchased separately or was it included in box?



http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0008.jpg

[RedDavid]

Your Cobra should have included those parts.

[RickM610]

Guess I'll have to call Cobra tomorrow. Unfortunately, I purchased mine at a local truck stop market and it was the only radio they had.

[idrivejeep]

Yeah, it should of had the plate and grommet in the box. As well as, the mike holder and screws.

[dburgette]

Mine didn't, but I bought mine on Ebay.

[RickM610]

I sent an email to Cobra and no response.... How did you locate that thing on ebay?

Mine didn't, but I bought mine on Ebay.

[rohantmh]

How big is the unit to be mounted under the glove box? I already have the uconnect module under there and am concerned to whether there is enough room for it also.

[Hoovis]

How big is the unit to be mounted under the glove box? I already have the uconnect module under there and am concerned to whether there is enough room for it also.

It is quite small. If I recall, it is just a touch bigger than two matchstick boxes stacked together. I doubt there would be a problem fitting it in there (but securing it may be a different story).

[PCHSahara]

If you plug in a speaker to the rca jack. does that disable/mute the speaker in the handset?

I saw that some of you had plugged the rca into the mygig aux port to use the vehicle sound system... was that the front aux port, or is there 1 in the rear/base of the unit?

Thx.

[rohantmh]

If you plug in a speaker to the rca jack. does that disable/mute the speaker in the handset?

I saw that some of you had plugged the rca into the mygig aux port to use the vehicle sound system... was that the front aux port, or is there 1 in the rear/base of the unit?

Thx.

Yes, it does disable the handset speaker. I don't have a mygig, but I just plug it in the aux input in the front of my res unit.

[PCHSahara]

thx for the info rohantmh! not sure i like the idea of "only cb" vs radio/etc at one time.

[cub23]

I got everything I needed in 1 package at a good price.Try looking at this rightchannelradios.com/jeep-offroad-cb-radio-106/jeep-off-road-cb-kit-cobra-75-wx-st-419.html its a pretty good deal.:thumbsup:

[odin725]

thx for the info rohantmh! not sure i like the idea of "only cb" vs radio/etc at one time.


I have a 2 to 1 plug for the aux input. i think im going to see if it will allow me to play both my cb and ipod at the same time, because like you it would kill me to just be able to use one or the other.

[cub23]

http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo170/tiffanytabor_2008/Jeep030.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo170/tiffanytabor_2008/Jeep028.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo170/tiffanytabor_2008/Jeep029.jpg
http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo170/tiffanytabor_2008/Jeep031.jpg

Got mine installed today.:clap::ya::thumbsup:

[m(a)ce]

anyone have a pic how they assembled the coax cable to the plug?



not sure if I'm over thinking this or not. but its finally warm enough here to install and just wanted to double check on my first CB installation.

did you solder it?

[RickM610]

I did my install similar to Cub23 and there was no soldering involved at all!


anyone have a pic how they assembled the coax cable to the plug?



not sure if I'm over thinking this or not. but its finally warm enough here to install and just wanted to double check on my first CB installation.

did you solder it?

[Hoovis]

anyone have a pic how they assembled the coax cable to the plug?



not sure if I'm over thinking this or not. but its finally warm enough here to install and just wanted to double check on my first CB installation.

did you solder it?

Yeah, I am pretty sure it is just plug in, or screw in like any other coax connection (think cable modem wire). Should be no soldering.

[JK-Rubi]

anyone have a pic how they assembled the coax cable to the plug?

not sure if I'm over thinking this or not. but its finally warm enough here to install and just wanted to double check on my first CB installation.

did you solder it?

Some coax "kits" require a little soldering - do a search for some good write-ups. :)

[m(a)ce]

thanks for the input/info.

I did a search for coax & soldering and only yielded text so that's why I was looking for a pic.

for anyone that reads this thread and needs that info here's the
best thread I've found re: connector attachment (http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=55293&highlight=coax+solder)

scissorz - here's what you do:

first put on the rubber boot and slide it down a bit. It's just a cover for later. he narrow end goes on first. Then you'll put that outer sleeve on the wire and also move it down and out of the way.

Next you'll put the wire up and into the main connector. You'll want to fill up the side holes and end with solder using a soldering gun. It's a bit of pain, but just takes a bit of patience. Once its filled and solid, you twist that sleeve on -- it first secures to your main connector then will secure your connector to your CB base unit.

based on this I'll give it a shot. :yup:

[cam813]

I would like one of the mounts for rear tire but couldnt find it on quadratec site or catalog, any info on how to get one would be appreciated.

Teraflex make a similar antenna mount.

[rubican!]

when i did this mod i had to solder mine but it was super easy

[JK-Rubi]

thanks for the input/info.

I did a search for coax & soldering and only yielded text so that's why I was looking for a pic.

for anyone that reads this thread and needs that info here's the
best thread I've found re: connector attachment (http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=55293&highlight=coax+solder)

based on this I'll give it a shot. :yup:

m(a)ce, try this ---> stu-offroad.com/misc/rfconn.htm

[Anglah]

I got everything I needed in 1 package at a good price.Try looking at this rightchannelradios.com/jeep-offroad-cb-radio-106/jeep-off-road-cb-kit-cobra-75-wx-st-419.html its a pretty good deal.:thumbsup:

Cub23, which mount did you use?

[m(a)ce]

JK-Rubi :thumbsup:

thank you. i'll have time tomorrow to hit this. I appreciate the visual double check.

:yup:

[m(a)ce]

Weather was up into the 60's today (from the 30-40s). Got a chance to solder the connector on. I think I was definitely over thinking it. Thanks for all the info.

Finished up connections, slapped on the antenna and it worked.

Didn't meter it (hope to soon)

Weather station come in pretty darn good.

Checked out a couple trucker conversations. Reception was not as good as weather - some conversations were understandable some were kinda crackly.

Would this just mean I need to find someone with a SWR and adjust?

[Hoovis]

Weather was up into the 60's today (from the 30-40s). Got a chance to solder the connector on. I think I was definitely over thinking it. Thanks for all the info.

Finished up connections, slapped on the antenna and it worked.

Didn't meter it (hope to soon)

Weather station come in pretty darn good.

Checked out a couple trucker conversations. Reception was not as good as weather - some conversations were understandable some were kinda crackly.

Would this just mean I need to find someone with a SWR and adjust?

That is all pretty normal. The weather is on a stronger signal, so it should always sound quite clear. The clarity of the conversations you pick up will depend on how close and/or strong the signal is.

That being said, if you ever want to transmit out, you really do need to tune it to keep the radio from eventually frying itself.

[m(a)ce]

That is all pretty normal. The weather is on a stronger signal, so it should always sound quite clear. The clarity of the conversations you pick up will depend on how close and/or strong the signal is.

That being said, if you ever want to transmit out, you really do need to tune it to keep the radio from eventually frying itself.

Roger that -thank you. Over & out. :D

[stevedolce]

I got mine today, but how does the antenna mount to the teraflex bracket? i THOUGHT i ordered everything i needed from quadratec, but is there an adaptor that connects the coax cable to the antenna?

[Hoovis]

I got mine today, but how does the antenna mount to the teraflex bracket? i THOUGHT i ordered everything i needed from quadratec, but is there an adaptor that connects the coax cable to the antenna?

There is a part you need, which I believe is called the "stud." If I recall correctly, the stud goes through the mount, and the coax and antenna attaches to the ends of the stud.

[JK-Rubi]

I got mine today, but how does the antenna mount to the teraflex bracket? i THOUGHT i ordered everything i needed from quadratec, but is there an adaptor that connects the coax cable to the antenna?

This thread has pics of the type of stud you'd need (although pics depict stud for a firering coax) ---> http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=59752

[JKinNNY]

Here is mine:

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n299/ibebadmf/CB.jpg

I left the fuse sticking out under the console incase I ever needed to change it.

Antenna mount is same as gf4phlyer with spring.

Jarne, thanks for the pics. I too have my WX75 mounted under the glove box, but with the mic cord dangling from the panel below, it get's knocked around by co-workers legs, and the wife's purse. When spring has sprung (we still have snow on the ground), and the temps are more tollerable, I'll have to pull out the console and do a relocation to the same spot you put yours. How's it holding up to items in the cup holders?

E

[08RedRockRubi]

So I bought the package from Quadratec with 4-foot antenna and got them all hooked up for Palo Duro Jamboree this weekend.

I can hear the weather band very well. I drove to an interstate nearby, went on channel 19, and got a radio check. I have not adjusted the antenna at all for SWR. Do I still need to do that? What happens if I don't?

I would appreciate your input very much.

[JK-Rubi]

I have not adjusted the antenna at all for SWR. Do I still need to do that? What happens if I don't?

I would appreciate your input very much.

Yes, please check the SWR!! If it is too high, you could possibly damage your new CB. See this helpful SWR Tutorial (http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/Setting_SWR.htm) on Firestik's site (mods please delete if link to tutorial is verboten).

[Hoovis]

Second that. If you plan to transmit, definitely tune it by checking the SWR. You should be fine if you simply listen in no matter what your SWR is, but if the SWR is quite high and you transmit, you could fry the CB.

[08RedRockRubi]

Thank you very much for your input. I will do that this afternoon!! :yup:

[08RedRockRubi]

When I checked SWR this afternoon, they were 2.1 @ channel 1, 2.3 @ channel 19, and 2.4 at channel 40. It was never in red which is over 3.0.

I think I have some grounding issues. Are there any ideas for how I can get the antenna grounded better?

I suppose I can use my CB just for this weekend since it's not in the red zone.

I would appreciate any input very much.

[JK-Rubi]

When I checked SWR this afternoon, they were 2.1 @ channel 1, 2.3 @ channel 19, and 2.4 at channel 40. It was never in red which is over 3.0.

I think I have some grounding issues. Are there any ideas for how I can get the antenna grounded better?

I suppose I can use my CB just for this weekend since it's not in the red zone.

I would appreciate any input very much.

From the link I posted above (hopefully you checked it out):

If the SWR on channel 40 is greater than that on channel 1, your antenna is considered to be "LONG" and reduction of physical height and/or conductor length will correct this situation. Depending upon antenna model, this entails screwing down the tunable tip (Illustration #1: Firestik II, Firefly), or, removing the tip, making short slits in the plastic covering and unwinding and clipping off wire (Illustration #2: Firestik, Road Pal). Firestik Designer Series antennas require loosening the allen screws and lowering the metal whip (Illustration #3).

[08RedRockRubi]

From the link I posted above (hopefully you checked it out):

If the SWR on channel 40 is greater than that on channel 1, your antenna is considered to be "LONG" and reduction of physical height and/or conductor length will correct this situation. Depending upon antenna model, this entails screwing down the tunable tip (Illustration #1: Firestik II, Firefly), or, removing the tip, making short slits in the plastic covering and unwinding and clipping off wire (Illustration #2: Firestik, Road Pal). Firestik Designer Series antennas require loosening the allen screws and lowering the metal whip (Illustration #3).

I did print the article and took it with me and realize that I should adjust the antenna length. My adjustment screw on the antenna is screwed all the way in. Do I just take the screw off? I am guessing that would be a logical step . . .

The article did say if it's over 2 and under 3, there is some kind of grounding issue. But it does not indicate not to use the CB unit. So I am guessing that I am ok to use my CB for this weekend.

If anyone has any opinion to the contrary, I would appreciate your input.

Thank you very much for your assistance in advance!!

[Hoovis]

I am no expert. Guessing a grounding issue. Until fixed, if you need to use it, try only listening. Listening shouldn't hurt it. But with a high swr, transmitting will, so keep that at a minimum until the issue is resolved. Sorry I can't be of more help but I'm mobile.

[JK-Rubi]

I did print the article and took it with me and realize that I should adjust the antenna length. My adjustment screw on the antenna is screwed all the way in. Do I just take the screw off? I am guessing that would be a logical step . . .

You could give it a try just for grins as I know that has worked for some friends. If that doesn't do the trick, start playing with different ground locations . . . at which point, I'll bail out, because it really gets to be black magic, at least from my own experience.

By the way, when you take your SWR readings, make sure you're inside with the doors closed (tailgate too), and the plastic cap covering the adjustment screw is in place. I've seen "violations" of either cause a shift in SWR readings by 0.5 to 1.0 for the worse. :rollingeyes:

[BryGuy]

Great pics..... BUT could you provide a pic of where you grounded the antenna?

I couldn't really find a spot I liked in the JK to install my 20 year old Cobra 20 CB so I picked up the popular Cobra 75 all in one unit and thought I'd share some pics of the install...

First the antenna, a 36" Firestick mounted to the spare tire carrier (purchased the mount from a local CB shop that sells through Quadratec). The antenna cable is routed through the same rubber grommet used by the brake light wires.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0018a.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0015a.jpg

The CB box is installed under the glove box on the metal bracket and quick disconnect on the panel beneath the glove box. (This is wired directly to the battery)
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0011.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0008.jpg

Finally, the mic mounted on the CoolTech VersaMount:
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p188/hguarini/IMG_0013.jpg

That's it...it sounds great and the antenna tuned real well...off to the trails !!!

[mfbarnes@barnes]

In the second picture, those two mount bolts, running into the door assembly are providing the more than adequate ground.

[HG07JKRubi]

In the second picture, those two mount bolts, running into the door assembly are providing the more than adequate ground.

yup...no additional ground wire installed and the CB performs great. :thumbsup:

[donnie]

Forgive the lateness of this but the subject of springs earlier in the post was mentioned.
Iv just installed a UltraMount on mine and the way mine sits, the antenna sits too close to the taillight housing for a spring.
Change the antenna to a more flexible one.?

[zwvirtual]

That's an awesome set up. I'm going to be getting a Cobra 75 sometime in the near future. I'm going to do exactly what you did. :thumbsup:

[madmax92104]

I finished my install today and did it EXACTLY like the OP except for the CB cable (used a Radio Shack cable) and it tuned well. However, I have a question, is it normal for the noise/static to increase when the engine is running?

[donnie]

Try running the power lines straight to the battery.

[OoPEZoO]

Try running the power lines straight to the battery.


+1

B+ is important........a solid Ground is VERY important. Run B+ directly to the battery and keep your ground wire as short as possible and connect it to a solid chassis bolt. I have my B+ running through a relay directly from the battery (relay is triggered off the cig lighter), and have all the ground connections going to the firewall bolt behind the passenger side removable dash panel.

[HG07JKRubi]

I finished my install today and did it EXACTLY like the OP except for the CB cable (used a Radio Shack cable) and it tuned well. However, I have a question, is it normal for the noise/static to increase when the engine is running?

No...static is not normal. Mine (OP) is wired directly to the battery and the ground is on a chassis bolt just next to the battery. The CB is clear as can be. :thumbsup:

[tuber]

I'm interested in the antenna mount - it appears to be a mirror image of the Teraflex mount - which I'm using for my Uniden CB - but looking at options for another mount for a ham antenna.

Any online sources for it? Looked on Quadratec site and I couldn't find it

[Southern4x4GTX]

clean install... looks awesome. love that Cobra as well

[HB Dom]

Great install! I just finished mine with a few minor variations. I used the TeraFlex mount, I added a spring and I wired it to my **** unit to keep it on an isolated kill switch. Thanks for all the R&D, brilliant. CHEERS:beer:

[HG07JKRubi]

I'm interested in the antenna mount - it appears to be a mirror image of the Teraflex mount - which I'm using for my Uniden CB - but looking at options for another mount for a ham antenna.

Any online sources for it? Looked on Quadratec site and I couldn't find it

This mount was actually released before the TF mount and is stainless steel instead of painted ... I got mine as a pre-production prototype and even though I like it I would not have paid the $75 for it.
(http://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_112.htm)
Quadratec Part#96080.112 Stainless CB Antenna Rear Tailgate Mount (http://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_112.htm)

Quadratec Part#96080.402 Extreme Duty Stainless CB Radio Antenna Rear Tailgate Mount with 48" Antenna
(http://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_402.htm)
You can also buy directly from the manufacturer ...CFE (Chadds Ford Electronics)
JK CB Antenna and Mount (http://cfeproducts.com/jk-cb-antenna-system.html)

http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/tmrce_2023_81

[jdredrock]

Going to get into the machine shop at work over the next few days when i get some time and make one of these mounts. anyone know what size the hole is for the antenna?

[Hoovis]

Going to get into the machine shop at work over the next few days when i get some time and make one of these mounts. anyone know what size the hole is for the antenna?

The hole for the antenna stud looks to be 5/8". I don't know how precise it needs to be, but I just used a standard tape measure on the extra stud hole from my Teraflex mount. Looks like it is right at 5/8 of an inch.

[codysanders]

so if i order the cooltech kit for about 200 is it alot cheaper to get the parts from somewere eles? this is just easy to order all from one place and be done with it. what was your total if you peiced it together and what sites? thanks

[donnie]

If its any help, this is the Cool Tec mount with the Firestick looks on my 09 to give you an idea .
Hope this helps.

[jdredrock]

Well it took me an hr, I made 2 copies of the bracket. the first one was a rough fit, the second was a little less rough. It fits on fine, but the metal is a little thi and flexes so i need to go through the scrap and look for something stronger.

[Doninator]

anyone got a pic of where they grounded this set up. I did mine almost identical and think i may not have a good ground cause im not gettin nothin sending and receiving.... did anyone ground the radio and the antenna or just the radio?

[07crawler]

Great set up//I think my wife bought me the cobra 75 for xmas...gotta love her...now I just have to wait 14 more days to install it....:thinking:

[Cat Dr.]

I like your quick disconnect where it comes thru the lower dash. What parts did you use to make it look so good? I don't have anything in my kit that looks like that.

[HG07JKRubi]

I like your quick disconnect where it comes thru the lower dash. What parts did you use to make it look so good? I don't have anything in my kit that looks like that.

Everything you see on the dash mount came in the box of the Cobra75

[07crawler]

Great set up//I think my wife bought me the cobra 75 for xmas...gotta love her...now I just have to wait 14 more days to install it....:thinking:

well the wife bought a Cobra 29 nightwatch instead, I took it back and just ordered a Cobra 75 with an antenna , teraflex antenna mount, 18' cable, and an external speaker (from Northridge4x4) for about $25 more than she paid for JUST the CB....I'll use this thread to install...i like what you did here:thumbsup::beer::beer: