New to CBs need some help
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
New to CBs need some help
Hello all
I installed a CB about a month ago and i have the tailgate mount but can't seem to get a good signal ive tried to retune it but nothing changed. i know the tailgate isn't a very good spot to mount the antenna. This is quite frustrating to say the least. I have a cobra 19 and a firestick antenna. Any help is appreciated.
I installed a CB about a month ago and i have the tailgate mount but can't seem to get a good signal ive tried to retune it but nothing changed. i know the tailgate isn't a very good spot to mount the antenna. This is quite frustrating to say the least. I have a cobra 19 and a firestick antenna. Any help is appreciated.
JK Freak
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 644
Likes: 5
From: Santee
Did you grind the powder coat off the mount around the mounting holes and the antenna holes?
How long is your antenna? The longer the better and the higher the better.
What make\model antenna? Be sure it is a top load CB antenna.
How long is your antenna? The longer the better and the higher the better.
What make\model antenna? Be sure it is a top load CB antenna.
Super Moderator
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,177
Likes: 17
From: Shelby County, TN
You can also run a separate grounding wire front the CB base to a factory ground spot just inside tail gate. run the wire along the coax. I had to do this on my CB. Also when you tune your CB try to tune it at the antenna base with a separate SWR meter and not the one on the CB.
R/
Will
R/
Will
JK Super Freak
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 4
From: Bella Vista, AR
A key as noted above is to tune your antenna with a proper external SWR meter hooked up to the end of the coax (the radio would be disconnected for this). If you've not done this, you really don't know what your SWR is. The radio meters are useless. (In those radios).
The tailgate is a poor spot indeed. Probably the worst available metallic spot on a Wrangler. I had a multi-band radio in my JKR with an antenna mounted on the tailgate and got it to work. Just takes some effort.
A key point is the "ground" you're trying to do is not an electrical ground but an RF ground. The point is not to bond it to the vehicle's electrical system. The "ground" you're making is the counterpoise to the vertical part of the antenna.
The vehicle's body literally acts as the other part of the antenna. Without that, the antenna isn't an antenna.
Use a piece of tinned braided copper braid 1" wide or so and as short as possible to bond the tailgate to the body. This will work much better to allow the body of the vehicle to act as a counterpoise to your vertical antenna.
The tailgate is a poor spot indeed. Probably the worst available metallic spot on a Wrangler. I had a multi-band radio in my JKR with an antenna mounted on the tailgate and got it to work. Just takes some effort.
A key point is the "ground" you're trying to do is not an electrical ground but an RF ground. The point is not to bond it to the vehicle's electrical system. The "ground" you're making is the counterpoise to the vertical part of the antenna.
The vehicle's body literally acts as the other part of the antenna. Without that, the antenna isn't an antenna.
Use a piece of tinned braided copper braid 1" wide or so and as short as possible to bond the tailgate to the body. This will work much better to allow the body of the vehicle to act as a counterpoise to your vertical antenna.
Last edited by arjeeper; Feb 9, 2016 at 05:12 PM.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 297
Likes: 0
From: Denver, CO
A key as noted above is to tune your antenna with a proper external SWR meter hooked up to the end of the coax (the radio would be disconnected for this). If you've not done this, you really don't know what your SWR is. The radio meters are useless. (In those radios).
The tailgate is a poor spot indeed. Probably the worst available metallic spot on a Wrangler. I had a multi-band radio in my JKR with an antenna mounted on the tailgate and got it to work. Just takes some effort.
A key point is the "ground" you're trying to do is not an electrical ground but an RF ground. The point is not to bond it to the vehicle's electrical system. The "ground" you're making is the counterpoise to the vertical part of the antenna.
The vehicle's body literally acts as the other part of the antenna. Without that, the antenna isn't an antenna.
Use a piece of tinned braided copper braid 1" wide or so and as short as possible to bond the tailgate to the body. This will work much better to allow the body of the vehicle to act as a counterpoise to your vertical antenna.
The tailgate is a poor spot indeed. Probably the worst available metallic spot on a Wrangler. I had a multi-band radio in my JKR with an antenna mounted on the tailgate and got it to work. Just takes some effort.
A key point is the "ground" you're trying to do is not an electrical ground but an RF ground. The point is not to bond it to the vehicle's electrical system. The "ground" you're making is the counterpoise to the vertical part of the antenna.
The vehicle's body literally acts as the other part of the antenna. Without that, the antenna isn't an antenna.
Use a piece of tinned braided copper braid 1" wide or so and as short as possible to bond the tailgate to the body. This will work much better to allow the body of the vehicle to act as a counterpoise to your vertical antenna.
Thanks
Sam
JK Super Freak
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,475
Likes: 4
From: Bella Vista, AR
The rear sides behind the rear wheels aren't a bad option for radio performance, but then you run into the concern of the having the antenna ripped off by trees.
The tailgate may be a weak spot for RF performance but there is a reason so many Jeeps put them there.
Properly bonding the tailgate to the body for RF will solve most of it's weaknesses.
Fortunately, many have come before you. Here are MANY options for mounting spots/ideas.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-c...r-jeep-227276/
The tailgate may be a weak spot for RF performance but there is a reason so many Jeeps put them there.
Properly bonding the tailgate to the body for RF will solve most of it's weaknesses.
Fortunately, many have come before you. Here are MANY options for mounting spots/ideas.
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-c...r-jeep-227276/
Last edited by arjeeper; Feb 9, 2016 at 07:15 PM.