School me on CB's

[Pinkyman]

I have never had the need/want for a CB until recently, so this is all new to me.

I cant get my wifes grandpas old dinosaur of a CB to work, so i was thinking about investing in a new one. It will be used in my Xj, and i only drive it once a month or so. I may put it in my truck when we take trips also. I realize this may require a 2nd antenna, but thats not a big deal.

I mainly want something for when we are camping, wheeling, or something i can put in the truck on long road trips. We also visit the Gunflint Trail (MN/Canada border) and there is no cellular coverage for about 80 miles or so.

I was looking at the cheapo ($25) ones, but i think i decided on the Uniden Bearcat 880 ($64). It seems to be a more sturdy unit, with a metal case, and the looks of it just seem a lot nicer than the cheaper one, along with talkback, and the weather option also.

What else do you guys use these for? Im trying to find a way to justify it to the wife that i need one, and especially that i need a $64 one instead of a $25 one, when it will literally only get used probably once every 6 months lol.

Also, i will take any advice, good or bad, on the Bearcat 880. It seemed to have lots of higher end options, and had some really great reviews.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/Screenshot_20160505-084354_zpsry0miff6.png (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/Screenshot_20160505-084354_zpsry0miff6.png.html)



And here is the antenna im looking at. Ill find a way or make a bracket to mount it to my rear bumper. I also have an 18' coax cable in my cart.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/Screenshot_20160505-084732_zpsyjviyfhe.png (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/Screenshot_20160505-084732_zpsyjviyfhe.png.html)

[blazer2]

I have the cheap one it's ok sometimes.
And sometimes it's not. I am looking at that on as well.
I don't know if it's the cb it's self or I just have a bad one.
The guys and gals that are in are group. Have the better ones.
On the antenna that's a decent one. Just put a spring on it.
And pick up a srm meter. To help you tune your cp. They are cheap I picked mine up
At a truck stop for $20.00 or so.
There are some people on here with way more knowledge than me. They will chime in.
Good luck on what ever you get.

[Pinkyman]

So i got my Cb, Firestik, mount (for the XJ, by the taillight), coax cable, and an accessory plug. I got it to work last night, and finally picked up a weather station, and that was about it... It was pretty uneventful haha. Hopefully there will be more action on the road this weekend.


My other question:

I want to put this in my F-150 for the trip to the boundary waters this weekend, and i dont have an antenna mount for the truck. Does anyone have any idea on where i can put the Firestik just for the weekend? I was thinking the back window and some gorilla tape, but i thought someone may have a better idea.......

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/20160430_190739_zpsktypdmlx.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/20160430_190739_zpsktypdmlx.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/20160509_214402_zpsian9xj6g.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/20160509_214402_zpsian9xj6g.jpg.html)

[Pinkyman]

Im thinking i may be able to use the antique "hustler" mount as seen in the picture, and get it to mount to the rear bumper, or part of the topper or something.

[XJ Wheeler]

Just as long as you get a good ground with the antenna mount and it's sturdy enough it should be good.

Sent via messenger pigeon. I talk, he types.

[Pinkyman]

So ive got the CB installed in the Xj, and mounted the antenna on the rear with the taillight mount. Its got a good ground, and everything seems to be hooked up properly.

I was trying to get a radio check all the way home last night (34 miles) and didnt get anything, even in rush hour highway traffic. I checked my SWR, and i am at 1.7ish on channel 1 and channel 40. I tried scanning for a while and got nothing, and i sat on 19 all the way in, and didnt hear anything either.

Am i doing something wrong??

The only time ive heard anything was when i had it in the truck, and the antenna wasnt grounded. I heard some chatter from a semi that was literally right next to me.

Heres my setup.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/20160517_200653_zps3gomttff.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/20160517_200653_zps3gomttff.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/20160517_200343_zpsam1yru5p.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/20160517_200343_zpsam1yru5p.jpg.html)

[Mudderoy]

I like the 1.7 SWR. Is there anyone you know with a CB you could try?

[prerunner1982]

So ive got the CB installed in the Xj, and mounted the antenna on the rear with the taillight mount. Its got a good ground, and everything seems to be hooked up properly.

I was trying to get a radio check all the way home last night (34 miles) and didnt get anything, even in rush hour highway traffic. I checked my SWR, and i am at 1.7ish on channel 1 and channel 40. I tried scanning for a while and got nothing, and i sat on 19 all the way in, and didnt hear anything either.

Am i doing something wrong??



I can't see the pics.. (work firewall) but by the sound of it you have it set up fine. If you are 1.7 on Ch 1 and 40 it should be lower on 19 and that's not bad. How long is your CB? Maybe CB's just aren't used much in your area...:hmmmm2:
as Tony said, maybe find someone with a CB to help you test yours and your range.

[Pinkyman]

I dont know of anyone around with CB's. Maybe ill just have to keep trying on my way to and from work once i get the Jeep going again.

[prerunner1982]

You might hit up XJ-Jake. He is about about 1hr and 15 mins west of you.

[Pinkyman]

You might hit up XJ-Jake. He is about about 1hr and 15 mins west of you.

Yeah, ive met Jake and talk to him all the time. I bought my wheels and tires from him. We may just have to go wheeling at some point so i can test it out, since i doubt it will reach that far hahaha

[Pinkyman]

So can anyone tell me why i get so much feedback from my radio and my engine on my CB speaker? If i turn the radio up, i can hear the feedback through the CB, and i can hear a kind of whistling on my CB when i give the jeep gas. It definitely increases and decreases with RPM's.

I have my CB just plugged into the accessory plug for power. Would it make a difference if i ran a more permanent power and ground?

[prerunner1982]

I have my CB just plugged into the accessory plug for power. Would it make a difference if i ran a more permanent power and ground?

I would start by running power and ground directly to the battery, it can help filter out a lot of the engine noise.

Something you can try first though is to disconnect your coax from the radio and see if you still get the noise. Don't push the button to talk though, it can kill your radio. If you disconnect the coax from the radio and you still get the noise, run the power/ground to the battery and try again. If you disconnect the coax and the noise goes away your coax/antenna is picking up the RFI. Your coax may be run to closely to other power wires, or when was the last time you did a tune up? Worn plugs and/or wires can cause RFI as well. Cheap plugs/wires may cause RFI as well, even if they are new.

I ran my CB from the power port on my 93 XJ and had no interference issues. The ham radios in my 97 XJ were wired directly to the battery and didn't have any issues until the last couple of months when the RFI got pretty bad. I changed plugs and wires, didn't get around to changing the cap/rotor. Running braided ground straps from the hood to the body helped and putting some chokes on the coax helped a little as well.

[xjzaped]

VHF/UHF is where I've always had noise with my XJ (99).

Now as far as power goes, negative to the battery but unless you intend on fusing the negative lead of the radio you are actually better off running it to chassis ground.

For the pickup, it's really hard to beat a hood channel mount and a Larsen NMO27 (assuming we aren't drilling the roof). I use similar setup on my XJ with a Cobra 25 and it outperforms most other Jeep based CB setups (better ground). I also have a issue with Firestik but that is a different story all together.

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