C_Kyle

CB Gurus,

I don't know crap about CB radios, or any of the components, so could you evaluate the following components, that I'm thinking about getting:

Cobra 18WXSTII Radio

Wilson No-Ground Fiberglass Antenna, 3ft (comes with 17ft coax)

JK Spare Tire Mount Bracket

FireStick Medium Duty Stainless Spring/Stud Mount

Total Price $149

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Again, I don't know anything about CB Radios, so, I'll explain why I chose the components:

Radio: I want a radio with the Weather Info channels, and that is black.

The No-Ground Plane antenna looks like it would be the easiest to install. Also, I don't really want the antenna sticking up way past the roof line. I would prefer the 2ft antenna, but the 3ft probably gets better reception???

I want to mount it behind the spare tire.

I figured the spring might save the antenna or mount if there was some kind of impact.

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As far as mounting the CB radio, I'm not sure yet. I don't like the CB hanging in front of the mirror. Maybe I'll put in the glove box, or inside the console armrest compartment, or underneath the A/C controls.

JackMac4

I'm a big fan of the Firestik because of the tuning tip. Makes it easy to tune. Not sure about the Wilson.

If you want to keep it below the roof line, I recommend you do what I did. Buy the teraflex tire mount, then flip it upside down and mount it on the driver side. This combined with a 3ft Firestik is perfect height.

I use the FireRing/stud as well. i'm sure the Wilson would be fine, but I found the Firestik stuff super to work with and very well made.

Either way, a 3ft antenna on that tire mount mounted on the bottom rather than the top should do the trick!

I bet the Cooltech mount with a 3ft antenna would be below the roof line as well, but I can't verify it. Also a good way to go.

pkess3

I am trying to set my antenna mount similar to yours. I have the teraflex mount and am mounting it upside down with a 3' Firestik II antenna. I didn't have the firering connector to the antenna so I went to radioshack and bought an adapter so that the coax wouldn't be at too much of an angle going into the bottom of the antenna. Well I don't know if you've tuned yours but I'm getting awful SWR readings from this setup. I can't get anything below the red line on my SWR meter. Where did you get the firering coax or connector?

Gokracer1

My opinion on the antenna, Cooltech Ultramount. It comes with the firestick 4', that is tunable tip like noted before. It comes with 18' of coax also, and is already setup. You also get a nice ground cable that goes to one of the rear bumper bolts. And it looks Sweet! It is all about $90 shipped. Check it out at cooltechllc.com Goodluck

Rub61

I have a similar set up and it works fine. I have the 4 ft Wilson no ground antenna and a Cobra 29. I didn't need the mount since I just adapted the mount tha came with the Antenna to bolt to the side of the tail light assy. Drilled a couple of holes and it mounts up fine. The tail light assy is aluminum so it is relatively tough.

ROKLIMO

The Wilson antennas are also have a tunable tip. I have a 3' Wilson, and a 4' Firestik that both tuned nicely. The 3' one keeps it just below the roofline, and doesn't catch on everything. The 4' one goes on when I head west...

jfreeddo

depends on how much you want to spend and what you're going to use it for.

For me, i had a several year old Radio shack compact version laying around and the mounting bracket and cb fit using the existing screw on the side of the center console, so no new holes etc.

see pic




Oh, and by the way 100th post, no longer a newbie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brad2893

I have the Cooltech setup with the Cobra 75 WXST. Love it. With the quick disco for the antenna, I can stash the antenna and the handset and leave the top down/doors off and not watching my rig 24/7.

Brad2893

Holy crap!!! Me likey!

User 12721

Besides the powder coat on the TF mount being an insulator as Cooltech mentioned above, the 3' really doesn't get the job done that well...I have the 3' on mine and was having the same problem as you, and I even had a stainless mount to the tailgate w/o the powdercoat. What is happening is that when you go off-roading, or try to tune with the spare on, the 3' just isn't long enough to avoid interference with the spare tire. I had to take off the lock ring and the o-ring to get my SWR down, as it was up in the 4's before doing so as my antenna needed to be shortened but the tip was already down as far as possible. I'm looking at getting a 4', or longer antenna soon, as my reception and transmit are surely suffering due to the short length.