CB Radio kit?
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: Martinsville, NJ
Originally Posted by Vin
I don't know how tall your garage or your rig is, but with the 4 foot Firestik installed, my Jeep looked like a RC car.
The seat will only slide as far front as the radio is mounted. You are mounting it to the plastic console so I waws worried about breaking the console every time I moved the seat forward.
Install is a breeze. The hardest part is running the coax through the tail gate and the power wires through the fire wall, and a 10 year old can do either.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Southern Calif
CB Radio in the Jeep.
For over forty-years I have run CB Radios in my 4x4s. My units are dependable and always reach out ten miles. If I am stuck, or in a large group, I want to be heard when I key the mic, and I want to clearly hear what people are saying.
The gadget radios, like cheap walkie-talkies, Cobra 75 one-hander units, and the coax/antenna kits that are all made up are just a waste of money. What is the sense of having a radio that is hard to listen to, or will only transmit for a mile or so? For a minor investment, a real tool of communication will last for years and be reliable when needed.
Here is a minimum typical set up. Anything less is not acceptable.
$120 Cobra 25 LTD (New includes the microphone, radio bracket, power cord and mic clip.)
$35 Tune Up for increased range.
$25 Antenna (Firestick 4 foot w/tuneable tip)
$15 Antenna tune or match.
$25 Coax (Not from a kit, but a high quality Belden Brand w/ Amphenol, Military Grade, soldered-on connectors)
$25 Stainless Steel or Aluminum bracket (Not some powder coated steel one that will be a rust ball in five years.)
$7 Stud to mount the antenna (Stainless steel stud like the Firestick K4A, not some cheap, nickel plated brass stud where the center ultimately pulls out rendering it useless.)
Total the parts would be $202 and the labor to tune the radio and antenna is $40 making a grand total of around $250 with all the screws and bolts to mount it all.
This set up would give a life of service of five to fifteen years of reliable service. Five or ten miles of range will be the norm.
Of course, I am a Ham Radio Operator too, and I have an even better set up as a backup unit, but I rely on my CB Radio for the day-to-day stuff.
If you want to go with VHF or UHF, then just double the price on the list above and be done with it. the range here would be 50 miles or more.
The gadget radios, like cheap walkie-talkies, Cobra 75 one-hander units, and the coax/antenna kits that are all made up are just a waste of money. What is the sense of having a radio that is hard to listen to, or will only transmit for a mile or so? For a minor investment, a real tool of communication will last for years and be reliable when needed.
Here is a minimum typical set up. Anything less is not acceptable.
$120 Cobra 25 LTD (New includes the microphone, radio bracket, power cord and mic clip.)
$35 Tune Up for increased range.
$25 Antenna (Firestick 4 foot w/tuneable tip)
$15 Antenna tune or match.
$25 Coax (Not from a kit, but a high quality Belden Brand w/ Amphenol, Military Grade, soldered-on connectors)
$25 Stainless Steel or Aluminum bracket (Not some powder coated steel one that will be a rust ball in five years.)
$7 Stud to mount the antenna (Stainless steel stud like the Firestick K4A, not some cheap, nickel plated brass stud where the center ultimately pulls out rendering it useless.)
Total the parts would be $202 and the labor to tune the radio and antenna is $40 making a grand total of around $250 with all the screws and bolts to mount it all.
This set up would give a life of service of five to fifteen years of reliable service. Five or ten miles of range will be the norm.
Of course, I am a Ham Radio Operator too, and I have an even better set up as a backup unit, but I rely on my CB Radio for the day-to-day stuff.
If you want to go with VHF or UHF, then just double the price on the list above and be done with it. the range here would be 50 miles or more.
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: Martinsville, NJ
For over forty-years I have run CB Radios in my 4x4s. My units are dependable and always reach out ten miles. If I am stuck, or in a large group, I want to be heard when I key the mic, and I want to clearly hear what people are saying.
The gadget radios, like cheap walkie-talkies, Cobra 75 one-hander units, and the coax/antenna kits that are all made up are just a waste of money. What is the sense of having a radio that is hard to listen to, or will only transmit for a mile or so? For a minor investment, a real tool of communication will last for years and be reliable when needed.
Here is a minimum typical set up. Anything less is not acceptable.
$120 Cobra 25 LTD (New includes the microphone, radio bracket, power cord and mic clip.)
$35 Tune Up for increased range.
$25 Antenna (Firestick 4 foot w/tuneable tip)
$15 Antenna tune or match.
$25 Coax (Not from a kit, but a high quality Belden Brand w/ Amphenol, Military Grade, soldered-on connectors)
$25 Stainless Steel or Aluminum bracket (Not some powder coated steel one that will be a rust ball in five years.)
$7 Stud to mount the antenna (Stainless steel stud like the Firestick K4A, not some cheap, nickel plated brass stud where the center ultimately pulls out rendering it useless.)
Total the parts would be $202 and the labor to tune the radio and antenna is $40 making a grand total of around $250 with all the screws and bolts to mount it all.
This set up would give a life of service of five to fifteen years of reliable service. Five or ten miles of range will be the norm.
Of course, I am a Ham Radio Operator too, and I have an even better set up as a backup unit, but I rely on my CB Radio for the day-to-day stuff.
If you want to go with VHF or UHF, then just double the price on the list above and be done with it. the range here would be 50 miles or more.
The gadget radios, like cheap walkie-talkies, Cobra 75 one-hander units, and the coax/antenna kits that are all made up are just a waste of money. What is the sense of having a radio that is hard to listen to, or will only transmit for a mile or so? For a minor investment, a real tool of communication will last for years and be reliable when needed.
Here is a minimum typical set up. Anything less is not acceptable.
$120 Cobra 25 LTD (New includes the microphone, radio bracket, power cord and mic clip.)
$35 Tune Up for increased range.
$25 Antenna (Firestick 4 foot w/tuneable tip)
$15 Antenna tune or match.
$25 Coax (Not from a kit, but a high quality Belden Brand w/ Amphenol, Military Grade, soldered-on connectors)
$25 Stainless Steel or Aluminum bracket (Not some powder coated steel one that will be a rust ball in five years.)
$7 Stud to mount the antenna (Stainless steel stud like the Firestick K4A, not some cheap, nickel plated brass stud where the center ultimately pulls out rendering it useless.)
Total the parts would be $202 and the labor to tune the radio and antenna is $40 making a grand total of around $250 with all the screws and bolts to mount it all.
This set up would give a life of service of five to fifteen years of reliable service. Five or ten miles of range will be the norm.
Of course, I am a Ham Radio Operator too, and I have an even better set up as a backup unit, but I rely on my CB Radio for the day-to-day stuff.
If you want to go with VHF or UHF, then just double the price on the list above and be done with it. the range here would be 50 miles or more.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Dayton, Ohio
Thank you for all the great advice and high quality info, BUT if I run this current set up from qtec.... which I would mostly be using on the trail or less than or around a mile.... would it be sufficient??? I am not looking to spend a large amount of $$ I am just looking for the best option to be able to talk to my buddies around me on the trail.
JK Freak
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 776
Likes: 0
From: Macon, GA
I've had my Cobra 75 for over 2 years now and have no issues at all with it. I like it because I can disconnect it and put it away so that nobody can steal it. I really think you'd be fine overall with either. Are there better, more expensive ones out there? Yep; do you need one?
Forgot to mention that I also got the Cooltech antenna mount with a 4' fire stick antenna.
Forgot to mention that I also got the Cooltech antenna mount with a 4' fire stick antenna.
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: Martinsville, NJ
Ok thanks!
Ok Great, good point. I just want it for the trail and maybe chat it up with friends on the way to wherever we are going. thanks guys
I've had my Cobra 75 for over 2 years now and have no issues at all with it. I like it because I can disconnect it and put it away so that nobody can steal it. I really think you'd be fine overall with either. Are there better, more expensive ones out there? Yep; do you need one?
Forgot to mention that I also got the Cooltech antenna mount with a 4' fire stick antenna.
Forgot to mention that I also got the Cooltech antenna mount with a 4' fire stick antenna.
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,093
Likes: 0
From: The Jersey Shore House
If all you need this for is on trail then it's perfect for that. I run the 520 model and it's small compact and works very well which is all I need it to do. I wouldn't run the handheld one either as others have stated. but that's just personal pref.
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,106
Likes: 0
From: Martinsville, NJ
JK Freak
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 553
Likes: 0
From: Monroe, Ohio
you can get a Uniden 520xl pro by doing a search in google for $47.00 shipped to your house. The 520 has the RF gain, back ground noise limiter, PA, and Channel 9 quick select. You can put together a better setup than the package they are selling. I love Qtec and Joe at Qtec will hook you up, but on some things they just aren't competitive on.
Uniden 520 pro $47.00
Teraflex mount $30.00 - over priced but what can i say i have two of them
Astatic 18 foot cable $15.00
Antenna stud $6.00
Firestik 2 - 3 foot antenna $20.00
total - $118.00
I run this setup in both of my jeeps. you will need an SWR meter to tune the antenna. The one radio shack sales is pretty good. I would not do a peak and tune. Waste of money. I did that on one of my 520's before i had ever really used it and i would tell you that the factory settings have it tuned better. If you want to peak and tune thats fine but at least try it without doing that a few times to see how the radio performs.
Some have mentioned the Cobra 25's and 29's. Those things are HUGE. one thing to keep in mind is that the max any radio (big or small) will push out from the factory is 4xatts (unless they have been peaked); thats the legal limit.
Uniden 520 pro $47.00
Teraflex mount $30.00 - over priced but what can i say i have two of them
Astatic 18 foot cable $15.00
Antenna stud $6.00
Firestik 2 - 3 foot antenna $20.00
total - $118.00
I run this setup in both of my jeeps. you will need an SWR meter to tune the antenna. The one radio shack sales is pretty good. I would not do a peak and tune. Waste of money. I did that on one of my 520's before i had ever really used it and i would tell you that the factory settings have it tuned better. If you want to peak and tune thats fine but at least try it without doing that a few times to see how the radio performs.
Some have mentioned the Cobra 25's and 29's. Those things are HUGE. one thing to keep in mind is that the max any radio (big or small) will push out from the factory is 4xatts (unless they have been peaked); thats the legal limit.
Last edited by newbiejeeper; Dec 5, 2011 at 01:01 PM.
