Originally Posted by Sparkplug

If you want to get totally discouraged about the possibility of ever having a mobile radio setup, read here.

Bonding

I think going nuts with your mobile CB rig is a little overkill just because they are kind of junk. You just aren't going to milk that much more out of a 4 watt radio. Hopefully you will get enough information to be able to have line of sight communication.

Originally Posted by BigRedJK

I'm new to the CB world, so I'm interested in what I should expect in terms of clarity and normal operation. Should I be expecting things to sound clear as day or scratchy? Should voices be heard like a talk radio station or will it be hissy like an old walkie-talkie? Is a lot of static hiss normal?

I just installed a cobra 29 LX, firestik firefly, and 18' coax w/ fire ring. When testing it out, I heard one channel pretty clearly, but most are tough to make out. I listened a bit during my commute to work, since I was closer to the freeways, and didn't hear much improvement. Any advice and insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Originally Posted by NQ3X

Three myths in one post. In order:

1. Specific lengths are immaterial. Use as much as you need to get from the radio to the antenna, routing the coax at right angles to the vehicle's wiring harness, and have done. There is no magic specific length(s), nor is there any physical or theoretical reason why there should be.

2. Coiling the cable will not result in the cable changing its characteristic impedance, though it is unwise for different reasons.

3. When bonding body panels (NOT "grounding"), never EVER use solid wire. There are many reasons for this. Use instead braided cable. I use the braid from an old piece of coax.

Never, ever remove paint or coating. You aren't helping anything. RF ground is different than DC ground; RF ground in this application ignores paint. All you're doing is deliberately installing a place for rust to start.

Originally Posted by JK JAGS

Hey man, I was on the trail with you Sunday. How'd the CB end up working for you. I first used mine a month ago and realized that you never really know how it's working till you get out on the trail and use it with other CBs. Did you have any issues Sundays or were you all good.

Originally Posted by BigRedJK

I was in the back of the pack but I heard everyone perfectly.

Didn't seem like people talked much on it though. It was pretty useful when someone shouted a few updates on trail info, or let us know a car on the road was coming up as we headed down.

Originally Posted by rinkishJK

Funny how my facts came from a cb/ham shop, and the guy has been doin this for years, and he isn't the only person who told me about the length... If your right how come it doesn't say ANYWHERE on any cb coax that it's" cut to length". I think you are wrong.

So if u coil a wire, and put electricity to it, how come it creates a magnet??
Coiling coax cable is a bad idea and I was Also told this buy a guy with 25+ years experience with amateur radios..


Also there is not one wire used in the automotive field that is solid core. It's all stranded wire... Soild core wire is for home use.

Originally Posted by Angry_Fisherman

If you believe in the "18 foot coax rule" then you must also believe in the Easter bunny and the Boogie man. I've taken amateur radio exam and have read the ARRL handbook and read several other publications and never is there a specific length suggestion for either mobile or base station applications. I've installed radios at home and in my cars. I've assisted others with installs as well. 11 meter, VHF and UHF. In any install I've done I use the amount of coax needed from point A to point B. The coax has has never been an issue.
Here's some reading material about your 18 feet of coax. Exposing the 18' CB Coax Myth