Jeep Cherokee CB Radio placement
- Thread starter SWbySWesty
- Start date
ExpoMike
Well-known member
No, you have to use a SWR meter to set the SWR.
XXXpedition
Explorer
right in the middle in front of the windshield - a very save spot!
SWbySWesty
Fauxverland Extraodinaire
Those of you with middle mounted in front of the windshield, is that a mag mount?
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
One half of a CB electrically speaking is the ground or whats called the ground plane. The center of the roof is the best ground plane if best CB performance is the goal. I use a spring and a cheap truck stop K-40 whip antenna so if and when I break it then I just screw a new one on. For me great communication is important because I run in large groups and we get spread out in the mountains so performance and inside location is also important. My rig is only used on days that I trail ride so the factory radio location was the ideal spot for me. I shed a few pounds by ditching the radio and associated wiring and speakers. Those rear roof speakers are heavy and located at the highest center of gravity anyway. I've been in 3 rollovers (long story).
I buy my CB radio equipment from Sparkys. He peaks and tweaks them for free and has all the mounts and antenna stuff you will need. I run a General lee. It has a super clean receiver and puts out 25 watts on low and 55 on high. Just enough for clean communications but not so hot it's noticed other than people say I sound great.http://www.sparkyscbshack.com/Saleitems.html
I buy my CB radio equipment from Sparkys. He peaks and tweaks them for free and has all the mounts and antenna stuff you will need. I run a General lee. It has a super clean receiver and puts out 25 watts on low and 55 on high. Just enough for clean communications but not so hot it's noticed other than people say I sound great.http://www.sparkyscbshack.com/Saleitems.html
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That is a K40? Hmmm boy am I mixed up. I thought a K40 had a stainless whip w/ a big black cylinder at the base......also thought that the roof was only if you wanted as close to 360o as you could get? Oh and what is the heavy speaker thing about? I just have one aux in front.
That's really neat. Did you ever write that up? What was involved in making it?
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
K40 makes a stainless whip as you described and also a super nice magnetic base for it. I had one and it lasted many years. Trees took a toll on it so on my XJ I went to a solid mount with a spring. K40 also make whips like a fire stick or typical truckers antenna. I like them because they seem to flex better than other fiberglass whips. The 360 degree coverage is the best for off road because trails twist and you use it while in all positions while waiting ,winching and just getting all twisted up off road compared to a freeway. The speakers I was referring to are the four factory radio speakers. I don't jam while in my rig so I ditched the factory AM/FM. One idea I was going to do was use the unused door speakers as axillary CB speakers but the CB converted General Lee sounds great in the dash. All they do is pull a jumper or something inside and it's an instant 40 channel CB but with a 10 meter radio amp in it. You still keep the 10 meter capability but thats FCC license channel and I stay off it. It's the best bang for the buck in a CB and is probably the most popular radio with truckers next to a Cobra. I did leave air space for cooling and that happened to let the sound out very well. Link to the K40 Whips:http://www.das-roadpro.com/k40/fiberglass.asp
Stumpalump
Expedition Leader
Nope. You can still snap them.
StumpXJ
SE Expedition Society
I have the firestick style K40 and it works like a champ.
Sorry guys, I dont have a write up on the console. It was just something I whipped up a while back. Basically made out of 1/4" birch on the sides, thinner stuff on the bottom side, and a scrap piece of carbon fiber in front of the CB just because I had it laying around. I used cardboard to make the roof line pattern. I mounted it to the old Dome light on the back side, and the lock remote thing between the sunvisors. It was pretty straight forward though. There is plenty of room for switches and all kinds of other crap, but I have places for those already.
I used (4) 20 watt 12 volt bulbs, two pointing towards the front, and two towards the rear.
~James
Sorry guys, I dont have a write up on the console. It was just something I whipped up a while back. Basically made out of 1/4" birch on the sides, thinner stuff on the bottom side, and a scrap piece of carbon fiber in front of the CB just because I had it laying around. I used cardboard to make the roof line pattern. I mounted it to the old Dome light on the back side, and the lock remote thing between the sunvisors. It was pretty straight forward though. There is plenty of room for switches and all kinds of other crap, but I have places for those already.
I used (4) 20 watt 12 volt bulbs, two pointing towards the front, and two towards the rear.
~James